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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  Awesome gas mileage! Roomy too! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By George - January 7 - 9:03 am

  Wife was tired of the gas guzzling GMC Envoy so we read up on the hybrids and concluded the Camry the best choice after the test drive. The options and extras are what you would find in a Lexus, really nice! Quiet, classy, comfortable ride, and the most FUN Ive had driving a car in a long time. The wife loved it so much, she wouldnt let me drive it, so I went out and bought me one. Traded in my 2001 Montana minivan and am having a blast with it. I am 62, 340 plus and have more than enough room to enjoy the ride. The best road mileage I have gotten is 52.7 mpg going 60 mph (no a/c). Best in the city was 44.3 mpg. It constantly beats the sticker ratings of 40/38 all the time!

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  Great Car - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By JO - December 26 - 9:16 am

  I love driving this car. Its my 5th Camry; this one surpasses all of the previous models. Theres nothing like the sound of silence in stop and go traffic!

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  Still working on the gas mileage - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Retired in Illinois - December 11 - 4:23 pm

  We waited almost 4 months to get our TCH but havent regretted the purchase (even though gas prices have come down since we ordered it). We had a Camry before this one and were always happy with Toyota. For a recent trip, we ended up buying two smaller suitcases as our two large ones wouldnt fit in the trunk. We arent getting the gas mileage we had hoped and plan to take it back to the dealer to see whats going on. It seems like the gas engine comes on even when we are going slow, so it may need some adjustment. The lights above the visors shine down, not in your face, so you can use them at night without distracting the driver.

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  My First Toyota - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Joe E - December 10 - 12:56 pm

  I live in the Chicago suburbs and have a 45 mile round trip. Bought this car after owning a Mustang GT and went from filling up 2-3 times a week to once every week and a half! While you obviously wont be taking anybody off the line, the car has good acceleration when needed. I was initially getting 30 mpg/tank, now 35-36 mpg/tank, dont know if its because weather is now warmer or the car (and my driving habits) being "broken in". One misconception is that the electric motor will take the car up to 40 mph; if you accelerate like a normal person (or are going uphill), this just isnt the case. Ive found you need to accelerate to your desired speed, then ease off the gas pedal.

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  Same problem with GPS screen going black - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Lisa S. - December 9 - 7:36 pm

  I also have the same problem with the GPS screen randomly going out. Its in a relatively long line of issues weve had with the car. From a quality perspective, this has been a much higher maintenance Toyota than our previous 3. While I appreciate the fuel economy gains, weve had problems with the indoor cabin air filtration system, brakes, air conditioning and now this significant NAV screen issue. The radio also cuts out from time to time. It seems like theres a malfunction in some of the electronic components or wiring. How that Im out of warranty and not looking forward to this conversation at the dealer tomorrow.

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  3 Years now and I still love my car! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Sass - December 6 - 7:13 pm

  Ive had the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid for over 3 years now and I still love it. It has a very comfortable ride with a solid, heavy feel that I like. Ive taken many long roadtrips with this car - an 8 hour trip - 6 hour trip - several 3 hour trips and I drive to the shore every weekend from the Philly area. I have 2 large dogs that ride in the back seat for all of my trips and they just sleep. Ive even taken the car camping a few times with lots of equipment - tents, tarps, aerobeds, cots, camping chairs, tables, coolers, etc. The trunk holds way more than youd think. Oh and if you set cruise control at 72 mph for a 2 hour trip youll get around 41 mpg!! Ive done that a few times.

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  Love my Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Estela Prieto - November 28 - 9:13 pm

  I love everything about my Camry Hybrid, so far the only issue has been the "check engine" light, but that was also an issue on 2002 Camry XLE and the trunk is too small, maybe can be improved in the future.

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  One year review, 50th anniv. edition - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Brant - November 26 - 9:16 am

  Had our TCH for 1 year and 15k miles. Live in hilly area in New England. 400+ mile trip to Lake George and back got 36 mpg at 73 mph with cruise. Low 30s in city driving. High 20s in winter when fuel blend change kicks in. Car is driven normally, not always trying to extract maximum mpg. Happy with our purchase though the interior is not up to typical Toyota standards. Car has been spot on reliable. No rattles or squeaks or bumper issues. OEM tires are awful and will be replaced by winter. Bought 50th anniversary edition and the car is loaded and sharp. Though a little disappointed at first (I am a car guy), I am now sold on this car.

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  Comfortable Car, but Poor Initial Quality - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By dcsj - November 23 - 3:06 pm

  This is a very comfortable car to drive, and it gets terrific gas mileage, but initial quality is unacceptable. I have had this car for 3 months, and it has been back to the shop 5 times. Defective speaker diagnosed on 1st visit, replaced on 2nd visit. Sunroof side garnish came loose and smeared grease on window. Garnish re-attached on 3rd visit. Missing rear seat belt buckle replaced on 4th visit. Functionality problem with JBL premium sound system (complicated) diagnosed on 5th visit. Toyota asked me to bring it in at a later date. Vertical grease smear on right rear power window (undiagnosed) to be addressed on 6th visit along with the radio. Big hassle!

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  2 Years of use 2007 Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Larry Hathaway - November 17 - 4:40 am

  I own a 2005 BMW 530I and have owned Mercedes, a 1999 JagXJ8, and love cars. The Camry Hybrid has better acceleration then you would think. If I drive it rather hard I average about 33 miles per gallon. If I try to not accelerate on every stop I can get up to 38 miles per gallon. This is not bad when you consider the size of the car, comfort, styling and for the price compared to the higher priced cars a very good deal.