Walk into most dealerships these days, and you’ll find row after row of crossovers and SUVs. But Toyota just dropped some numbers that might surprise you. Sedans are actually gaining ground.
- Corolla sales jumped 6.5% in 2025, hitting 248,088 units despite being one of the older designs in the compact segment.
- Camry moved 316,185 vehicles last year, up 2%, making it Toyota’s second-best-selling model behind only the RAV4.
- Hybrid versions of both models set all-time records, with Camry Hybrid alone jumping 54.1% year over year.
Bucking the Trend While Others Bail
Most automakers have either killed off their sedans or let them wither on the vine. Ford ditched the Fusion. Chrysler axed the 200. Even Honda scaled back sedan production. But Toyota kept pushing chips to the center of the table, and the bet paid off.
Look at what Corolla offers now. You’ve got everything from the base sedan to that wild GR Corolla hot hatch pumping out serious power. Variety matters here. Need a fuel-sipping hybrid for commuting? Done. Want a track-ready pocket rocket for weekend fun? Same badge, totally different beast.
Andrew Gilleland, Toyota’s senior vice president of automotive operations, pointed out something interesting in their recent sales report. Customers still want accessible options, he said, and Toyota’s lineup starting under $30,000 gives them exactly that. When a 2024 Corolla Cross starts around $25,000 and delivers actual utility, people pay attention.
Small SUV Sweet Spot
Speaking of that Corolla Cross, Toyota sold just under 100,000 of them in 2025. They count it separately from regular Corolla sales, which makes sense since it’s really competing in a different space. Cross buyers get RAV4 capability at a lower price point, and folks in tight markets or on tighter budgets appreciate that difference.
RAV4 itself remains Toyota’s sales king at 479,288 units, but growth slowed to under 1%. Meanwhile, smaller and more affordable options like the Corolla Cross posted record years. That shift tells you something about where buyers’ heads are at right now.
Hybrids Carrying Heavy Weight
Toyota moved over 1 million electrified vehicles in 2025. That’s up 19% from the year before. Nearly half of every Toyota sold now has some form of electric assist.
Going all-hybrid for the latest Camry generation could’ve backfired. Instead, sales proved it was the right call. Switching from optional to standard hybrid power didn’t scare buyers off. If anything, it pulled them in. Corolla Hybrid also hit record numbers, showing that fuel efficiency matters when gas prices swing wildly.
Even Prius bounced back with a 26.3% gain to 56,488 units. Sure, it’s not the cultural icon it was a decade ago, but people still want what it offers.
What This Means for Sedan Shoppers
If you’ve been shopping for a new car lately, you know the pickings feel slim in the sedan world. But Toyota’s results show there’s still real demand for traditional cars done right. Offering what SUV buyers claim they want makes all the difference. Good fuel economy, reliability, and fair pricing while keeping that lower car profile.
Camry pricing starts around $30,000. You can get a nicely equipped Corolla for less. Compare that to mid-size SUVs pushing $40,000 and up, and the value proposition gets clearer fast. You’re not sacrificing much in terms of tech or safety features either. Toyota loads even base models with adaptive cruise, lane keeping, and automatic emergency braking.
These numbers also put pressure on other automakers to reconsider their sedan exits. If there’s still this much demand, abandoning the segment entirely might have been premature. Honda’s keeping the Civic and Accord around. Mazda still makes the Mazda3. Those decisions look smarter now.
Bigger Picture for Buyers
Toyota’s overall sales hit 2.5 million vehicles in 2025, up 8% from the previous year. Success comes from offering choices. Want an SUV? They’ve got seven different sizes. Want a sedan? Pick your flavor. Want a truck? Take your pick of Tacoma or Tundra.
Variety matters more than ever. Gas prices, insurance costs, and monthly payments all factor into what people can actually afford. A $28,000 Camry with 50+ mpg highway hits differently than a $45,000 three-row SUV getting 22 mpg.
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