Fleet-footed new Camry is nearly flawless (Toyota Camry SL 2024 Review)

The ninth-generation ‘VX80’ Camry might be a deep-facelift of its forebear, but Toyota has taken the sedan workhorse recipe and improved upon it in almost every way.

The newcomer promises to take all of the virtues that make the Camry a fleet and rideshare favourite and aims to improve every area without reinventing the concept. It includes a meaningful upgrade to a more powerful, 170kW fifth-generation hybrid drive system.

Chasing Cars founder Tom Baker takes the new flagship SL variant of the now all-hybrid lineup to see how it stacks up as a ridesharing option.

And he soon discovers that even this now more expensive Camry option really is the frugal and thrifty path to a cut-priced Lexus experience in private ownership.

Time codes:
0:00 - Intro
0:22 - Fleet workhorse
1:12 - Interior
1:48 - User interfaces
2:30 - 90 percent a Lexus
3:27 - Seats
3:52 - Row two
4:30 - Back seat comfort
4:57 - Colours
5:18 - Boot space
5:51 - Ownership
7:35 - Cheaper than Tesla 3?
8:23 - On the road
9:44 - Fifth-gen hybrid system
11:52 - Highway experience
13:48 - Braking
14:30 - Ride and handling
15:40 - Safety
16:53 - Verdict

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Chasing Cars is Australia's most independent source of new car reviews, car industry news, comparisons and car guides. We give you a critical look at every new car you should consider!

[malcolmwilton]

I don't like correcting journalist's but, while the camry does have two electric motors at the front, only one of them does the driving. The other starts the petrol engine and is a generator. The electric drive motor will also charge the battery but only on regenerative braking cycle. Hope this helps.

[fizzyboy]

Cooled seats is so good on the Camry, now you don’t need to get a Lexus to get a Toyota powered sedan that is extremely comfortable in the summer

[rubyred]

It looks better than the old models. I like the bronze colour.

[Andronicus]

I have a non hybrid 2015 Camry, easily the best car that I've ever owned. It drives well, is comfortable, reliable and uses hardly any more fuel than a Corolla or a Yaris!
I see the styling as an evolution of the old styling, which I think is a good thing. In my opinion the 2018 model is the best looking one so far

[harrycopeland]

I own a 2021 SL non-hybrid with THE last V6 engine to come out of Japan. I’ve had two 4 cylinder Camrys, a 2011 Aurion V6, and now this car. What an amazing vehicle - I drive it in economy mode and I would find it hard to find anything that tops it for performance, comfort, reliability AND fuel economy. With good throttle control it achieves 6.3 Ltrs/100km on the highway and 7.8 in suburbia. Excellent for a V6. I am provided with four cylinder hybrids as a loan car each time I have my car serviced - it’s chalk and cheese. I would find it extremely difficult to go back to a four cylinder - even my wife shudders at that option. I have kept all these cars for ten years before upgrading and fortunately they are long lasting and provide reliable motoring. With no more V6 options, I guess I will be seeing exactly how long this car will last. I my wife and I are in our seventies now so I guess this will be our last car. And what a car it is.

[BomberFletch]

One of the issues with seat comfort in modern Toyotas that I've had is that I felt that the head restraints are angled too far forwards, and are not adjustable. It looks like they've now redesigned the front head restraints at least.

[DM-olne]

It’s funny, now I’m about to retire I’m liking it. I’ll make sure to put my bowls hats behind the back window

[paulsimpson]

Tom is the best journo on YouTube by far

[sagarwani]

I am surprised you did not talk about the head-up display! It is a new feature for this year's camry.

[pointice]

I love to see a Car Review channel that actually points out the bad stuff

[Sean-szzo]

Damn thats nice. I go in 2020 ish camry ubers all the time and their build quality feels phenomenal.

[escheidl]

It's sad when a beautiful, comfortable, well equipped car like this keeps getting a Uber/fleet car status. Makes "status driven" people feel embarrassed to own one. That's their problem though. This is an amazing car to own.

[adorolivar]

im driving camry hybrid SX 2023, got no complaint so far

[marvinmartinsYT]

I have an off topic question. What’s with car companies and these very odd commercials? They barely if at all show the car. The ad for this is all people not much of the product. I don’t get it.

[huckietam]

The red looks nice. I hope they can make it a bit sportier like sportier suspension.

[edwardshackell]

I had a look at the new 2025 Camry yesterday.
The newer Camrys seem fantastic in all respects except for 2 things:
Headroom is tight in the higher spec versions with the panoramic sunroof and the cars are now very low to the ground. Getting out of the car is a challenge if you are older or have a bad hip.

Toyota obviously wants to appeal to a younger audience and be more sporty, but the cost is the loss of some comfort for older, long time Camry owners.

I also wonder about the durability of the panoramic sunroof over the long term. The cost of repair may be considerable.

[Shifty]

i really wish they would bring the Crown lineup down here - the Sport Z is my favourite car atm

[Blake-shnf]

Hi Tom. A keen car guy, I always look forward to your reviews. I regard them very highly. I like your presentation style. Thanks for this instalment!

[kevingreen]

You are looking at the best colour (metallic red) in my opinion. In 2020 I bought a Camry in the UK and only had the choice of black, white, silver, rust brown or Galaxy Blue. I chose the blue but wanted a metallic red which they only sold in Ireland but not the UK. Strange Toyota. The Camry is a fantastic car and does all I want from a car, hugely spacious economical and very quiet and a very comfortable hybrid car.

[MathewBT]

Now that's what I call a thorough review 👌🏆