Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Toyota Camry

By now, your image of the Toyota Camry should have changed from “downright boring” to “it’s pretty darn good.” Even, “fun to drive.” In particular, this current generation that has been around for a couple of years.

We have been smitten by the ninth-generation Camry. Our first drive a year-and-a-half ago in a 2025 XSE front-drive model charmed us. Then, George rented a 2025 SE front-drive model when he visited the Phoenix area in July. He and the Camry handled the 110-plus degree Fahrenheit dry heat extremely well.

We did not plan on getting another Camry this calendar year. However, this 2026 XSE all-wheel drive model showed up in time for Thanksgiving in Minnesota. It has dealt with two snowstorms and multiple days full of sub-freezing temperatures.  

You could say that we both worked with the newest Camry through climatic extremes. Would our experiences be any different?

Comparing two Camrys from the sporty side of the house seems unfair. One has front-drive; the other has all-wheel drive. The XSE has more feature content and packages, the SE is equipped with evefrything on the standard equipment list. 

You may have already read our “Rental Car Review” of the 2025 SE. Let us just talk about the 2026 XSE AWD we just wrapped up in. 

Let’s talk about the argument between driving in the snow and other winter conditions with either front-drive or all-wheel drive. There are a lot of us Minnesotans who say, “yes, you can do this with just front-wheel drive.” Even better with winter/snow tires. What the Camry’s all-wheel drive system demonstrates is that extra rear traction can get you out of trouble when the going gets tough. 

Keep in mind that this generation of Camry is powered exclusively with the hybrid driveline. In this case, there are two electric motors that drive the electronic all-wheel drive system. The second one is attached to the rear axle. The front and rear drive units work together when there is a loss of traction up front. 

The driveline itself is capped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. All together, the system puts down a combined net rating of 232 horsepower. That means more available power to do a whole lot more. 

This hybrid driveline is a very solid unit. Power take-off is fantastic. You can’t even feel the transition between the internal combustion engine and electric drive units. It is so seamless and lovely. You feel it on the highway, as well as around town. 

When it comes to winter traction, the all-wheel drive system had no problems delivering torque from the electric motors to each axle. While the Bridgestone Turanza all-season tires did just fine on various surfaces, I would imagine putting a set of winter shoes would add more grip to even deeper unplowed snow. Just a thought…

As for fuel efficiency, we managed 38.3 MPG during our somewhat early onset of winter. 

There is really no true update for the 2026 model from last year’s model. The exterior design remains sharp. The Dark Cosmos blue paint job and black badging made photography a challenge against the snow and clouds, but it is still a cool hue. However, throw up some sun and it shines. Especially with the dark gray finished 19-inch alloy wheels on this XSE AWD. 

The rear lip spoiler is also an indicator of its sporty intensions. Believe me, it slaps! Then again, I’m a sucker for sporty details like that. 

The interior is inviting with a cockpit that envelops the driver. It is everything you expect in a Toyota – a clean 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, chunky shifter, tactile controls that are logical, and a climate control that does the job even when things get under the freezing mark. I did notice the automatic steering wheel heater. It helps when you forget to wear the right gloves. 

Infotainment-wise, Toyota’s latest system works quite well. A 12.3-inch touchscreen serves as the hub for wireless smartphone connectivity, native navigation, and every playback function you can think of. Sound is emitted through the XSE’s nine-speaker JBL system. It is a wonderful place to get out of a snowy parking lot and onto the newly salted streets of the suburbs. 

You are treated to red leather seats, which is a choice to take for your 2026 Camry XSE. The front seats themselves felt nice, balancing support and comfort. Headroom is great, especially for this six-foot-one-inch wide-ish frame. That includes the rear seats. Don’t worry about the panoramic roof that came with this test vehicle, you have plenty of room inside. 

Trunk space is just right. With 15.1 cubic feet in the rear, I found that you can load a lot in it. Not just foldable mobility devices, but a huge suitcase and a sizeable musical instrument. The latter is missed by this automotive content creator/journalist/writer/hobbyist percussionist. You can fold the rear seatbacks down for longer, flat-packed items.

The reason why we’ve been buzzing about the latest Camry is its driving manners. It is one thing to create a sharp exterior design, give a bit more power to a hybrid driveline, and a cool interior. You have to match these with a chassis that wants to engage with you. 

Even with sportier wheels and some suspension tuning, it still delivers a very comfortable ride. When the tarmac gets rough, the Camry absorbs those imperfections very well. The sport-tuned dampers that comes with the XSE truly hits the spot. When you’re tooling around town, dealing with obstacles left behind by the elements and other people’s carelessness, the 2026 Camry handles it like a pro. Nominal lean and roll were evident. It corners quite nicely, too. 

You can definitely point to how good the electric power steering rack truly is. It starts with a solid on-center feel and response to the wheels. Turns were spot on, as were the brakes. I felt a leap of improvement in the pedal feel and response to the rotors. Great stops were achieved in normal, panic, and winter situations. 

You have four trim levels available on the 2026 Toyota Camry lineup. Each of them gives you a choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Pricing starts from $29,000. Our XSE all-wheel drive test vehicle arrived with a sticker price of $45,096. 

It would seem easy to contrast the two Toyota Camrys we drove in diametrically different climatic conditions. It also seems unfair, if you ask us. However, the short answer is that Toyota has done a thorough job of uplifting its biggest selling sedan from it’s the “boring” image to something worth driving. 

We should just throw that image of the Camry being an appliance in the trash. Give Toyota credit for taking their volume selling sedan and turning into something worth driving. Whether it is a rental car on a business trip, or one that you own proudly, its record speaks for itself. Expected excellent reliability, yes. Now it has this sharp design and driving manners that match. 

There should really be no shame in your game if you have one of the newest Camry sedans. I will add that the XSE with all-wheel drive is a year-round warrior. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by Toyota Motor North America

All photos by Randy Stern