Article Highlights:

• A fully loaded Camry will run you $41,715
• For $40,000, buying a Lexus is your best bet
• The best Toyota Camry trim is the Camry SE

Toyota built one hell of a bargain when they screwed together the 2022 Toyota Camry. Spanning a massive nine trim levels, three engine choices, and two transmissions, it’s arguably the most versatile best-selling car on the market. But is all that versatility worth anything when every single option box has been ticked? Or does the Camry fail to hold up in its new price segment?

How much is a fully loaded 2022 Camry?

Of those nine trim levels, the base starts at $25,295 MSRP, spanning all the way up to the $35,720 Camry XSE V6. For starters, you’re getting the most punchy version of the Camry’s motor selection: the 301 hp, 267 lb-ft 3.5L V6. That’s mated to an 8-speed automatic that drives only the front wheels. Unfortunately, the most expensive trim level skips the optional AWD.

From there, it’s all about ticking every box. $900 “Wind Chill Pearl” paint? Why not? There’s also four packages available on the 2022 Toyota Camry. The Cold Weather package adds nothing but a heated steering wheel, and the other three packages can be rolled into one $2,020 “Navigation Upgrade Package.” Obviously, that’s a lot of money for a package, but you’re getting things like bird’s-eye cameras, radar cruise, and a host of safety features. Unfortunately, should you check that box, you’re losing that $900 “Wind Chill Pearl” paint.

A specc’d-out 2022 Toyota Camry has one big problem

Adding every visual enhancement and accessory, which can be seen on Toyota’s website, brings the final sticker price to a whopping $41,715. Sure, even at this price, the 2022 Toyota Camry manages to undercut a similarly optioned Honda Accord, but at what cost? This new $40,000+ price point means Toyota is competing with cars like the Acura TLX, and the brand’s own slew of full-on luxury Lexus models, both with AWD.

And at that point, the Toyota Camry no longer does what it does best. Evidently, a $40,000 Camry is not a value proposition. But a $40,000 Lexus? Yes, please. Fully loading a Toyota Camry takes away what makes the Camry such a smash hit. With nearly $5,000 in options, you’d be better off getting an equally practical Golf GTI and spending the rest on track days in your new pseudo-luxury hot hatch.

Which Camry sedan should you buy?

Clearly, completely optioning out at Camry is not the way to go. Should you want a little sportiness in your life, we’d recommend the Camry TRD, which keeps the V6 and adds some more go-fast bits. Or, you can check out our guide on Camry trim levels here. Just make sure you’re not checking every box if you’ve got $40,000 to spend on a Camry. You’re better off in a used Lexus.