10 Reasons Why The Toyota Camry Remains A Popular Mid

Despite the rise in the popularity of SUVs, find out why the Toyota Camry remains one of the most popular cars on the road today

For 20 years, the Toyota Camry has been the most popular sedan in America. The Camry has long been one of Toyota’s most popular cars, and that trend continues with the 2023 model. Despite stiff competition from cars like the Honda Accord and the Hyundai Sonata, the Camry has remained extremely popular.

While SUVs have become increasingly popular in the last few years, the Camry has managed to maintain a solid fan base. Its coupe-inspired design and sleek look have contributed to its immense popularity. The Camry is no slouch under the hood either as Toyota offers an optional 301 horsepower V-6 engine. This is an option that rivals like the Honda Accord, and Hyundai Sonata do not offer.

With plenty of options to choose from, the Camry is one of the most recognizable cars on the market. Toyota understands the popularity of the Camry and has continued to improve on it as one of its premier vehicles. Upgraded trims such as the Nightshade and TRD give the Camry sporty options that turn this well renown daily driver into a joy to drive. With its well-known reputation for reliability and high safety ratings, the Camry is the ideal daily driver.

Information was sourced from Toyota, Motortrend, Car & Driver, and other reputable sources to collect the most accurate data for our readers.

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With the Camry being one of Toyota’s most successful cars, they have put plenty of effort into its development. The sheer volume of trims that Toyota offers the Camry in shows how much faith the Japanese brand has in its popularity. Toyota offers the Camry in 13 trims, which include:

With plenty of options to choose from, there is a Camry for everyone, including trims like the Nightshade and the TRD. The Nightshade comes with matte bronze wheels, and the TRD comes with a stylish spoiler and black trim to help the Camry stand out from the crowd.

With so many trims to choose from, the abundance of options the Camry presents can be confusing. However, the largest difference between them is the different engine options that the trims offer. The base trims such as the LE and SE come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that will output up to 203 horsepower with 184 pound-feet of torque.

The hybrid trims also come with plenty of power under the hood, thanks to Toyota's most efficient hybrid powertrain since 2007. The Toyota Hybrid System allows the hybrids to produce an impressive 208 horsepower. However, the standout performer for the Camry is its V-6 engine that sets it apart from the competition. This powerful V-6 outputs 301 horsepower and comes standard with the TRD, while it is optional for XLE and XSE trims.

An area that the Toyota Camry truly excels in is its fuel economy. Base trims equipped with the front-wheel drive four-cylinder engine, like the LE and SE, are extremely efficient. These trims impress by getting 28 MPG in the city while also getting 39 MPG on the highway. However, the trims equipped with the V-6 engine sacrifice some of this efficiency for power.

Trim

Efficiency (City/Highway)

LE/SE

28 MPG / 39 MPG

XLE/XSE

27 MPG / 38 MPG

LE/SE (All-Wheel Drive)

25 MPG / 34 MPG

XLE/XSE (All-Wheel Drive)

25 MPG / 34 MPG

XLE (V-6 Engine)

22 MPG / 33 MPG

XSE (V-6 Engine)

22 MPG / 32 MPG

TRD (V-6 Engine)

22 MPG / 31 MPG

Trims equipped with the V-6, such as the XLE and TRD, get 22 MPG in the city and up to 33 MPG on the highway. While not as efficient as their four-cylinder siblings, the Camry's V-6 still ranks as one of the more efficient in its class. Its fuel efficiency puts it in front of other V-6 sedans such as the Dodge Charger and the Audi A6.

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While there are plenty of hybrids from different manufacturers on the road today, Toyota has always excelled at producing quality hybrids. The 2023 Camry is no exception, with the Hybrid trims being in a class of their own when compared to their competitors. The Toyota Hybrid System combines the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to output 208 horsepower.

Trim

Efficiency (City/Highway)

Horsepower

Engine

Toyota Camry LE Hybrid

51 MPG / 57 MPG

208 horsepower

Hybrid 2.5L I4

Honda Accord Sport Hybrid

46 MPG / 41 MPG

204 horsepower

Hybrid 2.0L I4

The Toyota Hybrid System produces this horsepower while getting 51 MPG in the city and an impressive 57 MPG on the highway in the base LE Hybrid trim. This fuel efficiency gives the Camry a major leg up on its hybrid competitors like the Honda Accord. The 2023 Honda Accord Sport Hybrid gets a respectable 46 MPG in the city and 41 MPG on the highway, but those pale in comparison to the Hybrid Camry’s efficiency.

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With plenty of space in the interior, the Camry is a large sedan and provides plenty of room in its cabin. With a large cabin and ample space in the back seat, the Camry is a comfortable ride that can fit up to five passengers, including the driver. The Camry also has plenty of cargo space, with 15.3 cubic feet of trunk space, which increases when the back seats down.

Toyota has also increased the cargo capacity of the Hybrids by moving the hybrid battery from the trunk to beneath the rear seats. This change allows hybrid owners to maintain the Camry’s standard cargo capacity while also getting better MPG. While the base trims may be more functional and simple, the upper-level trims are quite luxurious.

The 2023 Camry has plenty of modern amenities and features to keep long road trips entertaining. All trims of the 2023 Camrys come standard with Entune 3.0, which is Toyota's touchscreen infotainment system. While this system comes standard across all trims there is an enhanced version available. Some of the Interior features of the Camry include:

Toyota also offers optional upgrades for the Camry’s infotainment systems. Some of these upgrades include:

These features help to keep even the longest car rides entertaining. The features also provide the driver with some useful tools to make their job easier.

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Toyota has long had a reputation for producing quality cars that are extremely efficient and reliable. The 2023 Camry continues this trend of exceptional reliability. However, it also makes the actual experience of driving the Camry more enjoyable. With a smooth and controlled ride, the Camry is a joy to drive.

The Camry's responsive handling makes it feel nimble and quick. The weighted steering helps the Camry corner while staying light when maneuvering around on the open road. The Camry’s braking is responsive and doesn’t feel too much like a cushion.

While all the Camry trims are enjoyable drives, the TRD trim is the standout performer among them. With a powerful V-6 engine that provides 301 horsepower and upgraded TRD suspension with slightly larger brakes to make this trim the sportiest of the bunch.

Safety has been an area that Toyota has excelled in, and the 2023 Camry is no different. The Camry’s reputation for driver safety is well established thanks to its abundance of safety features. The Camry is an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ recipient, and it received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Toyota makes driver assist technology standard across all the Camry’s available trims. Toyota’s standard driver assist technology, Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ system, includes features such as:

While the reliability of Toyota is well established, they still offer a comprehensive warranty to ensure the Camry stays on the road. While rivals like the Kia Optima and Hyundai Sonata offer longer warranty periods for the class, the warranty that Toyota offers for its 2023 Camry is still able to hold its own.

The basic warranty that Toyota offers coverage lasts for 36 months or 36,000 miles. This warranty covers all components other than normal wear and maintenance items. Toyota offers more comprehensive coverage plans like the Powertrain Warranty. This warranty offers coverage for 60 months or 60,000 miles. The Powertrain Warranty covers:

Along with these warranties, Toyota also offers complimentary maintenance for the first two years or 25,000 miles.

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One of the most appealing aspects of the 2023 Camry is its affordability. The affordability of the Camry has been a major factor in what has kept it such a popular car for so long. The 2023 Camry continues this trend, providing a reliable, well-performing sedan for a very appealing price across all trims. The base model trim, the LE, starts at an accessible MSRP of $26,320.

The highest-end trims remain reasonably priced with the top-of-the-line trim, the V-6 XSE, starting at an MSRP of $36,745. The best Camry for the price is the Hybrid XLE, which starts at an MSRP of $33,545. The Hybrid XLE is the perfect encapsulation of what the Camry excels at. It offers a fantastic ride with a luxurious interior and terrific fuel efficiency.

Raised on shows like Top Gear and Fast And Loud, Brian has been a car enthusiast since he was a child.