2026 Toyota Camry SL review

The automotive manufacture is an unstoppable unit of alteration and evolution, but the Toyota Camry remains the metaphorical immovable entity it ever has been.

Toyota's evergreen sedan entered its existent procreation successful precocious 2024 but carried implicit galore components from the preceding iteration, albeit with improvements to practicality, power, and efficiency. There person been nary changes to the existent Camry since launch, either.

But adjacent so, it remains 1 of Toyota's best-selling vehicles. More than 6000 units person been sold successful Australia truthful acold successful 2026, and it's 1 of the fewer models successful the Japanese brand's portfolio to spot a year-on-year income uptick.

It's adjacent been Australia's best-selling conveyance successful the shrinking sedan conception successful caller months, outpacing the likes of the Tesla Model 3 by a fewer 100 units per period and comprehensively beating others similar the BYD Seal, Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata.

Granted, astir of its income travel from Uber and taxis, but not each Camrys are destined for the rideshare game. A premier illustration is the 2026 Toyota Camry SL connected trial here, the best-equipped and astir costly Camry presently connected sale. But is it worthy the premium?

How overmuch does the Toyota Camry cost?

The SL sits astatine the precise apical of the Camry range, priced astatine $53,990 earlier on-road costs.

The cohort of Camry rivals has shrunk successful caller years, though it competes with a fistful of different hybrid oregon electrical sedans. Most notable is the electrical Tesla Model 3, which starts astatine $54,900 earlier on-roads but jumps to $61,900 earlier on-roads for the Long Range variant.

There's besides the electrical BYD Seal, priced astatine either $46,990 oregon $52,990 earlier on-roads for non-performance models. BYD has besides introduced the plug-in hybrid Seal 6, which is marginally smaller than the Camry but importantly cheaper astatine $34,990 earlier on-roads.

There's besides the Honda Accord e:HEV RS ($64,900 drive-away), the non-hybrid Hyundai Sonata N Line ($56,500 earlier on-roads), and, of course, the Camry-based Lexus ES (from $65,540 earlier on-roads).

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

What is the Toyota Camry similar connected the inside?

There's rather a batch going connected visually, but the compartment of the SL proves to beryllium comfortable, practical, and adjacent borderline luxurious.

It manages to bash truthful portion remaining chiseled from the undeniably plush Lexus ES, and it's not an exaggeration to see it 1 of the astir premium interiors successful Toyota's full exemplary range. Why? Simple: worldly choice, functionality, and carnal comforts.

We'll preface the constituent astir materials by noting that astir surfaces don't look peculiarly flashy erstwhile you archetypal hop in. The dashboard and doorway cards are finished successful a grainy synthetic texture synonymous with cheap, scratchy plastics, and it's hard to shingle that perception.

But erstwhile you interaction and consciousness everything, it's each remarkably soft. All those surfaces that look similar they'd beryllium hard and scratchy are really padded, giving a much gentle borderline to a compartment astir would subordinate with Uber earlier luxury.

Naturally, determination are inactive immoderate scratchy plastics successful high-traffic areas similar the sides of the centre console and little portions of the dashboard, but that's hardly an issue.

It's the cardinal touchpoints wherever materials are astatine their best. The steering wheel, for one, is finished successful beauteous creaseless leather that gives the operator a due content of 'premium', particularly erstwhile paired with the driving acquisition we'll item later.

The SL is besides the lone Camry to connection powered steering instrumentality accommodation – thing astir would lone subordinate with existent luxury brands – and 2 levels of instrumentality heating, which is each conscionable bully to have.

The seats, meanwhile, are precise comfy and finished successful leather, though the trim connected our car’s driver’s spot someway looked stretched. They connection a wide scope of powered adjustments and support decent bolstering without going implicit the top, and we enjoyed the SL's inclusion of spot heating and ventilation.

The armrests are soft, the cogwheel selector is finished successful leather, and each interior buttons are existent – nary touch-sensitive nonsense to beryllium recovered here. That said, we don't needfully emotion the sheer magnitude of buttons connected the steering wheel, nor the information that immoderate of them are finished successful piano-black plastic.

The lone existent downside to the Camry SL's worldly palette is the wide usage of glossy achromatic plastic. Apart from the steering instrumentality buttons and the apical fractional of the clime system, determination are immense slabs of it connected the centre console and dashboard.

While the dashboard's slab is an unremarkable plan piece, characterised by agelong horizontal slats and its travel into the glossy infotainment housing, the centre console is acold much egregious. Given the proximity of the cogwheel selector, cupholders, thrust mode buttons, and wireless charger, this volition get scratched successful nary time.

It's the lone genuinely questionable diagnostic successful here. Everything other is impressively good, chiefly due to the fact that it's truthful elemental – conscionable however Toyota knows however to bash things. That's much than tin beryllium said astir the screen-heavy Model 3.

The clime strategy is wholly physical, takes conscionable a infinitesimal to fig retired connected the move, and each buttons consciousness sturdy. Any changes are displayed connected a elemental screen, which volition assistance newcomers to fig retired what their inputs are really doing.

This ties into that functionality aspect. All cardinal compartment controls autumn onto carnal buttons oregon levers, and it people feels familiar. It whitethorn inactive instrumentality you a portion to fathom retired the wide array of steering instrumentality buttons, mostly due to the fact that Toyota has, arsenic ever, crammed successful arsenic galore arsenic possible.

Invariably, it's hard to find things genuinely incorrect with the Camry's interior. It each conscionable works, and does truthful without forcing you to archetypal gain a grade successful bundle development. On that note, the infotainment strategy is functional and tidy.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and we had nary connectivity issues during our week with the car – three USB-C ports are beneath if you prefer. Vehicle settings and different autochthonal apps are accessible via a vertical shortcut ribbon, and the menus present are not overwhelmingly info-dense.

The instrumentality show is besides crisp, though its functionality is somewhat little streamlined. Its enactment of layouts and accusation menus is navigable utilizing steering instrumentality buttons, but it's somewhat unintuitive. You won't request to beryllium flicking done this system, truthful that isn't the extremity of the world.

Touching connected front-row storage, the Camry is well-equipped. Cupholders and cubbies are featured connected the centre console, the high-riding cardinal armrest opens to uncover a ample retention box, and nether the funny swooping portion of dashboard connected the rider broadside is simply a accepted glovebox.

It's worthy mentioning that the compartment is mostly rather compact, and obscurity is that clearer than successful the 2nd row. That isn't astonishing for a car successful this segment, but it'll inactive beryllium squeezy for 3 adults trying to battalion successful broadside by side.

Headroom could besides beryllium better, but it isn't horribly limiting if you aren't immoderate taller than 173cm. Legroom, by contrast, is decent and volition stay truthful if the front-row occupants are besides of humble stature, adjacent if this is nary long-wheelbase Lexus ES.

In the mediate is an intrusive driveline tunnel, supra which sits a brace of aerial vents and USB-C ports. There's besides a brushed fold-down centre armrest with a brace of cupholders, representation pockets connected the beforehand seatbacks, and vessel holders successful the doors.

Rounding it retired is an expansive boot. It's comfortably ample successful existent sedan form, adjacent if Toyota's capableness punctuation of 524 litres is smaller than rivals similar the Honda Accord (570 litres) and Tesla Model 3 (594 litres).

If you request much space, you tin fold the rear seats down. This creates a constrictive spread into the cabin, but the level volition ne'er beryllium wholly flat, and it's unusual that there's nary middle-seat passthrough. That means you suffer astatine slightest 1 of the outboard rear seats erstwhile transporting longer items.

Still, the Camry's footwear volition beryllium much than capable for a mates of suitcases oregon a load of groceries. Better yet, there's inactive a space-saver spare instrumentality nether the load floor.

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

What's nether the bonnet?

Powering the Camry is simply a 2.5-litre non-turbo four-cylinder petrol motor paired with a hybrid system, producing up to 170kW of powerfulness – Toyota doesn't punctuation a combined torque figure. Drive is sent to the beforehand wheels via an physics continuously adaptable transmission (e-CVT).

It's worthy pointing retired that, contempt its economy-car status, the Camry requires astatine slightest 95-octane substance alternatively than cheaper 91-octane. This is existent for each variants.

Our week with the car chiefly progressive commuting connected some the road and successful the suburbs. That isn't each that acold detached from the habits of galore Camry drivers, and portion our recorded substance system was higher than claimed, it was inactive impressively low.

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

How does the Toyota Camry drive?

This is wherever the Camry truly shines.

In a marketplace dominated by hastily developed SUVs and taut ladder-frame utes, it is incredibly refreshing to hop down the instrumentality of thing with the proportions and characteristics of a accepted sedan similar this.

You'll instantly announcement that the Camry doesn't consciousness bloated successful immoderate way. Its exterior hasn't experienced immoderate undue growth, and its compartment is compact without feeling cramped.

That creates an fantabulous driving position, arsenic you beryllium reasonably debased yet support a wide presumption of the extracurricular world. You besides person a large consciousness of precisely however large the car is astir you, which makes it casual to spot connected the road.

Combine that with interior elements similar the beauteous steering wheel, supportive seats, and achromatic headliner, and you person a car that is simply a joyousness to beryllium in. Once you get moving, the Camry backs that up with smooth, refined performance.

Setting disconnected connected electrical powerfulness volition beryllium quiet, arsenic expected, though there's inactive capable pep if you request to get going successful a hurry. Ask for much urgent acceleration and the petrol motor fires up, with the hybrid strategy capable to present up to 170kW.

This powerfulness level is perfectly acceptable for a car similar the Camry SL. It isn't meant to beryllium a sports car, but it's much than susceptible of getting retired of its ain mode with precise small hazard of getting the operator into immoderate speed-related trouble.

As with each different hybrid Toyota, the power betwixt electrical and petrol powerfulness is ever seamless. More punch is disposable by selecting Sport mode, which sharpens throttle effect and keeps the motor firing, making overtakes a breeze.

The lone gripe we tin reasonably rise with this powertrain is that the petrol motor tin beryllium a spot of a buzz box, particularly astatine precocious RPM. It's muffled good capable not to beryllium a existent issue, but it is audible – at slightest its frugal quality makes this forgivable.

Otherwise, roadworthy and upwind sound are kept to a minimum, and, for once, the larger wheels fitted to the SL don't person astir arsenic important an interaction arsenic astir different ample alloys. The 18-inch wheels are inactive reasonably modest, and it means there's conscionable capable rubber to support the compartment quiescent portion inactive looking the portion connected the outside.

Then comes thrust and handling. The Camry's thrust prime exceeds its terms point, acknowledgment to a suspension damping setup that is practically cleanable for the car. It glides implicit velocity bumps and does good to mitigate smaller imperfections, with nary existent juddering coming into the compartment connected corrugated roads.

At precocious speed, the car's assemblage settles aft ample bumps without a hint of bouncing, with adjacent the roughest of sealed determination roads ironed retired to bully effect. This is each particularly awesome erstwhile you see that it's been achieved without adaptive damping.

Its handling isn't each that sharp, but the car doesn't autumn implicit successful turns either. We recovered it could transportation velocity connected a bendy roadworthy without excessively overmuch fuss, but the plush suspension doesn't lend itself to genuine corner-carving capability. For a car similar the Camry, that's wholly fine.

The steering feel, meanwhile, errs connected the heavier broadside and gives the car substance. At nary constituent did we conflict with thing feeling wobbly, and the gradual borderline to the humble powerfulness transportation means torque steer is ne'er truly a problem.

We bash find it funny that the Camry is fitted with paddle shifters erstwhile it has nary gears, but they tin beryllium useful. The champion exertion we could find was maintaining velocity downhill, wherever a mates of 'downshifts' provided important regen/engine braking.

The cherry connected apical is simply a suite of wholly unintrusive information gear. Unlike newer Toyotas, the Camry's driver-monitoring camera is refreshingly relaxed, and nary reactive systems similar lane-keep assistance ever harvest up without a genuine crushed to bash so.

The adaptive cruise power and lane-centring are assured and reliable, and, with each different strength, the Camry is simply a genuinely effortless commuter car.

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

What bash you get?

The Toyota Camry is disposable successful 3 chiseled exemplary grades.

2026 Toyota Camry Ascent instrumentality highlights:

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Space-saver spare wheel
• Auto LED headlights
• LED process lights
• Black cloth upholstery
• Manual beforehand spot adjustment
• 7.0-inch instrumentality clump display
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• DAB+ integer radio
• Bluetooth
• 6-speaker dependable system
• 1 x beforehand USB-C audio port
• 2 x beforehand USB-C charging ports
• 2 x rear USB-C ports
• Dual-zone clime control
• Toyota Connected Services – 12 months complimentary access

Camry Ascent Sport adds:

• LED fog lights
• Stainless alloy scuff plates
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 8-way powerfulness driver's seat
• Driver's spot lumbar support
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless telephone charger

Camry SL adds:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Heated broadside mirrors with presumption memory
• Rain-sensing wipers
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Power steering instrumentality adjustment
• Heated steering wheel
• Steering instrumentality paddle shifters
• Leather-accented upholstery
• Heated and ventilated beforehand seats
• Driver's spot presumption memory
• 8-way powerfulness beforehand rider seat
• Head-up display
• 12.3-inch integer instrumentality display
• 9-speaker JBL dependable system
• Panoramic sunroof

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

Is the Toyota Camry safe?

The Toyota Camry has a five-star ANCAP information standing based connected investigating conducted successful 2024.

Standard information instrumentality highlights:

• 8 airbags, incl:
• • Front
  • Front-side
  • Centre
  • Curtain
  • Driver's knee
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Driver attraction monitoring
• Emergency conveyance stop
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Lane departure warning
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reversing camera
• Safe exit assist
• Speed motion recognition

The Camry SL adds a surround-view monitor.

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

How overmuch does the Toyota Camry outgo to run?

Toyota Australia backs its scope with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty. Servicing for the Camry is required each 12 months oregon 15,000km, whichever comes first.

Maintenance for the Camry's nonstop rivals is mostly much expensive. Hyundai quotes $2350 for 5 years of Sonata servicing, portion BYD quotes $1805 for the Seal.

The objection is Honda, which offers 5 years of $199 services crossed its exemplary range. That means 5 years of Accord attraction totals conscionable $995.

To spot however the Toyota Camry stacks up against the competition, usage our comparison tool

CarExpert's Take connected the Toyota Camry SL

The Camry SL is simply a genuinely beauteous car, and its luxurious fittings bash plentifulness to abstracted it from its fleet-favourite siblings.

Importantly, each those nicer inclusions don't compromise the already-strong bones underneath. It's inactive comfy and consistently efficient, yet everything that could punctual you of your astir caller Uber travel has been updated with leather, soft-touch materials, and a prime dependable system.

Those things marque it a overmuch much idiosyncratic car. It's not needfully a atrocious happening that the Camry's associated with rideshares either, due to the fact that astatine slightest that means you alert nether the radar, adjacent if the car whitethorn not beryllium everyone's explanation of interesting.

But the champion portion is that the Camry is inactive conscionable a car. It isn't trying to wow you with space-age tech, nor is it touting that it tin bash everything for you – everything conscionable works.

You could accidental the aforesaid astir cars similar the Accord, but the Camry wins again successful presumption of value. It's cheaper than each its nonstop rivals, yet it inactive gives disconnected a Lexus-lite vibe. It's simply a complete, well-rounded vehicle, and that's progressively uncommon these days.

They accidental 'if it ain't broke, don't hole it', and the Camry is precisely why.

CarExpert tin prevention you thousands connected a caller Toyota Camry. Click here to get a large deal.

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