Test Drive Gallery: 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE

2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE

Miles driven: 652

Fuel used: 13.7 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 47.6 mpg

Driving mix: 50% city, 50% highway

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	B+
Power and Performance	B
Fit and Finish	A-
Fuel Economy	A
Value	B+

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A-
Tall Guy	A-

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	208-hp 2.5-liter
Engine Type	4-cylinder hybrid
Transmission	CVT automatic
Drive Wheels	front

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 44/47/46 (mpg city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $32,920 (not including $1025 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Driver Assist Package ($1430), Cold Weather Package ($150; includes heated steering wheel), Navigation Package ($1760), two-tone Midnight Black Metallic roof paint and rear spoiler–includes black window trim and sideview mirror caps ($500), carpet/trunk mat set ($259), door edge guard ($129), rear bumper applique ($69), door sill protectors ($199), mudguards ($129), rocker applique ($75)

Price as tested: $38,645

Quick Hits

The great: Smooth agreeable hybrid powertrain; excellent fuel economy

The good: XSE trim delivers convincingly upscale, sporty ambiance

The not so good: Acceleration, though respectable, isn’t as peppy as the looks promise

More Camry price and availability information

CG Says:

Toyota’s popular mainstream midsize sedan got a mild update for 2021 that included freshened front-end styling, an updated infotainment system with “tablet-style” touchscreens, and Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of driver-assistance systems as standard equipment. The model lineup also gained a new trim level that seemed a bit incongruous at first blush: the Camry Hybrid XSE.

The pairing of the Camry’s fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain with the sporty-luxury trimmings of the XSE (the top-tier version of both the 4-cylinder and V6-powered Camrys) might not be an obvious one, but for the right shopper it’s the best of both worlds. You get the stellar fuel economy and respectable smoothness of the Camry Hybrid’s 2.5-liter 4-cylinder gas/electric hybrid powertrain with a sportier look than the traditional-luxury Hybrid XLE model offers (and at least a slightly more athletic driving character as well, thanks to the XSE’s standard upsized wheels and lower-profile tires).

The Camry got a lot flashier with its redesign for 2018, and the XSE’s blacked-out body trim, rear spoiler, and 19-inch black-finished alloy wheels—not to mention the striking Cockpit Red leather upholstery in our test vehicle—further amp up the sporty vibe. The Camry Hybrid’s powertrain makes a combined 208 horsepower—not enough to throw you back in your seat, but enough that the XSE’s caffeinated look doesn’t seem delusional.

And it’s hard to argue with the fuel economy. We averaged an impressive 47.6 mpg in an even mix of city/highway driving—a shade better than the EPA’s estimate of 46 mpg in combined driving. If you want more go than the Camry Hybrid offers (and fuel economy isn’t as important to you), you can step up to a Camry V6, which delivers 301 hp and comes in an extra-sporty TRD model.

You’ll have to pay extra for that V6 too. At $32,920 to start, the XSE is the priciest model in the Camry Hybrid lineup. Its MSRP is about $2200 pricier than a Camry XSE with the non-hybrid 4-cylinder (the Camry’s base engine), but around $2900 cheaper than a XSE with the V6. The Camry TRD is about $500 cheaper than the Hybrid XSE, but it’s also less lavishly equipped.

Our Hybrid XSE tester came finished in Celestial Silver Metallic with a Midnight Black Metallic roof (that two-tone treatment is a $500 option that also includes black window trim and a black finish on the rear spoiler and rearview mirror caps). The Driver Assist Package is well worth its $1430 price tag, as it adds a handful of very desirable features: a 10-inch color head-up display, 360-degree “Bird’s Eye View” camera display, Intelligent Clearance Sonar (Toyota’s park-assist sensor/braking system) with Rear Cross Traffic Braking, and multi-stage ventilated front seats. The $1760 Navigation Package brings features such as a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen, Premium Audio with nine JBL-brand speakers, and Toyota Connected Services with a 1-year free trial.

With a bottom-line price of $38,645 as-tested, our Camry XSE might not seem like a real bargain. But with the way new-vehicle prices are now (thanks to COVID-induced supply chain issues), a nicely equipped, very economical midsize sedan with a sticker price less than $40K qualifies as a good deal—especially when it’s a perennially reliable Toyota with surprisingly sporty look.

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