We spent a week measuring the 2025 Camry Hybrid’s noise, vibration and harshness across urban streets and at sustained 120–130 km/h. The goal: quantify cabin noise, assess idle refinement, and compare tire roar on different road surfaces.
Our test car was a 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE FWD (225 hp combined) with the 2.5‑liter Atkinson-cycle four, e‑CVT, and 19‑inch wheels on 235/40R19 all-season tires. Curb weight is just over 1,600 kg. The car features a laminated windshield and additional sound insulation versus the outgoing model. Suspension uses passive dampers with a comfort‑oriented tune, and our car ran factory alignment and tire pressures.
Measurements were taken with a calibrated external mic and SPL app at the driver’s ear, HVAC on auto (fan 2–3), and audio off. Ambient temps ranged 17–22°C with light crosswinds (10–15 km/h). We sampled smooth asphalt, coarse‑chip asphalt, and grooved concrete. Tire pressures were set to placard: 36 psi front/34 psi rear, checked cold.
At city speeds (40–60 km/h), the cabin is impressively subdued. On smooth asphalt we recorded 57–59 dBA; coarse‑chip lifts that to 61–63 dBA. In EV creep or with the engine cycling off, the cabin drops to 50–52 dBA, so most noise is tire and suspension‑borne. Idle refinement is strong: when the engine restarts there’s a brief, muted tremor, then a steady idle with only a faint tick audible; steering‑wheel nibble is minimal and the mirrors remain steady.
At 120 km/h, the Camry holds 68–70 dBA on smooth asphalt; at 130 km/h it rises to 70–71 dBA. Wind rustle around the mirrors becomes noticeable above 125 km/h but remains well controlled, and the A‑pillars stay quiet. Conversation at normal voice is easy, and the audio system needs only a minor volume bump. Crosswinds add 1–2 dBA.
Powertrain noise is background—around 1,800–2,000 rpm indicated—unless climbing grades, when the e‑CVT briefly raises engine speed. Road and tire roar vary with surface. On coarse‑chip asphalt at 120–130 km/h, levels climb by roughly 3–4 dBA and you hear a broadband hiss with a low‑frequency thrum through the floor. Grooved concrete introduces a distinct 180–220 Hz drum plus a faint 1–2 kHz whistle; we saw peaks to 72 dBA at 130 km/h.
Expansion joints are heard more than felt; the 19‑inch package adds some slap compared with 17–18‑inch setups but avoids booming. Overall, the Camry Hybrid is city‑calm and motorway‑composed for the class. If you’re NVH‑sensitive, skip the 19s: the LE/XLE on smaller wheels and taller sidewalls are quieter over coarse surfaces. Choose a comfort‑oriented touring tire and keep pressures at the placard’s lower end within load limits.
For its price point, highway quiet is competitive; only premium sedans with acoustic side glass and adaptive dampers are appreciably husher at 130 km/h.
