2022 Toyota Camry

Toyota’s perennial sedan is back for 2022 with its typical dizzying array of flavors. Eighteen options, including three V6 grades, five four-cylinder trims with front-wheel drive, five four-cylinder versions with all-wheel drive and five hybrid grades offer a combination for just about every driver. In 2021, the Japanese brand sold more than 313,000 Camrys in the United States alone, making it the top-selling passenger car. And for good reason, as the Camry is like a well-loved security blanket—reliable, safe and predictably comfortable.

This year’s Camry is the fifth iteration within the eighth generation, which launched in 2018. Cosmetic changes are on tap this year, like the debut of a New SE Hybrid Nightshade Edition. The V6-carrying Camry TRD is now available in a fetching two-tone color scheme of Cavalry Blue with a Midnight Black Metallic roof. Ice Edge replaces Galactic Aqua as a paint option, and the XLE is now available with a herringbone seat pattern inside. Remaining are two engine types (a four-cylinder and V6 option) and a fuel-sipping hybrid.

In the midsize sedan segment, competitors to the Camry include the Honda Accord, Mazda6, Kia K5, Hyundai Sonata and Nissan Altima. Kia and Hyundai have been steadily gaining fans by offering reasonably priced, well-appointed cars with generous warranties. However, it’s the Accord that persists in challenging Toyota to keep the Camry on top. From a cargo perspective, the Accord offers 16.7 cubic-feet in the trunk versus the Camry’s 15.1 cubic-feet. If performance is a top priority, the Camry wins with more horsepower in each of its two engine options, and it’s available with all-wheel drive—the Accord is not.

Toyota equips the Camry with two capable powerplants: A 2.4-liter, 203 horsepower four-cylinder engine is standard on LE ($25,845), SE ($27,385), SE Nightshade ($28,085), XLE ($30,595) and XSE ($31,145) trims (206 hp for the XSE, which uses a dual-outlet exhaust). A 3.5-liter, 301 hp V6 is standard on the TRD ($32,910) trim and optional for the XSE and XLE variants. The hybrid (starting at $27,980 on the LE trim) is a star when it comes to fuel economy.

Every Camry level comes with Toyota’s comprehensive Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of features, like automatic high beams, pre-collision with pedestrian detection and lane keeping assist. Inside, a standard 7-inch or optional 9-inch infotainment touchscreen sits in the center. And a 10-inch color head-up display is available with the XLE and XSE trims.

The steering is solid, the ride is compliant, and the cabin is well laid out with simple controls. Upgrading from the base to the SE adds a sport-tuned suspension that improves the ride even more; jumping up to the XLE pumps up the value with a host of other useful elements like full-speed adaptive cruise control, keyless entry, leather upholstery and more. Efficiently designed and dressed for middle-of-the-road success, the Camry is easy to own and drive. 

Performance: 12/15

Most 2022 Camrys are equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable transmission. Depending on the trim level, drivers can count on between 202 and 206 horsepower and can choose between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available with the four-cylinder option (and it reduces the horsepower by one), but not with the V6. 

In the hybrid version, the Camry starts with a detuned version of the 2.5-liter four and layers on two electric motors for a total system output of 208 horsepower.

For those who want a more robust drive, the XLE and XSE are available with a 3.5-liter V6, rated at 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The TRD trim comes standard with a cat-back dual exhaust system (that connects back to the catalytic converter) and the larger engine, which offers a satisfyingly zippy ride and throatier sounds to match. 

Fuel Economy: 14/15

At 32 miles per gallon combined (28 city/39 highway), the four-cylinder Camry is among the top in its class. Its combined rating is bested by the 2022 Accord by only 1 mpg, and the Camry achieves one better than the 2022 Sonata. The 2022 K5 trails behind at 27 mpg combined. 

In the hybrid version, it pairs the four-cylinder gas engine with two electric motors, one for power and one to charge the battery. With the hybrid, Camry gets a respectable 52 mpg combined. That’s twice as much fuel economy as the V6 Camry can get and 20 mpg more than the four-cylinder. To compare, Honda’s Accord Hybrid is rated at 48 mpg combined and the Sonata Hybrid is rated at 47.

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 14/15

Toyota doesn’t skimp on safety features, and the Camry comes standard with a full suite of driver-assist systems, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alerts, automatic high beams, full-speed range dynamic adaptive cruise control, road sign assist and lane keep assist. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 Toyota Camry a Top Safety Pick+ award and top marks for crashworthiness across the board, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the Camry five stars overall.

Stepping up to the XLE trim (which is roughly $3,000 more than the base LE) brings full-speed adaptive cruise control, which can bring the vehicle to a full stop, and blind spot monitoring. A driver assist package is also offered in a $3,190 add-on that includes a 360-degree camera system, head-up display and rear automatic braking. Overall, the safety package matches up closely with Honda’s 2022 Accord.

Comfort & Room: 12/15

Seating in the Camry is comfortable but not plush. Legroom in the first row is reasonable, measuring 42.1 inches. The Accord offers a negligible difference, but the Sonata and K5 will be more accommodating for taller passengers at 46.1 inches. Rear seat riders will appreciate more leg room with 38 inches in the Camry as opposed to 34.8 inches in the Sonata and 35.2 inches in the K5. However, the Accord, which is 4 inches longer than the Camry, includes a generous 40.4 inches in the second row and 1.2 inches more headroom. 

Knobs and controls are thoughtfully laid out inside the cabin. There’s even a volume and tuning button, which is most appreciated, although the gently textured knobs could be larger for easier grip. 

Infotainment: 12/15

The infotainment system includes a 7-inch floating touchscreen display (9-inch displays come with the upper trims), Bluetooth, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, Amazon Alexa integration and SiriusXM. Audiophiles may consider adding the JBL 800-watt, nine-speaker in the upper trims. Three USB ports are included and a wireless charger is optional starting with the XLE trim. 

Toyota’s user interface mimics a smartphone and is refreshingly simple. But built-in navigation, which is available as a $1,760 add-on, is perhaps a bit too simplified. However, Toyota knows drivers are moving toward smartphone navigation anyway. It remains to be seen if the Camry will adopt Lexus’ new tech-forward 14-inch touchscreen, first introduced in the 2022 NX.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

Trunk space for the Camry is on the small side in its class. While the Toyota offers 15.1 cubic-feet, the Accord eclipses that number with a relatively cavernous 16.7 cubic-feet and the Sonata and K5 tie with 16 cubes. On the other hand, the Camry’s trunk opening is wide and welcoming, making it easy to load everything from groceries to the kids’ hockey equipment. Inside, the rear seatbacks fold forward to provide extra space, which is helpful when carting around longer items. 

Small items like wallets, devices, and snacks can be secured in the door, console and behind-the-seat pouches. The door pockets are roomy but short, so placing tall drinks or water bottles is challenging. 

Style & Design: 8/10

In its base LE trim, the Camry is perfectly fine, albeit unexciting. It’s a similar story for its competitor Accord, which also offers an ample package for under $30,000. Working your way up the trim line, the Camry gets more and more Lexus-like, especially in the XLE and XSE variants. 

For a car that stands out, Toyota revived its Cavalry Blue paint for the TRD version of the Camry, topped off with an attractive Midnight Black Metallic roof. The TRD version also rides lower, giving it more of a sports sedan appearance. XSE models also get the two-tone treatment in combinations of Supersonic Red, Wind Chill Pearl or Celestial Silver Metallic with the same black roof and rear spoiler.

Is the 2022 Toyota Camry Worth it? Which Camry is the Best Value?

At $25,845 plus a $1,025 handling fee, the Camry LE comes with the four-cylinder engine, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, 17-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touchscreen, 60/40 adjustable rear seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 driver-assist suite. 

Stepping up to the SE for $27,385 means the addition of, most notably, a sport-tuned suspension for a smoothed-out ride. Simulated leather replaces cloth seats, and the exterior gets a few unique trim touches. For $700 more, the new SE Nightshade trim has a personality of its own with color-matched door handles and mirrors, 18-inch black wheels, a black “shark fin” antenna, window trim and badging. The $30,595 XLE ups the amenity package significantly, adding leather upholstery, a 10-inch head-up display, a wireless charging pad, among other niceties. 

The best value is the Camry Hybrid, especially when considering fuel economy. At its base level it is as spare as its gas-only counterpart at $27,980, but in the XLE trim (priced out at $33,395 total) the hybrid provides a smart package.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure the 2022 Toyota Camry?

A Camry should cost as much to insure as most of its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of around $2,095 for the base model and up to $2,277 for the highest trim Hybrid version. Similar vehicles like the Honda Accord might see a driver paying around $2,100 per year across trim levels, while the Hyundai Sonata starts around $2,200 and Kia’s sedan K5 starts around $2,130. For a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.