2024 Toyota Camry – 1 of the Last Midsize Sedans to Embrace the V6 Engine
LIke it or not, our automotive landscape is going electric. Even Toyota’s flagship Avalon sedan became a hybrid before departing to make room for the hybrid-only Crown. But for 2024, you can still get one Toyota sedan with a V6. And the newest Toyota Camry doesn’t just offer a bigger engine. It’s one of the last midsize sedans to embrace its more powerful variant.
Fast facts about the Toyota Camry V6
| Horsepower | 301 @ 6600 rpm |
| Torque (lb.ft.) | 267 @ 4700 rpm |
| Fuel Economy (EPA) | 22 city/33 highway/26 combined |
| Available In: | XLE V6, XSE V6, Camry TRD |
How much is the cheapest V6 Camry for 2024?
The cheapest V6 Camry in 2024 is the Camry TRD, with an MSRP of $33,485. This model offers fewer luxury features than the XLE or XSE V6, but it delivers more performance goods. You’ll get sport suspension and brakes, an aggressive front splitter, and a stepped rear spoiler to accentuate this Camry’s bold performance.
The 2024 Toyota Camry TRD puts the V6 on full display
In some sense, the way that Toyota incorporates the V6 into the Camry lineup feels a bit old school. If you grew up in the 90s, you likely remember the concept of “Pontiac Excitement”. In reality, most Pontiac models were just Chevy sedans with a bold new face. But under the hood, some top-spec models packed a bigger punch to match that expressive exterior.
The Toyota Camry TRD cuts across many of the same lines. While the base Camry gets a wide, slightly awkward grille design, the XSE and TRD models feel like the intended expressions of the current design language. And sure, the Camry has been wearing this look for a long time now. But why fix something that isn’t broken?
There aren’t many midsize sedans out there trying to push a more aggressive boundary. With the exception of maybe the Hyundai Sonata, no mainstream automaker is even trying to highlight their big four-door cars these days. But in the Camry, you’ll find a 301-horsepower 3.5.-liter V6 engine that takes this platform from humdrum to hilarious.
Toyota’s commitment to fun continues
It’s no secret that former Toyota CEO, Akio Toyoda, spent the better part of a decade trying to rid Toyota of the “boring” label. In addition to taking the Japanese brand racing in series from NASCAR to the World Endurance Championship and World Rally, Toyota has also made big waves with its road cars.
Even the Camry got in on the party with a radical new design in 2018. That design got an update for 2021, but for the most part, this platform has looked the same for six model years now. But hey, don’t fix what isn’t broken, right?
The 2024 Toyota Camry may be the last of the V6
It’s too early to say for sure, but we already know that a new Camry design is coming for 2025. What’s less certain is what will be under the hood, but it’s a safe bet that the Hybrid MAX system from the flagship Crown will make its way to the new Camry as well.
That would, unfortunately, mean the end of the Camry V6. But not all hope is lost just yet.
Toyota does still utilize a twin-turbo V6 in some of its new-gen products. There is a chance that a similar arrangement lands in a new-gen Camry TRD, should the brand bring one to market. In the Tundra, that arrangement makes 389 horsepower and 479 pound-feet of torque.
While it’s more likely the Hybrid MAX powertrain would be the highlight of the ‘25 Camry lineup, we wouldn’t be upset to see Toyota go all-in on the Toyota Racing Development concept with a high-powered, all-wheel drive Camry at the top of the lineup.
After all, the GR Corolla was a big surprise, and the new Toyota Prius looks hotter than most actual hot hatches. So who’s to say Toyota doesn’t have one more trick up its sleeve?
Is a V6 Toyota Camry worth it?
If we’re being honest, the V6 Toyota Camry is more about fun than function. If you’re just looking for a competent daily driver, the standard or hybrid options are excellent, and more efficient choices.
But if you appreciate the extra grunt, the V6 Camry hauls the mail. It’s quicker than it has any right to be, and the TRD model has the handling chops to match. Is it for everyone? Absolutely not. Overall though, it’s a well-rounded sedan that keeps up with the Germans at the same price point.
