The Toyota Camry, a name synonymous with reliability and enduring popularity in the mid-size sedan segment, entered its 37th year with a significant refresh for the 2021 model year. Building upon its legacy as America’s best-selling midsize sedan for an impressive 18 consecutive years, the 2021 Camry introduced a more diverse and feature-rich lineup than ever before. This model year marked the debut of the first-ever XSE Hybrid grade, blending sporty aesthetics with Toyota’s renowned hybrid efficiency. Furthermore, all 2021 Camry models came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, the latest iteration of Toyota’s advanced driver-assistance technology suite, reinforcing its commitment to safety.
Beyond safety enhancements, the 2021 Camry received a notable tech and luxury upgrade. A newly designed floating multimedia screen, available in 7-inch and 9-inch sizes, became standard across the range, while the luxurious XLE grade boasted a new herringbone seat pattern, adding a touch of sophistication to the interior. Visually, the 2021 Camry sported restyled front ends, providing greater differentiation between the various trim levels and enhancing its overall curb appeal. These updates followed the previous year’s introduction of an all-wheel-drive (AWD) option and the performance-oriented TRD model, further solidifying the Camry’s position as a leader in its class. For the 2021 model year, Toyota streamlined the Camry lineup by discontinuing the “L” grade, making the LE the new entry-level trim.
The 2021 Camry offered an impressive 17 distinct configurations, catering to a wide range of preferences and needs within the midsize sedan market. This extensive selection included:
- Three V6 grades: XLE, XSE, and TRD
- Five 4-cylinder FWD grades: LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade, XSE
- Five 4-cylinder AWD grades: LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade, XSE
- Four hybrid grades: LE, XLE, SE, XSE (new)
This comprehensive array of choices, combined with the Camry’s sleek, coupe-inspired design, Toyota’s legendary quality, and exceptional value, ensured its continued dominance in the competitive mid-size sedan category. The 2021 Toyota Camry aimed to maintain and extend its leadership by offering a compelling blend of style, technology, safety, and performance.
Striking New Front-End Design for 2021 Camry
For the 2021 model year, Toyota designers focused on visually distinguishing the Camry’s grades, particularly the comfort-focused LE and XLE from the sportier SE and XSE trims. The LE and XLE grades received a redesigned front fascia featuring a more pronounced lower intake area, giving them a refreshed and sophisticated appearance. The gasoline-powered LE trim also debuted with a new 17-inch alloy wheel design, while the XLE models were equipped with newly designed 18-inch alloy wheels, further enhancing their visual appeal.
In contrast, the SE and XSE grades embraced a bolder and more aggressive aesthetic. Their redesigned lower fascia showcased a honeycomb-style grille and distinctive side vent inserts, complemented by new side vent accents. These sporty design elements underscored the performance-oriented nature of the SE and XSE trims, setting them apart from the more comfort-focused models.
To further enhance the visual appeal of the 2021 Camry, Toyota introduced new exterior paint options. Blueprint replaced Blue Streak Metallic in the color palette, offering a fresh and modern hue. Additionally, the Camry TRD received an exclusive new color option: Ice Edge, available with a two-tone Midnight Black Metallic roof. For the XSE grades, a striking two-tone Supersonic Red with Midnight Black Metallic roof combination became available, adding another layer of customization and visual excitement. The performance-tuned Camry TRD, which had been introduced in 2020, retained its unique, aerodynamically enhanced design, emphasizing its sporty character. For 2021, the Camry TRD also gained Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert as standard features, along with heated exterior mirrors, enhancing both safety and convenience. Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert were also made available as standalone options on LE, SE, and SE Nightshade grades, while they remained standard on XSE and XLE trims.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ Debuts on the 2021 Camry
Toyota has long been a pioneer in vehicle safety, and the 2021 Camry marked another step forward with the introduction of Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+). Building on Toyota’s commitment to making advanced safety features accessible, TSS 2.5+ represented the next evolution of their suite of safety systems. This enhanced suite included upgrades to several key functions, further improving driver assistance and collision avoidance capabilities.
The Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD) received significant enhancements in TSS 2.5+. The system’s detection capabilities were expanded to include not only vehicles ahead but also preceding bicyclists during daylight hours and even pedestrians in low-light conditions. This expanded detection range provided a broader safety net for drivers and helped mitigate a wider range of potential collision scenarios. Furthermore, TSS 2.5+ introduced intersection support to the PCS w/PD system. This new feature enabled the system to detect oncoming vehicles or pedestrians when making a left-hand turn at intersections. In certain conditions, the system could provide both audio/visual alerts and automatic braking to help prevent or mitigate collisions during turns. Emergency steering assist was also added as a PCS function. This feature was designed to stabilize a driver’s emergency steering maneuvers within their lane while attempting to avoid a preceding pedestrian, bicyclist, or vehicle.
Camry models equipped with Full-Speed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) also benefited from enhancements in TSS 2.5+. The DRCC system, which could be activated above 30 mph, was designed to maintain vehicle-to-vehicle distance control down to 0 mph and could resume from a complete stop. A new overtaking feature was also incorporated into the DRCC system, designed to facilitate smoother passing of slower vehicles. When traveling behind a slower vehicle, initiating a turn signal with steering input would trigger the system to provide an initial acceleration boost in preparation for a lane change. After the lane change was completed, the vehicle would continue accelerating until it reached the driver’s preset speed.
Lane Departure Alert, a core component of TSS, was designed to audibly notify the driver if the system sensed the vehicle was drifting out of its lane without the turn signal being engaged. When DRCC was active, Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) worked in conjunction to provide slight steering corrections, helping to keep the vehicle centered in its lane by using visible lane markers or following a preceding vehicle.
Additional TSS 2.5+ features included Automatic High Beams, which automatically switched between high and low beam headlights based on the presence of preceding or oncoming vehicles, and Road Sign Assist (RSA). RSA used a forward-facing camera to recognize certain road signs and display the information on the multi-information display (MID) in the instrument cluster, helping drivers stay informed of speed limits and other important road information.
Toyota also included Rear Seat Reminder as a standard feature on all 2021 Camry models. This system was designed to remind drivers to check the rear seats for children or pets. It functioned by detecting if a rear door was opened within 10 minutes of the vehicle being started or at any point after the vehicle was started. Upon engine shut-off, a reminder message would appear in the instrument cluster, accompanied by multi-tone chimes. The 2021 Camry became the second Toyota model to feature Rear Seat Reminder, following its introduction on the 2020 Toyota Highlander. Complementing TSS 2.5+, Blind Spot Monitor and Rear Cross Traffic Alert were available to further enhance driver awareness and confidence during lane changes and while reversing.
2021 Camry All-Wheel Drive: Enhanced Traction and Control
The all-wheel-drive (AWD) system introduced to the Camry in 2020 continued to be a popular option, projected to account for approximately 15 percent of 2021 Camry sales. The Dynamic Torque Control AWD system, developed by Toyota, was available as a standalone option for four-cylinder LE, XLE, SE, SE Nightshade, and XSE grades. Notably, the Camry AWD was a North America-exclusive model, engineered in the U.S. and manufactured solely at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky. The Camry AWD system paired the fuel-efficient 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission.
The Dynamic Torque Control AWD system provided enhanced traction in inclement weather and slippery conditions while minimizing the typical fuel economy penalty associated with AWD systems. The system could direct up to 50 percent of engine torque to the rear wheels in response to acceleration from a standstill or when wheel slippage was detected at the front wheels. When AWD was not required, the electromagnetic controlled coupling on the rear drive axle could disengage the propeller shaft, prioritizing fuel efficiency. The AWD system was designed to seamlessly re-engage when needed, operating transparently to the driver and passengers.
The addition of AWD to the Camry platform did not compromise passenger space, trunk volume, ride comfort, cabin quietness, or vehicle agility. The interior dimensions and passenger space remained consistent with front-wheel-drive models. The transformation to AWD added approximately 165 lbs. (for the LE grade; weight varied slightly across other grades) compared to FWD versions. The suspension tuning, wheels, and tires specific to each Camry grade were carried over to the AWD versions. For example, the Camry XSE AWD retained the same sport-tuned suspension and 19-inch wheels as the FWD XSE model. All AWD grades offered an optional Cold-Weather Package, adding heated seats and mirrors on the LE, heated seats, mirrors, and steering wheel on the SE, and a heated steering wheel on the XLE and XSE (as heated seats and mirrors were already standard on these trims). For 2021, the Cold Weather Package became available as a standalone option for FWD and Hybrid grades as well, expanding its availability across the Camry lineup.
Camry TRD: Track-Inspired Performance for the Road
The Camry TRD (Toyota Racing Development) model, introduced in 2020, continued to offer a unique blend of track-inspired styling and enhanced performance for the 2021 model year. Initially associated with Toyota’s off-road trucks and SUVs, the TRD designation on the Camry represented a foray into road-focused performance for the sedan. The 2021 Camry TRD received upgraded standard features, including Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and the JBL Premium Audio system became an available option, mirroring its availability on other Camry grades.
Powering the Camry TRD was a 301-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a Direct-Shift eight-speed automatic transmission featuring sport mode and paddle shifters. A specially tuned TRD cat-back dual exhaust system provided a more aggressive exhaust note during idle and acceleration, enhancing the auditory experience. The Camry TRD’s aerodynamic body kit, including a front splitter, side aero skirts, trunk lid spoiler, and rear diffuser, not only contributed to its aggressive appearance but also improved high-speed stability. The TRD model featured a gloss black front grille with a sport mesh insert and black exterior badging, further distinguishing it visually. Red pinstriping, red-painted brake calipers, red TRD badging, and polished stainless steel TRD exhaust tips added further sporty accents to the exterior. The 2021 Camry TRD was available in solid Midnight Black Metallic or in two-tone schemes featuring new Ice Edge or Wind Chill Pearl with a Midnight Black Metallic roof.
Inside, the Camry TRD featured Black Sport SofTex-trimmed front seats with red accents and red-stitched TRD embroidered headrests. The leather-wrapped steering wheel also incorporated red stitching, and even the seatbelts were red, creating a cohesive sporty interior theme. A shift knob with an embossed TRD logo, unique TRD floor and trunk mats, and a distinctive TRD meter with red-illuminated accents and multi-information display (MID) start-up animation completed the cabin enhancements. TRD engineers developed the Camry TRD’s dynamic characteristics through rigorous testing at various proving grounds and racetracks. Chassis enhancements included thicker underbody braces to increase torsional rigidity. The TRD-tuned suspension lowered the Camry by 0.6 inches, resulting in a lower center of gravity and a more aggressive stance. Stiffer coil springs and sway bars increased roll stiffness, and unique TRD shock absorbers, 19 x 8.5-inch matte-black alloy wheels, and optional Bridgestone Potenza summer tires contributed to improved body control, handling agility, and steering precision. The Camry TRD’s front brakes were upgraded with larger 12.9-inch diameter rotors and dual-piston calipers, providing enhanced braking performance and feedback.
Refined Interior and Technology in the 2021 Camry
The 2021 Camry’s cabin blended functionality with elegant styling and high-quality materials. The driver-centric dash design created a sporty cockpit feel while maintaining excellent outward visibility for both front occupants. A flowing character line integrated the instrument cluster and center console, creating a cohesive and modern aesthetic. Soft-touch premium materials were used throughout the cabin, enhancing the sense of refinement. New interior trim options for 2021, including linear dark wood inlay or patterned metal depending on the grade, added a sophisticated, high-tech touch.
The 2021 Camry offered three available displays to provide information to the driver. A new floating 7-inch or 9-inch central touchscreen display, similar to that found in the new-generation Toyota RAV4, housed the audio and navigation systems. Customizable features and smartphone-like touchscreen icons ensured user-friendly operation. A 7-inch multi-information display within the instrument cluster was also available, and on XLE and XSE grades, a 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD) projected vital information onto the lower windshield. For 2021, the XLE grade featured a luxurious new textured herringbone seat pattern, adding a distinctive touch to the interior. Ventilated front seats were available on the XLE and XSE grades, further enhancing comfort. Interior color choices varied depending on the exterior color and included Ash, Macadamia, or Black. The sporty XSE grade also offered an exclusive Cockpit Red interior option.
Powertrain Options: Performance and Efficiency
The 2021 Camry offered a choice of three powertrains to suit different driving preferences and priorities. The 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder engine provided a balance of performance and fuel efficiency, producing 203 hp (206 hp in XSE trim) and 184 lb.-ft. of torque. For those seeking more power, the 3.5-liter V6 engine delivered 301 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. of torque. The Toyota Hybrid System (THS II) combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, achieving a net output of 208 hp while delivering exceptional fuel economy.
Both the 2.5-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6 engines were paired with a Direct Shift eight-speed automatic transmission. The Camry Hybrid utilized an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (ECVT) with Sequential Shiftmatic technology, allowing drivers to simulate gear shifts. The Camry Hybrid’s lithium-ion battery pack was positioned under the rear seat, maintaining passenger and trunk space while contributing to a lower center of gravity. The Camry Hybrid offered NORMAL, ECO, EV, and SPORT driving modes, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle’s performance and efficiency to their needs. Auto Glide Control (AGC), available in ECO mode, further enhanced fuel efficiency by optimizing coasting.
Enhanced Audio and Connectivity
The base Toyota Audio system in the 2021 Camry received an upgrade with a new 7-inch floating touchscreen display. The system included Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa compatibility, along with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Siri Eyes Free, hands-free phone capability, and Bluetooth streaming. Higher grades featured Toyota Audio Plus with a larger 9-inch floating touchscreen display. All audio systems offered Connected Services trials, including Safety Connect. Select grades also included Service Connect, Remote Connect, and WiFi Connect trials. An optional JBL 800-watt, 9-speaker premium audio system was available, and Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation offered over-the-air updates. Remote Connect provided remote start, door unlock, vehicle status notifications, and vehicle finder features.
Comprehensive Safety and Warranty
All 2021 Camry models came equipped with 10 standard airbags and Toyota’s Star Safety System, encompassing Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Brake Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, and Smart Stop Technology. A standard backup camera was also included. Toyota’s comprehensive warranty coverage included a 36-month/36,000-mile basic warranty, a 60-month/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a corrosion warranty with no mileage limit. Hybrid components were covered for 8 years/100,000 miles, and the hybrid battery warranty was extended to 10 years/150,000 miles. ToyotaCare, a complimentary maintenance plan, covered factory-scheduled maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles and provided 24-hour roadside assistance for two years with unlimited mileage.
2021 Camry: Pricing and Value
The 2021 Camry offered a compelling value proposition, with a new entry point at the LE grade and reduced starting MSRPs for all Camry Hybrid grades compared to the 2020 model year. The 2021 Toyota Camry continued to build upon its legacy of reliability, safety, and value, offering a refreshed and enhanced mid-size sedan experience.
Link to 2021 Toyota Camry Materials
Link to 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid Materials
