Used 2019 Toyota Camry XSE Sedan Review

Name: 2019 Toyota Camry XSE Sedan
Brand: Toyota

More about the 2019 Camry

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 2019 Toyota Camry XSE Sedan.

5(69%)

4(7%)

3(9%)

2(15%)

1(0%)

4.3

13 reviews

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Most helpful consumer reviews

The 2019 SXE V6 Version is Wonderful But Pricey

Jagness,07/22/2019

XSE 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

This is my 3rd Camry (along with '09 LE and '13 SE). I tested every trim level of '19 Camry and was forced to go with the 6-cylinder model (only available on the XSE and XLE trim) simply due to the lack of acceleration on the 4-cylinder models. My subdivision exits to a busy roadway, especially congested during rush hour. A car that can accelerate quickly into a left and/or right turn from a full stop is mandatory to take advantage of small openings in traffic and basic safety. Therefore, for me, the first and most important test of any car is how fast it can accelerate into a turn. The entrance/exit to my local Toyota dealer is similar. If a car cannot zip into traffic with at least a moderate level of acceleration, I simply end the test drive right then and there. The 4 cylinder LE, SE, and XSE models hesitated and took way too long turning into the intersection from a full stop. Acceleration kicks in after the engine revs up to about 3K RPM, but it takes a scary long time to get there when you make the decision to jump into traffic. I tried all three trim levels in normal mode and sports mode. While sports mode does feel more responsive, acceleration with the 4 cylinder engine was severely lacking. Both my '09 and '13 Camrys (with standard 4-cylinder engines) have no problem passing this test, so it was a shock that a brand new 4-cylinder '19, especially XSE trim, failed miserably. The salesperson then brought out a two-tone silver XSE with the 6-cylinder engine. I always liked the look of the XSE trim. Outside it is sporty and modern. Inside, it is sharp looking and comfortable. The double sun-roof was impressive. With the 6-cylnder in ECO mode, acceleration was perfect from a standing stop, both into turns and straight ahead. Engine was quiet and smooth throughout, and never felt overburdened. Passing acceleration at highway speeds was willing and strong. The cabin is quiet inside and all seats are comfortable. In ECO mode, I get about 26 MPG driving mostly city traffic. In Sport mode, acceleration is brisk and ready at all speeds - neck snapping most of the time. I prefer "normal" mode which is a nice balance of Sport and ECO. All trim levels come with Apple Play which is great. The car came with three complementary Apple Lightning/USB plugs - a nice touch. I'm an iPhone user and the phone rests nicely in the wireless inductive charge pad. Unfortunately, Apple play only works with the USB plug connected. Apple Play doesn't work while the phone is wirelessly charging on the inductive pad even if the phone is connected via Bluetooth. While in Bluetooth mode, you have to use Toyota EnTune to get access to similar (but lower quality) apps. The car doesn't have a standalone GPS system. You have to use a smartphone and connect it via USB or Bluetooth. If you connect your phone via Apple Play, the Apple Maps app becomes your GPS. If you connect via Bluetooth, you have to run EnTune and download an app called ScoutGPS. The car comes with a built in Wi-Fi access point that uses Verizon cell service. You get a 90-day/2 GB complementary data plan for the Wi-Fi access point. My son loves it. He plays his Nintendo DS in the car and has Internet access through the car. The V6 engine ballooned the cost of the car to over $34K, infringing on Toyota Avalon territory. For comparison, I also test drove a '19 Avalon XLE, but it wasn't as fast and didn't look as cool. It felt a bit dated. Also test drove a '19 Avalon Touring Edition which was very niiiice. Really considered moving up to the Avalon Touring but it was well above $45K. As much as I like Toyotas, it's hard to spend $45K for a sedan without a luxury-brand badge on it. The two-tone XSE models look super sharp compared to every other Camry. The white/black exterior was my favorite but the dealer only had them with red interior which I found gaudy and tacky. My wife called it Pimp-Suit Red. I chose one with silver/black exterior and a nice gray/black leather interior. The 19" rims and low-profile tires are really sharp too. I fear they will cost a pretty penny when it comes time to replace them. Was the V6 worth the almost $10K more it takes to get there? For me, yes it does. Sure, I'm driving a $30K+ Camry, but the car is beautiful, comfortable, and fast. It's a stealth rocket that doesn't back down in traffic when driving aggressively, and is pleasant to drive on long road trips. UPDATE: After putting 10K miles on the car, it's still a joy to drive. My wife looks for any reason to "borrow" the car. The only issue I have with it is that the heater is very slow to warm up the car. When temperature drops below 40 degrees, it takes several minutes (more than 10) to heat up the car. In the low 30's the heater eventually warms the car, but never to the point where it is nice and toasty inside. Thankfully, the care came with heated front seats and they work great. While the heater is weak, the air conditioner works perfectly.

Good Solid choice

Kevin,11/05/2018

XSE 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

Just purchased a week ago. Have taken 6 hour trip. Love the V-6 which is very smooth and powerful. The transmission does slightly jerk at times at low speeds and sometimes doesn't downshift when get on it to pass. Overall very nice combination. I wanted a V-6 for the smoothness and less maintenance than a turbo from the competitors. I'm 5'5" and the front seats do make my back

Love my car!

New XSE V6 owner!,01/26/2019

XSE 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

This car is amazing in all ways!! Used as a daily commuter car, I can’t say anything bad about it. Style, comfort, room, even performance which is surprising for a camry... great get up and go punch! XSE V6 is the way to go! Nice looks, even a panoramic sunroof so the roof is black.. very eye catching with the white body. Red interior looks way better in person and the seats are as

Camry XSE V6

David H,09/05/2019

XSE 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 8A)

I love this car. The engine and transmission are smooth, it has plenty of power and it is very quiet - even with the panoramic sunroof. My only issue with it is my own - I am 6’4” and about 240 pounds. The seat bolsters are a bit pronounced and this leads to a bit of discomfort for a bigger framed man. Nothing, however, that an extra seat cushion can’t easily handle. The leg room up

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Edmunds Summary Review of the 2019 Toyota Camry XSE Sedan

What’s new

New Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility
Part of the eighth Camry generation introduced for 2018

Pros & Cons

Strong fuel economy from four-cylinder engine
Plenty of cabin and cargo space
Impressively easy car to drive
Subpar infotainment and smartphone integration
Engine noise is prominent during acceleration
Advanced driver aids can be overly sensitive

Full Edmunds Review: 2019 Toyota Camry Sedan

by the Edmunds Experts

Vehicle overview

Crossover SUVs might be all the rage, but there is still something to be said for the tried-and-true midsize sedan. Exhibit A: the 2019 Toyota Camry. Coming off a redesign just last year, the Camry is a spacious, fuel-efficient sedan with lots of standard safety equipment and plenty of options to choose from.

As has been the case for a while, you can get the Camry with a four-cylinder engine or a more powerful V6, or you can get the miserly Camry Hybrid. On the highway, the Camry is comfortable and compliant. Toyota also offers two sporty versions that infuse the Camry with a bit of extra personality. Inside, the Camry offers a simple yet feature-packed cabin, especially if you go with one of the upper trim levels. There are plenty of options to choose from along the way.

The 2019 Toyota Camry is as competent as they come. It's well-priced on the whole, and modern feature content makes it supremely easy to drive. If you're looking for something with a bit more class and space than a small sedan, the Toyota Camry might just be the sedan for you.

Notably, we picked the 2019 Camry as one of Edmunds' Best Midsize Sedans for this year.

What's it like to live with?

Because of its thoroughly overhauled cabin and redesigned exterior, the eighth-generation Toyota Camry was an interesting addition to our long-term vehicle testing program. We bought a 2018 Camry in the sporty SE trim and tested it for more than a year. To learn what it was like to live with, read our long-term test, where we covered everything from seat comfort to fuel economy. Note that the 2019 Camry differs slightly from last year's model, which did not have Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, but our coverage is otherwise applicable.

2019 Toyota Camry models

The 2019 Camry is available in five different trim levels: L, LE, SE, XSE and XLE. The differences among them chiefly boil down to features, with the exception of the SE and the XSE that also include a sportier suspension. All trims come standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that generates 203 hp and 184 pound-feet of torque (add 3 hp and 2 lb-ft for XSE models). Optional on the XLE and the XSE is a 3.5-liter V6 (301 hp, 267 lb-ft). Every Camry comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Toyota Camry L

The Camry L is the base trim. It comes with a relatively light load of features that includes 16-inch steel wheels, automatic LED headlights, cloth upholstery, a height-adjustable driver's seat, a rearview camera, keyless entry, a 7-inch touchscreen interface, navigation (GPS Scout Link), Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa connectivity, one USB port, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker sound system.

Standard on every Camry is Toyota Safety Sense, which is a suite of driver assistance features including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert with steering assistance, and automatic high beams.

Toyota Camry LE and SE

On the next rung up the ladder is the LE. It adds a power-adjustable driver's seat, 17-inch alloy wheels, a 60/40-split folding back seat and a car alarm. For a sporty dynamic, look at the SE. It adds a sport-tuned suspension, revised steering calibration, 18-inch wheels, simulated-leather upholstery (SofTex) seats and paddle shifters.

Toyota Camry XLE and the XSE

You can think of the XLE and the XSE trim levels as versions of the LE and the SE, respectively, with a variety of additional comfort and convenience items. Highlights include larger wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather upholstery, a head-up display, blind-spot monitoring, keyless ignition, a power-adjustable front passenger seat, extra USB ports, a bigger 8-inch touchscreen, and wireless smartphone charging.

Many of the features found on the upper trim levels can be added to the lower trim levels as options. Other notable options include a sunroof, a JBL sound system combined with a built-in navigation system, a head-up display, and a top-down parking camera system.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our full test of the Toyota Camry XLE (2.5L 4-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD).

NOTE: Since this test was conducted in 2018, the current Camry has received some revisions, including the addition of Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Our findings remain applicable to this year's Camry, however.

Driving

7.5

This generation Camry has more spirit than its predecessor, which is most apparent in its more refined steering and handling. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder provides adequate power for most situations, and its eight-speed automatic transmission is well-mannered.

Acceleration

7.0

Rev up the four-cylinder engine and it accelerates adequately. At our test track, our test car went 0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds. It's a willing engine, but it can sometimes feel lackluster at low rpm or around town. The pricey V6 option is a luxury, not a necessity.

Braking

7.5

It's easy to modulate the brakes, and the pedal effort is appropriate for this class of car. It's not too firm or mushy. In our testing, the Camry stopped from 60 mph in 122 feet, an average result.

Steering

7.5

The steering is suitably direct and well-weighted, with good on-center feel. It's not exactly sporty in terms of feeling the grip at the front tires, but it's certainly keener than previous Camrys. Sport mode makes the steering unnecessarily heavy.

Handling

7.5

Handling is well-mannered within modest limits. It feels tidy for a car of its size in this class. Body roll isn't excessive, though it bobs vertically on bumpy, twisting roads more than we'd like. At modest cornering speeds, there's quite a bit of tire howl. The Camry SE versions provide sportier handling with a minimal loss of ride comfort.

Drivability

8.5

The eight-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and quickly. Press on the gas at a stoplight and the Camry moves off with no lurchiness or pregnant pauses, making for a pleasant, innocuous driving experience.

Comfort

7.5

The Camry's big, comfortable seats, smooth ride and powerful climate control mean a pleasant experience for passengers of most sizes. But the Camry's a bit on the noisy side, with a prominent engine buzz when accelerating and noticeable wind and road noise at freeway speeds.

Seat comfort

7.5

At first sit, the front seats feel flat, wide and overly cushioned. However, this initial impression dissolves quickly because long-trip comfort proves excellent. The back seat is upright with a flat bottom and modestly contoured seatback.

Ride comfort

7.5

The Camry is buttoned-down for the most part. Typical pavement bumps, whether large or small, are soaked up nicely. The ride is never what we'd call wallowy or floaty, but it can exhibit some excessive vertical ride motions on bumpy roads.

Noise & vibration

6.0

The Camry is not a serenely quiet car. The engine can be buzzy and coarse during acceleration, but it does fade into the background when cruising. There's a whiff of wind noise and some tire-related road noise, too.

Climate control

7.5

With two knobs for temperature and buttons for other controls, the Camry has a simple and straightforward layout for its climate controls. The system cools down the cabin effectively, even in triple-digit heat. That it operates very quietly makes it even better. The back seat gets two vents as part of an option package.

Interior

8.0

The Camry's cabin won't wow you with its opulence, but it does get the fundamentals right. The driver's seat will satisfy a truly broad range of sizes and shapes, and the cabin is spacious. And with easy-to-decipher controls, the Camry is a cinch to live with on a daily basis.

Ease of use

8.0

The Camry doesn't make anything a mystery. The clear, large gauges and simple, well-labeled buttons make it intuitive for anyone to operate. The radio volume and tuning knobs are easy for the driver to reach, but they are a bit of a stretch for the passenger.

Getting in/getting out

8.0

Typical of Toyotas, the Camry is easy to get into and out of. It has very light doors, narrow sills and sizable door openings.

Driving position

8.0

Taller drivers will be pleased with the reach of the telescoping wheel. A generously sized driver footwell and an appropriate distance from the steering wheel to the pedals and seat make the Camry very comfortable to pilot.

Roominess

8.5

The cabin feels airy with ample headroom and legroom for 6-plus-footers. Although there's plenty of legroom for 6-footers, their heads may brush up on the roof a little.

Visibility

8.5

A low-ish beltline and slim roof pillars aid the view forward and out the front side windows. There is decent visibility over your shoulder and out the back window, too. An optional top-view camera system provides a clear and comprehensive depiction of the surroundings.

Quality

8.0

Soft-touch surfaces abound, and they look and feel good. Its design and variety of textures won't be mistaken for those of a luxury car, but they're attractive without sacrificing functionality.

Utility

8.5

As sedans go, the Camry's stuff-hauling credentials are pretty solid. The cargo area is large and opens wide, plus the back seat is easy to fold down to fit longer items. There are enough cabin storage options to make most people happy. Loading a car seat is straightforward, too.

Small-item storage

7.0

Cabin storage is good but not stellar. The forward center console bin is great for concealing items but has a hard, slippery floor, so they slide around noisily. The console bin at your elbow is a decent size, and there are modest door pockets in the front and rear that are good for small water bottles only.

Cargo space

9.0

The Camry has a large trunk, and the 60/40-split folding back seat with trunk-mounted release handles make it easy to expand the space. Loading groceries or luggage is helped out by the wide opening and a low liftover height.

Child safety seat accommodation

8.5

It's very easy to mount a car seat, with obvious and easily accessible lower anchors and package tray-mounted tether point, both under plastic covers. There's enough space so that the front seat need not be scooted all the way forward.

Technology

6.5

All Camrys have an impressive suite of standard driver assistance features, but some are too sensitive or cannot be turned off completely. Built-in navigation is largely unavailable. That said, the audio system is quite easy to learn and use.

Audio & navigation

5.0

The audio system layout is simple and effective, with chunky, well-labeled buttons and a clear display even in direct sun. However, built-in navigation is hard to get on the Camry. On most models, Toyota instead forces you to pair a phone via the Entune app and then use the approved Scout GPS Link app to get navigation.

Smartphone integration

6.0

Bluetooth audio is straightforward, but Toyota's Entune system requires that the user pairs Bluetooth and connect a cord to use all its features. It feels clunky at first but reconnects quickly on subsequent visits. Apple CarPlay is standard this year, but Android Auto is not available.

Driver aids

7.0

Its many standard driver aids are impressive: adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist. But the lane departure warnings are overly sensitive and cannot be turned off. Pre-collision system proved too sensitive during routine parking maneuvers and certain acceleration events.

Voice control

7.5

Voice commands work well if you go through the setup process that teaches the car your speech patterns. Or you can use Siri Eyes Free on your paired smartphone by pressing and holding the voice button. It's a good alternative, and you don't have to run the Entune app to make it work.

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

The Edmunds TCO^® estimated monthly insurance payment for a 2019 Toyota Camry in Virginia is:

$68.17 per month^*

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Used 2019 Toyota Camry XSE Sedan Review

Most helpful consumer reviews

Edmunds Summary Review of the 2019 Toyota Camry XSE Sedan

Which Camry does Edmunds recommend?

Full Edmunds Review: 2019 Toyota Camry Sedan

Vehicle overview

What's it like to live with?

2019 Toyota Camry models

Toyota Camry L

Toyota Camry LE and SE

Toyota Camry XLE and the XSE

Trim tested

Driving

Acceleration

Braking

Steering

Handling

Drivability

Comfort

Seat comfort

Ride comfort

Noise & vibration

Climate control

Interior

Ease of use

Getting in/getting out

Driving position

Roominess

Visibility

Quality

Utility

Small-item storage

Cargo space

Child safety seat accommodation

Technology

Audio & navigation

Smartphone integration

Driver aids

Voice control

Edmunds Insurance Estimator

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