Toyota’s long-running Camry remains one of the best-known names in the midsize sedan segment, even as buyers increasingly favor SUVs. The newest model belongs to the ninth generation, introduced for 2025. For 2026, Toyota added a Nightshade Edition, bringing the lineup to five trims.
The Camry continues to draw substantial demand despite the SUV-heavy market, recording 316,185 U.S. sales in 2025. It also remains one of the few sedans available with all-wheel drive. For 2027, the AWD Camry is hybrid-only and produces 232 horsepower, with a 0-60 mph time of less than seven seconds.
The 2027 Camry starts at $30,995 for the LE, including Toyota’s $1,295 destination charge, and climbs to $37,395 for the XSE. AWD adds $1,525 to every trim. Still, the Camry faces several AWD sedan rivals, including three new models and two used alternatives.
Kia’s K5 is gaining sales momentum, although only the GT-Line can be ordered with AWD. Its $29,935 starting price includes a $1,245 destination fee, while AWD costs an additional $1,600, leaving it less expensive than the most affordable AWD Camry. The 2027 K5 GT-Line AWD uses a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 186 horsepower.
Those who do not require AWD can move up to the K5 GT, which adds a turbocharger and a sportier dual-clutch automatic transmission. Its 290 horsepower helps it reach 60 mph in just over five seconds, quicker than the Camry, though it is front-wheel drive. The K5 currently lacks a hybrid powertrain, but rumors indicate that may eventually change.
Every 2027 K5 trim includes a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, compared with the 8-inch display fitted to lower Camry trims. A 12-speaker Bose audio system is available and exceeds the Camry’s optional nine-speaker JBL setup on paper. The Kia also provides 105 cubic feet of passenger space, versus 100 in the Camry, along with a slightly larger 16-cubic-foot trunk.
Hyundai’s Sonata shares its platform and conventional gasoline powertrains with the Kia K5. Its AWD availability is likewise limited to a mid-level trim, the SEL Sport. Pricing begins at $30,445, including Hyundai’s $1,295 freight charge, making it slightly more expensive than the K5 GT-Line. AWD costs $1,500, or $100 less than the Kia’s system, and brings the Sonata in just below a base 2027 Camry LE AWD.
The 2026 Sonata’s non-hybrid powertrain produces 191 horsepower, giving it a small output advantage over the K5’s 186-hp engine. Hyundai also offers a hybrid Sonata, but choosing it means giving up AWD. The hybrid achieves a combined EPA estimate of 51 mpg, compared with 27 mpg for the Sonata SEL Sport AWD and the Kia K5 GT-Line AWD.
The Camry LE AWD is rated at 50 mpg combined by the EPA, but the Sonata hybrid gives up considerable power in exchange for its efficiency. It produces 192 combined horsepower, while the Camry delivers 232 hp.
Toyota and Nissan have long competed across multiple vehicle categories, and the Altima remains a direct sedan rival. The 2026 model is offered in four trims, beginning at $30,130 for the SV, a price that includes Nissan’s $1,275 destination charge. AWD requires another $1,500.
Every 2026 Altima uses a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 188 horsepower and paired with a CVT. AWD versions take 7.6 seconds to reach 60 mph. Base models include an eight-inch display and six-speaker audio system, while buyers can upgrade to a 12.3-inch screen and nine-speaker Bose system. Its standard safety equipment is less extensive than the Camry’s, with adaptive cruise control not included across the full range.
Honda does not offer AWD on its Accord, but Acura briefly took a different approach with the TLX. The sedan left production after 2025, making the used market the only option. It cost approximately $46,000 to $58,000 when new for 2024, reflecting its premium positioning. The TLX has also held its value well, meaning a used example can still cost more than a base AWD 2027 Camry.
Acura’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive was standard on both the 272-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four A-Spec and the 355-hp turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 Type S. The A-Spec could reach 60 mph in about six seconds, while the Type S managed the sprint in 4.9 seconds, making both substantially quicker than the new Camry. Both versions also included a 17-speaker ELS premium audio system and wireless phone charging.
The TLX Type S adds an expressive dashboard design, optional red upholstery, and equipment such as a head-up display, extra seat-bolster and thigh-support adjustments, and rain-sensing wipers. Its 93 cubic feet of interior volume is less than the 2026 Camry offers, however. The TLX sits between segments—larger than a compact sedan but slightly smaller than a typical midsizer—and provides 14 cubic feet of cargo space.
Subaru’s reputation for standard all-wheel drive makes the Legacy a natural choice for this list. Production for the sedan ended in the U.S. in 2025, so buyers must look to earlier models. The 2025 Legacy ranged from $27,980 to $41,280 and included AWD across the lineup. Engine choices included a 182-hp naturally aspirated 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter unit, both paired with a CVT. Each engine is a flat-four, delivering Subaru’s familiar burble.
The turbocharged Legacy can reach 60 mph in 5.7 seconds, making it the performance choice of the range. Higher trims offer soft-touch materials, leather upholstery, Subaru’s vertically oriented 11.6-inch infotainment display, and an available 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Adaptive cruise control with lane-centering is standard. The sedan has a 15-cubic-foot trunk and 104 cubic feet of interior space.
The Toyota Camry’s AWD availability, hybrid powertrain, 232 horsepower, and strong sales make it a standout among remaining sedans. However, the Kia K5, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima, used Acura TLX, and Subaru Legacy each offer distinct advantages, from lower pricing and extra performance to premium equipment, standard AWD, or hybrid fuel economy.
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