The 2022 Toyota Camry XSE AWD offers great value

Toyota’s Camry has been a massive success for the automaker and its 2022 iteration continues the bold, intense look it has had over the past few years. They did away with the looks of it being a “family sedan” and transformed it into something more striking, and youthful. This 2022 Camry XSE with all-wheel-drive is a great value.

There are not many changes for 2022, other than some paint options and you can get the black exterior trim and wheels with its Nightshade package on the Hybrid model.

Under the hood, there’s a potent 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that has an output of 205 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 4,600 rpm. It’s mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters that sends power to all four wheels in our all-wheel-drive test car. Front-wheel drive is standard, however, the upgrade to AWD is definitely worth the money — especially for those who regularly drive in inclimate weather. 

On the road, the Camry XSE handles very well. The tires provide excellent grip and the sport-tune suspension does a great job of maintaining minimal body roll around sharp corners. As a daily driver, it’s rather comfortable to live with and has plenty of power for passing slower vehicles. The EPA provides an economy rating of 25 miles per gallon around town and up to 34 mpg on the highway.

Inside, there’s not a lot going on in the way of upscale materials, however, the plastics used look great and provide a sporty interior. There is plenty of room for 2 adults in the back with a good amount of headroom. But like all sedans in this class, an adult may get a bit uncomfortable if sitting in the middle for very long. There is a fold-down armrest in the middle seat. 

There is a 9-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system that has audio output through six speakers, however, our test vehicle had the optional JBL system that features nine speakers and more powerful amplifiers. It supports hands-free Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CaryPlay. Additionally, there is a 3-month free trial for SiriusXM satellite radio. Overall audio quality is good but it’s not superb, as audio systems from its competition showcase.

Other options our car had was the driver assist package, including a 10-inch color heads-up display, a bird’s eye view camera system, rear cross-traffic alert/braking, and 3-stage vented/heated front seats. Other options included a heated steering wheel, an enhanced navigation package, and a panoramic glass roof with a front tilt/sliding moonroof. 

As far as safety goes, the Camry doesn’t disappoint. There is Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.5 pre-collision system. It sports a full-speed radar cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, lane tracing assist, auto high beams, and backup camera. This car received a 5-star safety rating. 

There’s plenty of tech in this Camry and with a starting price of around $32,000, there’s a lot of value that Toyota brings to the table, even in the base configuration. However, our test car – with all of the options on it – is priced at $38,904, including the destination charge. 

Toyota offers a standard 3-year/36,000-mile warranty that covers the entire car and a 5-year/60,000-mile warranty on the powertrain as well as 5-year/60,000 miles for rust coverage. 

In the end, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better overall value in a sedan. Toyota has a great-looking, solid-performing Camry on its hands and it should be highly considered if you’re shopping for a car like this.