We spent a week and 420 miles with a 2025 Camry Hybrid XLE AWD to evaluate Toyota’s fifth‑generation hybrid system in real-world use, focusing on power delivery, drivability, and fuel economy across city, suburban, and highway routes.
The 2025 Camry is now hybrid-only, pairing a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four with Toyota’s fifth-generation Hybrid System and an eCVT. Output is rated at 225 hp for FWD models and 232 hp with the Electronic On-Demand AWD, which adds an independent rear motor. A lithium-ion battery sits under the rear seat to preserve trunk space, and drive modes include Eco, Normal, and Sport. Our test car was an XLE AWD on 18-inch all-season tires.
Testing covered a 32-mile urban loop with frequent stoplights, a 70-mph highway efficiency run (62 miles out-and-back), and mixed commuting. Ambient temperatures ranged from 48–72°F, roads were dry, and we ran 87-octane fuel with climate control set to 72°F Auto. We verified speeds via GPS and logged performance using a VBox. The new hybrid system feels more muscular than its specs suggest.
We recorded 0–60 mph in 7.8 seconds and 30–50 mph in 3.9 seconds (kickdown), with the rear motor contributing clean launches on damp surfaces. The eCVT keeps revs in the meat of the powerband without the old rubber-band sensation; engine flare is better controlled than prior Camry hybrids. Sport mode sharpens tip-in and holds ratios longer, but Normal is the most natural for daily use. Efficiency is where the Camry Hybrid shines.
Our city loop returned 54 mpg indicated (52 mpg calculated at the pump), aided by frequent EV-only coasting up to 25–30 mph and early engine shutoffs. The 70-mph highway run yielded 45 mpg, consistent over mild grades with the rear motor largely dormant. Across the full 420 miles of mixed driving, we averaged 49 mpg. For reference, EPA estimates top out at 51 mpg combined for FWD LE, with our AWD XLE rated lower; our numbers aligned with those expectations given AWD and larger wheels.
Brake blending is well-sorted: initial pedal travel harvests regeneration smoothly before transitioning to hydraulic bite, with no discernible step. Selecting “B” increases regen on descents but won’t deliver true one-pedal driving. Thermal management is conservative—after cold starts the engine runs briefly to provide cabin heat, trimming early-drive mpg in cooler temps. At freeway speeds, the engine settles around 1,600–2,000 rpm on light loads; cabin noise is modest, with tire hum more prominent than powertrain drone.
Overall, the 2025 Camry Hybrid’s updated system delivers a meaningful real-world efficiency edge without sacrificing performance. If maximum mpg is the priority, the FWD LE on smaller wheels will do best; the AWD XLE’s traction and refinement come with only a small consumption penalty. Drivers sensitive to traditional CVT behavior will appreciate the more linear response, while commuters will value the quiet, seamless EV creep in traffic and the consistently low fuel bills.
