2025 Best Family Sedan: Toyota Camry

The Best Family Sedan in the 2025 AutoTrader Awards is the Toyota Camry, which has been redesigned and now comes strictly with a hybrid powertrain. That’s the word from our jury of more than 20 of Canada’s top automotive journalists, who looked at every family sedan available on the Canadian market and voted for the one they feel raises the bar and represents the best buy. 

The new 2025 Camry marks the ninth generation of Toyota’s midsize four-door, which juror Brendan McAleer described as “a thorough optimization of the previous-generation sedan” in his review. The Camry Hybrid was previously available only in front-wheel drive (FWD), but all-wheel drive (AWD) is available on the 2025 entry SE trim, and standard on the XSE and XLE. 

The 2.5L four-cylinder engine is mated to Toyota’s fifth-generation hybrid system, and it’s been revised to improve how the engine and battery work together. The combination creates 225 horsepower in the FWD version – the outgoing Camry Hybrid made 208 horsepower – and 232 horsepower in AWD models. 

The hybrid system is self-charging, capturing and storing energy otherwise wasted during deceleration. The gas-electric hybrid system drives the front wheels in all models, while the AWD versions add a second electric motor that powers the rear wheels as needed. Despite that considerable boost in power, the 2025 Camry in FWD rates the same official fuel economy figures as last year’s Camry Hybrid, at 4.9 L/100 km in combined driving. In AWD, the 2025 Camry is only marginally higher at 5.1 L/100 km combined, and 5.3 L/100 km for the XSE trim.

Safety is top-of-mind, especially in a vehicle designed for families, and the 2025 Camry has rated the top “Good” in crash tests by the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), including the tougher updated tests. All trims include standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, emergency front braking that recognizes pedestrians, cyclists and motorcycles, safe exit assist, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure assist, lane tracing assist, road sign assist, proactive driving assist, and automatic high-beams.

Value is also a factor in our judges’ voting. The 2025 Toyota Camry starts at $36,160, including delivery, for the SE FWD. In AWD models, the SE is $39,810, while the XSE is $46,110 and the top XLE trim is $46,810. By comparison, the 2025 Honda Accord Hybrid comes only in FWD and at $44,830 to $47,330. 

The redesigned cabin bears resemblance to the Toyota Crown, the automaker’s top-line car. All trims include dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, power driver’s seat, wireless phone connectivity, wireless charger, and five USB charging ports. Upper trims can add a 12.3-inch touchscreen, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror, rain-sensing wipers, and panoramic sunroof.

Of course, how it drives is equally important, and our experts noted the improvement to the Camry’s power output and how its sportier drive modes can tighten up its steering and performance. McAleer noted in his review that, “the hugely impressive thing about it was how it removed every sense of effort from driving on the highway. Firstly, it was quiet and composed, zipping along in traffic without a fuss. Second, when a dose of throttle was required to make a merge, catch an exit, or ease around a dawdling truck, the typical drone of a CVT was almost absent.”

All of this came together for our panel of judges to name the 2025 Toyota Camry as the Best Family Sedan.