The Toyota Camry is one of the few cars that really needs no introduction. It's been on our shores for 41 years and has proven itself to be steadfastly popular, enough for Toyota to launch a ninth-generation version.
The entry grade Ascent is one of the few 'base-models' still available for the mid-sized sedan segment and offers an upgraded hybrid powertrain and transmission, new tech and a fresh take on its design.
Old fans will love it and in this review we discover if there's something for families to get excited about.
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Price and features – Does it represent good value for the price? What features does it come with? 8/10
8 / 10
There are now only three model grades available for the Camry and they are all offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain. The model on test for this review is the enrtry-grade Ascent.
With the hybrid powertrain and new tech, the entry price is $4939 dearer than before and it now carries a $39,990 before on-road costs price tag. Of the mainstream medium sedan rivals, only the ageing Mazda6 Sport sedan is more affordable at $36,290 MSRP.
What’s interesting to note is that some of its other rivals, the new Honda Accord e:HEV RS and Skoda Superb, are only offered in one highly-specified grade and they come with corresponding price points. The Accord sits at $64,900 drive-away, and the Superb at $69,990 drive-away. So, if you’re in the market for a sedan, there is a good sense of value for the Camry at the moment, despite its price hike.
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Standard equipment for the new Camry includes cloth upholstery, an 8.0-inch touchscreen multimedia system with satellite navigation, Toyota Connect app, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, 7.0-inch digital instrument cluster, digital radio and Bluetooth connectivity.
Practical features include 17-inch alloy wheels, temporary spare tyre, power-release boot lid, and manual release buttons for the rear seats in the boot area.
Strangely though, the base model still misses out on rain-sensing windscreen wipers for some reason.
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Design – Is there anything interesting about its design? 8/10
8 / 10
There is a strong 'taxi'-association with the Camry because of how popular it is as a commercial fleet car and while the design has been updated and modernised, that vibe still remains. It's a Camry, after all.
But the new tapered nose with its slim LED headlights look sharper than the previous model and the rear slopes into a neat spoiler that accentuates a sharper rear end.
The new design looks far more modern and dare I say it: sporty.
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A lot of the changes are in the cabin where the Camry benefits from a completely restyled dashboard that looks sleek and stylish, with the tech screens integrated into the panelling.
The cockpit still feels very driver-oriented, which is always appreciated, but now not at the expense of the front passenger.
The cloth seats look much nicer than the standard basic stuff you usually get and there are enough tactile dash and door panels to make it feel cosy, despite it's soft-touch points still looking too plasticky.
The overall feel for the cabin is one that is pleasant and well-built, although cloth seats always give me anxiety when kids are around.
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Practicality – How practical is its space and tech inside? 10/10
10 / 10
Sedans tend to fly under the radar when people think of cabin space but that's a mistake. Head- and legroom in both rows will make taller occupants very happy and the transmission tunnel isn't massive, so middle seaters will still be able to get comfortable.
Despite being a low-profile car, access is easy enough and it's only the sloping roofline at the rear that might make you bump your head as you get in.
Seat comfort is excellent with thick padding and cushioning to be enjoyed. The front seats are manually adjustable but lack lumbar support, which you'll notice on a longer trip.
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The window sills don't sit too high, so my seven-year old had a good view this week but the cloth seats have upped the anxiety as he tends to be messy. He also loves having directional air vents and that keeps him happy on hotter days.
Storage is great for the class with a 7.0L middle console, large glovebox that can hold a manual and other bits, two map pockets, four cupholders, four drink bottle holders, a sunglasses holder, and a functional centre console tray that has multiple cubbies to delight those that travel with lots of stuff.
The boot capacity hasn’t changed and sits at a large 524L capacity, which is decent for a sedan. The boot aperture isn’t too narrow either, so it's easy to access items that roll to the back. The rear seat has a 60/40 split, to open up storage as well.
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The boot has a powered boot release that can be accessed via the key fob and while you have to manually close it, it's a super light lid to operate.
Technology feels well-rounded now with the upgrades and the touchscreen multimedia system sports the same system you'll find in Lexus models, which is far superior to the older Toyota software. Basically, it's simple to use and looks good, which is a great combo.
The phone mirroring apps are now wireless and that means one less cable to worry about and charging options are good with five USB-C ports (3/2), and a 12-volt socket but you do miss out on a wireless charging pad at this grade level.
Basically, the Camry now offers better technology and style but the practicality of the cabin remains at an all time high.
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Under the bonnet – What are the key stats for its engine and transmission? 9/10
9 / 10
The 2025 Camry has the new and improved hybrid system that Toyota is rolling out and a redesigned electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) – both changes are welcome to the 2.5L four-cylinder engine.
This combo produces up to 170kW of power, which is up from the previous model but the torque remains the same at 221Nm.
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Efficiency – What is its fuel consumption? What is its driving range? 9/10
9 / 10
The outgoing model had an excellent combined fuel cycle figure already but the new hybrid system improves it again to just 4.0L/100km. With the 50L fuel tank, that gives you a theoretical driving range of up to 1250km. Outstanding for a family car!
After doing 803km this week and those kilometres being mostly open-road driving, which is where hybrids are at their least efficient, my real-world figure was 4.4L, which is still great. Expect it to be even better in the city.
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Driving – What's it like to drive? 8/10
8 / 10
Toyota really does the hybrid thing well – the engine and electric motor handle duties effortlessly between them, with minimal fuss like noise or gear changes.
The well of power feels deep enough to really let it loose on the highway, if need be, but that also makes it zippy in the city.
This is sure-footed in most scenarios and I like the comfort that brings to the driving.
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The steering is direct enough to feel responsive but not sporty. It handles corners well and suspension is well-tuned, so you don’t wince when you hit bumps.
Being set low and having average-sized windows means visibility can be a little hampered when heading down a hill as you bob and weave to see around the rear-view mirror and thick pillars.
The Camry is 4920mm long (33mm longer than previous gen) and it fills out a space. With it's low profile, you have to be careful not to scrape the bottom on anything but it’s still relatively nimble in a car park because of its tight steering and clear 360-degree camera system.
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Safety – What safety equipment is fitted? What is its safety rating? 9/10
9 / 10
The Camry has a brand-spanking new five-star ANCAP safety rating from this year (2024) and now sports eight airbags, including a front-centre airbag.
The safety features list is impressively long with all of the biggies included like blind spot monitoring, SOS call button, driver attention alert, safe exit warning, rear occupant alert, forward collision warning, LED daytime running lights, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, lane keeping aid, traffic sign recognition, intelligent seatbelt warning, a 360-degree view camera system, and front and rear parking sensors.
The adaptive cruise control has a new cornering feature, which will slow your speed down in corners but it didn't always activate and when it did, it slowed down too dramatically to make the system feel smooth to use.
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All other systems feel well-tuned for daily driving.
There are ISOFIX child-seat mounts on the outboard seats and three top-tether anchor points but two seats will fit best.
The new Camry has auto emergency braking (AEB) with car, pedestrian, motorcycle, cyclist and backover function, which is operational from 5.0 to 80km/h (up to 180km/h for car).
Ownership – What warranty is offered? What are its service intervals? What are its running costs? 9/10
9 / 10
The Camry comes with a five-year/unlimited kilometre warranty but that can be upped to seven years if you exclusively service with Toyota and on schedule, which is good for the class.
You get five-years capped-priced servicing at just $255 per service, which is extremely reasonable and intervals are good at every 12-months or 15,000km, whichever occurs first.
The Camry likes the good stuff though and only drinks a minimum of 95 RON unleaded petrol.
Verdict
Ah, gotta love a sedan that knows its audience and the ninth-gen Toyota Camry Ascent proves once again why it’s a popular choice.
On top of the space and practicality, you get a shiny new design and technology. Overall the Camry Ascent is a well-rounded base-model - what’s not to love?
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