quote:

Originally posted by grumpy1:

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
I researched the Hondas last year for the ex-fiance. The Civic and Accord engines are the same so if you want the hybrid from them, get the Civic version and save yourself some money.

Thanks but the Accord/Camry size is more to our liking.

Buy the Camry then.

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
6 Guns - the hybrids do not have any where near the electric "off-the-line" starting torque that an all electric vehicle has. However, they do generate more than your typical gasoline engine between 0-30mph. My daughter has a 2025 Civic Hybrid that is just over 200HP total. It will smoke my wifes 2016 Acura RDX (3.5L 279HP) off the line. (the Civic is getting 50 MPG combined)

IIRC, there was quick a bit of comedy when the Civic Hybrid came out & was able to match the 6MT Civic Si in straightline performance.
I'd prefer the 6MT, but did look at the Hybrid when replacing my totaled Fiesta. Just more than I wanted to spend at the time.

My DIL just bought a 2026 Camry hybrid about a month ago after putting 180k miles on her Subaru Legacy.

She wanted the security of AWD (although she lives in NC) and great mileage. So far she’s in love with it and it has plenty of room for a car seat if that’s important.

I found this video to be helpful on the Camry XSE model...the sportier version. It's a pretty thorough review.

Just a quick comment on AWD. The last 3 vehicles I have owned were AWD. (Acura and Honda products)

AWD is not just for the snow. It improves handling on corners, wet surfaces, etc. as well as reducing any wheel spin on rapid starts.

An AWD sedan with 6" of ground clearance isn't going to be plowing through 10" of snow even though some knuckleheads up here in the Northeast try to anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by Graniteguy:
Just a quick comment on AWD. The last 3 vehicles I have owned were AWD. (Acura and Honda products)

AWD is not just for the snow. It improves handling on corners, wet surfaces, etc. as well as reducing any wheel spin on rapid starts.

An AWD sedan with 6" of ground clearance isn't going to be plowing through 10" of snow even though some knuckleheads up here in the Northeast try to anyway.

My Legacy is my first AWD car.
Once you learn how to work the rather loose chassis, I've found where the AWD feel confident in a turn.
Snow is such a rarity here, it'll be the torrential rain where the AWD gets tested, in my case.

I may be out of line, but a base model Toyota Crown is not far off from the higher trim Camry/Accord. I kind of like the idea of a sedan that sits a little higher, too. If it's taller profile and styling is a no-go, that's perfectly understandable.

Unless you absolutely require the secure trunk for some reason, the Prius is the only car in that segment I'd buy.

quote:

Originally posted by Vgex:
I may be out of line, but a base model Toyota Crown is not far off from the higher trim Camry/Accord. I kind of like the idea of a sedan that sits a little higher, too. If it's taller profile and styling is a no-go, that's perfectly understandable.

The Crown Signia is the best [CAR] on sale today.

quote:

Originally posted by Vgex:
I may be out of line, but a base model Toyota Crown is not far off from the higher trim Camry/Accord. I kind of like the idea of a sedan that sits a little higher, too. If it's taller profile and styling is a no-go, that's perfectly understandable.

You've got me thinking...

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Originally posted by FenderBender:

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Originally posted by Vgex:
I may be out of line, but a base model Toyota Crown is not far off from the higher trim Camry/Accord. I kind of like the idea of a sedan that sits a little higher, too. If it's taller profile and styling is a no-go, that's perfectly understandable.

The Crown Signia is the best [CAR] on sale today.

The standard Crown sedan. Hard pass, bulbous egg of yuck.

Crown Signia, quite sharp looking, our HR Director has one & it's a great looking thing. Looks bigger than it is though. She parked next to another employee with a Corolla Cross, not significantly bigger at a quick glance.

Well finally got the wife to go to local Toyota dealer today. We go in the showroom and they don't even have a 2026 Camry to sit in and check out. One can schedule a test drive though. The guy at the counter politely told me where the new ones were located outside to look at to see the different colors and trims they had. Wife insists on heated leather seats so I have been looking at XLE model. If it was me I would just get an SE and call it a day. There are a LOT more SE and LE available than XLE and XSE around here. She likes red and Heavy Metal colors and I am OK with those but my preference would be the Heavy Metal color.

The local dealers are offering the base XLE for about 2K off which would be around 35K plus taxes. I thought that was OK considering today's car prices. Dear wife looks at an XLE with AWD and goes OMG would that be awesome. Problem is while AWD by itself is a $1525 option it seems all the available XLE and XSE with AWD are 40K plus and I really don't want to spend 5K more for AWD. If I could find an XLE with AWD for 37K in the color exterior/interior we like that would be fine but right now there are none around this area which include a half dozen dealers. I use the Toyota Smartpath website to search for what is available which includes in stock/in transit/being built. In the mean time trying to talk wife out of AWD and while it is helpful it is not a fix for bad weather driving too many believe. Winters are pretty mild around here. She was not interested in giving up her heated leather seats to get AWD in an SE LOL. The search goes on, ugh.

A couple years ago my daughter was looking at new sedans and I suggested a Camry LE. She spent a lot more buying an AWD Camery SE (not hybrid). To me AWD in that car made little sense because the wide low profile tires offered little traction on snow and poor surfaces plus the car had very little ground clearance. For some reason she never really liked it and traded it a little over a year later.

Any decision yet?

and as I mentioned...

We picked up our new 2026 Camry SE AWD today. We really wanted an XLE or XSE AWD but none were available in stock/in transit/building phase (nor ever seem to be available) without the large moon roof we both did not like plus more than a few problems reported with them and VERY expensive to repair even for minor issues. If it cracks then replacement is around 8K according to reports. Wife finally decided to give up leather seats as long as the Camry SE seats were heated and it had AWD.

We got the Camry SE AWD with the cold weather package for the heated seats, convenience package, premium paint, media upgrade for 12.3 inch screen, power moon roof, weatherproof floor mats, and mud flaps. Got it for $2248 off MSRP right at 36K before fees and taxes. I did buy extended maintenance plan for $1120 that goes past the 2 year/25K included schedules maintenance out 72K which is ten maintenance services including oil change and tire rotation every 5K plus the extra scheduled maintenance at 30K, 45K, 60K, and 75K and extended roadside assistance too.

The drive home was fine and wow hybrids have come a long way. Love our 2014 Accord ELX-L V6 but it is almost 13 years old and when wife retires within the next couple years we plan to do a lot if driving. She loves the red color so that is what we got.

All in all it was a very hassle free buying experience.

Very nice. Looks great. I really want to pick up a hybrid at some point before brands, like Toyota, ratchet down the 10-yr battery warranty.

grumpy, since you started this thread, I've been doing quite a bit of research into these cars as I was kinds of in the market for a new car. I hadn't thought of a Camry til now. I am impressed with the XSE, but as you said, there aren't a lot of them around. Despite being pricey, I think they get scooped up pretty quickly.

Your SE is sharp looking! I'll have to take a peek at them and see what's on the lot with various extra options.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 6guns,

Congrats OP. That color scheme really "pops" on that car.


Enjoy.