Thinking about buying a Toyota Camry? Here are other top choices to consider

The Toyota Camry is one of the most popular options when it comes to basic, reliable transportation – but there are several alternatives.

Feb 17, 2025 - 07:43

Thinking about buying a Toyota Camry? Here are other top choices to consider

The new Toyota Camry is the first of the nameplate’s ninth generation. It touts surprisingly svelte styling, inheriting the design language that makes the once-bland Prius pretty. It’s got a new hybrid powertrain that makes 225 horsepower and more mpg than the last model, too, but isn't by no means a perfect choice.

The 2025 Camry is pricey and still comes pretty bare-bones without adding on options or making your way up the trim levels. The good news is that these days, there are plenty of other great options to choose from.

Hyundai Sonata

There was a time when it would be hard to consider the Sonata as anything other than a strict downgrade from the Camry. But those days are long past. The Sonata received a significant update in 2024 that comprised a next-generation, upscale exterior design, and new interior digs, which include a dual touchscreen setup. Sound familiar? It should, since that’s almost exactly what Toyota did with the Camry. They even look kinda similar.

The Sonata starts at $26,800, a solid $2,000 less than the Camry. Lest you be misguided into thinking the Camry is better equipped, rest assured that the Sonata comes with all the driver assists that the Camry does and some it doesn’t, like rear cross-traffic alert and lane change assist. The Sonata even has a bigger screen, measuring 12.3 inches compared to the 8.0-inch unit standard in the Camry.

One place the Camry ostensibly edges out the Sonata is in performance. The standard hybrid powertrain in the Camry makes 225 horsepower, around 30 more than the 191-horsepower four-cylinder in the Sonata. Stepping up to a hybrid Sonata costs more – starting at $31,150 – and you’ll still be down on power. Notably, both offer a max mpg of around 51 mpg, so if saving at the pump is your only priority, it’s an even closer call.

The two share similar dimensions, too. They’re nearly identical in length and height, and the Sonata is just under an inch wider. Both seat five, but the Sonata offers 16 cubic feet of trunk capacity compared to the Camry’s 15.1 cubic feet. The Camry offers more rear legroom, but the Sonata has better first-row space.

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The Hyundai Sonata compares extremely favorably to the Toyota Camry. Hyundai brings their A-game these days, and the Sonata proves it. When you further consider Hyundai’s exceptional powertrain warranty – ten years or 100,000 miles of coverage, compared to Toyota’s five-year/60,000-mile one – it starts looking like a downright bargain. A 290-horsepower variant in the N Line also makes this the no-brainer choice if you need some driving zest.

Honda Accord

The Toyota Camry has competed with the Honda Accord for as long as some of us have been alive, so it shouldn’t be any surprise to see it mentioned here. The Accord, historically, has always been considerably more engaging to drive than the Camry, although this one is down on power comparatively.

Full gas versions sit at 192 horsepower, while hybrid models churn out 204 horsepower. Non-hybrid models sport 30 more pound-feet of torque than the Camry, however. That’s enough to make a difference, especially considering the Accord weighs around 200 pounds less than the Camry (3,239 pounds vs. 3,450 pounds).

Despite a nearly identical wheelbase, the Accord is overall larger than the Camry, stretching two inches longer and about an inch wider. But the space isn’t wasted. The Accord offers nearly two more cubic feet of trunk space (16.7 vs. 15.1) while simultaneously providing more second-row leg and shoulder room. The rear shoulder room and most front seat dimensions are almost identical between the two.

The Accord offers every bit of luxury that the Camry does, too. Heated and ventilated seats, a power moonroof, premium sound systems (nine-speaker JBL system in the Toyota, 12-speaker Bose in the Honda), and a head-up display are features shared by both models. In fairness, Honda does charge quite a bit more for the top-trim Touring Hybrid, with a $38,890 MSRP vs the Camry’s $34,900.

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The Accord might just be the most engaging option on the list. It’s the lightest and provides reportedly great handling. It also does so while maintaining a reputation for quality and reliability, which is something it and the Camry share above some competitors. If you can afford the upcharge for the model you really want, it would be hard to justify taking the Camry home over the Honda Accord.

Nissan Altima

The Nissan Altima, in its standard configuration, is the second-lightest competitor here at just 3,255 pounds. Like most of its constituents, it comes with front- or all-wheel drive options, although its engine options are decidedly simpler. The sole offering is a non-turbocharged, non-hybrid 2.5-liter four-cylinder churning out 188 horsepower and 180 pound-feet of torque. The result is a lethargic zero to 60 mph time that allows even the modest company mentioned here to leave the Altima in the dust.

Altima makes up some ground when you start looking at pricing, though. The car starts at $27,000 and comes with most of the kit the Camry does, like an 8.0-inch screen, 16-inch wheels, CarPlay and Android Auto, and LED headlights. Walk your way up the trim levels, and the Camry and Nissan offer pretty much identical high-end options, too. Both offer a 360-degree camera, lane departure warning, bigger wheels, and remote start.

While the Altima offers sub-par horsepower and dismal acceleration, it is surprisingly agile from behind the wheel. Attribute it to the fact that its about half an inch shorter, half an inch wider, and a hair shorter than the Camry. An identical wheelbase and wider front track both contribute to the car’s shocking stability, making it likely only second to the Honda in terms of nimbleness.

Furthermore, despite the Nissan being smaller overall, it offers more front head room, leg room, and shoulder room than the Toyota sedan. There’s a small trade-off in second-row space, although the Altima still dominates the Camry when it comes to shoulder room. Half of a cubic foot more trunk space (15.6 vs 15.1) means the Altima is definitely a valid contender.

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The Nissan Altima is best summarized as the jack of all trades on this list. It doesn’t excel at any one thing, but what family sedan really needs to? Factor in the “pretty good” looks, okay handling, and overall refinement for the class, and it’s a deceptively capable choice.

Subaru Legacy

Subaru recently announced that the Legacy was entering its final year of production, which is a little bit sad. The sedan has a lot going for it, primarily its strong value thanks to a lower MSRP than the Camry and standard all-wheel drive. It also boasts the second most powerful engine here, with an available 260-horsepower boxer that shares a lot with the sportier WRX. When equipped with the fierier turbocharged 2.5-liter, the Legacy can fly from zero to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds, quicker than everything here except the N Line Sonata.

Of course, that’s only looking at the top trim, which probably isn’t fair since, like the Honda, it costs over ten percent more than the top-trim Camry. Getting back to basics, the standard Legacy still paints a compelling picture. It comes with more attractive 17-inch wheels that should also improve handling and feel compared to the Camry’s base 16-inch wheels.

Both come with mostly the same standard driver aids, automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, and Apple Car/Android Auto compatibility, though I’ll concede that the $25,010 Subaru Legacy gives up small battles to the $28,700 Camry. For example, the Camry's standard sound system has six speakers instead of four, and its standard touchscreen is a whole inch larger. I won’t concede that it’s worth a $3,000 upcharge.

Speaking of numbers, the Camry and Legacy both offer 15.1 cubic feet of storage space. The Legacy has a wheelbase that’s three inches shorter and is two inches shorter than the Camry overall. It all sounds even better when you realize the two share an identical width of 72.4 inches. Even better, the Legacy offers slightly more room in the front row everywhere – head, leg, and shoulder – while still offering 1.5 inches more rear leg room.

What we wouldn’t give for a manual transmission, but still – the Subaru Legacy is a great car that does everything the Camry does while staying even more affordable. The standard all-wheel drive alone makes it worth considering for anyone who needs it. Since AWD is a $1,500 upcharge for the Camry, it ends up being very nearly $5,000 more than the Subaru. And $5,000, dear reader, is exactly why buyers shopping for a Camry might instead fall head-over-heels for a Subaru.

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Final thoughts

The Honda Accord is my favorite of the bunch. Being the lightest and very likely most engaging to drive (I’ve only driven the last-gen car myself) does huge favors in this segment, where drag race times are largely irrelevant. It’s also the best looking. However, I should mention that the Altima might be an overall better value, considering it’s roomy and comfortable, almost as engaging, and cheaper than the Accord. Either way, I don’t think you could go wrong with any competitor on this last – each of which does at least one thing better than the Camry does.

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