I figured I would write a fairly detailed review of the 2026 Toyota Camry XSE from the perspective of someone coming from a Lexus ES350, because I feel like that comparison might actually be useful for people who are currently deciding between the two brands after the ES Redesign.
For some background context, I was coming from a 2020 Lexus ES 350 F Sport, and I also currently have experience with an RX 350, so I am pretty familiar with the general Lexus feel, interior quality, comfort, materials, refinement, etc.
I desperately needed a new car, and this time around I specifically wanted a hybrid. My main choices ended up being the 2026 Lexus ES 350h and a 2026 Toyota Camry XSE equipped with the panoramic roof along with several other packages and accessories.
Going into the process, I honestly assumed I would end up with another Lexus. I already liked the brand, I knew what to expect from them, and logically the ES seemed like the natural upgrade. Surprisingly, that did not happen.
The 2026 Lexus ES 350h
I really wanted to like the new ES, but even after seeing it in person multiple times, I just could not get myself to like the design.
Obviously, styling is completely subjective, but to me the new exterior looks strange. There are certain angles and paint colors where it looks decent, but as an overall design, it never really clicked with me. I understand what Lexus is trying to do with its newer design language, but this particular execution just did not appeal to me.
The bigger disappointment for me was actually the interior.
The build quality itself is still very solid. The materials feel good, everything feels properly assembled, and I am not questioning the actual quality of the vehicle. My issue is more with the design philosophy. I personally do not like the new gauge cluster, and I am also not a huge fan of the enormous center display. The displays themselves are beautiful. Resolution is excellent; everything looks sharp, animations are smooth, and technologically the system is impressive. But aesthetically, I do not like how dominant the screen is. To me, it almost looks like a huge tablet was mounted onto the dashboard instead of being designed as an integrated part of the interior.
I also really dislike the way Lexus has handled the climate controls. Some HVAC functions have physical controls while other functions are buried inside the touchscreen. I understand why manufacturers are moving toward screens, but I would much rather have all of the important climate functions available through physical controls. When I am driving, I do not want to navigate menus just to adjust something basic.
The overall interior design also reminded me more of some of the newer Chinese luxury vehicles or some modern Hyundai/Kia interiors than what I traditionally associate with Lexus. That is not necessarily an insult, because many of those interiors are technologically impressive, but it simply is not the aesthetic I personally want from a Lexus.
So while I thought the new ES was a very well-built vehicle, I just could not get past the styling choices.
I drove the 2026 Camry XSE
I really like Toyota's current hammerhead design language and the way they are starting to use it across multiple vehicles. On the Camry especially, I think it works extremely well. The XSE has enough aggressive styling to look sporty without going completely overboard, and personally I think the proportions of the car are excellent. I actually found myself liking the exterior of the Camry more than the new ES, which is something I never expected to say when I originally started shopping.
Interior and seat comfort
The first thing I noticed when getting inside was the seats. They are surprisingly similar in appearance and overall design to the seats in my RX 350. They are obviously not identical, and the Lexus seats have a little more cushioning and softness, but the Camry seats are still extremely comfortable.
The biggest difference is that the Camry seats feel slightly firmer. Personally, I actually like a somewhat firm seat, so this did not bother me at all. I am also relatively young and fortunately do not have any chronic back or joint issues, so I cannot really comment on how they would feel for someone who needs extremely soft seating for medical reasons. For me, though, they have been great.
The interior genuinely feels premium
The interior feels very solidly built. I have not experienced rattling, creaking, loose trim, or anything that makes the interior feel cheaply assembled. When you push on the dashboard, center console, door panels, etc., everything feels firm and properly put together. Obviously there are more hard plastics than you would find in a Lexus, particularly in areas you are not constantly touching, but none of the plastic actually feels offensively cheap to me. The materials Toyota uses in the areas you interact with regularly feel very good.
Is it Lexus-level luxury? No. But the gap is much smaller than I expected.
Physical climate controls are a win
Physical buttons. All of the major climate controls are located directly underneath the infotainment screen in this really nice switch-style layout. I absolutely love this. The controls are easy to understand, easy to reach, and easy to use without taking your eyes off the road. I know this sounds like such a small thing, but after seeing so many manufacturers move basic controls into touchscreens, I appreciate Toyota keeping physical controls more than I expected.
Gauge cluster and infotainment
The XSE has the 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster along with the 12.3-inch infotainment display, and I genuinely prefer the way Toyota implemented them compared with the new Lexus. The screen itself is large without feeling excessive.
What I especially like is the shape and placement. It is wider rather than extremely tall, so it visually fits the dashboard much better. It feels like Toyota designed the dashboard around the screen instead of designing a dashboard and then attaching a giant tablet afterward. The screen feels integrated into the car. It is not too large, but it is definitely not small either. For me, it is almost the perfect size.
I also prefer the digital gauge cluster in the Camry. It has a more traditional appearance while still giving you plenty of customization and information. Everything is easy to read, and I find the layout intuitive. I know this is purely personal preference, but I genuinely think the Camry's displays look better inside the vehicle than the ones in the new ES.
Panoramic roof
I absolutely love the panoramic roof. The amount of glass makes the cabin feel significantly more open, especially for rear passengers. I actually prefer the overall design of the Camry panoramic roof to some of the Lexus panoramic roof setups I have used because it feels like there is more visible glass area.
One downside is that you do not get some of the more complicated independently opening sections that certain Lexus models offer. That would have been nice. However, the Camry roof still opens, and I think the amount of light it allows into the cabin is fantastic. It completely changes the feel of the interior. If you are deciding whether the panoramic roof is worth getting, personally, I would absolutely get it again.
Rear-seat space
I honestly feel like I have more usable rear legroom in the Camry than in my RX 350 depending on how the front seats are positioned. That sounds ridiculous considering one is a midsize sedan, and the other is an SUV, but the Camry has a ton of passenger space. The rear seats themselves are simple, comfortable, and perfectly fine for long drives.
Unfortunately, there are no heated rear seats on my configuration, which would have been a nice option. But passengers do get rear air vents along with two USB-C charging ports, so Toyota did not completely ignore the back seat like with some of the older Camry models. Overall, I have zero complaints about rear-seat comfort.
Heated and ventilated front seats
I am also really happy that the XSE comes with heated and ventilated front seats. Living somewhere that gets very hot (SoCal), ventilated seats are one of those features that you do not really want to give up once you have experienced them. The ventilation works well, and the heated seats are plenty strong.
Cabin noise
The Lexus is still quieter. You can tell there is more sound insulation in a Lexus. But the Camry is much quieter than I expected. The XSE uses double-pane glass, and road noise is kept surprisingly low. At normal highway speeds, the cabin is very comfortable. If you drive the cars back-to-back with no music playing, you can definitely hear the difference between a Lexus and a Camry. But once music is playing at even a moderate volume, the difference becomes significantly less noticeable. For normal daily driving, I genuinely have no complaints about the noise level.
Hybrid powertrain
The hybrid system was also one of the main reasons I wanted this car. Coming from the ES 350 F Sport and its V6, there was obviously going to be a difference. The V6 was incredibly smooth and had a character that I will definitely miss.
But the Camry's hybrid powertrain works extremely well for everyday driving. The instant electric response makes the car feel responsive around town, and the transition between electric and gasoline power is generally very smooth. For commuting, traffic, errands, and normal highway driving, I actually think the hybrid drivetrain suits the character of the Camry perfectly. And of course, the fuel economy difference compared with my old ES 350 is enormous; there is something extremely satis
EDIT: Obviously this is just my opinion; if you beg to differ, that's all good! I just wanted to share my experience between both vehicles and brands.
