2022 Toyota Camry Showdown: Nightshade VS TRD

The Toyota Camry is a sales beast. To prove that statement, you need look no further than the sales sheets for the Toyota Camry in 2020.

The wildly popular Toyota Camry sedan  sole over 290,000 (294,348) units sold in the United States in 2020. Yep, great sales in 2020 no less.

As a refresher, 2020 was the year that…well, you know. If you can move units during that mass, you’ve got it made.

One of the secret sauces to the Camry’s sales success comes from its myriad of trim options. Camry always swings for the fences when it comes to having a trim for all.

If you include Hybrid editions, you’re looking at 12 different trim styles to pick from. That’s great, but quite overwhelming.

So today we focus on the V6-powered Camry SE Nightshade FWD/AWD and its quicker counterpart, the Camry TRD.

2022 Toyota Camry SE Nightshade FWD/AWD

The 2022 Toyota Camry SE Nightshade is one mean looking midsize. This is due in no small part to its blacked-out visage.

All murdered-out, this midsize Toyota sedan casts one menacing shadow.

And of course, if you’re dressing in all black, you’ve got to have the shoes to match. The SE Nightshade comes with 18-in. black machined-finish alloy wheels to strut around in.

The SE Nightshade rolls off the showroom floor with FWD standard, but AWD is now an option too.

Some other killer highlights include:

• Color-keyed sport side rocker panels

• Outside door handles with touch sensor lock/unlock feature

• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)

2022 Toyota Camry TRD | $32,360

The Toyota Camry TRD looks almost identical to the SE Nightshade Edition.

But the differences become quite clear once you pop the hood.

Featuring a 3.5-L V6 engine, it’s the Camry SE but with more pop. If cars could talk, this one would beg to have its legs stretched out on the freeway—ASAP.

Not the racing sort?

Well, that’s no problem at all; think of the TRD as a sedan with serious vroom up its sleeve for when you need it. Think about how a few extra ponies could help you out in your day-to-day.

• Running late to the office
• Soccer practice started in 10 minutes, five minutes ago
• In a hurry to get back to the house after errands—those shows won’t binge-watch themselves
Although the TRD’s calling card is smooth performance, it didn’t skip out on the other perks.

Resting atop 19-inch matte-black aluminum wheels, you can take the kids to school in style. The blacked-out wheels are complemented by the Cat-Back Dual Exhaust. Together, they tell the world you mean business—with an emphasis on “mean.”

Other options available in the 2022 Camry TRD include:

• Two-tone exterior color
• Audio Plus with JBL: including 9-in. touchscreen and nine speakers
• Black heated power outside mirrors with blind spot warning

A Quick look at the basics

Camry Type	Price	MPG	HP/DT
SE Nightshade FWD/AWD	$27,260-$28,660	28/39 – 25/34	203/FWD/AWD
Camry TRD	$32,260	22/31	301/AWD