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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Great Gas Mileage & Smooth Ride - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By HCW - June 16 - 9:53 pmI have home in city and country and drive between both homes and back and forth to multiple campuses of university. On some days I will averge 200 to 250 miles per day. Gas milage has averaged for the first 10,000 miles between 35 to 37 mpg. Would buy second one for next vehicle purchase.
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Going green - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Hybrid princess - June 13 - 2:13 pmTraded in a beautiful Lexus GS400 with 300hp v8 for a TCH. Looked first at the Prius, but couldnt bear to give up power seats, heated seats, moon roof, and the overall sedan feel. The hybrid is a delight to drive! Getting over double the gas mileage from my old car in the first two weeks and my first fill at the gas station was under $20. I first thought the gas pump was malfunctioning!!
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Smooth running... - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By hybrid09 - June 4 - 10:20 pmVery smooth operation and extremely quiet. Exceeds my expectations, although the ride is a bit soft, as expected for a Toyota. Well-satisfied to this point. Heve the GPS which is a useful and enjoyable option. Car has plenty of power and is well-built.
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No Problems and none expected - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By thomasw828 - May 20 - 10:56 pm21 months later and 22k on the Camry, we have had no problems and no regrets. Average mileage is 35 in town and up to 41 on road. Another reviewer complained about body dings...Buy the body side moldings (we did)!!! These should be standard. The best time to buy is at the end of the month or in our case the end of the year, got an immediate 8% off sticker and a great $ for Lexus trade- in.
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Great car for the ecomony and planet - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By craig opper - May 15 - 2:03 amI own the car for 6+ months and think the car is great. Good looking, very reliable and get great fuel milage. Averaging about 33.5 mpg and get over 45 on the highway at stead speed. Best highway milage at about 65 mph. No issues or idiosyncracies. Slightly louder than I would prefer on hard acceleration. Clearly fast enough if you are not a lead foot. Some writers for the major auto publications criticize the acceleration but they are generally younger people who arent concerned with the planet or their wallets right now. That will change as they age and even they will appreciate the technology in this vehicle. I look forward to the next generation of hybrids.
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beating the system by winning at the gas tank - 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By kdyson - May 12 - 5:49 amSmooth ride and very happy saving money on gas!
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Great Car and the hybrid is a bonus!!! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By bikermark - May 9 - 2:00 amGreat car, lots of features, very high tech, build quality 2nd to none! Traded my 2006 Hyundai Sonata on this and am so glad I did!
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Nice! - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By dbiggins - May 5 - 11:20 amI chose this car over a Volvo S60 and am very happy. For the cost everything comes with the Camry - sunroof, leather and navigation were the options I selected. My other vehicle is a pick up that gets 16 mpg and week to date the Camry is at 31 mpg. The transition between gas and electric is mildly noticeable - I havent experienced any sort of shudder. The car is very quiet inside and out at highway speeds. I am comparing to a lifted 4x4 truck so anything would seem quite but this is almost surreal. The navigation seems a little tedious with a large menu of options but balance with the 440 watt sound system I am more than pleased. Overall, I am pleased with my first Toyota.
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Incredible beautiful quality technical car - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By stealth64b - May 1 - 4:24 amWe have the 2012 Toyota Camry XLE with everything package. We also have the 2012 Lexus H200 with everything package. The Camry handles very well, and is so quiet running that we do not use the stereo above level 5. They carpeted the roof, walls, floor of the trunk, carpeted the wheel wells to reduce noise, recessed the wind shield to reduce air noise, and even with out the stereo on, it is a pure pleasure to drive. The Camry handles easily, parks very easily, turns very nicely. It feels SOLID when you drive it, ROOMY with large trunk, wide seats, and extended wheel base. We are up to 44 MPG now and still going up. The detail and workmanship make this car a MUST BUY if you are comparing.
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Best car ever - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By mfleming - April 23 - 8:06 amThis is easily the best car Ive ever owned (Ive been driving Acuras for the past 10 years). It is good looking, extremely comfortable, and packed with every safety feature known to mankind. Handling is accurate and acceleration adequate for anything but the Indy 500. Mileage is outstanding, better than anything except the Prius and Civic Hybrid. I have found the EPA ratings to be quite achievable. In my opinion saving gas is a compelling civic duty.
