While the heavily revised 2025 Toyota Camry is a hybrid-only affair in the US, it’s not entirely waving goodbye to traditional powertrains elsewhere. Take the Middle East, for example, where the new Camry has debuted with a good old-fashioned gasoline engine, alongside its self-charging hybrid sibling. The 2.5-liter VVTi four-cylinder engine churns out 201 hp and 240 Nm of torque, mirroring the previous generation’s power. This is 26 hp shy of the hybrid’s combined output in the same market. Unlike the hybrid, this engine is paired exclusively with an eight-speed automatic, not the e-CVT. The ICE-only model is offered in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, where hybrids aren’t as popular as in North America. However, a 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid option is also available, but only with FWD.
In terms of style and substance, the
Middle-Eastern Camry mirrors its US counterpart with no major changes in
exterior or interior design. The entry-level model rolls on 16-inch steel
wheels, while the top-tier trims boast snazzier 18-inch alloys. Inside, even
the base Camry comes with an 8-inch infotainment screen, but the 12.3-inch
touchscreen is reserved for the higher trims.
The Middle East is not the only place
where the new Camry is available with an ICE powertrain. Over in China, the
locally built GAC Toyota version also dabbles in non-hybrid power, albeit with
a smaller 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. It produces 170 hp and 206 Nm of torque, making it the least potent ninth-gen Camry in
the world. The Chinese model also boasts slightly redesigned bumpers, setting
it apart from other members of the Camry squad.
In the United Arab Emirates, the 2025
Toyota Camry starts from AED 109,900 (US$ 29,922) in ICE-powered form, and from AED 123,900 (US$ 33,734) for the hybrid.
That’s a hefty premium compared to the US, where the standard hybrid starts at US$ 28,400. For comparison, the Chinese-spec Camry with its modest gasoline engine
starts at ¥ 179,800 (US$ 25,241), proving that sometimes less really is more or at
least cheaper.
