2022 Toyota Camry Preview

Overview

Toyota Camry is one of the most popular vehicles in America since its introduction 40 years ago! The Camry has been one of the quintessential cars in making its segment ultra-competitive (the other one being the Honda Accord) by providing just the perfect mix of everything – low maintenance, reliability, performance, comfort, and an overall decent driver’s car.

The Toyota Camry nameplate had gone through a refresh in 2018 which changed everything – its platform, engine, interior, exterior, and pretty much the whole car! After that, it has mostly been the same as the carmaker adding and subtracting trims and features from the car.

What’s in store for 2022?

For the 2022 Camry, we do not expect many changes, given that the 2021 Toyota Camry got significant updates to the looks, interior trims, and the driver-assist module. However, one of the most anticipated changes is the addition of All-Wheel Drive to the V6 engines. This will make the car up-to-date with the competition in terms of big engines and a suitable powertrain. Apart from this, other changes might include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, availability of Qi wireless charger across trims, and updates being made to Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ for improved lane departure assist.

What’s the expected engine on the 2022 Toyota Camry?

We expect Toyota to offer the same engine options as the current Camry model:

a naturally aspirated 2.5L inline 4 churning out 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque,
a hybrid pairing the same inline-4 with a synchronous AC motor churning 208 horses and 163 lb-ft and,
a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 which bumps the power figure to 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.

All the gas-fed engines are expected to be paired to the same 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission while the hybrid engine is expected to be carried over with the same CVT as before. Front-Wheel Drive comes as a standard fitment across all powerplants but All-Wheel Drive options were earlier available to the inline-4 engine only but are now expected to expand to the V6 too.

Talking about the driving experience, we do not see the Camry behaving any sporty than it is now. Yes, the All-Wheel Drive will surely be very helpful in low-traction areas, while also making the pickup smooth on a normal drive given the buttery nature of the V6. If the rumors are true then Toyota is playing around with the cogs in the 8-speed auto to ensure a fatter lower-mid-range which will make the 2022 Camry an even better city driver!

What are the expected Trims and Features of the 2022 Toyota Camry?

As far as we reckon, the trims will be carried forward from the previous model year. To get an in-depth view of what’s on offer with the trims, head on to our review of the same where we test the XSE trim which has got all the bells and whistles. To provide you with some highlights with all the trims, read below.

The range starts off at $24,970 with the LE which will equip the base 203-horsepower 4-banger and the 8-speed gearbox. Along with this, the trim will also have a power-adjustable driver's seat, 60/40-split folding rear seats, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility, a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen, and 17-inch wheels.
Talking of safety, the Camry comes fit with forwarding collision mitigation, adaptive cruise control, road sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights as standard.
The next step-up is the SE, at $26,485, which equips 18-inch wheels, unique exterior trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, simulated leather upholstery, a sport-tuned suspension, and automatic climate control. If one goes with the SE Nightshade, they get black exterior trim, distinctive 18-inch wheels, and a trunk-mounted spoiler.

Next on the ladder is the XLE, which adds in more creature comforts to the party and increases the tab to $29,870. At this price, the additions to the trim are full-speed adaptive cruise control, LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, blind-spot monitor, chrome exterior trim, power-adjustable front passenger seat, leather upholstery, upgraded driver information display, upgraded 9-inch information touchscreen, and dual-zone climate control along with a Qi-certified wireless charging pad.
On top of the food chain, at nearly $30,500, lies the XSE, which is the most loaded one. The XSE adds a sportier aesthetic to the XLE with 19-inch wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, dual exhaust, a gloss black grille, and metallic interior trim.
Now if you want the most athletic Camry, the TRD is the one to go. It basically adds a lot of blacks instead of chrome to the XSE along with TRD-specific upgrades like TRD-specific simulated leather upholstery and red seat belts, TRD sport-tuned suspension, sport exhaust, and unique 19-inch wheels.

How’s the safety of the 2022 Toyota Camry like?

The Toyota Camry is one of the most feature-loaded options in the segment and with features, it comes loaded to the brim with safety too! Running the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, the Camry is equipped with the following safety features:

Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC): This lets the car drive at a constant speed pre-set by the driver. It uses a vehicle-to-vehicle distance control to ensure the pre-set distance is followed by a radar located in the car’s grille and a front camera that detects the distance between the Camry and the cars in front.
Road Sign Assist (RSA): Using a camera in the windshield, the car detects stop signs, speed limit signs, yield signs and do not enter signs and then displays the information on the display in front of the driver.
Lane Departure Assist (LDA): The LDA will issue an alert, both visual and audible if it feels that the car is steering away from its lane and the driver is not taking any corrective steps.
Smart Stop Technology (SST): This will bring the Camry to a stop if it detects unintended acceleration movement. If it detects that both the pedals are depressed, the engine will be shut off to reduce the chance of a mishap.

Will the 2022 Toyota Camry be worth the dough?

For what the Camry adds in 2022, the deal is very lucrative but if you are waiting for the car to launch, going for the 2021 model year makes more sense because the 2022 Camry won’t be a significant change. Also, there are many offers running currently because the newer Camry is said to be hitting the market in the summer of 2021. Check with your local Toyota dealerships and get the best offer available!