If you do not need the space, buy the 2027 Toyota Camry Hybrid, and our pick is the Camry XLE at $34,900. It uses less fuel, costs less over five years in every round, and has five stars from NHTSA and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. Pick the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid if you carry a stroller, a dog or sports gear every week, or face snowy roads and steep driveways: it has about two and a half times the cargo space and sits almost three inches higher. Our RAV4 pick is the XLE Premium at $36,100.
Key takeaways
- The Toyota Camry Hybrid costs less over five years in every round and gets 46 to 51 mpg against 43 for the RAV4 Hybrid.
- The RAV4 Hybrid has about two and a half times the cargo space (37.8 vs 15.1 cu ft) and 2.7 inches more ground clearance.
- Camry SE and RAV4 LE cost exactly the same with destination: $33,495.
- The Camry has five NHTSA stars and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+; the new RAV4 is not rated by NHTSA yet.
Side by side
| 2027 Toyota Camry Hybrid | 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (LE, FWD) | $29,700 | $31,900 |
| Power | 225 hp | 226 hp |
| EPA combined mpg (FWD) | 51 (LE), 46 (other trims) | 43 |
| Cargo space | 15.1 cu ft trunk | 37.8 cu ft behind rear seat |
| Rear legroom | 38.0 in | 37.8 in |
| Ground clearance | 5.4 in | 8.1 in |
| Destination charge | $1,295 | $1,595 |
Prices checked in November 2026 on toyota.com. MSRP shown without destination charge, taxes or dealer fees.
Prices and trims
The 2027 Toyota Camry now comes only as a hybrid, and so does the 2026 Toyota RAV4. Same brand, the same basic hybrid system, two very different shapes. The Camry comes as LE ($29,700), SE ($32,200), Nightshade ($33,200), XLE ($34,900) and XSE ($36,100). The RAV4 trims we compare are the LE ($31,900), SE ($34,700) and XLE Premium ($36,100).
Watch the destination charge: $1,295 for the Camry but $1,595 for the RAV4, $300 more for the SUV. All-wheel drive adds $1,525 on the Camry and $1,400 on the RAV4. Power is a tie: 225 hp for the Camry and 226 for the RAV4.
Gas mileage and fuel cost
The EPA rates the Camry Hybrid LE at 51 mpg combined and the SE, XLE and XSE at 46. The front-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid gets 43. At the EPA's fuel price, a Camry SE, XLE or XSE costs about $100 a year less to fuel than a RAV4 ($1,400 against $1,500), or about $500 over five years.
One surprise: the RAV4 has a bigger fuel tank, so it goes a little farther on a fill-up, about 624 miles against about 598 for the Camry.
These are the 2026 EPA records for the Camry; Toyota's 2027 estimates are the same.
Space, cargo and ground clearance
This is where sedan versus SUV really matters.
| Camry Hybrid | RAV4 Hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 193.5 in | 181.0 in |
| Height | 56.9 in | 66.5 in |
| Rear legroom | 38.0 in | 37.8 in |
| Cargo | 15.1 cu ft | 37.8 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 5.4 in | 8.1 in |
| Towing (FWD) | not listed | 1,750 lb |
The Camry is about a foot longer, but the RAV4 is almost 10 inches taller, so you step in instead of dropping down. Back-seat legroom is basically a tie. Cargo is not: the RAV4 holds about two and a half times as much behind the rear seat, through a big liftgate instead of a trunk lid. The RAV4 also has 2.7 inches more ground clearance and a 1,750 lb towing rating; Toyota lists no towing rating for the Camry. Both carry a temporary spare tire.
Round one: the entry trims
The Camry SE ($32,200) against the RAV4 LE ($31,900). The RAV4 has the lower sticker, but add the destination charge and both cost exactly $33,495. Both have blind-spot warning, adaptive cruise with lane centering and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Camry SE adds a power driver's seat, a wireless charger, 18-inch wheels and rear USB ports. The RAV4 LE answers with a bigger touchscreen, a bigger digital gauge screen, keyless entry and a built-in dash cam. Neither has heated seats as standard. Over five years the Camry costs about $500 less, but the RAV4 edges our score, 100 to 96.
Round two: the middle trims
The Camry XLE ($34,900) against the RAV4 SE ($34,700). Both have heated front seats and a power driver's seat. The Camry XLE adds leather-and-microfiber seats, a power passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charger and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The RAV4 SE answers with front and rear parking sensors that can brake for you, and the dash cam. Over five years the Camry costs about $600 less, and it wins our score by the widest margin of the three rounds, 100 to 85.
Round three: the same price
The Camry XSE against the RAV4 XLE Premium, both exactly $36,100. The Camry XSE has leather seats, heated in front, a heated steering wheel, a power passenger seat, the bigger screen and 19-inch wheels. The RAV4 XLE Premium adds a power liftgate, parking sensors with automatic braking and a digital key on your phone. Both have a wireless charger. The Camry costs about $800 less over five years, but the RAV4 brings more of the features you use every day and wins our score, 100 to 95. With all-wheel drive, the Camry XSE is $37,625 and the RAV4 XLE Premium $37,500.
Our value score
We count the standard features you will actually use, weighted by how often you use them, and divide by five years of price, destination and EPA fuel cost. The better car in each round scores 100. Our full method is on the How we research page.
| Round | Matchup | 5-year cost | Value score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Camry SE vs RAV4 LE | $40,495 vs $40,995 | 96 vs 100 |
| 2 | Camry XLE vs RAV4 SE | $43,195 vs $43,795 | 100 vs 85 |
| 3 | Camry XSE vs RAV4 XLE Premium | $44,395 vs $45,195 | 95 vs 100 |
The RAV4 takes two rounds by four and five points; the Camry takes the other by fifteen. Our score does not count cargo space, ground clearance or crash tests, and that is exactly where these two differ most.
Safety and recalls
Both have automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane centering and blind-spot warning on every trim. The Camry has five stars overall in NHTSA crash tests; the new RAV4 has not been rated yet. At the IIHS, the Camry is a Top Safety Pick+. The RAV4 has no award listed yet: it scored Acceptable in the updated frontal test, which also checks the rear passenger, though its headlights are rated better (Good against Acceptable for the Camry).
This Camry Hybrid generation has had six recalls since it arrived for 2025, all fixed free. The 2026 RAV4 Hybrid has one, a corrected weight label.
Warranty
The same badge brings the same warranty: 3 years or 36,000 miles on the whole car, 5 years or 60,000 miles on the powertrain, 8 years or 100,000 miles on the hybrid system and 10 years or 150,000 miles on the hybrid battery. Both include one year of free scheduled maintenance.
Which one is right for you?
- Long commute, lots of highway miles: Camry, and the LE gets 51 mpg.
- Most comfort for the money: Camry XLE.
- Kids, strollers, dogs or sports gear every week: RAV4.
- Snowy roads or a steep driveway: RAV4, ideally with all-wheel drive.
- Towing a small trailer: RAV4.
- Lowest price: Camry LE.
If you want heated seats on a Camry SE, they come in an extra-cost package, so check the window sticker. Watch the full video above and see all our car comparisons.
Sources
All figures checked in November 2026.
- 2027 Toyota Camry prices, specs and warranty: toyota.com LE, SE, Nightshade · toyota.com XLE, XSE
- 2026 Toyota RAV4 prices, specs and warranty: toyota.com
- Destination charges: toyota.com Camry · toyota.com RAV4
- EPA fuel economy: Camry Hybrid LE, Camry Hybrid SE, XLE, XSE, RAV4 Hybrid FWD (fueleconomy.gov)
- Crash tests and recalls: NHTSA · IIHS 2027 Toyota Camry
Buy the 2027 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE. At $34,900 it costs about $200 more than a RAV4 SE but adds leather-and-microfiber heated seats, a heated steering wheel and the 12.3-inch screen, uses less fuel and has top crash-test results. If you need SUV space, get the 2026 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid XLE Premium at $36,100, the same price as a Camry XSE, with a power liftgate and two and a half times the cargo room.
Common questions
Which gets better gas mileage, the Camry Hybrid or the RAV4 Hybrid?
The Camry Hybrid. The EPA rates the Camry LE at 51 mpg combined and the other trims at 46, against 43 for the front-wheel-drive RAV4 Hybrid. That is about $100 a year less in fuel for a Camry SE, XLE or XSE.
How much more cargo space does the RAV4 have than the Camry?
About two and a half times as much. The RAV4 Hybrid holds 37.8 cubic feet behind the rear seat, while the Camry's trunk holds 15.1 cubic feet.
Is the Camry Hybrid or the RAV4 Hybrid safer?
The 2027 Camry has five stars overall from NHTSA and an IIHS Top Safety Pick+. The 2026 RAV4 has not been rated by NHTSA yet and has no IIHS award listed, after an Acceptable result in the updated frontal test, although its headlights are rated better.
Do the Camry and RAV4 offer all-wheel drive?
Yes, both. All-wheel drive adds $1,525 on the Camry and $1,400 on the RAV4. A Camry XSE with all-wheel drive is $37,625 and a RAV4 XLE Premium $37,500.
Do the Camry Hybrid and RAV4 Hybrid have the same warranty?
Yes: 3 years or 36,000 miles basic, 5 years or 60,000 miles powertrain, 8 years or 100,000 miles hybrid system, 10 years or 150,000 miles hybrid battery, and one year of free scheduled maintenance.