Car subscriptions have to be the dumbest thing. It already costs an arm and a leg to drive. Tolls, gas, insurance, maintenance etc. now subscriptions? OK 💀
It's a scam. They want you to download the app so they can track all your moves and then sell the info to the insurance companies then they jack up your rates.
@@moribnd- Living close to a dealership has nothing to do with a subscription service fee. So it makes no sense ,just another money maker for Toyota which is a big NO for me !!
Literal charging you to send a signal thru the free Internet from your phone to your car. I'm waiting for hackers to create a work around. They always find a way. Short sighted greedy move, if they just gave u that functionality, it would create long term Brand affinity with its customer base.
Great video Kirk. This brings the car down to earth to the reality level. These are all the things that bring buyers remorse after you've signed your life away. The takeaway here? Keep it simple. The more tech you buy, the crazier you will be. I had a loaded 2023 Camry XSE AWD for a week as a loaner with all the bells and whistles while my 2018 base LE Hybrid was indisposed. The JBL audio system in the XSE drove me crazy with all the rattles coming from the panels. The safety feature that automatically slowed the car down for the corners drove me crazy. I found it and turned it off. (Whew!) The lane keeping assist made me angry with all the tugging of the wheel while I was driving. Off it went. The big 19" wheels felt heavy and took the nimbleness away that my 18 LE Hybrid had. The 360 camera was distracting and gave a terrible view when it rained due to water on the lenses which at times gave a false sense of security due to the image being distorted from the water. When I got my LE Hybrid back I felt like now I was now back in the sports car of Camry's! It was quicker, more nimble, much lighter feeling, and just more fun to drive. And my very nice sounding 6 speaker audio system had none of those rattles! So good to be home. 😊
Thank you! Kirk for mentioning and pointing this out about the lack of energy flow monitor on all the Camrys trims on the multimedia screen. This vehicles are part of an beyond zero goal that Toyota has with all its new HEV's. For an icon on the Toyota line up, as the Camry is, they are missing an essential tool that basically tells the driver how your car is working and what is happening with the hybrid system and the power train. This is a tool for all drivers that helps them to be more efficient and conscious about fuel economy. This is clearly Toyota being negligent. Im an owner of a LE 2025 and it is missing this feature as well. I contacted Toyota and they give me a default customer service message that "your concern is being heard" which I dont think is true. So, thank you for bringing this up, and give us a voice to Toyota customers and Camry owners. even on the owners manual, page 114 this is a feature that is falsely advertised and it says that this is available on the multimedia screen but this is false. There are several reviewers that notice the lack of the energy flow monitor as well. This is clearly an error from Toyota and they are just disregarding the customer voices. All the other manufacturers of hybrids have functions that allow the driving to understand the how the power is being generated, even the corolla 2024 hybrid has it and the software looks exactly the same. Hopefully they pay attention to this matter. There is a reddit about it as well for Camry 2025 owners.
I have a recent ES350, and I'm impressed by this new Camry. With this new hybrid setup, It is difficult for EVs to compete. At 45-50MPG, you are talking about 580 miles + of range. You may have to fill up once or twice a month. Please compare each cabin's ride quality and quietness when you have a moment with an F Sport ES350.
It's a different use case entirely. EVs really fit best with those who do a lot of city driving and especially sitting in traffic. EVs are also best when you don't have to travel far as charging at home means never stopping to go to a station again. These are areas where any conventional car takes way more wear than necessary and will not last as long. EVs just aren't affected by it the same way. If you need to go on road trips multiple times a year over 300 miles, you just shouldn't be considering an EV. But most people don't go on road trips like this and some people even take a plane if it comes to that. Not everyone needs the extreme range as most people rarely leave the 200 mile radius of where they live outside of for vacations. I know many people even call me crazy working 90 miles from home in the next state over. I think people really over estimate the range they need for their daily life. For some perspective, the distance I went for work training from here in Pennsylvania to Atlanta Georgia, a 13 hour drive, would still be possible with only two charges along the way (more like about 1 and 1/3). And I still needed a fueling myself with my car. Range in gas cars matters more because the more range the less you need to go to the gas station, but with EVs it's purely how for you can go at once.
We're looking at this for my dad who is in the 70s. I am worried about the tech as he's a simple kind of guy. It's either this or a 15-17 Honda Accord EX. What do you think?
@ryannguyen4813 most of the tech I just ignore. They made me download an app... which I never use. I have no idea which safety features are on. I only use android auto on longer rides. It's just the radio, but now that I have my favorites programmed, I can just scroll through them with the steering wheel button. I do forsee problems with people who are trying to use the tech and are distracted by their screens.
2025 Camry LE is the one to buy. Fantastic fuel economy, great ride quality with the 16" tires and the seats are insanely comfortable and supportive. Also very roomy back seat area.
Makes me glad I found an XSE with just the pano roof and not the rest of the premium package, about $3k cheaper. Sounds like the driver assist systems and JBL in the premium package aren't really worth it.
I don't know why car manufacturers are all emphasizing increasingly larger wheels, when it's less economical in terms of gas consumption and more energy-intensive for an electric car. If the Prius Prime had 17-inch wheels, instead of 21-inch wheels, it would have more electric range, at least 10 miles more minimum.
@@foxgood I think a better looking wheel is worth it over a 10 miles of range on a gas car. The cars now are slightly bigger so running 17 inch and even 18 inch on certain cars would look silly
A coworker recently told me: “I’ve already stopped pontificating and ready to move on.” I don’t agree with him and I will keep pointing out stupid things at work. You keep going too!
The main benefit of them is that they don't wear out the USB port on your phone. Otherwise if you use your phone for music plugging in your phone might even give you better audio instead of using bluetooth.
@kevinbarry71 I have, not on cellphones but I have broken a couple of fans I would wear as lanyards and gaming controllers. If you replace your phones often it's less likely to be an issue and it is less common with USB C. Still I have still broken or worn out USB C ports. And I did have to replace my father's iPhone for a shot lightning port. It is the next most common failure on the phone outside of broken screens.
I wish the packages were grouped differently (or available a la carte). Personally, I don't want leather or leatherette seats unless they're ventelated. But I also absolutely don't want a sunroof. JBL audio would be nice too, but again I'm 100% opposed to sunroofs and don't want a lot of the other garbage that comes on the premium plus package. As is, my best match would probably be a base Camry and just upgrade the sound system aftermarket. But I'd like the option to get an XSE and just check the boxes I want for options.
@@daytonarama ...that comes with a sunroof. Which I will not have. It also has several other things that I don't really want, but a sunroof is a hard pass for me, as is the driver monitor alert (every review I've seen has said the system is overly intrusive and annoying).
Q2 mid size truck sales figures 2024.1.Tacoma 47.912/2nd Colorado 26.901/3rd frontier 20.219/4th canyon 11.351/5th gladiator 10.489/6TH RANGER 9.030/7th Ridgeline 8.626. new Tacoma continue to remain as the number one selling mid size truck in it's segment while having to face serious competition yet some haters like @riseabove3083 and others still keep talking bs. Let the haters go to hell and only opinion that does matter is sales figures
Much of this can be addressed by simply getting an LE model. As far as the "Alien sound," locate the speaker and fill it with spray foam, or wrap it with the best sound deadening material you can find. And my recommendation on subscriptions... Just say NO to subscriptions. My Camry wanted a subscription to continue using the remote start. So I bought an aftermarket plug and play remote start that works exactly like the factory unit. Ain't no way I'm paying for a subscription for something the car already does. Any feature that requires a subscription to keep working simply doesn't even exist on the car as far as I'm concerned. So when I'm weighing one car against another, if remote start requires a subscription,.. the car doesn't have remote start then. If the other car I'm considering has remote start that doesn't require a subscription,.. then THAT car has remote start, and so on. As I weigh out feature for feature, only the ones that don't require subscriptions actually exist. They can stuff their subscriptions up you know where. This subscription thing has got to stop. And we are the only ones that can stop it by not subscribing to it.
@@kellyaustin7487 I wasn't talking about the speakers in the car rattling. You're right, that would stink. I was referring to the speaker in the grill that makes the "alien sound" in the new hybrids when going slow or backing up so the car can be heard when the engine's off. The government has made that thing so ridiculously loud that it's obnoxious. That's what needs to be spray foamed and wrapped to quiet it down. I'm not saying eliminate it, just make it more appropriate for it's purpose.
I just checked the chinese version of the camry, interior wise and even the infotainment it's better. Never knew it existed but i guess sedans are still alive in china and with the local competition there the camry is marketed as some executive sedan while in the US it's an uber vehicle or something especially with the base model.
Subscription services - making me think maybe not a TOYOTA this time. Toyota has a reputation for long life. I wonder how an old 2025 Toyota will be? "Oh, it used to have Subscription Services, but TOYOTA decided that it's too old for them to bother." Could wreck the reputation for great resale value.
I have a 25 XSE. My biggest complaint is the paint. Mine is black and if I look at it wrong, it scratches. 1800 miles and I already have stone chips on the hood and a scratch on the door where I washed off bird poo. My fault for not getting paint protection film, but the paint seems really soft/thin. Only other thing is the center console lid. The padding is super thin and uncomfortable to rest my elbow on.
So Mazda paint is thin also. Auto makers had to remove lead from paint because of Obama. I have a new Camry too and the reservoir blue paint also scratches super easily. I have been really disappointed: paint has to be touched carefully when it is clean and not dusty at all: the clear coat scratches when you touch it. And the center armrest, well I ordered a padded accessory armrest that works great for $21 on Amazon for a Camry specifically.
I have an 8th Gen Se trim, and I can confirm Kirk that all Camry owners have that same seatbelt problem 😮💨 This car is a great improvement overall, a few kinks yes but nothing major. Really keeping my fingers crossed for a hopeful announcement of the Crown Sport for North America, however I think they are concerned for the sales of Lexus NX and thus might never happen 😔
Yes! The Remote Connect feature of my 2023 Camry XSE V6 had to pay $80 yr. plus tax. after the 1 yr. trial as it is the only real Subscription you need since the others have little value. The Eye monitor recognition scanner would drive everyone up the wall plus goofy placement and design. The Infotainment screen is larger and upgraded but it is not always better. I like the idea of having a Fully Digital Instrument Cluster, however, it appears to have its setbacks just like the infotainment system. No improvement in the JBL "not premium" Sound system. The cheap plastic interior is for the birds still and the seat belt buckle banging against the panel just get a padded seat belt cover for the strap. No improvement to the Heads Up Display for Brightness, Colors, Positioning, and Resolution. Weak resolution for Backup Camera. Sorry, not the first time having to comment in one of Kirk's reviews, but I hate all Hybrids and EVs. I have a fully loaded Camry XSE 3.5L V6. I feel Toyota failed severely with its 9th Generation Camry since my perception is Toyota's new 2025 design is ugly inside and out. The 2 Positives are the fully digital instrument cluster display and Toyota Safety Sense 3.0. I would take the Lexus ES-350 (V6) or 350 F-Sport (V6) over any Camry Hybrid model. If I had to buy a new 2025 Camry, definitely would not be the lowest Trim LE which is 100 percent garbage but the SE and XSE. The LE and XLE pretty much provide nothing so why get them. My 2023 Camry XSE V6 fully loaded MSRP $41,305. A 2025 Camry XSE Hybrid fully loaded MSRP is nearly $42,000 costing more than my wonderful V6. Toyota is just ripping everyone off these days. Believe the Mazda CX-5 and CX-50 are a better buy than any vehicle Toyota is placing on the market for 2025. Likely have to move up to the Lexus brand for a decent vehicle. Honda is doing rather bad, the 11th Gen. Civic is not doing so well in its reliability as expected and the Honda Accord might not see another year of production. In my 2023, got the Ottocast Picasou 2 Pro for wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto, add an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max inserted in the Picasou 2 Pro HDMI input and be amazed how your Infotainment Screen been Transformed to watch videos and no longer have limited Apps but Unlimited Apps. Also Picasou 2 Pro has an HDMI Output to connect external monitors, notebook, tablet, and for kids to watch stuff in the back seat. Get the Deja Vue Plus App ($30 mo.) watch Live TV, Live Sports any sport just name it does not matter where broadcast or blackout, Movies, TV shows complete seasons and episodes. Use your Smartphone for a Wi-Fi Hotspot then you don't need a SIM card.
I am so glad that you are really giving the viewer a honest description of the things that SUCK in what Toyota is doing and not just the good that should be in these expensive vehicles
You are buying one of the most reliable hybrid cars from Toyota. If you want better engine with better sounding, go look for something else. Whining here won’t help.
@@user-da3kjk2lk4lwThese ppl are something else !! 🤦🏻♂️😂 they’re paying around $33K for a excellent HYBRID car and they’re complaining about a fake sound (that it’s a government mandated).
@@junito1008 let them pay maintenance and insurance later. i can guarantee you, Toyota's hybrid is 1000% more reliable than regular ICE engine + less maintenance cost.
Dear Toyota. Subscription stuff is tacky. It's offensive and leaves a bad taste. Why would you want to annoy your customers and sully your reputation like that? I look to you to be better than other companies who stoop to that level.
I just bought the 2025 Camry Hybread and it’s great. I’ve hit 44 mpgs and the speaker rattle was corrected by a slight reduction of the base. And as far as the screen, I use Apple CarPlay and there are arrows in the top left corner to touch and it takes you right to the Toyota screen.
@@Jalapenoskyraisin turn the bass down on the audio settings. Everyone has the same complaint. I bought one and turned it down within hours to eliminate rattles and it worked.
@@2004cyrus I tried and no luck. It’s the drivers side door and it’s driving me 🥜. Either Toyota can fix it or I will take it to get sound deadening installed. I want to upgrade the basic speakers anyway
Kirk, please do a “nitpick” video when you get a Crown Signia Limited for review. We really need these types of videos bc no regular test drive can convey these things. I wanted the front cameras and parking assist but I hadn’t realized the accompanying front cross traffic alerts were so annoying. This is a honestly a great video.
I own a 2025 XLE, I agree with your concerns and I also agree with you as to the pleasure of the car. Got almost 1700 miles on the car and so far so good!!
I prefer models with fewer "e-Toys" that distract, annoy and cost you plenty at purchase. I would despise that giant screen. Yeah, l'm sounding like my dad when he first saw cruise control!😂
Thanks goodness I got my NX before they started fitting that eye monitor nanny nonsense to everything. I had a UX300h as a courtesy car a few weeks ago, and it drove me nuts 😂 Yes you can turn those features off, but a lot of them come back on next time you start the car, at least with my NX once I turn them off, they stay off. I just hope they don’t do an over-the-air downdate and mess that up at some point.
Most base models will be cost down exercises. They make good rental, government agency and second car fleet vehicles. Safe, economical, value for money, good resale value.
I have a 2025 XLE. And a pixel phone. No charging issues at all. The speaker rattling I would bring back, my car is quiet. And I think the shiney black on the passenger vents is nice :-)
Your comment made me happy. I ordered a 25 XLE. And after watching this video, i'm quite concerned. I'm getting the white front wheel drive with the light tan interior with the premium package And some other extras.
Have an LE and and I am at 1900 miles. I will only concur with only one thing you talked about: the engine noise. The engine noise I have issues with is when I am stuck in traffic, for about 5 to 7 min, when i actually drive off my car makes this loud overreving noise on the motor until it reaches 30 mph. Besides that I have no complaints. Prior to this I had a 2022 Corolla SE which was awesome.
Does it have the build quality of the ES though Kirk? I know it has less than half the body laser weld points for rigidity so I don’t see how the build quality could be as good. I doubt there’s much ever speaker rattles in ES with Mark Levinson.
I have the same car. When I'm on the interstate, where the road is paved with parallel grooves in the concrete to improve traction, The "Lane Keep Assist" will seem to fight with the steering like it doesn't know how to handle the road. The system will keep you in the lane, but the wheel wants to turn in a slight left-to-right fashion repeatedly.
I was blown away by the amount of accessories for the Ford Maverick. Im hoping we see the same thing for the Camry. Decals to cover the piano black for example
My wife's CRV Hybrid has that spaceship noise and I can hear her coming form a block away once she turns on to our street. I considered disconnecting the speaker but decided if we hit someone we would end up broke from the lawsuit.
Carplay has an icon in the top left corner that allows you to see the row of Toyota options to the left of the Carplay section of the screen. Wireless charging also reportedly works better with iPhones than others.
Excellent review ! I was thinking of trading in my 2023 Camry SE ( non hybrid) because the seats are not comfortable at all. So with everything that you mentioned plus I don’t think I’m able to put my sound system in this car , I will just keep mine and change the seats to the LE cloth seats. 👍
I have the 2025 Camry SE and I totally agree the seats are very very uncomfortable..and I share some of the same issues you have... I don't like .the speakers they sound really bad in my car too, the rattle on the right side of my door drives me crazy. I took out a lot of the base but I can still here the rattle...if I have passengers in the backseat they can barely hear any sound coming from the speaker's in the back
I had a different experience. I first test drove the Camry XLE and I thought the seats were not that comfortable. I then test drove the SE and noticed the seats were very comfortable.
@@DCM-o4r Wow!...I traded my Camry in for the Lexus ES and I'm happy 🙂..I hope you enjoy the SE Camry if you choose to buy it. I'm not young anymore, in my opinion the new Camry fits better with younger people
Ein Toyota Camry wird nie besser als ein Lexus ES sein,aber es ist ein super Auto das mehr bietet als erwartet.Für Familien ist er der bessere Kompromiss Der Lexus ist ein feiner Flanieren für Menschen die perfektion und Luxus lieben.
I feel the random chime thing. I swear it will randomly chime at me and by the time I look down to see what it is it’s gone. The one thing I hate about the Camry rn is the fact that my phone constantly needs to reconnect everytime I come back. That and the doors unlocking. I unlock my car and only the driver side unlocks and I went in setting to unlock passenger but half the time I’m stuck trying to unlock from inside. Another thing I hate is every now and then I’ll turn off my car to leave and then it’s beeping at me like if I still left the car on and won’t want to lock. I have to climb back in turn back on and off again I don’t get it and it makes me mad
I have a few too.. and I just bought one.. 2025 XLE Its hard to grab the seat belt since it hugs the side so tight.. I dont like the glossy black either.. The screen is so unintuitive - I cant find the Android Auto screen.. The Seat retracts backwards every time its switched to off.. and goes forward when started. I heard there was a way to disable it but I havent found it .. The Head up display is annoying.. The dealer showed me how to dim it but it seems to only have 2 settings.. and if I want to switch during the day Id have to hunt thru the menus.. The Owners manuals are like 4 inches thick.. The glove box is tiny and hard to reach.. The warning beeps are annoying The Lane assist meanders til the edge of the road and then seems to over correct.. I had a Honda Civic Touring and it was a classy intuitive interior and controls. The Lane assist was spot on and secure feeling.. The Eyeball monitor keeps telling me to sit up - even when I havent moved. The Key Fob doesnt have much range. - I was told the remote start was 3 years but dealer guy told me it keeps working beyond 5 years. The App on the Phone dies in a year and requires 8 dollar a month.. F that.. The seat has a fan in it.. and the fan blade rubs on something in there.. esp if you push back into the seat.. The stereo is eh even with the 9 speaker JBLs.. but I have totally tweaked it but I have a feeling it aint that great even at its best. The Hybrid part is new to me so its kinda weird how it keeps switching between engine and Electric motor. Thats all for now.. lol..
I have a 2025 SE. Try lifting the driver side wiper to clean your windshield. Not possible, it hits the hood. Look at the sun visor hinges. Exposed screw heads in a car that costs this much?
Help someone. I purchased a 2025 Camry XSE about a month ago, and now a rattling noise is occurring in the trunk area or under the rear of the car. I can't for the life of me, find the source of the rattling noise. Even at very slow speeds and small bumps, you can hear it. I have made sure the spare tire is secure along with the tools etc. Any ideas ???
Since it isn't a Plug In Hybrid, I think the Energy Screen is pretty irrelevant at this point. It is really just some Animations that don't really tell you anything.
Hi, I like your videos, the way you explain is so good...I have a question: did toyota recall the 2025 camry and other vehicles? Today I have seen a article on Google that states toyota has issued a recall. Could you please confirm if it's true or not as I have booked a 2025 camry xse...thanks a lot in advance ❤
Just bought an LE and have one for you: Driving, listening to the radio (youtube thru apple car play) and I get a text message. The radio continues to play as it reads the text message, which I can barely hear, and then asks me if I want to reply.
I had the same issue but when as it reads the memo, just turn up the volume knob on the radio and just the memo voice volume increases, not what’s playing on the radio.
@@DCM-o4r I had the radio loud at the time. The message shouldn't have to compete with the radio but this may be more on Applecarplay than Toyota. Thanks for the response.
Interesting how this "distracted driver" system deals with sunglasses, photochromic/regular lenses? It's sad that you have to pay for all these systems that eventually you turn off. For me it's also disappointing why Toyota only offers a big expensive package rather than more granuly combined features.
Recently purchased a 2025 Camry SE for my wife. Great vehicle, but the infotainment system is merely average. I'm also a GM guy. GM's infotainment systems are far more user-friendly, IMO. I also wish the upper sections of the rear door panels were rendered in soft-touch plastic.
@@sherrikwhiteside6107: No, I did not consider the Malibu. I find it to be a decent but underwhelming sedan with poor resale value and questionable long-term reliability.
Subscriptions are really killing cars to me. Cars are seen as one of the most expensive things a person owns, and now you don't own it entirely. Like seriously, how could you possibly justify subscriptions on something so expensive that most people make less money in a year than it?
That’s why I buy a trim above the base and then add an aftermarket remote starter on it and it’s job done. I did that to my current vehicle 4 years ago
These days luxury means a bunch of fancy features vs before it meant build quality, no rattles, good materials. Many things are built cheaper and covered up by flashy high tech features.
I have been a honda man for many years, but this new Generation, and the last one, you feel trapped. The doors and the dash come up too high before the windows start . I love my 14 accord.
@@evangelistaalbertomercedes7905 The correct terminology is the visibility. Hondas have poor visibility. The new Camry's do not have that. They have great visibility.
I already have regrets buying my '25 xse ppp. The trunk has to be shut hard for it to close, no 2 seating memory position buttons, hard to use the 12.3" screen, no built-in sunshades, cannot lock the glove box, no remote start, no cd player, and a few other things lacking.
I have the 23 Prius and the energy monitor is under the car icon like he said it should be... weird. Other than that it is the exact same 12.3 in head unit.
Those blinking sensors is ridiculous and the design of the instrument cluster cover is absolutely ridiculous. Who thought that 'Dome' design would look nice?
My biggest issue is the "packages" OK you want better speakers - well we have some mediocre ones but you have to get a bunch of other stuff just to get that. I prefer a standup phone holder. center storage needs a light, trunk needs about 3 more lights that are BRIGHTER. Energy monitor strange. Shouldn't have to buy a bi direction scanner to fix the functions missing on the key fob. Ventilated seats should be standard. No ANC?
