2025 Toyota Camry vs the Competition

As rivalries go, the Celtics versus the Lakers has nothing on Camry versus Accord. Each is the other’s biggest competitor, the targeted vehicle when each company develops its next generation. The Accord features a mix of hybrid and non-electrified models. Its lowest two trim levels are powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged inline-four, while the top five trim levels utilize a hybrid system with a 2.0-liter engine and two motors. Unlike Toyota’s hybrid system, the Accord’s system has the engine primarily generate electricity for the electric motors to propel the vehicle, only powering the wheels directly at steady highway speeds. With this design, the Accord has no transmission.

• The Accord is unavailable with AWD.
• The base Camry costs just a few hundred dollars more than the Accord yet provides a combined 51 mpg compared to just 32 for the Accord.
• The base Camry also has 225 horsepower compared to 192 for the non-electrified Accord models.
• When compared against the Accord hybrid drivetrain, a price-comparable Camry gets 51 mpg in the city compared to 48 for the Accord. This is reversed on the highway, with the Accord rated at 47 mpg and the Camry at 44. The Camry edges out the Accord with 48 mpg (vs. 47) for the combined figure.
• The cabin room of these vehicles is very close. The Accord has a little more legroom, but hip, shoulder, and rear head room are all within an inch of each other.
• The Camry has the literal luxury touch of a heated steering wheel on all models, which is only available on the top-of-the-line Accord Touring model.
• Niceties such as heated seats, sunroof, and satellite radio are available on more Camry trims than Accord.
• On base models, the Camry offers the versatility of 60/40 split rear seatbacks, while the Accord has a one-piece folding rear seatback.
• Humidity and dewpoint sensors are standard Camry features not found on the Accord.
  An eight-way power driver’s seat is available on the base Camry trim, but the Accord requires a trim upgrade for a power driver’s seat.
• The Camry offers two years or 25,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance, while the Accord only offers the first scheduled maintenance visit as complimentary within one year or 12,000 miles.

Kia’s mid-size sedan gained the name K5 with its fifth design generation, which debuted in 2021. Before that, it was known as the Optima, which first started selling in the United States 25 years ago. Positioned as the sportier of the two mainstream brands under the Hyundai Motor Group, the K5 does not have a hybrid model, but is available with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 286 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, which is abundant for the segment. The primary powertrain is a 1.6-liter turbocharged inline-four paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While primarily front-wheel drive (FWD), the K5 offers optional AWD on the GT-Line trim.

• AWD is available on all Camry trim levels. On the K5 it is limited to the GT-Line trim.
• The K5 has 191 horsepower compared to 225 for the Camry, when comparing base powertrains.
• Unsurprisingly, the Camry drivetrain has much better EPA-estimated city/highway/combined mpg, up to 53/50/51, compared to the K5’s 26/37/30 on FWD models.
• The K5 GT with its 290-hp engine definitely outpowers the Camry, but it is at a fuel economy cost of 23/33/27 mpg. The lowest mileage for the Camry is 44/43/44 on the XSE AWD model.
• Rear passenger will enjoy notably more legroom in the Camry (38.0 inches vs. 35.2).
• The Camry earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation from IIHS. The K5 earned no accolade from IIHS.
• According to the resale experts at ALG, the Camry enjoys considerably higher resale value than the K5.

2025 will mark the final model year for the Subaru Legacy sedan. This model first debuted in the U.S. in 1989 as both a sedan and a wagon. The wagon variant eventually became the foundation for the Outback. The Legacy has consistently offered all-wheel drive (AWD), making it standard starting in 1996. Most Legacy models are equipped with naturally aspirated 2.5-liter flat-four engines that produce 182 horsepower, paired with continuously variable transmissions. The Touring XT boasts a 260-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine.

• There is no hybrid drivetrain for the Legacy.
• The base engine on most Legacy models has 182 horsepower compared to 232 for AWD Camry models.
• The standard Camry hybrid drivetrain offers significantly better EPA-estimated city, highway, and combined mpg, achieving up to 51/49/50 for AWD models compared to 27/35/30 for most Legacy models.
• The turbocharged Legacy Touring XT with its 260-hp engine outpowers the Camry, but it is at a fuel economy cost of 23/31/26 mpg. The lowest mileage for the Camry is 44/43/44 on the XSE AWD model.
• The Camry provides almost half an inch more headroom for rear passengers than the Legacy (37.6 inches vs. 37.2).
• The Camry starts with an 8.0-inch center touchscreen compared to the 7.0-inch screen on the base Legacy.
• The Camry is available with a 12.3-inch touchscreen compared to 11.6 for the Legacy.
• The Camry earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation from IIHS, the highest. The Legacy, likely due to its end-of-design cycle, earned no accolade from IIHS.
• Heated side mirrors are standard on the Camry but require a trim upgrade on the Legacy.
• Traffic sign recognition and a vehicle exit safety system are standard on the Camry but unavailable on the Legacy.
• According to the resale experts at ALG, the Camry enjoys considerably higher resale value than the Legacy.

Nissan is the most committed to the sedan body style, with three sedans in its product line, which is now topped by the Altima. The Altima replaced the Stanza name in the 1993 model year and is now in its sixth design generation, which launched with the 2019 model year. All Altima models are powered by naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-fours that produces 182-188 horsepower, depending on trim. The engine is paired to a continuously variable transmission. A hybrid drivetrain is not available. The base SL model is FWD only, but AWD is available on the SV and SR trim levels.

• There is no hybrid drivetrain for the Altima.
• When comparing base FWD models, the Camry outperforms the Altima with 225 horsepower compared to 188 for the Altima.
• The Camry horsepower advantage expands to AWD models, with 232 for the Camry compared to 182 for the Altima.
• With its standard Hybrid drivetrain, the Camry is significantly more efficient than all Altima models. The base Camry has city/highway/combined ratings of 53/50/51 mpg, compared to 27/39/32 for the base Altima.
• The fuel mileage comparison for AWD models is up to 51/49/50 mpg for the Camry and 25/34/28 for the Altima.
• The Camry provides almost three more inches of legroom for rear passengers (38.0 inches vs. 35.2).
• The Camry starts with an 8.0-inch center touchscreen compared to the 7.0-inch screen on the base Altima.
• The Camry earned a TOP SAFETY PICK+ designation from IIHS, the highest. The Altima earned no accolade from IIHS.
• Driver assistance technologies such as adaptive cruise control and lane centering are standard on all Camry models but require an upgrade on the Altima.
• According to the resale experts at ALG, the Camry enjoys considerably higher resale value than the Altima.