The 2021 Toyota Camry is the facelifted version of the eighth-generation (XV70) sedan. Toyota unveiled the refreshed Camry on July 15, 2020, and it went on sale in the United States in October 2020. The 2021 model brought restyled front ends, new multimedia displays, a new XSE Hybrid grade and the debut of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+. This article covers the redesign, engine specs, dimensions, pricing and release details.
What the Facelift Changed
The 2021 Camry was a mid-cycle refresh rather than an all-new generation. Toyota redesigned the front fascia to distinguish the comfort-oriented LE and XLE grades from the sporty SE and XSE, giving the SE and XSE a honeycomb grille and side vent inserts. The L grade was discontinued, making the LE the new entry point, and Toyota added the first-ever Camry XSE Hybrid grade. New 7-inch and 9-inch floating touchscreens replaced the previous layout, Android Auto was added, and the XLE gained a herringbone seat pattern. A rear-seat reminder became standard.
Engines and Transmission
Three powertrains were offered. The 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder produced 203 hp at 6,600 rpm and 184 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm; in the XSE it was rated at 206 hp and 186 lb-ft thanks to a dual-outlet exhaust. All-wheel-drive versions of the four-cylinder made 202 hp, with the XSE AWD rated at 205 hp. The 3.5-liter V6 produced 301 hp at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm and was offered on the XLE, XSE and TRD. The Camry Hybrid used Toyota’s hybrid system, combining a 2.5-liter engine with an electric motor for a total system output of 208 hp. All gas models used a Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrid used an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission.
- 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder: 203 hp, 184 lb-ft (206 hp in XSE)
- 3.5-liter V6: 301 hp, 267 lb-ft (XLE, XSE, TRD)
- Hybrid: 2.5-liter engine and electric motor, 208 hp total
- Gas transmission: Direct Shift eight-speed automatic
- Hybrid transmission: electronically controlled continuously variable (ECVT)
- Drive: front-wheel drive or Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel drive
Fuel Economy
The U.S. Department of Energy rated the 2021 Camry LE and SE at 28 mpg city, 39 mpg highway and 32 mpg combined; the four-cylinder XLE and XSE at 27/38/31; all-wheel-drive LE and SE at 25/34/29; and all-wheel-drive XLE and XSE at 25/34/28. The V6 was rated at 26 mpg combined, and the TRD at 25 mpg combined. The Camry Hybrid LE was the standout at 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway and 52 mpg combined, while the Hybrid SE, XLE and XSE were rated at 44/47/46.
Trims and Pricing
The 2021 Camry came in 17 configurations across four-cylinder, V6, all-wheel-drive and hybrid lines. The LE started at $24,970, followed by the SE at $26,485 and the SE Nightshade at $27,185. The XLE started at $29,870 and the XSE at $30,420, with the V6 versions at $34,995 and $35,545. The TRD started at $32,185. Hybrid grades started at $27,270 for the LE, $28,785 for the SE, $32,170 for the XLE and $32,720 for the new XSE Hybrid. All figures are MSRP before destination charges; Toyota noted that every hybrid grade was priced lower than the equivalent 2020 model.
Dimensions and Interior
The XV70 Camry rides a 111.2-inch wheelbase and measures 192.1 inches long, 72.4 inches wide and 57.1 inches tall, according to Cars.com, with seating for five and about 15 cubic feet of trunk space. All-wheel drive added roughly 165 pounds over the front-drive LE. The interior used a floating touchscreen and, on XLE and XSE, an available 10-inch color head-up display. Ventilated front seats were available on the XLE and XSE, and the XSE offered an exclusive Cockpit Red interior color.
All-Wheel Drive and Hybrid Details
Camry all-wheel drive debuted for 2020 and was offered for 2021 as a standalone option on the LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade and XSE. The Dynamic Torque Control system can send up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels and disengages the rear driveline when traction is not needed to save fuel. The Camry Hybrid uses a lithium-ion battery mounted beneath the rear seat, which keeps passenger room and trunk space intact.
Safety and Driver-Assist Equipment
The 2021 Camry was among the first Toyotas to use Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+. The suite includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian and daytime bicyclist detection plus intersection support, emergency steering assist, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams and road sign assist. Ten airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System came standard, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard on the XLE and XSE and available on other grades.
Summary
The 2021 Camry is the facelifted eighth-generation sedan, introduced in July 2020 and on sale that October. Its defining changes were restyled front ends, new 7- and 9-inch displays, standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ and the first XSE Hybrid grade, wrapped around three powertrains led by a 208-hp hybrid that returned up to 52 mpg combined. The TRD performance grade continued with its 301-hp V6 and track-tuned chassis. Within Toyota’s 2021 lineup, the Camry sat alongside performance and efficiency models such as the 2020 Toyota Supra and the 2019 Toyota Prius Prime.
