Overview & Reviews

Until recently, driving a hybrid car required some sort of sacrifice, whether in terms of space, performance or anonymity. However, in the case of the Camry Hybrid, one could argue that Toyota has given the buying public a hybrid that demands few or no sacrifices.

If judged only on its merits as a competent midsize sedan, the Toyota Camry Hybrid would score well. We've found that it shares all the attributes that make the conventional Camry one of the best-selling family sedans out there: a comfortable and quiet ride, more than adequate power, lots of amenities and plenty of room for five. That its fuel economy beats that of most compact cars and its price is well within the normal range for an average midsize car are just icing on the hybrid cake.

Current Toyota Camry Hybrid
The current Toyota Camry Hybrid features a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor. Combined output comes to 200 horsepower and it's routed to the front wheels through a specialized continuously variable transmission (CVT). The EPA estimates combined fuel economy at an excellent 40 or 41 mpg, depending on the trim level.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is offered in LE, XLE and (late introduction) SE Limited Edition trim levels. Standard feature highlights for the LE include keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, Bluetooth, a touchscreen display and a six-speaker sound system with a USB port. The XLE adds a power driver seat and an upgraded sound system. The SE Limited Edition is essentially an XLE with sporty styling cues and the sport front seats of the non-hybrid Camry SE. Main options include a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a premium audio system, a navigation system and a smartphone integration system.

It should be noted that halfway into the 2014 model year, the Camry Hybrid saw a few minor changes. These include the aforementioned new trim level, the rearview camera becoming standard across the board and a renaming of the car's infotainment systems.

Inside, the Camry's new interior benefits from roomy seats, admirable outward visibility and well-placed controls. What the cabin design lacks in cohesiveness, it makes up for with generally good materials quality, especially the handsome stitching on the dash and door panels of upper trims. Toyota's Entune system is also praiseworthy in the way it easily adds enhanced audio, information and navigation features, although the touchscreen's virtual buttons can be a little frustrating to use at times.

While fuel economy gets top billing here, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is still pleasant to drive. Its hybrid powertrain is quite smooth in its operation and provides quick acceleration. Handling is unremarkable and the steering is quite light and uncommunicative, but for most buyers this will likely be a non-issue.

Used Toyota Camry Hybrid Models
This latest Toyota Camry Hybrid was redesigned for 2012, as was the conventional Camry. As such, it benefited from the same generational upgrades, such as a much nicer interior and new electronics features. Fuel economy and power are also considerably better than they were with the previous-generation hybrid. Note that these Camry Hybrids lack a few minor updates of the current version, including the addition of the SE Limited Edition trim level, the rearview camera becoming standard across the board and a renaming of the car's infotainment systems.

That previous, first-generation Toyota Camry Hybrid was produced for the 2007-'11 model years. While it shared much of the same advantages of the current car, it suffered from a rather small trunk, disappointing interior materials and inconsistent fit and finish issues. Additionally, its fuel economy, while high, was not as good as the current model's.

This Camry Hybrid was powered by a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine working in concert with an electric motor. Power was sent to the front wheels through a specialized CVT. The gas engine produced 147 hp and 138 lb-ft of torque, and the electric motor added another 40 hp, yielding 187 maximum hp. Fuel economy was quite good for the time, checking in at an EPA-estimated 33 mpg city/34 mpg highway and 34 mpg combined.

For most of the first generation's production run, standard features included 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless ignition and entry, a power driver seat, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a trip computer and a six-speaker sound system. Main options were a sunroof, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power passenger seat, a navigation system and a premium sound system.

Changes were slight over the years, with revised front-end styling, a new instrument cluster and unique upholstery made of silk protein and synthetic fiber being introduced for 2010. In 2011, the alloy wheels were downgraded to steel wheels with plastic covers.

On the whole, the Camry Hybrid presented a complete package. It was roomy, comfortable and kept up to date with the latest features. And thanks to the Prius, Toyota has shown that its hybrid powertrains are able to meet consumers' expectations of durability and reliability. Our only suggestion would be to also check out the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which eclipsed the Camry Hybrid in terms of economy and interior design for the final two years.

User Reviews:

• 

  Best car Ive ever driven in the first week - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By briguywi - December 31 - 6:00 pm

  Ive only had my new 2012 Camry Hybrid for a week, but so far I have nothing to complain about. Drives perfect, great mileage, at or better than what Toyota claims, and the car rides beautifully, quiet, comfortable, seems well-built and the interior feels very plush and upscale. Ive never owned a new sedan before that has absolutely no annoying issues (that usually show up within the first week. SO glad I passed on the Sonata Hybrid and waited for the Camry.

• 

  A Quality Car - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Ernie - December 26 - 12:33 pm

  The ride is smooth, not sporty, but is very relaxing and quiet. The fuel economy is excellent. It is one of the best cars we have owned.

• 

  surprised performance - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Dennis Crosby - December 23 - 7:21 pm

  Great value. Has good performance,you choose your speed and go. Have had no problems with this car

• 

  The new age car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Mayur Amin - December 21 - 10:03 am

  Purchased this car two weeks ago. Love all the features and most of all the comfortable drive. I can say also with confidence that I will not be getting any more speeding tickets. The digital readout really is informative and key to getting good mileage. I would highly recommend this car. Added bonus compared to the Mercedes I had, lower operating cost, dont have to worry about the car being being damaged by flying debris on the road and resale value.

• 

  More Than I Expected - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Commuter - December 20 - 5:56 pm

  Im a long commuter (45 miles each way) used to an Acura and a Mercedes. The Camry surprised me with its performance and luxury. It is not quite up to my Acura in driving responsiveness, but pretty darn close, and so much more efficient. I had the dealer install an after-market woodgrain package that makes the car look as good as any luxury vehicle on the market. I highly recommend it. You will feel as if you are driving a luxury sedan on a compact budget. Two tanks so far averaging 37 miles per hour, and I usually set the cruise at 74 on the highway. I am impressed with the overall package.

• 

  An Outstanding Purchase - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By calmac - December 17 - 9:03 am

  After years of BMWs and Mercedes, I pulled the trigger on a Camry and absolutely love it. It drives nicely, has all the pick up I need and the various toys (ie, nav, bluetooth, etc) are fun and exciting to use. Really am impressed by this car.

• 

  2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By blake stevens - November 27 - 10:30 pm

  What a dream car. Ride is nice, interior very comfortable and gas mileage is stunning. I am looking forward to the reliability of my wife and daughters Toyotas. High tech dash, sound system and navigation are intuitive and fun.

• 

  Great Car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Kenny - November 25 - 10:10 am

  Ive had my Hybrid since Feb 08. I love it the gas mileage it is great. Around town I get around 36 mpg. We have went on 3 family trips the average trip was about 6 hour driving time. We got up to 44 mpg. The only thing I am disappointed with is the navigation system it is not user friendly at all. We had a Nissan before it was a lot easier to use.

• 

  Best Car Ive Ever Bought - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By talmy - November 22 - 8:56 pm

  Weve only had it a week but have put it through its paces in everything from city traffic jams to winding mountain roads and got 38 mpg on the first tank. Contrary to the EPA figures, it does better on the open road (at least with the lower speed limits around here) than in city driving. Extremely quiet and smooth operation. You can tell when the gas engine starts, but it is smoother than an auto transmission shift.

• 

  This is my 2nd Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jools606 - November 22 - 11:26 am

  Just traded my 2007 Camry Hybrid for 2009 This is the first time that I have ever bought the same car twice and this is the 58th car that I have owned. I think that the build quality is excellent even better than the 2007 and it is quieter (maybe because the other one had plenty of miles on it). The Bluetooth works better on this one, too. The last one got 37 to 42 mpg and this seems to be about the same so I dont understand why one reviewer was getting 26- 28. I have several co-workers who have now bought either Prius or Camry Hybrids. Love this car.