The 2022 Toyota Camry XSE AWD: Reliable and Good-Looking
Terri Marshall
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Loving the sporty black front grille with sport mesh insert! Photo by Terri Marshall
The 2023 Toyota Camry is a reliable partner in all kinds of traffic.
In these turbulent times of uncertainty, sometimes we just want something we can count on. And when it comes to a tried-and-true sedan, it’s hard to beat the certainty a 2023 Toyota Camry brings to the table – or should I say garage? Budget-friendly, with excellent fuel economy, comfortable and stylish, the Toyota Camry remains a family favorite since it first appeared on the market in 1983. Recently I had the opportunity to sport around in a 2022 Toyota Camry XSE AWD. My explorations took me from Atlanta’s stop-and-go traffic joys (sarcasm intended) to the peaceful winding roads along the Ocoee River in Tennessee and North Carolina. The Camry didn’t disappoint!
Reliability and Good Looks Go Hand in Hand in the 2023 Toyota Camry
Just because a vehicle is reliable doesn’t mean it can’t be good-looking. It’s the same with men, right? I don’t know about you, but I love that my husband is both reliable and good-looking! That’s how it is with the Toyota Camry. Picking up the 2022 Toyota Camry XSE AWD in Atlanta, I was immediately impressed with the new design.
Sleek, sporty, and stylish came to mind as I checked out the Supersonic Red and Black beauty awaiting my arrival. The exterior shows off a black front grille with sport mesh insert, 19-inch black alloy wheels, and dual exhaust with quad chrome tips. The black rooftop and window trim pair nicely with the Camry’s red body. Inside leather-trimmed seats provide both comfort and designer touches while a panoramic moon roof lets the sunshine in. The base Toyota Camry starts at $25,845, and the XSE model I tested starts at $31,145.
Related: 2020 Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid: Safe, Fun and Cost-efficient 4-door Sedan
LED taillights enhance the Camry’s style profile. Photo by Terri Marshall
The Toyota Camry’s Fun Features
Every car needs a few fun features and in the 2022 Toyota Camry those included a nine-inch touchscreen with navigation and six speakers. The upgraded model I drove had nine JBL speakers including subwoofer and amplifier which made singing along with my favorite road trip music that much more fun. The Camry is also Android Auto and Apple Car Play compatible. Keeping my phone charged was a breeze with a wireless charger that worked like a dream even with my Otter case in place on my iPhone. Three other USB-ports were available and would have come in very handy if I had been traveling with the three grandkids!
Related: Is The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross the new RAV4?
Quality speakers and Apple Car Play make me a happy driver! Selfie by Terri Marshall
Performance, Safety and Convenience Also Matter
The 2022 Toyota Camry XSE AWD comes with a 2.5L four-cylinder engine with 205 horsepower. Sport-tuned suspension, an eight-speed transmission with paddles shifters and all-wheel drive are standard. Safety features include Toyota’s Safe Sense 2.5+ pre-collision systems with pedestrian detection, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, land tracing assist and road sign assist.
I’m always a fan of automated emergency braking and wish every vehicle had this feature. It would certainly prevent a lot of those annoying rear-end collisions. Another one of my favorite safety features, the 10-inch color heads-up display allowed me to keep my focus on the road ahead which helps tremendously when you’re driving on a winding mountain road.
Related: Toyota bZ4X: Toyota’s First Full Electric Car is Designed to Delight … And Prius Fans Will Rejoice
Room for lots more junk in the trunk! Photo by Terri Marshall
Size Matters, Too
For a mid-sized sedan, the Toyota Camry offers more space than expected. There’s ample cargo space and interior storage in both the trunk and cabin. At 15.1 cubic feet, the trunk is surprisingly large. And the 60/40 split in the rear seats makes transporting longer items a breeze.
Even more cargo space with a flip of a switch! Photo by Terri Marshall
Added Comfort Details
My time with the 2020 Toyota Camry XSE AWD happened to coincide with a summer heat wave with temperatures reaching up to 105 degrees each day. Thankfully, the air conditioning system operated seamlessly. But my favorite feature that helped keep me comfortable despite the heat was the cooling seats. I kept that baby on high which made cruising along the highway on sweltering days so much more pleasant.
The center console provided the ideal place to keep my purse. Photo by Terri Marshall
What I Loved
- Wireless charging
- Cooling Seats
- Heads Up Display
- Bird’s Eye View Camera
- Panoramic Sliding Moonroof
What You Need to Know
- Fuel Economy Averages 28 MPG
- Cargo Space is 15.1 cubic feet with the option for more thanks to the 60/40 split in the rear seats
- Three drive modes available: Eco, Standard and Sport
- The 2022 Toyota Camry offers several models with the least expensive being the Toyota Camry LE which starts at $25,845.
- The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the 2022 Toyota Camry XSE I drove is $31,995. With the optional equipment in the vehicle I drove, the price runs $38,904
Bottom Line
We like to think it all comes back to reliability, but good looks are also nice. While the Camry has always been a solid choice for a quality mid-sized sedan, Toyota keeps it in the game by making sure it is a handsome partner, too.
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