Toyota Prices 2012 Camry from $22,715; Hybrid Model Rated at 43 mpg City

Toyota Prices 2012 Camry from $22,715; Hybrid Model Rated at 43 mpg City:

Toyota has officially unveiled the 2012 Camry. In addition to the fact that it is the Camry, other mid-size sedans have a new reason to fear the Japanese sales bully, as prices start at $22,715. Only the base Camry L sees a price increase for 2012—it’s up a mere $710—the Camry LE, SE, XLE, and hybrid see either no price change or a reduction of between $200 and $2000. Toyota also released the fuel economy ratings for the Camry, which improve on all models.

The Camry goes automatic-transmission-only for 2012, a move that explains the bump in price for the base L model. The heart of the Camry lineup, the four-cylinder LE, is $200 cheaper than its 2011 equivalent and costs $23,260. The sporty SE models ring in at $23,760 for the four-cylinder model ($965 less than the 2011), while the 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 is unchanged, at $27,400. The Camry hybrid LE now costs just $26,660, $1150 less than its 2011 equivalent and $2735 less than the 2012 Ford Fusion hybrid. Even the uplevel hybrid XLE manages to undercut the Fusion hybrid, commanding $28,160. The range-topping, V-6–powered XLE requires the same $30,605 as last year, although the four-cylinder XLE sees a staggering $2000 price drop, to $25,485.

The hybrid now achieves up to 43 mpg city and 39 on the highway in LE trim, a drastic improvement over the 2011 car’s 31/35 ratings. The hybrid XLE isn’t quite as ambitious, achieving 41 mpg in the city and 38 mpg on the highway. Four-cylinder Camrys are rated for 25/35, improvements of 3 mpg on each cycle. Six-cylinder models earn 21/30 ratings, improving 1 mpg all around. For driving impressions of the all-new 2012 Camry lineup, read our first-drive here.