2018 Toyota Camry

Is the Toyota Camry a Good Car?

The Toyota Camry is one of the best vehicles in the midsize car class. Its updated infotainment system, host of advanced safety features, and standard navigation app make it an appealing option. For 2018, the Camry gets a boost in performance thanks to more powerful engine choices and improved driving dynamics. One of the few negatives is that the rear seats are slightly smaller than in the outgoing model. Still, the Camry has the best combination of quality and value in the class, which is why we named it our 2018 Best Midsize Car for the Money. We also named it our 2018 Best Midsize Car for Families because of its outstanding crash test scores, family-friendly features, and heaps of critical praise.

Should I Buy the Toyota Camry?

The redesigned 2018 Toyota Camry is a great choice for families. It has a high predicted reliability rating, as well as plenty of advanced driver assistance features that can help you avoid a collision. These include standard lane departure warning and pedestrian detection. The Camry is also a great commuter car. It has numerous infotainment features, excellent fuel efficiency, and a comfortable ride quality. The base engine produces plenty of power, but the available V6 offers commanding thrust for more spirited drivers. However, it comes with a steep $6,000 price tag.

If you're looking for superior driving dynamics, you might want to take a look at the Ford Fusion or Mazda6. In terms of interior space, the Camry falls short of some rivals. For more trunk space, check out the Chevrolet Malibu. The Volkswagen Passat has more back-row legroom.

Compare the Camry, Fusion, and Malibu »

Should I Buy a New or Used Toyota Camry?

The Camry is completely redesigned for 2018. Its engines are more powerful (about 25 more horsepower in four-cylinder models and 30 more in V6 models), it sports all-new styling inside and out, and it boasts improved EPA fuel economy ratings (28/39 mpg city/highway for a four-cylinder 2018 model vs. 24/33 mpg for an equivalent 2017 model). All 2018 Camry trims also come standard with several advanced safety features, including a pre-collision warning system, lane departure warning with steering assist, and adaptive cruise control. These features are only available in the top trims of the previous generation.

It is possible for you to save money by shopping for a used 2017 or older Camry (potentially thousands of dollars on a 2016 Camry compared with a new model, for example), but you won't get the benefits of the vehicle's redesign. If you're considering an older model, be sure to read our 2017 Camry review to help you decide if you can live without the 2018 model's extra power.

Compare the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Camry »

We Did the Research for You: 24 Reviews Analyzed

We make your search for a new car easy with our comprehensive 2018 Toyota Camry review. It includes professional evaluations from 24 different reviews, as well as information on fuel economy, safety features, standard equipment, and much more. Our Toyota Camry review also includes comparisons with other midsize cars such as the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion.

This Camry overview includes reviews and data for the 2018 model year.

Why You Can Trust Us

The Best Cars team is a branch of U.S. News & World Report, and we've been publishing new car reviews and rankings since 2007. Our writers, editors, and analysts have more than 75 years of combined automotive experience. To ensure that our recommendations remain unbiased, we never accept expensive gifts or trips from automakers, and a third party handles our advertising.

How Much Does the Toyota Camry Cost?

For 2018, the Camry comes in five different flavors, with the MSRP of a new Camry starting at $23,495. This slots it above most other midsize sedans, though it's only about $900 more than the segment's average starting price. Pricing for midlevel trims range from $24,000 to $29,000. The top-of-line Camry trims are available with a V6 engine and cost $34,400 for the XLE V6 and $34,950 for the XSE V6.

The 2018 Camry Hybrid, which we cover in a separate review, has a starting price of $27,800. For great savings on a new Toyota at your local dealer, check out our U.S. News Best Price Program. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Toyota deals page.

Toyota Camry Versus the Competition

Which Is Better: Toyota Camry or Honda Accord?

The Honda Accord and Toyota Camry were both redesigned for 2018. They have very similar attributes, like a fresh interior design, agile handling, and plenty of standard safety features. The Accord offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which isn't available in the Camry. Engine-wise, the Accord gives you the choice of two turbocharged four-cylinder engines, compared to the Camry’s four-cylinder and V6 offerings. In all, these two vehicle are neck and neck, so let personal preference drive your decision.

Which Is Better: Toyota Camry or Chevrolet Malibu?

The Chevrolet Malibu is another popular midsize car option. With additional legroom in both rows, this sedan offers more space to stretch out in the front and back. Moreover, it has a larger trunk, which provides more room to transport items. Yet, the Camry edges out the Malibu with more standard safety and tech features, as well as a higher predicted reliability rating.  

Which Is Better: Toyota Camry or Hyundai Sonata?

If you're looking for a budget-friendly midsize car, the Hyundai Sonata is a great choice. It has a lower price, but it definitely doesn't seem like a budget-friendly choice, with its long list of standard features. However, if you're looking for a fun-to-drive car, you might want to overlook the Sonata. With its combination of peppy performance and a lengthy features list, the Camry is the better vehicle.

Compare the Camry, Accord, and Malibu »

Camry Interior

How Many People Does the Camry Seat?

You can seat five people inside a Camry, with cushions that are comfortable but a touch on the firm side. In the front, the cockpit feels roomy, and visibility is excellent out all sides. The seats are lower than in the last generation, and while most test drivers like the new seating position, it can take extra work for some to get inside. The rear seat is also a bit smaller now. If tall back-seat passengers are a regular occurrence, you may want to consider a competitor with more legroom, such as the Volkswagen Passat or Mazda6.

Camry and Car Seats

The Camry has two full sets of LATCH connectors for securing child seats. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave this LATCH system a Good+ rating (the highest possible) for its ease of use.

Camry Interior Quality

Inside, the Camry feels much nicer than before, thanks to more soft-touch materials and a stylish design. The build quality feels solid, and buttons and knobs are conveniently placed. On uplevel models, Toyota offers upgraded finishes (including tiger eye wood and textured metal) and bolder color combinations (like red leather).

Camry Cargo Space

The Camry has less trunk space than before, and its 15.1 cubic feet (in all but the base model) is one of the smallest among nonhybrid midsize sedans. You also have to watch out for low-dipping hinges when loading items. If this is too small for you, take a look in the back of a Chevrolet Malibu or Hyundai Sonata, both of which have larger trunks.

Camry Infotainment, Bluetooth, and Navigation

The Camry's new infotainment system is better than before. You still can't get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, but Toyota has done a good job of linking the car to your smartphone, so you can access apps like iHeart Radio, Pandora, Slacker, and Yelp. This integration is included in every model, along with a navigation app that connects to your smartphone and then displays turn-by-turn directions on the touch screen.

Other standard features include Siri Eyes Free and voice controls. You can upgrade the 7-inch screen to an 8-inch screen, and wireless smartphone charging and a nine-speaker JBL sound system are among the available options.

Read more about interior »

Camry Performance

Camry Engine: Peppy Performance

Under the hood of most 2018 Camrys is a 203-horsepower four-cylinder engine that is one of the more powerful non-turbocharged engines in this segment. Step on the gas, and the four-cylinder rewards you with an energetic burst of speed. It's still no sports car, but with this new engine the Camry no longer feels like a sleepy four-door. If you want more oomph, Toyota also offers a 301-horsepower V6, which you can add to the uplevel trims for about $6,000.

Camry Gas Mileage: Outstanding Fuel Economy

The Camry's new four-cylinder engine is not only enthusiastic but also efficient. In fact, with its rating of 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the highway, this is one of the most fuel-efficient midsize cars. Fuel economy takes a hit with the V6 engine, dropping to 22 mpg city/32 mpg highway.

Camry Ride and Handling: More Dynamic, Still Comfortable

To date, Camrys have not been synonymous with agility or liveliness. That changes with the 2018 model year, which has more precise steering, strong brakes, and better composure through the corners. It makes these gains without losing its comfortable ride quality, especially in the Camry LE. The Camry SE edition comes with a few performance upgrades and feels a bit more athletic than its brethren.

Read more about performance »

Camry Reliability

Is the Toyota Camry Reliable?

The 2018 Camry has an excellent predicted reliability rating of 4.5 out of five from J.D. Power.

Toyota Camry Warranty

Toyota covers the Camry with a three-year/36,000-mile comprehensive warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Read more about reliability »

Camry Safety

Camry Crash Test Results

The 2018 Camry earns the highest rating of Good in five crash tests and a Top Safety Pick + designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives it five out of five stars in frontal, rollover, and side crash tests for a five-star overall rating. 

Camry Safety Features

You get more advanced driver assistance features in the base Camry than you do in most competing midsize sedans. It comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense P, a bundle composed of a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The redesigned Camry also comes standard with a rearview camera. Available safety features include blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, rear cross traffic braking, a head-up display, and a full-speed adaptive cruise control system.

Read more about safety »

Which Toyota Camry Model Is Right for Me?

The 2018 Camry comes in five different trims: L, LE, SE, XLE, and XSE. Most come with a four-cylinder engine, though the two highest trims are available with a V6 engine. All models are front-wheel drive and have an eight-speed automatic transmission. Toyota also makes a Camry Hybrid, which we review separately.

The base model comes with many standard features, including a well-equipped infotainment system and a full suite of advanced safety technologies. This lengthy list of inclusions helps counterbalance the Camry's higher starting price.

If you want to build a sedan that's a bit swankier and provides good value, start with the Camry LE and opt for one of the available packages. The Audio package, for example, gives you niceties like dual-zone climate control, wireless smartphone charging, an 8-inch touch screen, an upgraded infotainment interface, a moonroof, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. You'll pay around $27,600 for an LE with this package, which is less than the cost of the XLE trim.

Toyota Camry L

The base Camry L ($23,495) comes standard with cloth upholstery, a 7-inch touch screen, and six speakers. The infotainment system features the Entune interface, Siri Eyes Free, Google voice controls, a USB port, and Bluetooth. Its smartphone integration provides navigation through the Scout GPS Link app and connects you to apps like Facebook, Yelp, Pandora, and iHeart Radio. Standard safety equipment includes a rearview camera, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control.

Toyota Camry LE

The Camry LE ($24,000) gets only a few upgrades over the base model. Its main advantages include a more comfortable eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and the availability of numerous upgrades (none of which are offered with the base trim).

Toyota Camry SE

The rear spoiler and synthetic leather seats help liven up the Camry SE ($25,200), which also comes with single-zone automatic climate control and a leather-trimmed steering wheel with paddle shifters.

Toyota Camry XLE

More safety features are added to create the Camry XLE ($28,450), including LED headlights, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, and rear cross traffic braking. This is one of two trim levels that can be upgraded to a V6 engine, which adds $5,950 to the price. The XLE V6 also comes with an enhanced infotainment system that includes an 8-inch touch screen, a nine-speaker JBL sound system, HD Radio, and satellite radio, as well as leather upholstery and heated front seats.

Toyota Camry XSE

The Camry XSE ($29,000) is the top-of-the-line edition, and it boasts the extra features to prove it. Dual-zone automatic climate control, wireless smartphone charging, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a proximity key, push-button start, three USB ports, dual exhaust, three driving modes (Eco, Normal, Sport), a head-up display, and enhanced adaptive cruise control come standard in this model. The XSE V6 ($34,950) gets a panoramic moonroof and the same upgraded infotainment system that comes in the XLE V6.

Check out our U.S. News Best Price Program for great savings at your local Toyota dealership. You can also find excellent manufacturer incentives on our Toyota deals page.

See 2018 Toyota Camry specs and trims »

The Final Call

The Toyota Camry is still the practical option in the midsize car class – for proof, just look at its extraordinary set of standard safety features. The 2018 redesign changes the game for this sedan, though. Now, it is also a fun option. Drivers enjoy a much more animated experience behind the wheel, thanks to the peppy new four-cylinder engine and much improved driving dynamics.

It still isn't appropriate to compare the Camry to a sports car, and even with its enhanced performance, this Toyota lacks the agility you get in a Mazda6 or Ford Fusion. But these enhancements do mean that you’ll benefit from a bit more fun behind the wheel of this Toyota while enjoying outstanding safety features, excellent reliability, and lots of user-friendly technology.

Don’t just take our word for it. Check out comments from some of the reviews that drive our rankings and analysis.

• "If you can't find what you're looking for in this spread of models, with the two distinct exterior trims, V-6 and hybrid, et cetera, you're not looking hard enough. … The new Camry is unquestionably improved across the board, offers more versatility than ever, and is even a little fun now. Not so beige anymore, more like Macadamia." -- Automobile Magazine
• "[The Camry] now looks sleek and distinctive, it's one of the more involving midsize sedans to drive, and although it'll certainly remain a best-seller, there'll be a lot more people who buy a new Camry because they really want one rather than because it's simply the smart thing to do." -- Autotrader
• "The new Camry continues to provide practicality, durability, and safety in equal measure. In addition to these hallmark traits, though, the Camry exhibits a sense of style and is genuinely enjoyable to drive." -- New York Daily News