The 2020 Toyota Camry XSE V6 was the six-cylinder, sport-styled version of the eighth-generation Camry, model code XV70, which Toyota produced from 2017 to 2024. The XSE was one of three Camry trims that could be ordered with the V6 for 2020, alongside the XLE and the new TRD. This article covers the XSE V6’s engine, transmission, dimensions, fuel economy and pricing.
The Eighth-Generation Camry
The XV70 Camry replaced the XV50 and rode on Toyota’s TNGA platform, which lowered the center of gravity and stiffened the body compared with the previous car. It went on sale in 2017. The V6 was offered across the range from launch in the United States, and it was the most powerful engine available in the model. Every 2020 Camry came with Toyota Safety Sense as standard equipment, including a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and automatic high beams.
Engine and Powertrain
The 2020 Camry XSE V6 used a 3.5-liter V6, engine code 2GR-FKS. Toyota rated it at 301 hp at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm. The engine measured 3,456 cc, used a compression ratio of 11.8 to 1 and had four valves per cylinder. It drove the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive was not offered with the V6. The V6 was also fitted to the XLE and to the TRD, which Toyota added to the Camry line for the 2020 model year.
| Specification | 2020 Camry XSE V6 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 (2GR-FKS) |
| Power | 301 hp at 6,600 rpm |
| Torque | 267 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic |
| Drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Fuel economy | 22 mpg city / 32 mpg highway / 26 mpg combined |
| Wheelbase | 111.2 inches |
| Length | 192.7 inches |
| Curb weight | 3,572 pounds |
XSE Trim Features
The XSE built on the XLE with a sportier look and feel. It added 19-inch wheels with a black finish, a body-color rear spoiler and a dual exhaust with quad chrome tips, and it used sport-tuned suspension settings. Inside, the XSE had leather-trimmed seats and the option of a range of advanced driver-assistance features, some of which were bundled in an optional package. A buyer who wanted more still could choose the TRD, which paired the same V6 with a track-tuned suspension, larger brakes and a more aggressive body kit.
Fuel Economy and Dimensions
The EPA rated the Camry XSE V6 at 22 mpg in the city, 32 mpg on the highway and 26 mpg combined. The car had a 16-gallon fuel tank, giving a highway cruising range of roughly 512 miles. It measured 192.7 inches long, 72.4 inches wide and 56.9 inches tall, on a 111.2-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of about 3,572 pounds and a trunk of 15.1 cubic feet. Ground clearance was 5.7 inches and the turning diameter was 38 feet.
Pricing
The V6 was an extra-cost engine over the four-cylinder on the XLE and XSE, priced at about $5,125 on those trims. The XSE V6 was widely listed with a starting figure in the mid-$30,000 range, around $35,130 in several price guides, while the entry Camry four-cylinder sedan started far lower. Buyers who wanted the V6 could also choose the XLE V6 or the TRD, each with its own equipment and price.
Related Models
The Camry XSE V6 sat above the four-cylinder Camry in power and price, and below nothing in the range — it was the quickest and most expensive engine choice. Anyone interested in how the Camry name developed in Australia, where a different naming system applied, can look at the Camry Atara R, and the many ways owners can personalize a Camry are covered in the general concept of customization. Buyers cross-shopping distant alternatives from the same legacy lineup can also read about the A-BAT concept truck.
Camry V6 History
Toyota has offered a V6 in the Camry for most of the model’s history, and the eighth-generation car continued the tradition. The 2GR-FKS used in the 2020 XSE was a 3.5-liter, 24-valve unit with dual variable valve timing and both direct and port fuel injection. It was naturally aspirated, so it delivered its power progressively rather than with the low-end surge of a turbocharged four.
Performance
The V6 made the 2020 Camry the quickest car in its family. Independent spec databases list its zero-to-60-mph time at roughly 5.7 to 5.8 seconds and its standing quarter mile at about 14.3 seconds at around 102 mph, while the four-cylinder versions were appreciably slower. The XSE’s sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels were intended to make the most of that power without turning the Camry into a hard-riding car.
The TRD
Toyota introduced the Camry TRD for the 2020 model year, pairing the same 3.5-liter V6 with a more aggressive suspension, larger front brakes, a cat-back exhaust and a body kit. It sat alongside the XSE as the most performance-focused Camry, while the XSE remained the sport-styled trim that balanced the V6 with everyday comfort.
Interior and Technology
The XSE cabin used leather-trimmed seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Toyota Safety Sense came as standard and included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and automatic high beams. Optional safety equipment on higher trims added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.
Competition and Sales
The Camry’s traditional rival was the Honda Accord, which by 2020 had dropped its own V6 in favor of turbocharged four-cylinder and hybrid engines. That left the Camry V6 with few direct six-cylinder competitors among mainstream mid-size sedans. The Camry remained one of the best-selling passenger cars in the United States throughout this period, and the V6 accounted for a small but loyal share of that volume.
