The all-new 2025 Toyota Camry is here and while it operates in an alarmingly thin segment, it seems to have corrected what Toyota couldn’t get right with the previous example. At least that’s what it says on the box, but is there anything else the prospective buyer should know? We find out.

Let’s start with how it looks because a majority of changes have happened to the aesthetics. Its appearance has a touch of sportiness, unlike the previous iterations of the car. It’s visibly sharper than before, its roof appears to be better integrated with the rest of the bodywork, and the alloy wheels don’t look half-bad, either. The large imposing grille at the front and the new headlamps are complemented with new sleek taillights. Not much has been done to the profile but you can get blacked-out elements on the optional dual-tone version, which looks cool. Having said that, if you prefer a pair of Oxfords to go with your attire and not the latest Air Jordans, the single-colour version still exists.

Modern cabin

On the inside, the Camry is still very much the car it’s always been — spacious and comfortable — but made more modern. The rear seat is where you’ll definitely head to if you’re looking for comfort, but the front seat occupants haven’t been forgotten, either. They get electric seat adjustment, seat ventilation, and even more support than before. The rear also gets reclining seats, rear blinds, and AC — the latter can be controlled using a central console with touch-sensitive buttons. The panel also allows the rear passengers to access the car’s audio system, while buttons on the side of the front passenger seat can be used to recline the rear backrest.

In terms of features, the Camry has improved leaps and bounds. While the leather seats are as much a reason to consider the Camry, its feature list is bound to lure you even further. The fully loaded version is the only iteration of the Camry available in India, which means standard inclusions are a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, wireless charging, a 3-zone climate control, soft-touch materials, a 9-speaker JBL audio system, a variety of ADAS and connected car features, a sunroof, and even a digital instrument console, among others. Unfortunately, wireless phone connectivity is limited to Apple CarPlay, so Android Auto can only be accessed if you’re connected using a phone cable.

Ride comfort

Ride comfort at the back is even better than that of previous Camry’s. The ground clearance of 150 mm is enough to tackle most speed breakers. The suspension soaks up nearly everything modern roads throw at the car, but large road imperfections can cause thuds. The steering is dull, but the overall chassis composure is decent, if not sports car-like. The brakes work well, and you also have a range of ADAS features. The sloping roof does eat into some of the headroom, but otherwise, space isn’t a concern. What I didn’t quite particularly enjoy was the presence of shiny plastic surfaces, which didn’t look premium. The digital instrumentation can also benefit from improved interface, the steering has a touch too many buttons and the sunroof’s sun-shade needs to be operated manually.

Under the bonnet, the Toyota Camry is powered by a 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor. The combined output from this 5th generation hybrid system is claimed to be 227 bhp and 22.5 kg-m. An e-CVT gearbox is the only choice you have, and while it has been massively improved, there’s still some rubber-band effect. A 0-100 km/h time of just seven seconds isn’t slow by any yardstick and the effortless acceleration makes the Camry easier to live with — more than before, thanks to its even better refinement now. There are paddle shifters and multiple driving modes, but the latter won’t cause much difference to the way the new Camry drives.

The new Camry is a whole lot of improvement on an already good car. A price tag of ₹48 lakh, ex-showroom, doesn’t make this an absolute bargain, but when you look at what the car has to offer in terms of space and comfort, ease of use, and relatively low running costs, you won’t want to look anywhere else for your next sedan purchase.