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:

• 

  Value for Money - 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By h_sam - December 2 - 7:58 pm

  Have had a fully loaded version of this car for 18 months now. Mileage varies from 37/38 in spring fall, but drops to 34/36 on hot or very cold days. I drive reasonably well, and am not a hypermiler. Comfy and quiet ride. Interior is OK, GPS not as good as a Garmin. iPod interface can be improved (but but he sound system is great). Cupholders suck - have had coffee cup topple over twice on sharp turns.

• 

  4 Years And Still Going - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By ucsb73 - November 20 - 3:05 pm

  Purchased this vehicle in Oct. 2007 and it continues to perform. It has had a couple of minor issues that were covered under warranty - water pump leak - that I didnt even notice. I dont put on a ton of miles (37K) and my driving is best described as mixed. I continue to get a year-round average of 37 mpg. The winter and wet weather of the Pacific Northwest slows the vehicle down as it fights elements, otherwise, Id say one could average closer to 39 mpg of mixed city/hwy driving. I paid $30K + taxes - about $2-3K more than V6 Camry with same features - leather, Bluetooth, navigation, power seats, sunroof, & heated mirrors. A solid car - comfortable and quiet.

• 

  No disappointments - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Chuck - September 27 - 9:46 pm

  My wife and I took a road trip so the first week was more highway than city driving but we averaged 40.2 MPG. We have owned Lexus and Mercedes cars and SUVs and the Toyota is almost as quiet, the fit and finish is good, not a big fan of all the plastic but hey the car was under $30k with navigation, leather heated seats, upgraded stereo, sunroof, etc. Would definitely buy again. As I said no disappointments.

• 

  Quiet ride with great MPG - 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Philken - May 25 - 9:10 am

  This car has a great and quiet ride. I am averaging about 38 MPG city/highway driving. I got 43.8 MPG on one recent interstate trip! Interior is roomy. Only complaint is poor acceleration from take-off.

• 

  Mileage Disappointment - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Mileage disappointme - March 11 - 4:16 am

  I have had my Camry for almost 2 years. The initial sticker on the window had 42-43 city and 37 highway. The actual mileage is 31 city and 38 highway. Since then the actual mileage on the 2008 and 2009 models is more realistic. Just had to replace 4 tires at 19,000 miles, after being serviced at the dealership regularly. This was another disappointment. The car runs well, but purchased it because of the anticipated mileage. The government credit did not turn out to be the full $2,600. When you complete your tax forms it says "potential" credit so beware of this. The $2,600 turned into $1,800. Otherwise a nice car, glad I purchased it with the gas prices currently at $4.00 per gallon.

• 

  Very poor MPG - poor cost/benefit - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By ORLY - December 30 - 10:16 pm

  Coming up on 7th month of ownership. I bought the TCH when fuel prices were above $4/gal. and expected EPA estimated mileage. Whole family big Toyota fans; second and third generation Camry owners. Gas mileage on my MID hovers between 26-28 MPG tank avg combined city/hwy. Had diagnostic today and am being told by Toyota Dealership and Toyota Customer Service that "there is nothing wrong with my vehicle". Have read every tip, trick and blog about "driving the hybrid" for best mileage. This is NOT user error :) Hybrid cost/benefit NOT worth it for this kind of mileage

• 

  TCH decision confirmed -again - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By SE TN TCH - December 8 - 12:00 pm

  We were not going to purchase a replacement for our 02 Honda Odyssey van for another 3 years, but it was totaled in a severe accident. We were on a 4 month wait list for a mid-optioned Prius. Due to size & crash-worthiness concerns with the Prius, we purchased a base 09 TCH. The first tank back home at 65 MPH was 41 MPG. In first 3K miles, we average 38 MPG in mixed cycle driving. This is an increase of 21 MPG over the van (17 MPG in same cycle).

• 

  New to Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By thompja53 - December 2 - 8:23 am

  Ive got about 700 miles (at 38.5 mpg) under my belt. This is a great "economy" car. Comfortable, reasonably quiet, excellent performance (considering all things_187hp). Im pleased with the quality of the fit and finish. I traded "down" from an Infiniti and Im not disappointed. No it does not have a Lexus interior, but remember this car starts life as a $20,000 base model. Options help make it more comfortable, but it is not and should not be considered a luxury vehicle. With that said, I have no problem living with this car even if it seems like less than what Im used to. I didnt buy this car to save money, I bought it to save gas.

• 

  Honest and true - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Jason Dorsey - October 29 - 4:36 pm

  Pros: Still has plenty of power for a 4 cylinder and scoots up to 80 in no time. The GPS is a must!!! Comfort is respectable. (Apply leather conditioner to soften up the feel of sand paper for leather.) Very spacious and as a package (Hybrid) comes with many perks. The smart key is awesome but takes a couple days to get use to. Plenty of small storage places. Cons: Only expect an avg of 34 MPG. Big disappointment!! On the highway at 55 MPH with cruise control you will avg 44. But I travel a lot and cruise at 75 not 55. Also be aware that your trunk space is not what you expect. The batteries take up a lot of the trunk. The plastic in the car is okay except for the handles on the doors.

• 

  Promises unfulfilled - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jOHN Beavers - October 18 - 1:30 pm

  The hybrid performs well. The comfort for a 62" person leaves much to be desired. As a Toyota owner for many years, I was disappointed in the furnishings and the visibility afforded in my car. The left drivers post prevents a good look for expressway driving and Im constantly challenged in getting into the vehicle on the drivers side. Should have researched it more thoroughly. Gas mileage is 32 around town and maybe 38 on the road with good fuel management skills. Best buy from Toyota is probably the Prius.