2026 Camry Trim Comparisons

Year two of an all-hybrid sedan

Toyota didn't ease into the ninth-generation Camry — it went all-in. The gas-only version disappeared with the 2025 redesign, and 2026 carries that decision forward with no walking it back: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with Toyota's fifth-generation hybrid system is the only engine on the order form, in every trim, on every lot. The number that matters most sits at the top of the window sticker — up to 232 net combined horsepower — because it answers the question owners of the old V6 Camry used to ask first. You don't lose power switching to the hybrid anymore. You gain fuel economy instead, and a lot of it: the LE's 52 city / 49 highway rating beats what most compact cars managed a decade ago, in a car with a trunk built for four suitcases.

What's actually new for 2026 is narrower and more interesting than a full redesign. The Nightshade Edition joins the lineup as a blacked-out variant built on the SE, and a hazy dark-blue color called Dark Cosmos becomes available on SE, XLE, and XSE. Everything else carries over from last year's redesign, which is a compliment here — the car earned Kelley Blue Book's Best Midsize Car award for 2026 largely because the fundamentals were already right.

Five trims, three personalities

The ladder isn't just price steps — it splits into distinct characters. LE and XLE are the comfort-first builds, with XLE adding the bigger screen and nicer seats. SE, Nightshade, and XSE lean sport, in ascending order of visual attitude, with Nightshade sitting as a blacked-out special edition between the SE and XLE on price. Every trim shares the same hybrid heart; what changes is styling, screen size, and how many comfort features come standard.

What Camry buyers say in Green Brook

Empire Toyota of Green Brook carries a 4.7-star Google rating across more than 2,400 reviews, and the Camry shows up in a striking number of them — it's the dealership's best-selling nameplate by review volume. A recent AWD hybrid buyer put the fuel economy in plain terms: "he has me buy the best Hybrid car which gives me close to 50 miles per gallon," wrote a customer who worked with sales consultant Eduardo. Another shopper, Al S., described the handoff after his purchase: "I love my new Camry and will certainly be spreading the word to visit Mike and Toyota of Green Brook to all my friends." And a longtime Toyota owner who traded up from a Corolla noted the relationship spans two decades: "I started with Corolla and then moved to Camry... I have dealt with sales rep, Mohamed Ali, who is a pleasure to work with. He knows my likes and dislikes."

The dealership itself predates its current name — longtime locals still call the Route 22 address Crystal Auto Mall, and more than one Camry review traces a customer relationship back through that era. It's the kind of continuity that shows up in service-department quotes as much as sales ones, which the service guide covers in detail.

Driving one on Route 22

A hybrid sedan does its best work exactly where central Jersey commuting happens — jughandle-to-jughandle traffic, stop-and-go on Route 22 and I-287, the crawl toward the Turnpike at rush hour. Every stop is a chance to recover energy instead of waste it, which is why the Camry's city rating consistently beats its highway number. The ownership side of that math — the 5,000-mile service rhythm, what ToyotaCare covers, and why hybrid brakes tend to outlast conventional ones — lives in the Camry service & repair guide. The money side, including New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax and how MSRP breaks down, is in the pricing & leasing guide.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a 2026 Toyota Camry cost?

MSRPs run $29,600 for the LE to $36,000 for the XSE, and every figure excludes the $1,195 delivery, processing and handling fee. Electronic On-Demand AWD adds $1,525 to any trim. New Jersey then applies its 6.625% sales tax plus title and registration; the pricing guide walks the full math and current offers are posted here.

Is the 2026 Camry any good?

Kelley Blue Book thought so — it named the 2026 Camry Best Midsize Car. The hybrid-only lineup trades a little novelty (some shoppers still ask for a "regular" gas Camry, and there isn't one) for real gains: more horsepower than the old base engine, dramatically better fuel economy, and a longer feature list standard than the outgoing car offered even loaded.

What's new about the 2026 Camry?

The Nightshade Edition is the headline addition — an SE-based blackout trim with satin-black wheels, a gloss-black grille, and Midnight Black Metallic exterior accents. A new Dark Cosmos color joins on SE, XLE, and XSE. Everything mechanical carries over from the 2025 redesign, which is why the range still drives and prices the way it did last year.

Is the Camry hybrid reliable?

Toyota's hybrid system has a long track record in taxi and rideshare duty well past 200,000 miles, and the traction battery on the 2026 Camry carries a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty. ToyotaCare covers the first two years or 25,000 miles of scheduled maintenance at no cost, which the service guide details.

Which 2026 Camry trim should I buy?

Budget-first buyers do very well on the LE, which posts the best mileage in the lineup at no sacrifice in safety tech. Families who want the bigger 12.3-inch screen and heated leather-and-microfiber seats land on the XLE. Shoppers chasing styling split between the SE, the new Nightshade, and the range-topping XSE — the trim pages ahead compare all three directly.

Where can I see one near Green Brook?

Empire Toyota of Green Brook is at 220 Route 22 West, with sales open Monday through Saturday, 9 to 7. Browse the new inventory online, or start the paperwork digitally through Toyota's SmartPath tools before you ever walk in.

Five trims, one short list

Most Camry shoppers arrive with a spreadsheet and leave with a two-car decision — usually LE versus XLE, or SE versus Nightshade. The trim guides ahead exist to get you to that short list faster, and the Route 22 showroom can usually park your finalists side by side, with the certified pre-owned lot one row over if a prior-generation Camry fits the budget better.