New 2022 Toyota Camry TRD V6 Review, Pricing & Specs

Although the 2022 Toyota Camry shares a moniker with preceding generations, its aggressive appearance and performance model makes it almost unrecognisable. That is because the new Camry is, perhaps, the most appealing model in the company’s history. The typical, if the mundane, four-cylinder engine is fuel-efficient and adequate for everyday driving duties. The hybrid variant increases fuel efficiency, despite its lacklustre acceleration. That leaves the lusty 301-horsepower V-6 to accelerate, particularly on the sport-tuned Camry TRD, which is truly enjoyable to drive. While competitors like the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata are more polished and satisfying overall, the Toyota offers many desired features, including a comprehensive suite of standard active safety technologies and the goodwill earned through decades of proven dependability.

What’s New for the Year 2022?

The only update to the 2022 Camry range concerns the aesthetics of the lineup’s several versions. Unlike in the past, the Nightshade aesthetic option (including black exterior trim and wheels) is now available on hybrid versions. Additionally, the Camry’s colour selections have been altered somewhat, with Edge White now available on non-TRD trim levels. The Galactic Aqua colour, on the other hand, has been discontinued.

2022 Toyota Camry TRD Features

• Price: $26,420
• Engine: 2.5 L Regular Unleaded I-4
• Transmission: 8-Speed Automatic Transmission
• Drivetrain: Front Wheel Drive
• Horsepower: 203 hp
• Torque: 184
• Seating Capacity: Five-seater
• Fuel Efficiency (MPG): 28 mpg in the city, 39 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined
• Length (inches): 192.1
• Width (inches): 72.4
• Height (inches): 56.9

Pricing and Choosing Which One to Purchase

We’d go with the acridest Camry of the group, the tuned-up TRD variant. It is only available with a 301-horsepower V-6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Along with a more aggressive body package that includes a concealed rear spoiler and a pair of visible exhaust tips, the sedan has a retuned suspension that is 0.6 inches lower than the standard model. Additionally, more oversized front brake rotors and black 18-inch rims with all-season or summer tyres are available. The modifications make the Camry TRD more enjoyable to drive than the rest of the range, even if the cat-back exhaust system does not sound as exciting as the many aerodynamic enhancements indicate.

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Trims and Features of the 2022 Toyota Camry

-LE-Starting MSRP $25,295 (hybrid available)

• 17″ Alloy Wheels  
• 4.2″ TFT Multi-Information Display  
• Multi-Function In-Key Remote Keyless Entry System 
• 7″ Touchscreen System with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™   
• Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Filter  

-SE- Starting MSRP $26,835 (hybrid available)

• Colour-Keyed Rear Spoiler  
• Sport SofTex® Front Seats with Fabric Inserts  
• Bi-LED Combination Headlights along with Black Trim with Auto On/Off  
• Leather-Trimmed Steering Wheel

-SE Nightshade Edition- Starting MSRP $27,535 (hybrid available)  

• Black Window Trim  
• Black Outside Door Handles  
• Black Rear Toyota Emblem and “CAMRY” Lettering  
• Black Rear Spoiler  
• 18″ Black-Painted Alloy Wheels  

-XLE- Starting MSRP $30,045 (hybrid available)

• 9″ Audio Plus Touchscreen  
• 18″ Dark Gray Machined-Finish Alloy Wheels  
• Qi-Compatible Wireless Smartphone Charging  
• Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control  
• Leather-Trimmed and Heated Front Seats  
• Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror  
• Smart Key System with Push Button Start

-XSE- Starting MSRP $30,595 (hybrid available)

• Gloss Black Front Grille that has Sport Mesh Lower Grille Insert  
• Patterned Metal Interior Trim  
• LED Headlights with LED Accent Lights, Black colour Trim, and Auto On/Off  
• 19″ Gloss-Black Alloy Wheels

-TRD- Starting MSRP $32,360

• Matte-Black Center Cap with Red TRD Logo  
• 19″ TRD Matte-Black Alloy Wheels  
• TRD Cat-Back Dual Exhaust with Stainless-Steel Tips  
• Sport SofTex® Front Seats with Red colour Seatbelts and Stitching and Red-Stitched TRD Headrest Logo  

-XLE V6- Starting MSRP $35,170

• Dual Exhaust with Chrome Tips 
• Panoramic Glass Roof  
• 3.5L V6 engine that makes 301 Horsepower and 267 Lb-Ft of Torque   
• Overhead Console with Map lights and HomeLink® Universal Transceiver  
• Audio Plus 9″ Touchscreen with JBL®

-XSE V6- Starting MSRP $35,720

• Dual Exhaust with Quad Chrome Tips  
• Overhead Console with Map lights as well as HomeLink® Universal Transceiver  
• Panoramic Glass Roof and Front Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof  
• Dual Sun Visors with Sliding Extensions and Illuminated Vanity Mirrors

Performance, Engine, and Transmission

The conventional four-cylinder engine is mated to a smooth eight-speed automatic transmission, but its acceleration figures are lacking. A less powerful version of the machine is combined with a battery and two electric motors to power the Camry hybrid, which is no more fun to drive than the standard engine. The true beauty of this range is the silky 301-horsepower V-6 found in the XLE and XSE trim levels, as well as the TRD variation. Additionally, we are pleased to report that we no longer despise driving the Camry. It rides comfortably and handles surprisingly well. The steering is well-weighted and feels robust in corners yet light in parking spaces. We found the Camry’s brake pedal to be quick and not too soft, especially in hybrid mode, when friction must coexist with regenerative braking (in which braking energy is used to replenish the hybrid’s battery pack). However, the hybrid’s brake pedal is hypersensitive at slower speeds, making parking procedures rather herky-jerky.

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Real-World MPG and Fuel Economy

The Camry family as a whole fared well in EPA tests, and a four-cylinder model performed admirably in our real-world highway testing. The most efficient nonhybrid Camry models are the LE and SE with the four-cylinder engine, which gets 28 mpg in the city and 39 mpg on the interstate. The primary LE hybrid achieves 51 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. The hybrid’s highest trims, on the other hand, trade some economy for luxury, with versions powered by the V-6 earning 22 mpg city and up to 33 mpg highway. A four-cylinder Camry SE scored 45 mpg on the interstate, outperforming its own EPA rating by six miles per gallon—making it the most fuel-efficient nonhybrid vehicle we’ve ever tested. It even surpassed the Camry XLE Hybrid we tested by one mile per gallon. Visit the EPA’s website for additional information on the Camry’s fuel efficiency.

2022 Toyota Camry TRD Interior, Comfort, and Carrying Capacity

We drove the Camry in both its top-of-the-line XLE and more modest SE trim levels. Both are roomy and comfy, but the XLE is opulent. However, there is a significant difference in material quality between the entry-level and higher-priced models. The dashboard’s centre section left several of us chilly with its uninspiring design. The Camry is a big sedan with great freight and internal storage capacity in the trunk and the cabin with the rear seat folding. It is not the greatest in every storage area, but it is pretty competitive in general. Toyota shifted the Camry hybrid’s battery from the trunk to behind the back seats, ensuring that hybrid owners do not have to forego cargo space in exchange for increased fuel economy.

The Toyota Camry TRD is available in a variety of colours

• Supersonic Red.
• Ruby Flare Pearl.
• Midnight Black Metallic.
• Super White.
• Wind Chill Pearl.
• Celestial Silver Metallic.
• Predawn Gray Mica.
• Galactic Aqua Mica.

Connectivity and Infotainment

Toyota’s Entune 3.0 touchscreen infotainment system is standard on all Camry models, with a more advanced version available as an option. Entune has many options and reacted pretty well to user inputs throughout our testing. It comes standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

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Features for Driver Assistance and Safety

We continue to congratulate Toyota for including driver assistance technologies as standard equipment on all Camry models. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) websites for further information regarding the Camry’s crash-test results. Among the critical safety features are the following:

• Forward collision warning and the automatic emergency braking are standard.
• Lane departure warning and lane-keeping assist are standard.
• Cruise control with adaptive cruise control as standard

Coverage for Warranty and Maintenance

While competitors such as the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima offer lengthier warranty durations in this class, Toyota maintains a competitive edge with two years of free regular maintenance.

• Three-year or 36,000-mile limited warranty
• Warranty on the powertrain is five years or 60,000 miles.
• Two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary maintenance are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The Camry TRD is without a doubt the most stylish Camry in the parking lot. Especially in the new-for-2022 TRD Calvary Blue colour is contrasted by an optional Metallic Black Roof and metallic black rear spoiler. The TRD grille is a one-of-a-kind gloss black design with a sport mesh insert, flanked by bi-LED headlights and LED daytime running lights.

19-inch TRD black matte wheels with TRD centre badges look fantastic paired with summer tyres. Red brake callipers, colour-keyed side rocker panels, and an aero package with red pinstriping contribute to the athletic vibe. Along with the spoiler, LED combination taillights, and TRD badging on the rear, you’ll find a TRD cat-back twin exhaust system with a sporty exhaust noise.

Camry gas-only models are available with a four-cylinder or a V6 engine. The TRD is equipped with a more powerful 3.5-litre V-6 engine that produces 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. It’s coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. Both power and acceleration felt fantastic, even more so in my perennial favourite Sport mode. It is a front-wheel-drive vehicle.

The TRD Camry is all about an increased track-tuned ride and drive, courtesy of extensive changes to the chassis, shock absorbers, and front and rear suspension by Toyota Racing Development. Additionally, it receives aerodynamic upgrades and 12.9-inch front brakes with twin-piston callipers. The TRD-exclusive tuning results in the best-handling and most enjoyable Camry ever. To my mind, it’s also a smooth and confident ride, if not the quietest in terms of road noise.

The Camry TRD’s cabin is sporty, with a black interior accented with bright red accents and stitching. The front seats are finished in Sport SofTex and have a prominent red accent trim and red TRD badges on the headrests. You secure yourselves with red seat belts. The dash, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and gear shift knob have red stitching.