Hybrid sedans have become increasingly expensive, with many automakers charging thousands extra for better fuel economy. That’s what makes Toyota’s midsize sedan so impressive. Despite now being offered exclusively as a hybrid, it remains competitively priced while delivering the kind of efficiency figures that many rivals simply can’t match without a much steeper price tag.

Starting at under $30,000, Toyota’s hybrid sedan costs barely more than the base non-hybrid version of its biggest rival, yet offers substantially better fuel economy and more standard power. With up to 51 MPG combined, available all-wheel drive, and Toyota’s proven hybrid system, it delivers a level of value that’s becoming increasingly rare in the midsize sedan segment.

Beyond the numbers, this sedan continues to excel as a comfortable and practical daily driver. It may not have the flashiest interior in its class, but it offers a spacious cabin, straightforward technology, and the kind of long-term reliability buyers expect from Toyota. For shoppers looking to maximize value, efficiency, and low ownership costs, it makes a very convincing case.

The Toyota Camry got more expensive, but it also became a better deal

Its rivals struggle to match Toyota’s thrifty hybrid

When Toyota redesigned their hybrid for the 2025 model year, the brand made it a hybrid-only affair. This meant that they had to increase the starting price to make up for the extra components. However, while the new Camry is more expensive than the old non-hybrid model, it is actually a little bit cheaper than the old hybrid. Its value is only more obvious when you compare it to non-hybrid versions of its rivals, like the Honda Accord.

2026 Toyota Camry trims and pricing

Starting at just under the $30,000 mark, the Camry is still priced extremely competitively in the mid-size sedan segment, despite its gradual price increase. Comparatively, the non-hybrid version of the Honda Accord starts at $28,395, meaning the hybrid Camry is less than $1,000 more expensive. If you want a hybrid Accord, you’ll have to shell out $33,795 to start. This means that if you opt for the Camry, you’re getting a thrifty hybrid without the usual price premium.

We also don’t think that you need to climb the trim ladder particularly far to find the best value Camry model. The SE isn’t all that much more expensive than the base model, and comes with a sportier suspension tune that makes the sedan feel far more balanced. You also get faux leather upholstery, as well as gaining access to some of the more desirable optional extras. We’d tack on the $735 Multimedia package, which gets you the larger infotainment screen.

For the extra $1,000, the Camry is more powerful and more efficient than the Accord

They share the same engine options

Credit: Toyota

Despite being relatively close in price, the gap in performance and efficiency between the Camry and the Accord is pretty large. If you compare the base models with one another, it feels like there is very little contest. You have to upgrade to the Accord Hybrid to compete with the Camry, and even then, Toyota’s sedan still edges out the win when it comes to efficiency.

2026 Toyota Camry performance specs

Base Trim Engine

2.5-liter Four-Cylinder Hybrid

Base Trim Transmission

CVTi-S CVT

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

184 HP @6000 RPM

Base Trim Torque

163 lb.-ft. @ 5200 RPM

Make

Toyota

Model

Camry

Segment

Midsize Sedan

Standard in the Toyota Camry is a proven and durable four-cylinder engine. You can get a Camry with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive models come equipped with two electric motors and make 225 horsepower. All-wheel drive models get a third motor that drives the rear wheels, boosting output up to 232 horses instead. Regardless of which you opt for, you get an eCVT.

The standard accord comes with a 192 horsepower four-cylinder under the hood, with the hybrid model making 204 horses instead. Honda does not offer all-wheel drive on either version of the Accord. While Honda’s sedan feels a little more lively through corners, the Camry is quicker off the line than both the hybrid and non-hybrid.

Fuel economy

There is only a $1,000 difference in price between the hybrid Camry and non-hybrid Accord. With the fuel savings that you get by opting for the Toyota, you’ll make up that difference in a very short amount of time. It doesn’t get better when you compare the hybrid Accord to the Camry, as the Toyota is still quite a bit more efficient in most cases.

It might not be as refined, but the Camry is every bit as practical

A family sedan loaded with convenient features

At their core, the main purpose of both of these cars is to be able to carry passengers comfortably from point A to point B. While the Accord definitely has the more interesting cabin design, and feels a little more refined over all, the inside of the Camry is still a nice place to be. There is plenty of room on offer, and Toyota includes a ton of niceties as standard.

Interior dimensions and comfort

Both the Camry and the Accord are both exceptionally comfortable sedans, with plenty of space for passengers on the inside. The difference in rear seat room between these two is pretty negligible. The Accord does have a slightly more spacious trunk, but Toyota’s sedan is still competitive.

Toyota has definitely opted for a simplistic cabin in the Camry, as is their way. While this means that the Accord is a little more visually interesting, everything in the Toyota feels neatly laid out and user-friendly. Both come very well-equipped as well, and you’re not going to feel disappointed with the tech or comfort offerings in either. The only edge the Accord has is its slightly larger standard nine-inch infotainment screen, but both models can come equipped with an optional 12.3-inch screen instead.

The difference in price is small, but the Camry feels like the better equipped sedan

We like the Accord quite a lot, and think that both the hybrid and non-hybrid models are well-built, comfortable, and impressively entertaining to drive. However, if you’re on a budget and trying to get the best bang-for-your-buck, it is really hard to argue against the Camry. It is equally comfortable on the inside, comes with more power, and is quite a bit more efficient, and it doesn’t cost all that much more. For the average buyer, it almost feels like a no-brainer.