Just wanted to share my first impressions of my 2025 SE.
Cars I looked at before choosing this one: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, Kia K5, and Subaru Legacy. I didn’t seriously consider the Honda Accord because I’m not into the way it looks. The Legacy is on its way out and the K5 wasn’t hybrid, so it came down to the Sonata and the Camry. The Sonata had cool tech, but I picked the Camry because it’s got a solid track record. Plus, I wasn’t a fan of the flat black part on the front of the Sonata.
What my SE came with: 12.3-inch display, moonroof, convenience package, weather package, and a few other extras.
I really like how this car drives. The tech is simple and works well. The ride is smooth and it has good pickup. It looks great without being flashy. The center armrest is in the perfect spot. The 12.3-inch screen is huge and nice, though I probably would’ve been fine with the smaller one too. I still need more time with it to get used to all the features.
Now for a few small annoyances. Some of this is just me being picky, and honestly, I’d still buy this car again.
The glove box is hard to see into. I used to have a Mazda 3 where it was much easier to access. This one feels like it’s tucked too far under the dash.
The center storage under the armrest could really use a tray. I bought one online to fix that. And if you get a sunroof, you lose the spot for sunglasses, so they should really include a tray for that too.
Speaking of storage, I don’t get why there’s not a spot in the trunk for the manuals. If you lift the trunk carpet, there’s a Styrofoam piece with random cutouts. Why not make a space there to keep the manuals? No one looks at them more than once a year anyway. Also, why are they just shrink-wrapped loose books? A pouch would’ve been nice.
Setting up the HomeLink garage opener was annoying. There are videos online to help, but it’s kind of hit or miss depending on your garage opener. This one was more on me than the car.
Heads-up if you ever need to pop the hood— the support rod is on the hood and pulls down to hook into the frame. I was used to the opposite. Not a problem, just something to know.
The main display has a ton of options. Definitely read the last part of the manual—some of the settings aren’t obvious. The SE has three display modes. Mine came set to Smart, but I think I like Casual better.
I noticed some faint shadows from the headlights. Might be from how the hood is shaped. It’s small, and I’ll probably stop noticing it soon.
Check your all-weather floor mat on the driver’s side. Mine had a weird yellow tag on it that I had to rip off. Either the dealer should’ve removed it or it’s one of those things you’re “allowed” to remove like a mattress tag. The mats also lock in with a twist—my old cars just had push pins. Make sure you twist it to unlock before pulling them up. I like this little detail.
One thing I’m still getting used to is the noise outside when driving in EV mode. Apparently all EV-mode cars do this now for safety so people can hear you coming. Makes sense. Time will tell if it annoys me.