2025 Camry Test Drive Review

I'm finding that to be true on my 2021. Not awful, just not great.

Economically, one should always buy used. But... all used cars had to be bought new by someone, right?
Sounds about right. I have no problem jumping in and driving it about everyday. Take it on a long trip and I’m not pleased with the seating position or the comfort.
Also doesn’t seem like Toyota managed to improve the NVH levels enough for my liking to consider moving trading up to a newer/newish Corolla.

But hey, my Corolla has matching cloth door inserts that I believe the newer gens including the 2021 don’t have :D
 
Yeah. I wouldn't have bought a 9th gen Corolla if I didn't stumble on the reddit posts about original owners reaching 300k miles with just a few basic repairs. Also, getting 40 MPG on the highway (if I drive it gently and go the speed limit) for a commuter car is nice.
Also, the Toyota timing chains last the life of the car (unlike Fords where they seem to last less miles than a rubber timing belt).
For only 4k miles, I couldn't pass it up.

In contrast, I have three Honda Odyssey EX-L's with the high level of luxury, but I get frequently flyer miles from my local mechanic with those 3. As much as I like those, they are money pits. The Corolla was a way for me to try out the minimalist approach, with super reliable, super frugal, transportation.
I get it. I own one and they are very very reliable. If you got one for $4k with such few miles, that’s actually a great find! Keep an eye on that timing chain tensioner o-ring as those tend to leak. Good luck with piling on the miles and getting it to 299,999 (at which point the odo stops counting as you probably already know).
 
* - I had a 2025 Camry as a rental, it seemed like a nice car but I just couldn't find a comfortable seating position which completely ruined the driving experience for me. The tilt steering wheel had very little up and down travel, so if I raised the seat up at all my legs rubbed the steering wheel so I was forced to drive with my legs completely extended out in a very awkward and uncomfortable position.

* - I inherited a high mileage 9th gen Corolla from my mother in law and drove it around for a year (in 2022). The best I can say about the car is that it was a reliable turd. I can be cheap, but not cheap enough to drive something like that.
 
I get it. I own one and they are very very reliable. If you got one for $4k with such few miles, that’s actually a great find! Keep an eye on that timing chain tensioner o-ring as those tend to leak. Good luck with piling on the miles and getting it to 299,999 (at which point the odo stops counting as you probably already know).
Thanks for the tip on the timing chain tensioner O-Ring. I'm compiling a list of some common issues with that generation so I can be on the lookout if anything happens. I'm only using high mileage full synthetic oil in it with the hope of preventing all the seals and O-Rings from leaking.

Out of respect for the Original Poster, I don't want to send this thread on a tangent. Please private message me if you have any helpful advice on common issues or quirks I should be mindful of with the car. Thanks.
 
$37K is the new $27K from just a few years ago. Also a few years ago you would get several thousand off. Now they want add on market adjustments.

Current Camry loaded is $37K, and they want $37K. In a year and a bit more economic slowing they will be $31K.
 
I've owned older Camry's, a relatively new Camry, and now a relatively new Corolla. City driving, the 'rolla might be nicer. Highway? Camry all the way.

I realize $40k is the new $20k but ouch. I wish I hadn't wrecked my last two Camry's.
When did a XLE Camry last sell new for $20,000 ?
 
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When did a XLE Camry last sell new for $20,000 ?
No idea, have never shopped for an XLE. But I was lamenting about when I could get a decent car for $20k. Now it takes $40k. I realize it's inflation, and that my pay has (sorta) kept up with inflation, but it still stings.
 
It was CFM red. Rode nice as it had 65 series tire and 16 in wheels. My salesperson (about my age) just could not comprehend why I preferred the smaller 16 inch wheels. Didn't even try to explain. Life goes on.
I feel the same way about wheels. Had a Camry rental and liked it a lot, except 2 things:
  1. Large 18" rims with low profile tires held the car back in all aspects: handling, comfort, performance and fuel economy. I'd much prefer the 16" wheels.
  2. The front seat headrests are positioned way too far forward and gave both me and my wife sore necks.
 
I feel the same way about wheels. Had a Camry rental and liked it a lot, except 2 things:
  1. Large 18" rims with low profile tires held the car back in all aspects: handling, comfort, performance and fuel economy. I'd much prefer the 16" wheels.
  2. The front seat headrests are positioned way too far forward and gave both me and my wife sore necks.
didn't notice the headrests. The seats were pretty decent, then again it was a 15 minute drive. Myself, I could not buy, simply because of the multitude of pushbuttons on the steering wheel, that are tiny, have poor contrast and the tiny buttons are close together. The cabin was a dark place as both I looked at had the dark charcoal interior.
 
No idea, have never shopped for an XLE. But I was lamenting about when I could get a decent car for $20k. Now it takes $40k. I realize it's inflation, and that my pay has (sorta) kept up with inflation, but it still stings.

1993 Toyota Camry Pricing

Deluxe Wagon 4D$18,908$1,969
LE Wagon 4D$19,553$1,972
XLE Sedan 4D$20,203$1,900
SE Sedan 4D$21,188$2,048
From Google it was 1993
 
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1993 Toyota Camry Pricing

Deluxe Wagon 4D$18,908$1,969
LE Wagon 4D$19,553$1,972
XLE Sedan 4D$20,203$1,900
SE Sedan 4D$21,188$2,048
From Google it was 1993
1993? worse than I thought. Maybe I got a really good deal in 2011 on my stripper Camry, it was $20k at 0%. Only loan that I let go to the full 5 year term.
 
1993 Toyota Camry Pricing

Deluxe Wagon 4D$18,908$1,969
LE Wagon 4D$19,553$1,972
XLE Sedan 4D$20,203$1,900
SE Sedan 4D$21,188$2,048
From Google it was 1993


I remember looking at new Camrys before the pandemic (2019). The window sticker in a nicely optioned SE was about $27K.

From Google:
The 2019 Toyota Camry's price depended on the trim level and options, starting at $25,050 and going up to $30,680:
  • L: $25,050
  • LE: $25,555
  • SE: $26,755
  • XLE: $30,130
  • XSE: $30,680
 
Buying a new 2025 Toyota Camry (for $37k) sounds exciting.

A different approach which I took was:
For only $4k, I recently bought a used 2008 Toyota Corolla CE with 60k miles from an original owner (elderly couple) who decided to sell it as they had gotten too old to drive it. I'm using it as a commuter car currently (driving it 20-25k miles a year) all highway driving. It's getting 40 MPG on the highway if I drive it gently and go the speed limit.

On the reddit forums, many original owners of this generation Corolla say theirs went to 300k miles with only a few basic repairs. It's stays super reliable from 200k to 300k miles as well (according to the owners on reddit). I am hoping I can go another 240k+ miles out of mine.

Even though you can spend $37k on a new Camry, you don't have to spend $37 to get super reliable transportation. Why not spend $4k instead, and save the other $33k.
The same can be said between a small SUV vs midsize car. People buy what they want instead of what fit just right for them. I don't always agree with what others do but that's what freedom means.
 
When did a XLE Camry last sell new for $20,000 ?
Probably 2001. That's the quote we got when my dad went shopping for a new car. Anyways, the new car vs used debate really depends on what your local demand and supply is for. In rust belt I would imagine used cars aren't worth much because they rust, but in the coastal area many used cars are sold for so much, and new cars off the dock is cheap enough to sell locally instead of sending all the way to midland, that you can get a real good deal new vs used.

When I got my leftover from last year new Prius it was $5k off MSRP if I was willing to drive 2 hours to get it from Sacramento, but the local 1 year old used of the same car with 20k miles were selling for the same price after negotiation (not MSRP) ... EXACTLY THE SAME TRIM AND SAME COLOR. So why would I buy used instead of new? I would have to buy a 3 year old model with 30k miles to be worth it, and by that time it should have been 20% used up in financial depreciation at least, with 20% off from new. Why would I do that?
 
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These are the kind of comments that ignite arguments over financial spending habits. I’m more like you, never bought a car more than $4k cash, but even I can tell your comment is not useful to the thread. Lots of people want to spend more than $4k on a commuter than you or me. Let them do it without fuss (as long as financially responsible).

It isn't even the financial comment as much as it isn't even the same category of car.
If someone is shopping a Camry, they are probably going to shop a comparable vehicle, such as an Accord.
It is highly unlikely that they would have any interest in a smaller vehicle, such as a Corolla.
 
Maybe in your market, but they're getting discounted by a few grand over here.
Yes, they dealers here would like you to think its still 2022 with no new cars coming, but looking at their lots which are very full tells a different story. Toyota is still the exception though, they don't have a full lot and it might be a great way to sell used cars at crazy prices.
My wife's friend somehow convinced herself she needed an AWD hybrid minivan and bought a 4yr old Sienna just out of drivetrain warranty for somewhere north of $50k... It what they had on the lot, and new one at $70k wasn't available for a while... I guess $50k seems like a deal then!
 
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