The 2022 Toyota Camry
can conquer simple dirt and gravel roads, but it isn’t designed for serious off-roading. The Toyota Camry is the quintessential family sedan: safe, reliable, affordable, and easy on the eye. But what happens if you take your cherished Camry off the beaten path? Will it crawl over boulders with ease or leave you stranded on the mountainside?
Here to walk you through the Camry’s off-roading abilities is Jerry
, our super app
for finding cheap car insurance
. We’ll cover the Camry’s all-terrain specs, give it an off-road rating using our patented DIRT system, and offer a few rugged alternative cars so your Camry doesn’t end up stuck between a rock and a hard place. Can the 2022 Toyota Camry go off-road?
Here’s the bottom line: your Camry is best driven with four wheels squarely on the pavement. If you need to traverse a few dirt roads on your way to a campsite, your Camry should be up to the task—but it’s built for highway and city driving.
With a starting price that’s less than $27,000, the Camry is the perfect chariot for family-friendly adventures. If you upgrade to the Camry TRD for $5,000, you’ll get a 301-hp V6 engine that produces 267 lb-ft of torque. With that extra power, you’ll have better luck with all-terrain obstacles, but it’s still a good idea to stick to paved roads whenever possible.
What are some other strengths and weaknesses of the Camry when it comes to off-roading? Let’s take a look!
MORE: Every Toyota sports car you should know
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning nowGround clearance
Ground clearance—the distance between the bottom of your vehicle and the pavement—is super important for off-roading success. Unfortunately, the Camry stands just 5.7 inches above the ground, which isn’t enough to do any intense trailblazing.
The ideal number for an off-road vehicle is between 8.8 and 10.8 inches. Just picture the mighty Jeep Wrangler
: it’s got a ground clearance of 9.7 inches! Torque
The next ingredient for all-terrain greatness is low-end torque. A car with low-end torque produces lots of power at a low speed, which is the perfect combo for off-roading.
With just 184 lb-ft of torque at 5000rpm, the Camry falls short in the power department. Sure, if you upgrade to the V6 engine, you’ll enjoy an extra 80 lb-ft of torque—but that’s still not enough to crawl over large rocks or churn through thick mud.
Tires
The 17-inch wheels that come standard on the Camry won’t do you any favors on dirt or gravel, since they’re designed for highway driving.
If you’re serious about off-roading, give a set of all-terrain tires
a try. They’ll wear down a bit quicker, but all-terrain tires have deeper sipes and grippier tread, which gives your Camry better traction on all surfaces. Plus, it can’t hurt to have tires that thrive in rain, sleet, and snow! MORE: Winter tires vs. all-season tires: Which is better?
Drivetrain
All-wheel drive is a must-have for off-roading. It distributes the power to your wheels more evenly so that you can climb obstacles with only one or two tires touching the ground.
Though the 2022 Camry comes with front-wheel drive, you can upgrade to AWD for just $1,400—well worth it, if you ask us!
Angles
Last but not least, let’s check out the Camry’s approach and departure angles:
Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference
Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
Surprisingly, the Camry’s climbing angles haven’t been released by Toyota or measured by a third party—so it’s safe to assume that they’re pretty low! Because of the Camry’s unimpressive ground clearance, the car will have trouble scaling any objects that are more than a foot tall. Best to leave the difficult climbs to the Jeeps
, Fords
, and 4Runners
of the world! Off-road rating: In a pinch
So, what’s the verdict on the Camry’s off-road prowess? Jerry’s
highly sophisticated DIRT rating system can help us decide: | | |
|---|
| | Vehicles better suited to highway conditions |
| | Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances |
| | Vehicles designed for casual off-roading |
| | True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain |
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We think the 2022 Toyota Camry earns a rating of I, or In a Pinch. If you absolutely must take the Camry off-road, it’ll be able to tackle roots, ruts, and minor bumps—but we can’t vouch for anything more than that. At the end of the day, the Camry’s low clearance, modest torque, and weak climbing angles make it a car that’s best suited to highways and byways.
The best off-road alternatives to the 2022 Toyota Camry
Don’t worry, off-roading enthusiasts—all hope is not lost! Whether you want a car that’s comparable to a Camry or you just want to stay committed to the Toyota brand, we’ve put together some killer alternatives to the 2022 Camry.
You should have more success off-roading in these sturdy vehicles:
| | | |
|---|
| | | With a perfect 10/10 from Car and Driver and a ground clearance of 6.7 inches, the Accord isn’t an off-roading beast, but it’ll hold up slightly better than the Toyota Camry. |
| | | Now we’re talking! The 4Runner’s 9.6-inch clearance and excellent climbing angles make it one of Toyota’s best off-roading designs. |
Best alternative for serious off-roading | 2021 Ford Bronco Wildtrak | | The Bronco Wildtrak has four-wheel drive, a commanding V6 engine, and climbing angles of 43.2 and 37 degrees, making it a true all-American trail boss. |
MORE: Toyota 4Runner SR5 V6
How to find affordable car insurance for Toyotas
The Toyota Camry already comes with a low MSRP and inexpensive repairs—what better way to sweeten the deal than by landing the nation’s best insurance policy? Thankfully, with Jerry
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