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:
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Top Drawer - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By wacka10sball - December 3 - 6:13 amNothing like waving at gas stations as you pass by in big-car comfort, style, safety and handling. Im getting an average of 38-41 mpg and lovin it. Dont accept the view that its much cheaper to buy the equivalent "non-green" Camry XLE. That comparison may hold with other green, non-green car models, but not in this case; this is fact often overlooked. True, the trunk space is more limited, but the split rear seats go down, which helps. Im pleased with my selection.
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Love my hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By David - December 1 - 3:26 pmMy hybrid rocks! I average 32.5-36 MPG in mixed driving over numerous foothills. And thats with aggressive, always first off the blocks, fastest on the highway driving. With highway trips, I will easily exceed the max 40 MPG average on the dash readout, especially when I adopt more hybrid-like driving habits, i.e. drafting large trucks, timing stop lights, and not speeding.
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2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid-First Tank - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Bob from Arizona - November 19 - 11:30 amWe purchased our 2008 Hybrid Camry in November 08. The car is so quiet you have to check to see if the power is turned on. Our first driving experience in a Hybrid was a trip of about 225 miles and involved climbing from sea level to over 4,500 ft. The car had no problem climbing hills or keeping up with traffic. We averaged 42 miles per gallon on this road trip which is better than stated by Toyota. I am sure the car is capable of doing even better but if you can get over 722 miles on a tank of gas (17.2 gallons), youre doing well. The key to getting great gas mileage on a hybrid is to avoid jack rabbit starts and keep your speed down.
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A good change from the E320 - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By BrainInDC - November 17 - 2:16 amThe Camry hybrid is fun to drive in crowded DC metro area. Very practical. Nice change to regular gas filling up 13 gallons every 500 miles. I love it. Every now and then I miss the stability feeling of the E320, but I also enjoy the "sportiness" driving feeling of the Camry. I also enjoy the quietness and how smart this car is. It is full of gadgets and will be paying off over the years. Also I see from the maintenance manual that its an almost maintenance free car.
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Excellent Car!!!! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By carol26 - October 25 - 7:36 pmOur experience with this car has been nothing but positive. We are military so we drive from Florida to Texas once a year(about 1,000 miles). On our trips(weve gone twice so far), we average about 40 MPG. Once we even got 42 MPG!!! The cabin is very quiet and I can actually speak in my normal voice! I love the bluetooth feature. Since we live on a military base, driving while on the phone is illegal and can cause us major trouble. I love how quiet it is at stop lights. I can hear myself think!! This car is reliable, and beautiful inside and out. I also love the 6 cd changer and the separate temperature control. We couldnt have made a better decision !
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Fun to Drive - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By pat85 - October 24 - 10:46 pmI traded in a 4Runner on the Camry Hybrid. I went from 15 MPG to 38.6 MPG I drove from the DC area to Johnstown, PA over the weekend. The trip is about 220 miles one way going up and down mountains and cruising up there at the speed limit +5 on cruise control I got 38.6 MPG. I got a red Camry with every bell and whistle. The nav system is OK. Most of what it tells you is on road signs: "exit 38 is 1/2 mile on the left" sort of thing.
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MPG - Gas Milleage and Horse Power - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Kevin Bui - October 11 - 5:16 amI am really disappointed by the gas mileage that I go for nearly a year, about 12,000 miles so far. I got about 28-30 miles/gal. Not sure because I live near a lot of mountain area; up and down hill; or short distance drive that caused the mileage couldnt be close to 34 or more. I took the car to the dealer and complaint about it but they ran diagnostic test and showed nothing wrong. Also, dont see a lot of horse power. Basically, me and my wife were driving like old lady style in order to see any improvement in gas mileage but it stay around 30 mile/gal or less. Not really happy at all.
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Best car EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Rig Jig - October 9 - 12:16 pmHands down the best car I have ever owned! I put 60,000 miles on it in two years and have not had to do a thing except change the oil, and that only has to be done every 6,000 miles! Just had it in the dealer for normal service and they told me the brakes look new!!!!! How is this possible. GO BUY ONE AND IT WILL BE THE BEST CAR YOULL EVER OWN.
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Best Luxury Hybrid - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By alexandalex - October 5 - 10:10 amWe did a lot of research and went to buy a Toyota Prius. But after driving the Prius I just didnt feel the comfort I was used to. So I drove the Hybrid Camry and fell in love! Extremely comfortable and the interior is just beautiful with the all leather package. The display screen is a big help and the hands free blue tooth with voice command makes driving much safer. I had the car for over two weeks before I had to fill the tank. I commute to work 30 miles each way plus around town driving. Its my main car and I love it!
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Great Gas Mileage - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Dan P. - September 30 - 2:53 pmMy wife and I were looking to replace our 2000 Accord SE (122K miles) and with the continual rise in gas prices, we decided to think "green". Anyway, we decided to look at the Camry and Altima Hybrids. We decided to go with the technology leader, Toyota. Im glad we did because the car drives great and were getting a little over 37 MPG, not bad for a car with 350 miles on it. Thanks Toyota!!! The mileage should get a little better too!
