SPEAKER 02 : 0:00

And we are back. Rush to Reason, Denver’s Afternoon Rush, KLZ 560. Okay, Richard, let’s talk about a new car that you’ve driven here of late. We take this time each week to do new car reviews. We replay that on Saturdays on Drive Radio as well. So what have you driven lately?

SPEAKER 01 : 0:15

Yeah, Dan, so I drove a, actually, I think one of our favorite cars. And that doesn’t go without saying lightly. And what I’ll say is it’s a 2026. Toyota Camry. This is the nightshade edition. But, Dad, this has always and long been one of our favorite midsize sedans because it sort of checks literally every box that anyone could ever imagine. And it does so at a really affordable price. So let’s get into it, Dad. The Camry only comes in hybrid anymore, which some people are going to love. Some people aren’t. I’ll say this, Dad. It gives you almost 45 miles to the gallon. I don’t have the exact numbers, but it’s just a fantastic car. vehicle in that right I had it for a week barely got it down to a half a tank and that’s what driving at you and just as I normally would and and that’s really where this car shines and anything Toyota smartly did I think they saw the numbers from you know obviously because they introduced it a number of years ago is you can kind of buy both different options and then they said you know what we’re selling a gazillion of these we might as well just make it the one option and they did a phenomenal job at that What’s new for 2026? Well, the trim level that we drove, which is the nightshade edition, is new for this year. Well, some of you are going to say, well, what is the nightshade edition, Dad? Well, it’s everything that comes in the SE, which gives you 19-inch black finish wheels, a gloss black exterior trim, black door handles, and a heated exterior rearview mirrors. And then there’s an XLE and an XSE that are a step above. But, Dad, this vehicle, as it sits Or I should say not as it sits, but you can get this vehicle ranging on the low end of an LE for just over $30,000, and an XSE starts at about $37,000. The other thing about a Camry, Dad, you can get it in front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which, again, for a mid-sized sedan. Mid-sized sedan is not a guarantee. And in our climate, and yes, in Colorado, even though we’ve had a drier winter, it still does snow here, Dad. So it is nice to be able to have that all-wheel drive capability, which this vehicle does. The engine noise is a little funky, and you’ll read about that in some other reviews, too, where people are like, I just can’t. At the end of the day, Dad, this is a really functional sedan. I wish the front row was a little bit, I guess, roomier, a little more comfortable sort of a thing. But outside of that, that’s probably just me being picky. I was able to get two booster seats in the back for the kids. It’s got a really good-sized trunk on it, as Camrys have in the past. The infotainment, the safety features that are on it are becoming more standard on Toyotas throughout. It’s just a really great car. Whether you’re thinking of a first-car, Dad, whether you’re thinking of a car for you know a kid or a family member this just really checks all the boxes and again dad you’ve driven these yes and have they changed these vehicles over the years yeah but they’ve kind of kept the same basic uses to it and you’ve gotten used to it and you enjoy it as well

SPEAKER 02 : 3:06

I have said on the radio for years now, and when the Camry hybrids first came out, even then there was a small price difference from the standard Camry to the hybrid Camry. Even at that time, I said, spend the extra money, get the hybrid. I’m not disappointed at all that they’ve gone complete hybrid. on that vehicle. Again, I think their numbers probably started showing that that’s what most people were asking for. And I think, you know, due in part, by the way, I think to those of us on radio that have some influence and so on, telling people what to buy, at the end of the day, great value vehicle. And I had somebody call in the other day naming off several different options for sedans. And you know what? Right off the bat, I didn’t hesitate, didn’t take me a nanosecond to give Toyota Camry as the answer in all the different options that this It’s just head and shoulders above the rest. And I know I sound sort of like a Toyota fanboy. And in this case, I am because there’s very few vehicles for the money that compete with the Camry hybrid.

SPEAKER 01 : 4:05

Well, absolutely, Dad. And you said it best. And there are some competitors out there. And the competitors that have done a really great job due to the Camry. That’s right. Competition. That’s right. Exactly. Competition, breeding, excellent. I will say this, Dad. It’s just one of our favorite vehicles ever. And you wouldn’t think it drives – because, honestly, you look at it and you say, oh, that’s just a Camry. Folks, I encourage you to get out and test drive it, especially if you haven’t done it in a while, Dad. I think people would really be surprised at the improvements that Toyota’s made. Because, Dad, you can get a Camry hybrid, very similar fuel economy that’s larger. similarly priced to a Prius. And so you no longer have to go to a Prius for that 45, 50 miles per gallon. Good point. You have the ability to do that right with this. And real quick, in terms of the front-wheel drive, 225 horsepower, all-wheel drive, 232. So you do get a little bit of extra boost with that. Outside of that, we really could go on and on. And I just can’t say it enough, folks. If you’re interested in it, you’re in the market. Again, a midsize sedan, 2026 Toyota Camry. This was the nightshade edition. Head to your local Toyota dealer, test drive it. When you do that, let them know that John and Richard Rush from Drive Radio and Rush Trees have sent you.

SPEAKER 02 : 5:16

Well said, Richard. And again, those of you listening, we always say this and I mean this. This is a car, by the way, that’s easy to rent. There’s a lot of these in the rental car fleet. So if that’s a car that you’re really interested in trying out, you want to check out the trunk. I got a text message a moment ago saying, well, you know, Americans don’t want, you know, cars anymore. They want SUVs. Yeah. You know, honestly, I think that’s because in a lot of cases, Richard, they haven’t really felt the comfortability of a sedan. And until you actually get out and drive one, you really forget how well they actually work and how comfortable they actually are. Nothing against the SUVs and all of that, but there’s nothing wrong with that Camry hybrid. Great car. If that’s a car you’re looking forward to commute back and forth to work in, as you know, Richard, you really can’t go wrong. It’s a fabulous car. And as I say all the time, please, and Richard says it a lot too, go out, test drive these, spend more than just 10 minutes in the car, put your family in it, make sure everything works correctly for what you need when it’s all said and done. And if you have the ability to rent a car for a few days on the front side, do so before you actually make that call and pull the trigger. And all these reviews that we have done now for a number of years, even if you’re looking to buy a used car, we’ve probably got a review on that particular car as well. But Richard, I’ll let you go. I appreciate it. Thank you.

SPEAKER 01 : 6:24

The only thing I’ll say real quick is For the price tag, the Camry, yeah, Americans like SUVs, and SUVs are more expensive. Yes. And for the Camry, for the money, it’s really hard to beat a midsize sedan with everything we just talked about in there. So, yeah, absolutely. Take everything you say.

SPEAKER 02 : 6:41

Great point. All right, appreciate it. I’ll let you go. This is John Rush from Rush to Reason and Drive Radio. Thank you so much for listening. Check out more of our podcasts at RushToReason.com or Drive-Radio.com.