The 2021 Toyota Camry XLE is the comfort-led trim of the refreshed eighth-generation Camry. The car was not redesigned from the ground up for 2021; rather, Toyota applied a mid-cycle update that was announced on July 15, 2020 and went on sale that fall. The changes covered new front-end styling, a floating touchscreen and the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ driver-assistance suite.
What the 2021 XLE Update Actually Involved
The 2021 refresh kept the TNGA-K platform and the existing dimensions, so the XLE’s wheelbase remained 111.2 inches and its overall length 192.1 inches. Toyota dropped the base L grade, made the LE the entry model, and gave the XLE a redesigned 18-inch alloy wheel plus a new herringbone seat pattern. The front fascia for the comfort grades, including the XLE, gained a more defined lower intake finished in silver rather than the blacked-out look of the sporty SE and XSE.
Engine and All-Wheel Drive
The XLE offers two engines. The standard 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder produces 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft and is matched to an eight-speed Direct Shift automatic. A 3.5-liter V6 with 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft is optional. For 2021, Dynamic Torque Control all-wheel drive became available on the four-cylinder XLE; it can direct up to 50 percent of torque to the rear wheels and adds about 165 pounds. The V6 is front-wheel drive only.
Interior
The XLE is one of the most richly equipped Camry grades. It has leather-trimmed heated front seats, a 9-inch floating touchscreen, dual-zone automatic climate control and the new herringbone seat pattern; a 10-inch color head-up display is available. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa are standard, and an 800-watt JBL system with nine speakers is optional. Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard on the XLE, and the trunk holds 15.1 cubic feet.
Exterior
Visually the XLE separates itself from the sport grades through its calmer grille, silver accents and new 18-inch wheels. Overall width is 72.4 inches and height 56.9 inches. A two-tone roof is not offered on the XLE; that option belongs to the XSE, in Supersonic Red with a Midnight Black Metallic roof.
The XLE shares the eighth-generation Camry’s footprint: a 111.2-inch wheelbase, a 192.1-inch length, a 72.4-inch width and a 56.9-inch height, with about 100 cubic feet of passenger volume and a 15.1-cubic-foot trunk. Rear legroom measures 38 inches, and the hybrid version keeps the same passenger space because its battery sits under the rear seat. Because the platform carried over unchanged for 2021, these figures are identical to the pre-facelift car, and all 2021 Camrys also gained a rear-seat reminder that chimes if a rear door was opened during the trip.
On comfort, the XLE rivals the Honda Accord EX-L and the Hyundai Sonata Limited. Its advantage in 2021 was the availability of all-wheel drive on the four-cylinder model, which neither of those rivals matched, plus a standard full-speed adaptive cruise-control system. Buyers who want the V6 instead trade all-wheel drive for the 301-hp engine.
The XLE’s 9-inch floating touchscreen supports Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa, and it sits above the dashboard rather than being embedded in it, a layout Toyota adopted across the Camry range for 2021. A 10-inch color head-up display and an upgraded 800-watt JBL audio system were optional. A Cold Weather Package was also offered; on the XLE it added a heated steering wheel, because heated seats and mirrors were already standard.
Release Date, Price and Fuel Economy
The 2021 Camry went on sale in the fall of 2020. The four-cylinder XLE started at $29,870, or $30,865 with the $995 destination charge, and the V6 XLE at $34,995, or $35,990 with destination. The four-cylinder XLE and XSE are EPA-rated at 27 mpg city, 38 mpg highway and 31 mpg combined, while the V6 returns 22/33/26 combined.
Safety Equipment
Every 2021 Camry XLE came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ as standard. It included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, intersection support that can brake for an oncoming vehicle or pedestrian during a left turn, emergency steering assist, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, lane tracing assist, automatic high beams and road sign assist. A rear-seat reminder, 10 airbags and the Star Safety System were also included.
Warranty and Ownership
Toyota covered the 2021 Camry XLE with a 36-month or 36,000-mile basic warranty, a 60-month or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty and unlimited-mileage corrosion coverage. ToyotaCare added two years or 25,000 miles of scheduled maintenance and two years of roadside assistance. The hybrid version of the range carried an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty on hybrid components and a 10-year or 150,000-mile battery warranty.
Shopping for a Used 2021 Camry XLE
The eighth-generation Camry was replaced for 2025, so a 2021 XLE is now a used car. The XLE is a sensible choice for buyers who want the larger touchscreen, heated leather seats and the option of all-wheel drive without the firmer suspension of the sport grades. Those comparing it with a V6 sport trim can read the 2020 Toyota Camry XSE V6 Review, and shoppers who want a larger sedan can see the 2020 Toyota Avalon XLE Review. More guides are at Toyota Review.
Toyota sold the Camry in high volumes, so a used 2021 XLE is easy to find. Buyers should confirm that all-wheel drive, if fitted, engages correctly and that the 9-inch infotainment system is present, because it distinguishes the XLE from the lower grades.
