The Toyota Camry is America’s best-selling sedan and is now in its eighth generation. The 2022 Toyota Camry TRD shares a nameplate with the cars that came before, however the aggressive styling and performance focus make it almost unrecognizable from those vehicles of the past. The reason for this is purely because the Camry TRD is arguably the most compelling version ever released.

The TRD model is only available with the 3.5-liter V6 paired with an eight-speed transmission, the engine makes 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. In addition to its racing inspired body kit—complete with a discrete rear spoiler and a pair of prominent exhaust tips. Other performance-enhancing features include larger front brake rotors, the 12.9-inch discs are almost an inch larger than standard, and dual-piston calipers replace the regular single-piston version. Lastly 19" matte black wheels are half an inch wider and can be had with all-season or summer tires the whole thing works well with the Midnight Black roof for an impactful two-tone appearance.

Inside, the TRD exclusives keep coming and include black SofTex-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, red contrast stitching, a TRD shift knob, TRD gauges, red seat belts, TRD floor mats and aluminum pedals. However the biggest changes come in the chassis department. Thicker underbody and aforementioned rear seat bracing increases the sedan's torsional rigidity. A suspension overhaul brings different shock absorbers, stiffer springs, a half-inch lower ride height and bigger anti roll bars.

In regards to looking at everything else the interior is on par with everything in the midsize sedan class and the materials are nice and well finished. Passenger space in both rows is generous and there are numerous slots and cubbies to stash stuff up front. Trunk space measures in at a roomy 15.1 cubic feet but carrying longer items in the TRD is difficult since the second-row seat backs do not fold down because of a V-brace installed behind for added body stiffening.

Like every 2021 Camry, the TRD receives a new floating touchscreen infotainment display that puts the controls a tad closer to passengers, and helps decrease glare on the relatively small 7-inch screen. Buttons and knobs flanking the screen enable easy access to the commonly used menus and stereo adjustments, while the touchscreen's layout is easy to navigate. Standard features include a six-speed sound system, satellite radio, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. If you would like a little more audio quality, you can option out your Camry TRD with a nine-speaker JBL audio system for an additional $1,585.

Toyota has made driver-assistance technology standard on all Camry models. The TRD gains standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert for 2021 in addition to an improved Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 Plus package. Forward-collision warning can now pick up bicyclists and is better at detecting pedestrians in low-light situations. Adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning and road sign assist are also included.

Compared to the base car, the Camry TRD is unquestionably a sharper specimen. However we would have liked to see more options to further increase the niceties inside the cabin like the XSE. But in the end the body kit looks great and the improved handling provides an engaging driver experience that is much more fun resulting in a Camry a cut above the rest.

2021 Toyota Camry TRD