Loved the video! I own a 2026 LE. I never buy a Toyota in the first or the second year of production. Note that this generation of Camry was widely produced and sold in 2024 as a 2025 model year. So, a 2026 Camry would in a sense be a 3rd year of production. My issues are twofold: Extremely thin paint with a ton of orange peel; Extremely uncomfortable seats (thin and stiff).
Thanks for watching! I found my SE seats to be very uncomfortable for the first few months but I don’t know if I broke them in or just got used to them because I find them pretty comfortable now.
I don't have any of these issues on my 25 Camry except for the thin paint. The car is zippy when needed, the steering is responsive, especially in sport mode, the interior is quiet, and the trunk is huge.
Thanks for informative review. I have the same car SE AWD in Heavy Metal .Had it 4 months & only @ 2500 Kilometers ( I'm in Calgary Canada). I have asmall creak in the drivers door panel when I open it but other than that no real issues. Fuel economy drops about 10-15% in cold weather but over 50 MPG in the summer. Still pretty excellent. Overall I really like the car
I have the 2026 LE AWD Ocean gem black cloth interior. No rattles. Love it. Only complaints are the seats looking cheap and uncomfortable. A key to not having all those rock chips on front is to leave a space cushion in front of you and not follow so close. Sure, you still get chips, but not as many and it sure saves on the windshield, front facia and chance of rear ending someone.
I got a white one. The rock chips are spot on, but the PPF is like 5k - 6k, which is not ideal. Speakers crackle if you tune it to 40 - 50 notches, but most solve this issue by going to the dealership and putting a pad between the speakers and the door panel.
Just discovered your channel. Good review. I've been considering one of the these, and you just hit all the issues that I've been concerned about, from watching all the other Camry videos. Interestingly, I think you just convinced me NOT to buy this. You see, I don't commute to work by car. I take the train. So 90% of my driving is pleasure. And since I have the wife's Rav4 Hybrid if I need it, I don't think I'm willing to compromise on the Camry's shortcomings. I love the looks/mpg/reliability, but if the seats aren't comfortable and the steering is meh or below meh, combined with the CVT drone (which I already have), I just don't think this is the sedan I'm looking for. Keep up the good work.
i LOVE my 2026 Ocean gem Camry, do not regret the purchase. But i do agree with the paint quality on the bumper issue. It would be interesting if they made a wagon/hatch version for more cargo space
I have same model heavy metal grey same problem with paint chips on front bumber have ppf on hood only. Its all plastic on front bumper area so it won't rust got a paint pen from dealer to touch up. Im in northern Ontario Canada 39mpg in winter vs 50mpg during warm months.
As someone with and 8th gen 24 se. My front passenger door has a rattle or sound too that i can't depict where too 🤣. So does my center console. Personally like the more aggressive look of the 8th gen over the 9th gen but the camry looks lightyears better than the 11 gen accord currently 😂
Nice channel. I live in the L.P. but have a cottage off of US2 - Question: Do you know if the paint colors that you pay more for on the Camry are more durable or if it is the same?
Thanks! I lived in Houghton during college and miss it dearly. I'm in the LP these days so the channel name is a little misleading. I believe a couple of the premium paint options are tri-coat, so there is an extra layer, but I'd be surprised if it had any real impact on durability. I wouldn't spend the $500 more if it's only for increased resistance to rock chips.
I was born in flint, but have lived in S. Ca for many years. Never really cold enough to effect fuel economy. Now I can't wait to get out of here. We have had a SE for 18 months. No real issues. On extreme rough roads a horrible rattle comes from a mystery area then fades away when things smooth out. I'm going to paint the inside of the non-functional exhaust tip to match the other one. Good luck with the Chanel wish you much success.
@yoopercharged The rattles on the passenger side that you can't find is probably the passenger side door seatbelt, i have that issue, using same car XLE Variant, when i have a passenger that sits and just leaves lets the seatbelt retract by itself, it doesn't retract the right way, and the metal buckle on the passenger side seatbelt starts rattling with the plastic pillar of the passenger seatbelt pillar.
I have noticed that and do have to fix mine often after I’ve had a passenger in there. The rattle that I’m referring to is a separate issue though that occurs even when the seatbelt is sitting correctly and becomes more pronounced at highway speeds
I got a 25 LE; I read somewhere else people were saying it's an excellent car for city driving but pretty bad stability on highway; I did drive on highway, on a windy day and it felt like I was in a boat. I noticed the speed shown on dash is 2-3 miles higher than the GPS shows on display, when driving over 60 mph; I got a RAV4 that does the same thing; Did you notice the difference? I checked in different brand vehicles (Ford, GM, Kia) and I didn't see the difference Not the end of the world but I hate that in 2025 Toyota still installed incandescent bulbs (at least in LE model)
i have the same trim and color agree with everything … dealer will fix the lumbar issue i had to keep bringing it back twice until they replaced parts also do you miss not having a sunroof ? i do like a little headroom but wish i had it at times i suggest installing mudguards
I don’t miss a sunroof. I had one on my Fiesta and F-150 and really never used them. It is nice for the little extra headroom but it’s just another thing to fix when it breaks. Mud guards/flaps are on the list!
So happy I got the PPF on the front bumper! Rock chips would show so easily on my heavy metal color. My front driver seat as the same creak, I've kind of tuned it out already lol. I also like the fact that I don't have to mess with the infotainment system in order to change my climate controls. Physical buttons ftw!.
Every time I see Heavy Metal I kind of regret not spending a little more for it. I believe PPF is way overhyped, so it pains me to admit but it's probably the right move for the front bumper on these cars.
recently took delivery of a *2026 (Heavy Metal) Camry SE AWD* 2 weeks ago (build completed around 12/23/25) - since then (and about *4 extra grand later!* 😪) I've had *Xpel Ultimate PPF* applied to full hood, upper and lower front bumpers, fender flares (both sides), A pillars + roof area in front of the moonroof, side mirrors, all 4 door edges and door cups, gas tank, luggage strip area in the rear, and lastly PPF applied over each of the optional 4 stainless steel Camry door sills....I was unable to stop there as I decided to have full window tint ( *Xpel PRIME XR Plus 55* on the windshield, and *Xpel PRIME XR Plus 30* all around on all remaining windows including the moonroof) in anticipation of those hot summer days (I realize that's about 5 months from now, but its always best to get these kind of things done on a brand new car, just to get it over with and also while there's minimal dust built up to facilitate a cleaner install). Now I realize that this may be excessive (and wasteful to some financially speaking), but I plan on keeping this brand new car for a while and it really does looks great (and with the lighter window tint, not ghetto at all 😂) after all these extra layers of protection ( *+ I suffer from OCD 🤣 so much so that I'm going back into the shop one last time to have the painted (Heavy Metal) rocker panel guards (along the bottom edges of each side of the car, just below the doors) ALSO covered in Xpel PPF!* 😅😆🤣😂)
@yoopercharged On my LE it's just on front. Not sure about SE. I tried keeping my total down because I paid cash. Only FWD too, although they offered me same price for AWD after I negotiated.
@9878MC Nothing wrong with the LE! I contemplated between them for a long time. I really wanted the additional efficiency but decided the SE styling was more important to me, and obviously at a greater cost.
EcoHitch by Torklift! Definitely my favorite thing that I've done to the car. It's a 2" received so it works with all the attachments I already owned. I have a video on the install here: ruclips.net/video/ugJ4OcgfJl8/video.htmlsi=uMe_EH_-ZLMLFu2i
I believe the SE and XSE have identical driving dynamics. I could be wrong on that but I think the suspension is tuned the same and everything else is common between all trims
If you want a sport feel, gotta get better tires. Pirelli P4 Persist Plus all seasons are great in every way except MPGs. The are fairly cheap too. Best deal in tires. For MPG's get the Conti True 54s. For a plush ride get Goodyear Assurance Maxlife 2.
Rocker style switches are bad. They are slow to adjust the temp when you want to make big changes. They are tiny, hard to see, and they all blend together. It's a horendous design. Should have dials like the Accord. The seats are strange. As to the floaty drive feel, that's just how Camry's are. You can get some Pirelli P4 Persist Plus all season tires, and you will then have much better road feel. I did it, and they are great tires. You feel everything, very connected to the road and steering wheel, but they are still soft-riding. MPGs went down some though.
I personally love the rocker switches but to each their own. I just set and forget auto climate control so I never really adjust the temp, I could see how that would get annoying though.
The exterior & interior fit and finish of the 2015 Camrys are by far sub-standard when compared to those prior generations Camry that were made in Japan. 😮.
It’s a small thing, but that kind of fake shit really puts me off. For that and (mostly) other reasons, I would only opt for the LE if I were to buy the Camry.
Why the infotainment screen is so small? It’ not even LE model or XLE. that’s why I’ll never buy these Toyotas anymore. They might be reliable, but boring cars with outdated tech from 2011. I had 2023 RAV4 XLE, sold it and bought BMW X3. Their B48 engine is very reliable. And it’s such a fun car with modern technology and beautiful cognac interior. Just love it.
You can option a larger screen if it bothers you. I really only use it for CarPlay and it’s plenty adequate for that so I decided to save the cash. Hope the BMW treats you well!
@yooperchargedToyotas charge you extra 10k for a bigger screens. Also their stupid subscription to be able to turn on the car from home. I payed one time $200 on a holiday sale usually $300. for a BMW and now I can start my car without subscription. Japanese being greedy now.
Loved the video! I own a 2026 LE. I never buy a Toyota in the first or the second year of production. Note that this generation of Camry was widely produced and sold in 2024 as a 2025 model year. So, a 2026 Camry would in a sense be a 3rd year of production. My issues are twofold: Extremely thin paint with a ton of orange peel; Extremely uncomfortable seats (thin and stiff).
Thanks for watching! I found my SE seats to be very uncomfortable for the first few months but I don’t know if I broke them in or just got used to them because I find them pretty comfortable now.
I don't have any of these issues on my 25 Camry except for the thin paint. The car is zippy when needed, the steering is responsive, especially in sport mode, the interior is quiet, and the trunk is huge.
Does sport mode affect steering input on these cars? Genuinely don't know as I always just drive in normal mode. Might have to give in a try!
Great video! I’m getting the 2026 se this month. I’ve watched a handful of reviews on the Camry and yours was one of the better ones.
Appreciate you watching and I'm glad it was helpful! Best of luck with the new car, I'm sure you'll love it. 🤙
Thanks for informative review. I have the same car SE AWD in Heavy Metal .Had it 4 months & only @ 2500 Kilometers ( I'm in Calgary Canada). I have asmall creak in the drivers door panel when I open it but other than that no real issues. Fuel economy drops about 10-15% in cold weather but over 50 MPG in the summer. Still pretty excellent. Overall I really like the car
Thanks for watching! Outside of the few issues I talked about in the video, they are really great cars. I don't regret my purchase one bit.
I have the 2026 LE AWD Ocean gem black cloth interior. No rattles. Love it. Only complaints are the seats looking cheap and uncomfortable. A key to not having all those rock chips on front is to leave a space cushion in front of you and not follow so close. Sure, you still get chips, but not as many and it sure saves on the windshield, front facia and chance of rear ending someone.
I got a white one. The rock chips are spot on, but the PPF is like 5k - 6k, which is not ideal. Speakers crackle if you tune it to 40 - 50 notches, but most solve this issue by going to the dealership and putting a pad between the speakers and the door panel.
What does it cost the pad the speakers????
Just discovered your channel. Good review. I've been considering one of the these, and you just hit all the issues that I've been concerned about, from watching all the other Camry videos. Interestingly, I think you just convinced me NOT to buy this. You see, I don't commute to work by car. I take the train. So 90% of my driving is pleasure. And since I have the wife's Rav4 Hybrid if I need it, I don't think I'm willing to compromise on the Camry's shortcomings. I love the looks/mpg/reliability, but if the seats aren't comfortable and the steering is meh or below meh, combined with the CVT drone (which I already have), I just don't think this is the sedan I'm looking for.
Keep up the good work.
Well good luck
I have the same car and year, i do have the same issue with my front seat as well.
It can be annoying for sure. Hoping I can find a fix when spring rolls around!
i LOVE my 2026 Ocean gem Camry, do not regret the purchase. But i do agree with the paint quality on the bumper issue. It would be interesting if they made a wagon/hatch version for more cargo space
Ocean gem is a great color! It's a shame the US doesn't have access to more wagons. The additional cargo room makes a huge difference in my opinion.
@yooperchargedi agree and Subarus has wagon options too, but not sure if they fit my taste tbh
Who else is here because of Scotty Kilmers surprising new decision? And who else thought it was click bait like usual?
DON'T.
I have same model heavy metal grey same problem with paint chips on front bumber have ppf on hood only. Its all plastic on front bumper area so it won't rust got a paint pen from dealer to touch up. Im in northern Ontario Canada 39mpg in winter vs 50mpg during warm months.
I’ll probably have to get some touchup paint this summer for the larger chips. You’re right though, at least it’s plastic!
As someone with and 8th gen 24 se. My front passenger door has a rattle or sound too that i can't depict where too 🤣. So does my center console. Personally like the more aggressive look of the 8th gen over the 9th gen but the camry looks lightyears better than the 11 gen accord currently 😂
I think I slightly prefer the looks of the 9th gen but I’m definitely biased. I’m just glad we can all agree they both look better than the Accord 😂
@yooperchargedhaha yeah man. I don't think they had a good looking accord since the 9th gen imo
Nice channel. I live in the L.P. but have a cottage off of US2 - Question: Do you know if the paint colors that you pay more for on the Camry are more durable or if it is the same?
Thanks! I lived in Houghton during college and miss it dearly. I'm in the LP these days so the channel name is a little misleading. I believe a couple of the premium paint options are tri-coat, so there is an extra layer, but I'd be surprised if it had any real impact on durability. I wouldn't spend the $500 more if it's only for increased resistance to rock chips.
I was born in flint, but have lived in S. Ca for many years. Never really cold enough to effect fuel economy. Now I can't wait to get out of here. We have had a SE for 18 months. No real issues. On extreme rough roads a horrible rattle comes from a mystery area then fades away when things smooth out. I'm going to paint the inside of the non-functional exhaust tip to match the other one. Good luck with the Chanel wish you much success.
@Offensively-normal Thank you much! That's a great idea painting the exhaust tip. I might actually spray both of them black now that you mention it.
@yoopercharged
The rattles on the passenger side that you can't find is probably the passenger side door seatbelt, i have that issue, using same car XLE Variant, when i have a passenger that sits and just leaves lets the seatbelt retract by itself, it doesn't retract the right way, and the metal buckle on the passenger side seatbelt starts rattling with the plastic pillar of the passenger seatbelt pillar.
I have noticed that and do have to fix mine often after I’ve had a passenger in there. The rattle that I’m referring to is a separate issue though that occurs even when the seatbelt is sitting correctly and becomes more pronounced at highway speeds
What happened to the original wheels? Good review
Thanks! They're sitting in my basement waiting for spring to roll back around. It's currently rocking steelies and winter tires.
I got a 25 LE; I read somewhere else people were saying it's an excellent car for city driving but pretty bad stability on highway; I did drive on highway, on a windy day and it felt like I was in a boat.
I noticed the speed shown on dash is 2-3 miles higher than the GPS shows on display, when driving over 60 mph; I got a RAV4 that does the same thing; Did you notice the difference? I checked in different brand vehicles (Ford, GM, Kia) and I didn't see the difference
Not the end of the world but I hate that in 2025 Toyota still installed incandescent bulbs (at least in LE model)
I think it feels very steady at all speeds but yes, the speedometer always reads a little less than the GPS output in Google Maps.
i have the same trim and color agree with everything …
dealer will fix the lumbar issue i had to keep bringing it back twice until they replaced parts
also do you miss not having a sunroof ? i do like a little headroom but wish i had it at times
i suggest installing mudguards
I don’t miss a sunroof. I had one on my Fiesta and F-150 and really never used them. It is nice for the little extra headroom but it’s just another thing to fix when it breaks. Mud guards/flaps are on the list!
So happy I got the PPF on the front bumper! Rock chips would show so easily on my heavy metal color. My front driver seat as the same creak, I've kind of tuned it out already lol. I also like the fact that I don't have to mess with the infotainment system in order to change my climate controls. Physical buttons ftw!.
Every time I see Heavy Metal I kind of regret not spending a little more for it. I believe PPF is way overhyped, so it pains me to admit but it's probably the right move for the front bumper on these cars.
recently took delivery of a *2026 (Heavy Metal) Camry SE AWD* 2 weeks ago (build completed around 12/23/25) - since then (and about *4 extra grand later!* 😪) I've had *Xpel Ultimate PPF* applied to full hood, upper and lower front bumpers, fender flares (both sides), A pillars + roof area in front of the moonroof, side mirrors, all 4 door edges and door cups, gas tank, luggage strip area in the rear, and lastly PPF applied over each of the optional 4 stainless steel Camry door sills....I was unable to stop there as I decided to have full window tint ( *Xpel PRIME XR Plus 55* on the windshield, and *Xpel PRIME XR Plus 30* all around on all remaining windows including the moonroof) in anticipation of those hot summer days (I realize that's about 5 months from now, but its always best to get these kind of things done on a brand new car, just to get it over with and also while there's minimal dust built up to facilitate a cleaner install). Now I realize that this may be excessive (and wasteful to some financially speaking), but I plan on keeping this brand new car for a while and it really does looks great (and with the lighter window tint, not ghetto at all 😂) after all these extra layers of protection ( *+ I suffer from OCD 🤣 so much so that I'm going back into the shop one last time to have the painted (Heavy Metal) rocker panel guards (along the bottom edges of each side of the car, just below the doors) ALSO covered in Xpel PPF!* 😅😆🤣😂)
Acoustic glass at front.
Just the windshield on the LE/SE? And the XLE/XSE has acoustic glass on the front side windows too?
@yoopercharged On my LE it's just on front. Not sure about SE. I tried keeping my total down because I paid cash. Only FWD too, although they offered me same price for AWD after I negotiated.
@9878MC Nothing wrong with the LE! I contemplated between them for a long time. I really wanted the additional efficiency but decided the SE styling was more important to me, and obviously at a greater cost.
why the fake raspy voice?
Guess I just have a fake raspy voice 🤷
What hitch is that?
EcoHitch by Torklift! Definitely my favorite thing that I've done to the car. It's a 2" received so it works with all the attachments I already owned. I have a video on the install here: ruclips.net/video/ugJ4OcgfJl8/video.htmlsi=uMe_EH_-ZLMLFu2i
@yoopercharged Yeah, I'm old. I watched you install it and even commented how hard it seemed.
@9878MC Well thank you for watching even if you didn't remember it! 😆
Have you had any issues with the android auto/ apple carplay?
Not really, CarPlay has been pretty consistent for me! The only real annoyance is that my phone doesn’t typically auto connect after remote starting.
There's issues at times, Clunky tech
If you wanted a sporty feel why didn’t you just get the XSE?
I believe the SE and XSE have identical driving dynamics. I could be wrong on that but I think the suspension is tuned the same and everything else is common between all trims
If you want a sport feel, gotta get better tires. Pirelli P4 Persist Plus all seasons are great in every way except MPGs. The are fairly cheap too. Best deal in tires. For MPG's get the Conti True 54s. For a plush ride get Goodyear Assurance Maxlife 2.
Rocker style switches are bad. They are slow to adjust the temp when you want to make big changes. They are tiny, hard to see, and they all blend together. It's a horendous design. Should have dials like the Accord. The seats are strange. As to the floaty drive feel, that's just how Camry's are. You can get some Pirelli P4 Persist Plus all season tires, and you will then have much better road feel. I did it, and they are great tires. You feel everything, very connected to the road and steering wheel, but they are still soft-riding. MPGs went down some though.
I personally love the rocker switches but to each their own. I just set and forget auto climate control so I never really adjust the temp, I could see how that would get annoying though.
Ok; so I'm not the only one feeling like floating; I didn't know that's a Camry thing; I had an Accord for 18 years; I miss it every day
The exterior & interior fit and finish of the 2015 Camrys are by far sub-standard when compared to those prior generations Camry that were made in Japan. 😮.
You’re joking about the “true dual exhaust,” right? That left port goes nowhere. Fake.
Absolutely. Maybe it didn't land as I intended but definitely sarcasm!
It’s a small thing, but that kind of fake shit really puts me off. For that and (mostly) other reasons, I would only opt for the LE if I were to buy the Camry.
Why the infotainment screen is so small? It’ not even LE model or XLE. that’s why I’ll never buy these Toyotas anymore. They might be reliable, but boring cars with outdated tech from 2011.
I had 2023 RAV4 XLE, sold it and bought BMW X3. Their B48 engine is very reliable. And it’s such a fun car with modern technology and beautiful cognac interior. Just love it.
You can option a larger screen if it bothers you. I really only use it for CarPlay and it’s plenty adequate for that so I decided to save the cash. Hope the BMW treats you well!
@yooperchargedToyotas charge you extra 10k for a bigger screens. Also their stupid subscription to be able to turn on the car from home. I payed one time $200 on a holiday sale usually $300. for a BMW and now I can start my car without subscription. Japanese being greedy now.
My new Subaru has the same problem. Thin paint 😢
Seems very common these days 🫤
@yooperchargedseems like quality just isn't what it used to be
Well guess what you're little paint issue on the front of your car is due to you!! Don't blame it on the paint. Buy a bra ( Mask) for the front end.
I can blame it on the paint and will continue to do so. I’ve had many vehicles over the years and haven’t seen anything like this before.
No the paint is cheap. That's how they cut costs. I think the Supersonic red that you pay extra for is a little better quality