Shopping for a Toyota Camry? Here’s What Experts Say You Should Look at Instead

The Camry has prevailed

Americans like boring things. It’s why we consume white bread, American cheese, and vanilla ice cream. It also explains why the midsize sedan was America’s favorite type of car for decades, a love that’s now fading. Nevertheless, the Toyota Camry remains the best-selling sedan in America, a position it’s held for 22 years.

Boasting a refreshed wardrobe for 2025, the Toyota Camry returns with one driveline: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to two electric motors that deliver 225 horsepower to the front wheels. You can also opt for all-wheel drive on all trims, which adds a third electric motor and seven horsepower. Consequently, most midsize cars don’t possess the Camry’s fuel efficiency, returning an EPA-rated 44-51 mpg in combined city/highway driving, depending on the model.

The cabin is sufficiently roomy at 100 cubic feet, although others boast more legroom and headroom. Cargo space is also sufficient at 15 cubic feet. Up front, a redesigned instrument panel features an 8-inch center-mounted infotainment touchscreen or an optional 12.3-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless charging are standard, while a 10-inch color head-up display is optional.

The Camry SE and XSE feel more athletic than their softer LE and XLE siblings, although the steering feels no sportier. However, extracting power requires flooring the throttle, though the all-wheel-drive’s additional electric motor makes it more interesting to drive.

Of course, you could choose another midsize sedan, none of them American. While Chevrolet did field a 2025 Malibu, production ended in November 2024. Clearly, midsize sedans are a dying breed, but there are still some potent rivals.

Honda Accord

While the Camry outsells the Accord, it doesn’t surpass it. The Accord’s styling is classically conservative yet modern, in the best Honda tradition. It’s roomier than a Camry, too, with 105.7 cubic feet of passenger space and 16.7 cubic feet of cargo space. 

Under the hood resides a 192-horsepower, turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that returns an EPA-rated 32 mpg in combined driving. You can also opt for a 204-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder two-motor hybrid system that returns 44 or 48 mpg, depending on the model. Unlike the Camry, Honda recommends premium unleaded fuel. A continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive are standard on all models and all-wheel drive is not offered. 

Conventional Accords come with a smaller 7-inch touchscreen, while Hybrids get a larger 10.2-inch unit. Both get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it’s wireless on the hybrids. Hybrids also don’t get a spare tire, while others do.

This has always been a car for driving enthusiasts. It is light on its feet, has communicative steering, and has a well-controlled, if stiff, ride. As with any Honda, there’s more road and tire noise than its rivals, but the Accord compensates with a joie de vivre noticeably lacking elsewhere.

Hyundai Sonata

Unlike its rivals, Hyundai continues to endow the Sonata with alluring attributes that are hard to ignore. Its starting price is among the lowest in its class, but it still comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, push-button starter, and automatic headlight control. Passenger volume and cargo space match the Camry at 100 cubic feet and 16 cubic feet, respectively. Its styling is fresh and contemporary, and it offers a trio of powertrains, making it the only midsize sedan giving buyers choices. 

It starts with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission rather than the truly awful CVT transmissions used elsewhere. Rated at 191 horsepower, it’s offered with front- or all-wheel drive. There’s also a 2.0-liter four-cylinder hybrid rated 192 horsepower with a six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive. Finally, there’s the scorching Sonata N, powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive rated at 290 horsepower. Sonata fuel economy ranges from 29-32 mpg with front-wheel drive, 28 mpg with all-wheel drive, and 27 mpg on the Sonata N. The Sonata uses regular unleaded fuel. 

Most Sonatas are easygoing and comfortable, playing the part of the sleepy family sedan with alacrity. Acceleration is somnolent, except for the N Line, which benefits from far stronger acceleration with little penalty in fuel economy. Add in crisp shifts and a pleasant drivability, and you’ll find it fun to drive. While handling isn’t quite as good as the Accord’s, it’s still impressive.

Kia K5

Consider the Kia K5 the Hyundai Sonata’s bratty corporate cousin, one that’s just here to have fun. Or, at least, that’s the way it looks. Certainly, its athletic looks promise boatloads of fun, but it depends on the powertrain, which is identical to the Sonata’s and boasts identical horsepower and EPA numbers. Yet unlike Hyundai, Kia doesn’t offer the K5 as a hybrid in the U.S., although it does in other markets. The K5 runs on regular unleaded fuel.

Like the Sonata, the K5 has a heavy dose of standard equipment, including a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. The cabin is slightly larger at 105.3 cubic feet, but trunk space lags behind at 15.6 cubic feet.

Given its aggressively sporty style, the K5 promises something it doesn’t deliver. With its naturally aspirated engine, most K5s promise something it doesn’t deliver, although handling is nimble enough. That’s not true of the GT. Like the Sonata N Line, the GT’s driveline, suspension upgrades, and tuning lend it the athleticism that its looks suggest.

Nissan Altima

For 2025, the Nissan Altima was reduced to a solitary powertrain. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and continuously variable automatic transmission are rated at 188 horsepower with front-wheel drive and 182 horsepower with all-wheel drive. Exciting? No, but adequate for schlepping around suburbia with a modicum of fuel efficiency. Base Altimas return an EPA-rated 28-32 mpg, depending on the model. All run on regular unleaded fuel.

Its design is fetchingly attractive both inside and out and features a standard 8-inch infotainment touchscreen. A 12.3-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are optional, but standard on the SL. 

Passenger space is competitive at 101 cubic feet, but its 15.4 cubic-foot trunk trails others in this class. The seats are flat but comfy, and head and leg room are about what you’d expect. This vehicle holds no surprises and few thrills. If only it drove as good as it looks. But that’s increasingly a problem with all Nissans.

Subaru Legacy

Meet the least-expensive midsize sedan in the U.S. market, one in its final year of production. A Subaru staple since 1989, it remains handsome and approachable, being refreshingly refined and wearing no-nonsense level-headedness.

A 182-horsepower 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine is standard, although Sport and Touring XT trims get a 260-horsepower turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four that’s noticeably quicker. A continuously variable automatic transmission and all-wheel drive are standard. The Legacy’s mild-mannered demeanor extends to the driveline, which prefers smooth, steady inputs and is effortless to drive.

Its soft yet supportive seats are as welcoming as your favorite recliner. Unlike the Honda, the seating position is high and chair-like. The Legacy’s 11.6-inch touchscreen features large buttons that are easy to hit, while lesser Legacy models get two 7-inch screens with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This is an overlooked gem: a comfortable car that stands out by not standing out yet proves to be comfortable and incredibly capable.

Final thoughts

If the Toyota Camry sets the standard for the midsize class with hybrid fuel economy, that’s hard to beat. Its starting price is among the highest, however, so if you’re not in a hurry, you’ll find much to like in the athletic Honda Accord, the well-equipped Hyundai Sonata or Kia K5, the no-surprises Nissan Altima or the comfy, cossetting Subaru Legacy. The Hyundai and Kia’s high-performance variants are two models that are unchallenged in this space, so we’d recommend getting behind the wheel of at least a few of these before bringing out the checkbook.