The 2021 Toyota Camry XLE is the comfort-focused trim of the Camry’s eighth generation, a midsize sedan that went on sale in the United States in 2017 and was given a mid-cycle refresh for 2021. Toyota unveiled the updated car on July 15, 2020, and it reached dealerships that fall. The 2021 model is a facelift rather than an all-new design: Toyota discontinued the entry-level L grade, made the LE the new base model, restyled the front ends, and added a first-ever XSE Hybrid to the range.
What Changed for 2021
The refresh concentrated on styling, cabin technology and safety rather than the underlying platform, which is the TNGA-K architecture used since the current-generation Camry launched. Toyota split the front-end design into two themes. The comfort grades (LE and XLE) received a more defined lower intake and a reworked grille, while the sport grades (SE and XSE) gained a honeycomb mesh, side-vent inserts and darker accents. The XLE moved to a redesigned 18-inch alloy wheel, and the paint list swapped Blue Streak Metallic for a new Blueprint finish.
Inside, the headline change was a floating multimedia display, sized at 7 inches on lower grades and 9 inches on the XLE and XSE, mounted above the dashboard instead of embedded in it. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa compatibility were standard, and an 800-watt JBL system with nine speakers was available. The XLE added a new herringbone seat pattern. Every 2021 Camry adopted Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which added intersection support, daytime cyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection and lane-centering assistance.
Interior and Cabin
The XLE is positioned as the most luxurious non-hybrid, non-TRD Camry grade. Its standard cabin equipment included leather-trimmed heated front seats, the larger 9-inch touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control and the new herringbone seat pattern; a 10-inch color head-up display was available. Passenger volume is about 100 cubic feet, with 38 inches of rear legroom, and the gasoline XLE keeps a 15.1-cubic-foot trunk. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert was standard, along with a rear-seat reminder, 10 airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System.
Exterior Styling
The XLE follows the calmer of the two 2021 front-end treatments. Its grille and lower air intake are finished in silver rather than the blacked-out look of the sport grades, which signals its comfort-and-luxury positioning. It rides on the new 18-inch alloy wheels. The body dimensions are otherwise unchanged from other eighth-generation Camrys: a 111.2-inch wheelbase, 192.1-inch overall length, 72.4-inch width and 56.9-inch height. A two-tone finish, Supersonic Red with a Midnight Black Metallic roof, was offered on the XSE grades, while the XLE stayed single-tone.
A Cold Weather Package was available across the range. On the XLE it added a heated steering wheel, because heated seats and mirrors were already standard. For 2021 the package also became a standalone option on front-wheel-drive and hybrid models, rather than being tied to all-wheel drive.
Engine, Transmission and All-Wheel Drive
The XLE offers two powertrains. The standard engine is a 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder rated at 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, matched to an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission. Buyers can step up to a 3.5-liter V6 producing 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft. For 2021, Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel drive became a standalone option on the four-cylinder XLE. The system can send up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels and adds roughly 165 pounds; the V6 XLE is front-wheel drive only.
Safety Equipment
Every 2021 Camry, including the XLE, came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+. The suite included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, new intersection support that can brake for an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian during a left turn, emergency steering assist, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control with a smoother overtaking function, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams and road sign assist.
Toyota also fitted a rear-seat reminder on all 2021 Camrys; it chimes after the engine is switched off if a rear door was opened during the trip. Ten airbags and the Star Safety System, which bundles stability control, traction control and anti-lock brakes, were standard. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert was standard on the XLE and XSE and optional on the LE and SE.
Fuel Economy
EPA ratings depend on engine and drivetrain. The front-wheel-drive four-cylinder XLE and XSE are rated at 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined. The all-wheel-drive four-cylinder LE and SE are rated at 25/34/29 combined, and the 3.5-liter V6 at 22/33/26 combined. The Camry Hybrid is covered separately and is far more economical, at up to 52 mpg combined in LE form. The official figures are published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on fueleconomy.gov.
Price and Release Date
The 2021 Camry went on sale in the fall of 2020. Toyota set a starting MSRP of $24,970 for the new base LE, which is $25,965 including the $995 destination charge. The four-cylinder XLE started at $29,870 ($30,865 with destination) and the V6 XLE at $34,995 ($35,990 with destination), according to the launch pricing announced by Toyota and Consumer Guide’s line-up breakdown.
Toyota covered the 2021 Camry with a 36-month or 36,000-mile basic warranty, a 60-month or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and corrosion coverage with no mileage limit. On the hybrid, hybrid-system components were covered for eight years or 100,000 miles and the battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles. ToyotaCare added two years or 25,000 miles of scheduled maintenance and two years of roadside assistance.
Owning a 2021 Camry XLE Today
Because the eighth-generation Camry ended production in 2024, there was never a later XLE built on this platform. A used 2021 XLE is a well-equipped midsize sedan with a broad standard safety suite, a 9-inch screen and the option of all-wheel drive on the four-cylinder car. Drivers shopping for something sportier can read the 2020 Toyota Supra Engine Specs and Price, and those who want a larger European-market Toyota sedan can review the 2020 Toyota Avensis Interior Review. More model guides are at Car Review.
