SUVs may be dominating the U.S. car market, but there’s one sedan that is holding its ground. The Toyota Camry was the best-selling sedan in the U.S. last year with 316,185 units sold and ranked second in the brand’s overall sales chart.
The hybrid-only midsize sedan is in its ninth generation, and at the 2025 Thai Motor Expo, we had a chance to check it out in an accessorized ‘Charismo Luxe’ version that’s produced locally. Here are some interesting observations we made in this Asian-spec Camry:
Design
The Toyota Camry Charismo Luxe combines the executive-styled exterior of the standard car with a sporty styling, courtesy of a body kit. Skirts along the front bumper, wheelbase, and the rear bumper bring the car closer to the ground, modifying its stance.
The rear bumper mimics the look of a diffuser and features faux dual trapezoidal exhaust tips as well. The ducktail shape of the bootlid’s trailing edge is highlighted by a matching gloss black spoiler, also part of the body kit.
Like the regular Camry, the Charismo Luxe features a hammerhead shark-inspired front inspired by the Prius and C-HR Plug-in Hybrid, a leaf-like curvy glasshouse, a swiftly sloping roofline, and C-shaped tail lamps.
We think 19-inch wheels similar to the ones offered on the XSE trim in the U.S. would have suited this car better than these 18-inch ones from the standard Thai-spec Camry.
Interior
The Toyota Camry Charismo Luxe retains the interior design of the standard model without any changes. Its horizontal dashboard features a guitar fretboard-inspired decor panel that is confined to the passenger side, giving the layout an asymmetrical character.
The central touchscreen integrates into this panel on one side but remains freestanding on the driver’s side, further reinforcing this asymmetry.
Toyota offers the Camry Charismo Luxe with features like a power tilt and slide panoramic roof with a power-retractable sunshade, 8-way power-adjustable front seats with a 2-way memory function on the driver’s side, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 9-speaker JBL sound system.
The company equips the hybrid sedan with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a wireless smartphone charger, three USB Type-C ports, and two USB Type-A ports as well.
Specifications
The Toyota Camry Charismo Luxe has no mechanical changes from the standard car. It employs the A25A-FXS 2.5-liter gas engine that develops 137 kW (184 hp) and 221 Nm (163 lb.-ft.) of torque and an electric motor producing 100 kW (134 hp) and 208 Nm (153 lb.-ft.) of torque. This combination gives the hybrid sedan 169 kW (227 hp) of total power.
In the U.S., Toyota offers the Camry Hybrid in FWD and AWD variants. It uses the same gas engine and electric motor in the same tuning in the FWD variant, but it has dialed up the system power to 225 hp. This setup delivers an EPA-est. fuel economy of up to 51 MPG.
In the AWD variant, Toyota adds a 30 kW/84 Nm motor to power the rear wheels, taking the system power up to 232 hp. The Camry AWD returns an EPA-est. fuel economy of up to 50 MPG.
Price
Also Read: Toyota Camry Hybrid in the U.S. misses out on ‘Precious Bronze’ color
Toyota has no plans to launch the Camry Charismo Luxe in the U.S., but we think the sportier XSE trim it offers is considerably more appealing. Prices of the 2026 Camry range from USD 29,100 to USD 37,025 (excl. USD 1,195).
International Automotive News Editor since 2014, covering global motor shows, industry events, and test-driving various vehicles, with a focus on hybrid and electric cars in recent years.
