The sports sedan is a long-standing sub-segment with decades of history. These performance-oriented four-door vehicles are popular because of their blend of practicality and performance. No four-door sedan for an affordable price is going to set lap records at the Nürburgring or rival a Rolls-Royce in terms of interior quality. Instead, the sporty four-door vehicles generally try to do a little bit of everything.One of the most humble of all typical family sedans on the market is the Toyota Camry. It has served as America's favorite four-door model for nearly 25 years, but the car has seldom been available as a performance-oriented model. However, about eight years ago, Toyota unveiled the eighth-gen Camry, also known as its internal code XV70, and this iteration changed things a bit. With the introduction of the latest model came an all-new V6 engine, one that produced 301 horsepower, edging the Camry into sports sedan territory. Performance Baked Right In ToyotaA 3.5-liter, naturally-aspirated V6 was available under the eighth-gen Camry's hood. The mill belongs to Toyota's famous GR engine family, and carries the specific engine code 2GR-FKS. To make so much power, the engine employs a 24-valve valvetrain and two flavors of variable valve timing – VVT-iW and VVT-i. In addition, the engine uses Toyota's D-4S direct injection and a simulated Atkinson cycle to improve efficiency.Despite several trim levels to choose from on the 2018 Camry, Toyota decided to offer the hot V6 as an optional upgrade for two grades, the sporty XSE and the top-of-the-line XLE. All Camry trims, including the XSE and XLE, came standard with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated inline-four with 203 hp. According to Toyota's original pricing for the 2018 Camry, the 3.5-liter V6 was roughly a $5,000 upgrade.ToyotaAn eight-speed automatic transmission handles the 3.5-liter's power, and front-wheel drive is the sole drivetrain option. As for suspension, the XSE features sport-tuned shock absorbers and springs, while the XLE grade comes with standard suspension equipment. Both models feature a MacPherson strut front end and a multi-link rear layout. Stopping is taken care of by disc brakes at each corner, and the XSE model gets a quicker steering ratio.As the 2018 Camry gained its 301-horsepower mill, other family sedans were also experimenting with engines that produced similar amounts of power. While there are several to choose from, let's take the 2018 Ford Fusion Sport, the 2018 Honda Accord Sport 2.0T, and the 2018 Nissan Altima 3.5 SL. Using those three as benchmarks, here's how they compare to the Camry, with a focus on their engine and output. Here's What Both Grades Offer XSE V6 (Original MSRP: $34,950) ToyotaThe XSE V6 technically stands as the 2018 Camry's top-spec trim because its original MSRP is slightly higher than the XLE V6's. However, in terms of luxury and amenities, this one is slightly lacking when compared to the XLE. The XSE V6's standard features include an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a premium JBL nine-speaker sound system with a subwoofer, dual-zone climate control, leather-trimmed seats, heated front seats, and a seven-inch digital gauge cluster. A panoramic, power-sliding moonroof comes standard, too.For those who want to upgrade even further, Toyota offers optional features such as the Entune 3.0 Audio Plus with JBL w/Clari-FI tech, a head-up display (HUD), a Bird's-Eye View camera, and a blacked-out roof. There are also accessories to black out the mirror caps and install a small black trunk spoiler. A special red seat color called "Cockpit Red" is also available. XLE (Original MSRP: $34,400) ToyotaThe not-so-top-of-the-line XLE V6 model offers a virtually identical interior and tech features as the XSE. However, things change when you take a look at its exterior. Instead of the 19-inch, black-on-silver wheels, the XLE V6 comes standard with 18-inch machined alloys. In addition, the front grille is slightly less aggressive, along with its flanks and rear end. The exhaust system is also slightly different, sporting a single exhaust tip rather than the quad-polished setup seen on the XSE V6. Sadly, the XSE's red seats are not an option for the XLE V6. Current Pricing ToyotaIf all of this sounds pretty good to you, and you're in the market for something big enough to haul the family, but powerful enough to make the highway on-ramps a bit more fun, let's take a look at the 2018 Camry XSE V6 and XLE V6's current average pricing. Being a Toyota, the V6-equipped 2018 Camry has managed to hold onto a good chunk of its value over the last eight years, but its exemplary reliability makes up for its age in some ways.Let's see how an XSE V6 compares in value against its three competitors:The CarBuzz Marketplace (below) monitors vehicle pricing trends over the past three months, and it indicates that the average 2018 XSE V6 is selling for a bit more recently. According to the data, the average price for them is $22,542. Although, there are bargains out there because the lowest price for one is just $11,250. What Happened To The V6? Toyota The 3.5-liter, 301-horsepower V6 was offered from its 2018 debut until the 2024 model year. In 2025, Toyota unveiled the ninth-gen Camry, which was slated to utilize a single, 2.5-liter hybrid engine across all trim levels. Unfortunately, the new powerplant doesn't come close to the 301 ponies produced by the now-discontinued V6, as its power output sits at 225 hp for front-wheel-drive models and 232 hp for all-wheel-drive models.With that being said, now is the time to get yourself into a new-to-you Camry XSE or XLE. As of this writing, models that were produced in 2020 or newer are eligible for Toyota's Certified Pre-Owned warranty program, so long as they have less than 85,000 miles on the clock for the "Gold" version of the warranty.
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