The 2026 Toyota Camry offers five different trims to choose from, all with the same inherent powertrain. I break it all down and choose my favorite.
Toyota revolutionized the Camry for 2025 for the ninth generation, making the midsize sedan hybrid only and offering all-wheel-drive as an option for all four trims. It impressed me.
Not much changed for 2026, aside from Toyota adding a Nightshade trim set to slot neatly in the middle of the other four. Given that, I looked at all five trims in detail to parse the differences and give you my favorite choice.
WHAT EACH CAMRY SHARES
To start, mechanically speaking, all Camry’s operate with the same equipment. Under the hood, everyone uses the exact same, fifth-generation Toyota Hybrid System. It uses a 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine, which runs on the more efficient Atkinson cycle. On its own, it makes 184 horsepower at 6000 rpm and 163 lb.-ft at 5200 rpm.
From there, it gets help from a 134 HP (100kW), 153 lb.-ft (208 nm) electric motor to make a total system horsepower of 225. Toyota stays mum about peak system torque, but I imagine it’s above 250 lb.-ft. If you go for an AWD Camry, Toyota adds another electric motor to the rear axle. That one outputs less: 40 HP (30 kW) and 62 lb.-ft (84 nm). But it’s still enough to help you up slippery hills. It also raises the total system horsepower to 232.
By the way, if you choose AWD for a 2025 Camry, Toyota charges $1525, regardless of which trim you choose. Also regardless of what drivetrain you choose, you still get Toyota’s electronically controlled continuously variable transmission or e-CVT.
The same holds true for the chassis, every Camry uses a strut front and multi-link rear, four-wheel independent suspension. However, the SE, Nightshade, and XSE trims do get a different tune and anti-roll bars.
Altogether, that means the vast majority of the differences across the line-up are cosmetic and conveniences.
THE BASE CAMRY LE
The LE runs on 16-in alloy wheels and emits spent hydrocarbons from a single exhaust tip. Up front, you see a black horizontal front grille, and a black rear diffuser in back. Inside, you get a 7-in digital instrument cluster, 8-in center display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes dual-zone climate control, cloth seats, a wireless smartphone charger, five USB ports, and a six-speaker sound system.
Toyota will option the LE with a moonroof and the cold weather package, which adds heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
CAMRY SE
The SE gets 18-in black wheels, dual chrome exhaust tips, black CAMRY lettering in back, black mesh front grille, black rear diffuser, and a body color rear spoiler. Inside, you get the same as the LE 7-in cluster and 8-in center display. But you also get aluminum sport pedals, and leather on the shift knob and steering wheel, which also has paddle shifters. Finally, you sit on SofTex upholstered seats.
For options, the SE is the lowest trim that offers an upgrade to the 12.3-in digital instrument cluster and multi-media screen. You can get the moonroof and cold weather package as well. Toyota also offers convenience package, which adds an auto-dimming rearview mirror with garage door opens and a smart key system.
NEW FOR 2026 CAMRY NIGHTSHADE
The Nightshade stands out visually. It’s the only Camry to get a black lower rocker applique, black exterior badging, 19-in satin black wheels, and a gloss black sport mesh front grille. Like the SE, you get chrome dual exhaust tips and black CAMRY lettering, but you also get a black, not body colored rear spoiler. It’s also the only trim to offer black door handles and sideview mirrors.
Inside, like the SE, you get a leather shift knob and steering wheel with paddle shifters. You also stick with the 7-in digital instrument cluster and 8-in center display. Likewise, your feet press aluminum pedals, and your butt sits on SofTex.
Options include a package to get the 12.3-in instrument cluster and center display and a moonroof. As well as the cold weather and convenience packages. One limitation of the Nightshade, it’s only offered in three colors: Midnight Black Metallic, Ice Cap, or Supersonic Red, the last one costs extra.
CAMRY XLE
The XLE gets first light of the dual LED headlights and Premium LED taillights. It has a dark gray front grille and a gloss black rear diffuser. You get 18-in wheels, but with a different finish than the SE. It’s back to a single exhaust tip. But Toyota affixes chrome CAMRY lettering in back. You also get body color door handles.
Going more premium, you also get noise canceling front side windows, not just the windshield like the others. Toyota finishes it with chrome window trim. Inside, the XLE upgrades to the 12.3-in fully digital instrument cluster and 12.3-in center display. The steering wheel is also heated as standard and wrapped in leather, of course.
This is the first trim to get ambient lighting. And no Softex here, you get leather and micro-fiber for the seats. And—finally—heated front seats come standard.
Options include a panoramic moonroof, a premium plus package that adds a bunch of stuff, including ventilated front seats and a 10-in HUD. There’s also the pared down premium package
TOP OF THE LINE XSE
The 2026 XSE is pretty much the same as the 2025 Toyota Camry XSE I reviewed last year.
Like the XLE, you get the better head- and tail-lights. But the XSE returns to the sport-mesh front grille, however not in black, but in body color. The same is true for the rear diffuser. Black returns on the rear spoiler. The XSE is back up to 19-in wheels but with a gray and black finish. You also get the dual exhaust tips again as well as black CAMRY lettering.
You retain the XLE’s acoustic front side windows. But back to black window trim. The door handles mimic the XLE, body colored. And, of course, you keep the 12.3-in digital instrument cluster and center display.
It’s also a heated seats and leather steering wheel, like the XLE, but the XSE gets the paddle shifters back. It also keeps the ambient lighting. And this is the only trim with fully leather seats, no micro-fiber. The options list pretty much mimics the XLE.
FUEL ECONOMY
Given that all Camrys use the same powertrain and chassis, fuel economy depends on going with front or all-wheel-drive, the wheel and tire package, and weight of the car.
If you stick with front-wheel-drive, the LE performs best squeezing 53/50/51 (city/hwy/cmb) miles from a gallon of gas. The other four match each other with a still efficient 48/47/47 (city/hwy/cmb) MPG.
Choosing all-wheel-drive drops the numbers a bit. It also hurts the XSE more than the others. The LE still performs best, managing 51/49/50 (city/hwy/cmb) MPG. The SE, Nightshade, and XLE match each other at 46/46/46 (city/hwy/cmb) MPG across the board. And the AWD XSE gets relatively thirsty, achieving 44/43/44 (city/hwy/cmb) MPG.
COLORFUL OPTIONS
For Color, take a look at the images below, which list all the offered colors, and which versions of Camry Toyota offers them.
This image shows a color combination only offered on the XSE trim, giving it a black roof and another color for the rest of the body.
WHAT’LL IT BE?
Toyota has not yet announced pricing for the 2026 Camry. But I expect them to not differ too much from 2025. Here are the base prices for the 2025 Toyota Camry:
Camry LE: $29,895
Camry SE: $32,195
Camry XLE: $34,895
Camry XSE: $37,020
Given that the 2026 Nightshade slots neatly between the SE and the XLE, I expect it to start at around $33,500 or so.
All prices include the $1155 destination charge, though that price may increase as well.
From there, Toyota charged the following prices for the options I listed above on the 2025 models. Again, these prices seem a reasonable approximation of 2026 costs.
LE: moonroof $870, cold weather package $610
SE: convenience package $600, multimedia upgrade package $735
XLE, XSE Options: Premium plus $4760, premium $3810, panoramic moonroof $1330
WHAT I’D CHOOSE
Considering the tighter suspension, the 18-in wheels, and the still relatively low price, I’d go with the 2026 Toyota Camry SE AWD. Living in Michigan, I would happily fork over an extra $610 for the cold weather package. That puts me at $34,330 in 2025 model year dollars. That gets me a very efficient, all-wheel-drive sedan that will keep me warm 12 months out of the year for under $35k. Not bad at all.
I admit, I would take ventilated seats if Toyota offered them, but it’s not worth the several thousand dollars more required to get them. Also, as long as I have Apple CarPlay convenience, the size of the screen matters little. And I benefit from better MPGs. Money well spent.
