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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  I love it, and not just the mileage - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By LO CO2 - July 26 - 3:16 am

  What a great car. I recently took a ~300 mile trip. Got 43 mpg one way and 41 coming back. The car drives extremely well, and is amazingly quiet.

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  Great Car - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jnibs - July 18 - 4:43 am

  3 tanks into my new Camry and I love it. Learning the most efficient way to drive, without totally sacrificing performance, improves mpg. Latest tank 40.5 in both city and highway situations. Only disappointment is satellite capable radio, meaning I need to get it installed. Dealer tells me it is $600. Looking for cheaper alternative.

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  2014 Camry Hybrid - 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By retiredat54 - June 21 - 11:52 am

  Just bought the 2014 Camry Hybrid with al options. Or most of them. Feels like an electric car, has good acceleration. Very good electronics, including Entune package. Very good gas mileage. Many features, Not cheap, it is expensive. I really cant say quality if great, until some time passes. The little engine and electronic motor perform very well for a small engine. Stiff riding, no sporty feel. Not great in cornering. Compared to our old Camry, it is stiff riding, our old Camry rode much more cushy. Seats are stiff, not as comfortable as they should be.

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  2008 Camry Hybrid - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Big Bill - June 13 - 11:03 am

  Overall, the 2008 Camry hybrid is a good car. Good performance. Smooth and quite, even at 80 MPH. Accelerates quickly when needed. Mine has enough gadgets to keep me occupied for years. It would be hard to go back to a regular car. Mileage is about as advertised - 33.1 thus far, with 40 MPG common when crusising at about 50 MPH. The hard sell by the dealer to buy the extended warranty because of potentially expensive repairs down the road made me a bit nervous. I didnt buy it, so I hope Toyotas reputation for quality meets my expectations.

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  11 weeks 5000 miles - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Nick C - June 13 - 2:13 am

  Averaging 40 MPG per tankful. 42 MPG was my "high score". This car is awesome. We took it on vacation and averaged 38 MPG on the highway without suffering... air conditioning, 70+ MPH, etc. The body style is tight and makes the vehicle look very classy. Good trunk space fits 3 sets of golf clubs. If I could get my wife to drive with less of a lead foot, we could surpass 40 MPG, but oh well. The service light just came on and it makes regular maintenance easy as it will bug you to death if you dont get it in.

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  XLE Hybrid - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By talyun - June 7 - 5:01 am

  Lets face it buyinh a hybrid is all about gas mileage. I have had my 2012 XLE for approx. 1.5 months and I have driven nearly 1000 miles. The car came with a full tank and when I filled up, the odometer read 672. Thats 49 MPG with combined city/hwy driving (primarily city). Thats also 20% better than advertised! The 2nd tank is not getting quite as good, so far 47.6 MPG. Still quite respectable. The vehicle is designed to get great gas mileage. If you drive it conservatively (slow takeoff, slow stops) youll probably get similiar results to mine. Overall, Im quite pleased with the car. Its incredibly quiet, has plenty of power when needed and has all the luxury I need.

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  Very Satisified - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Tripol - June 3 - 10:50 am

  This car is fun to drive in a much different way than others are fun to drive. You find yourself engaging in a specific style of driving trying to conserve fuel. Im avg just under 40 mpg and Im very happy about it. The cars interactive features makes it fun to challenge yourself that way. In that regard, I dont have the jack rabbit starts anymore and Im probably a better driver than before. Purchased w/ nav, heated seats, moonroof, and leather. Happy to spend the extra. It looks sharp when the valet brings it around. Looks good in the lot with BMWs, Mercedes, Lexus, etc.

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  Love that 40 mpg - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Candy Ammons - June 1 - 3:13 am

  In California I drove in more stop and go traffic and my mileage was 37 mpg on trips 40. Now living in Northwest and mpg has been 40 all the time until they just changed to the summer gas mixture. I have lost 1 to 2 mpg. A relative owns a 2005 Prius and she loses 2 mpg each summer also in Calif driving. It does not handle well in the snow if there is ice the traction control kicks in as soon as you start to slip so you cant use the gas to try and get out of it. It will need snow tires this next summer.

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  Great Car!!!! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Becker - May 27 - 6:36 am

  We bought a 2009 TCH in November 2008. Traded in our 2001 Honda Prelude so wanted a bigger sedan with 4 doors. We bought the complete package to include heated seats, navigation, and leather interior/moon roof. We now have 4K miles and really enjoy it. Hard to imagine that we can drive 500+ miles on one tank! Averaging 34-35 MPG city/freeway combine. Love the navigation system with built in blue tooth. The ride is so quite and handles well on the freeway. Only concern is a lag when engine switches to battery at certain speeds on freeway but all in all are very happy with this car. Were happy we bought it!!

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  Hybrids have moved up! - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By luckyme1 - May 26 - 10:09 pm

  This is my second Hybrid, and what a great improvement Toyota has made. Excellent acceleration, quiet, refined feel, great build quality, and, Oh yes, great MPG. So far averaging 39 MPG in cold weather. Amazingly fast heat up in winter, good handling, and comfortable all around sedan. Comparing to Hyundai, Kia and Ford offerings, the Toyota Camry really shines. Much better build and quality than the Korean makes, and just feels better than the Fusion. We have Prius in our company fleet, and they are great for dependability and cost of operation. But this 2012 Camry is in a whole new league.