This sedan set the sales figures on fire (selling almost six times more than the Prius Twins combined)

The Prius twins are the standard bearers of the hybrid segment, and the Prius name has been synonymous with hybrid technology for decades. Few cars have done more to normalize hybrid technology than the Prius, while offering owners something that’s easy to live with, cheap to run and economical. It’s perfect for people looking for something that just works. Internet memes aside, you can’t deny that the Prius is one of the most important cars of our time.

What might surprise you is that despite its legendary status, the Prius isn’t currently the brand’s best-selling hybrid sedan. That title belongs to another, equally if not more, iconic sedan: the 2026 Toyota Camry. The Camry is now sold exclusively with hybrid powertrains, moves thousands of units every month and is currently the best-selling sedan in the US. Here’s how (and why) the Camry dominates the sedan segment while outselling the Toyota Prius twins combined.

The Camry not only outsells the Prius, but every sedan in the US

Total number of Camrys sold in 2025: 316,115

The Prius twins are doing well in terms of sales, with 40,985 units of the hybrid model and 15,503 units of the Prius Plug-In Hybrid sold by 2025. These are nothing short of respectable figures for alternative fuel vehicles. However, the Camry hybrid surpasses them by miles, with a whopping 316,115 units sold by 2025. This not only makes the Camry one of the best-selling Toyota models, seconded only by the RAV4, but also the best-selling sedan in the US. The only cars that outsell the Camry are a few pickup trucks, like the F-150, and a few SUVs.

How does the Camry outsell the Prius? The hybrid segment is still very new, and most users switching to hybrid are still looking for that traditional car feel, and that’s what the Camry sedan offers. At the same time, the Camry is objectively a more finished product than the Prius, with more powerful powertrains, an all-wheel drive option and family car-friendly space. It’s a distinctive family sedan, which makes it more attractive than the Prius, which focuses more on utilities and fuel economy.

As sensible as clipping coupons, wearing a pair of comfortable shoes or buying extra life insurance… You know, just in case, this Toyota does exactly what a Camry should do, although the car is better at it than ever. This sedan also no longer screams for attention; rather, it is much more confident than before.

-Craig Cole for TopSpeed

Offers a more complete sedan package for the price of a Prius

With the Camry, Toyota has managed to create a complete sedan while keeping costs low; it starts at just $29,100, which is less than $1,000 more than the base Prius. And for 2026, Toyota has also introduced a new Nightshade version, between the XLE and XSE. This trim, as the name suggests, has a dark theme, along with gloss black badging and unique 19-inch wheels. Additionally, it also features the sportier suspension found on the SE and XSE models.

But if you ask us, we’d put our money on the SE trim as it offers the best value for money. It’s slightly sportier while offering all the standard features you’d expect at this price, along with optional extras like a larger touchscreen and an all-wheel drive drivetrain. Moving up to the XLE unlocks a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, leather and heated front seats, and optional ventilated front seats, while the range-topping XSE adds a sport-tuned suspension and some cosmetic upgrades. These XLE and XSE upgrades are good to have, but not essential.

Powered by a duo of hybrid powertrains

The Toyota Camry comes with two engine options, starting with the base front-wheel drive powertrain. It has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, supplemented by two electric motors, which produce a combined power of 225 hp. The all-wheel drive powertrain adds a third motor driving the rear axle, increasing power to 232 hp. Both powertrains are similar to the Prius, except they swap the latter’s 2.0-liter engine for a 2.5-liter unit. A continuously variable transmission is standard on both powertrains.

Enough power for everyday driving needs, nothing more

As you guessed, the Camry is not the sportiest model in its segment. Still, the push from the electric motors should help make the ride a bit more responsive. You can expect the Camry to go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds, which is a full second faster than the Hyundai Sonata and just a split second behind its closest rival, the Honda Accord. The top speed is electronically controlled at 185 kilometers per hour. This is decent performance for everyday driving and the occasional highway sprint.

Excellent fuel economy up to 51 miles per gallon

The Camry offers excellent fuel economy that you would expect from a modern hybrid, although this varies slightly by powertrain. According to the EPAthe XSE AWD trim offers the best fuel economy of 43 miles per gallon (combined) with a total range of 559 miles. Meanwhile, the base LE FWD trim offers the highest fuel economy of up to 51 miles per gallon (combined) with an estimated range of 663 miles. The base model will only cost you $850 in fuel per year if you drive 15,000 miles.

Not to mention, you can still enjoy Toyota reliability

The Toyota Camry is one of the most reliable hybrid sedans you can buy today JD power giving it an average score of 80 out of 100 in terms of reliability and quality. Add to that Toyota’s extended warranty coverage, which includes a 96-month/100,000-mile warranty on hybrid/electric components and a 120-month/150,000-mile warranty on the traction battery. You don’t really have to think much about maintaining the Camry, other than spending a few hundred dollars annually on maintenance and repairs. Owning the Camry hybrid should be more or less stress-free.

• Average annual maintenance cost: $388 (RepairPal)

• Estimated. Maintenance costs for the first 10 years: $4,581 (CarEdge)

• Total number of recalls: 0

A spacious cabin with all the right features of a family sedan

Step into the cabin of the Toyota Camry and you’re greeted with a roomy cabin with plenty of room for adults in both the front and rear, as well as a respectable 49 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard features include cloth upholstery and dual-zone climate control, while higher trims add leather upholstery, heated seats and steering wheel, auto-dimming IRVM and more, depending on model. For the money, the Camry promises to be a comfortable, spacious family sedan.

Includes all the essential technology

We wouldn’t expect sub-$30,000 luxury, but for what it’s worth, the Camry doesn’t disappoint. It features all the modern essentials, including a standard 8-inch touchscreen unit with higher trims and a larger 12.3-inch unit. Both screens run Toyota’s latest software interface which is considered quite intuitive, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. On the XLE and XSE you can also upgrade to a nine-speaker JBL stereo system for a richer sound experience.

Also one of the safest in the segment

For a family car, safety comes first, and that is where the Camry really excels. All Camry trims come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, with a range of driver assistance systems. Additionally, the Camry also scores highly in safety crash tests and earns the Insurance Institute for Transportation Safety (IIHS) ‘Top Safety Pick+’ for 2026. In the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) It also achieved five stars across the board in testing, making it one of the safest family sedans in this price range.

For many, the Camry is the smarter choice over the Prius

For those looking for urban utility and maximum fuel economy, the Prius is never a bad investment. But for everyone else, the Camry could be the smarter choice. It brings that traditional sedan comfort, a little more power, an available AWD system, and better comfort and performance ratings. Plus, it looks good and isn’t as polarizing as the more futuristic Prius. In fact, it’s one of the nicer cars in the budget family sedan segment. These are why the Camry not only outsells its Prius twins, but also all other sedans in the US.

Source: Toyota, JD power, AutoEdge, RepairPal, FuelEconomy.gov, NHTSA, IIHS