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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  Nice Comfortable Gas-Sipper - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By StrangeCloud - March 15 - 2:43 pm

  I have about 1000 miles on it. 2 tanks of gas. Getting about 33-34 mpg whether I drive in city or hwy or both. Took a while to get used to the car operating on the electric motor, but now that Im used to it, I like. Nice comfortable car although a little small inside compared to my Chrysler 300.

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  Beware of Body Integrity - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By zachsgah - February 26 - 9:46 pm

  Ive had my Toyota for 8 months and the paint is chipping . Dealer wont do anything about it. Its up to the Toyota rep. Also, I am very disappointed in the mpg. Im lucky if I get 32 mpg and I drive more than the speed limit. Since the mileage was the main reason for purchasing the vehicle, Im sorry I bought it. The ride isnt the greatest, but I can live with it. I cant live with a vehicle that is 8 months old that has paint issues nor the mpg for a hybrid.

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  Love It! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Happy as a Clam - February 24 - 12:50 pm

  I absolutely love this car. I realize that Toyota has taken a beating lately with recalls but I still feel its one of the best cars on the road. Gas mileage is terrific - getting very close to 40 mpg average and this is checking it with a calculator not relying on the gauge. The interior is plush - I do however have a loaded model. Incidentally I disagree with the Edmunds statement that an Altima has a nicer interior. I looked at them as well as the Ford Fusion and felt both had inferior interiors and neither Fords or the Altimas gas engine was as quiet as the Camry. Its quiet, solid very comfortable for long trips. I would heartily recommend this car to anyone.

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  You got to get one of these! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By rseynaev - February 20 - 11:56 pm

  I just picked up my fully loaded 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2 days ago (the first one off the dealers lot). I still cant get the smile off my face. The TCH is awesome. I never seriously considered the Toyota Prius - too small for my family. I test drove a Ford Escape Hybrid and overall was disappointed with it. The TCH is the perfect vehicle for us. There is plenty of room for our family of 4, it got all the gadgets and performance for me (Dad), it saves the planet for Mom, and the kids think its really cool too!

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  2009 Camry - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By 09CAM - February 18 - 3:53 pm

  Excellent car on the road. Seems to float on the highways, but you are always in control. Mostly in town driving, averaging 38 MPG. On board display is good. Calculates your MPG and informs you of how many miles you can drive before fill-up. The electric motor cant be heard when you are at a stop light,stepping on the gas pedal engages the gas engine which provides seemless acceleration. When you approach a stop sign and slow down, you can hear a little transmission whine. Great hybrid car.

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  50th Anniversary Edition - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Shawn Hook - February 15 - 10:23 pm

  Just retired and wanted a full size car with excellent mileage. Camry hybrid is the definitive. Chose the 50th anniversary edition because we wanted something unique. It also had all the features we were looking for such as GPS, leather ans extra sound reduction. 1st 1,000 miles MPG averaged 34 MPG... 33 in town and 39 highway. 35 MPG overall is very reasonable. There are several features available to help you learn to maximise MPG and I find the consumption screen most helpful. Using this screen you quickly visualize your driving habits and what is needed for MPG improvement. We have had many prople stop us in parking lots to ask about the hybrid features and comment on the car.

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  Great Car! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By LisaAnn - February 1 - 12:53 pm

  I love this car!I went from a 1998 Volvo S70 where I got 25 mpg, and a wonderful ride to this. I dont miss my Volvo! Smooth, quiet ride, avg 41 mpg in city, and I do not know the hwy yet. MPG has increased as Ive learn to drive a hybrid (very different driving skill). Controls and monitoring system on dash allow me to keep my eyes on the road. (I did not get their GPS System because my portable Garmin sits quite nicely to the left of the steering wheel at eye level.)

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  Perfect Car - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By GB - January 30 - 3:06 am

  This car has been great. I was initially turned off by not being able to use the navigation while driving (cant input a new address) but the voice activated process allows you to input a new address. The car is extremely roomy and ergonomic and I love the heated seats and sound system. It is not a sports car so if youre looking for premier acceleration, cornering, etc. youve come to the wrong place. It is a good looking family car with more-than-ample acceleration while saving big money on gas.

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  Great Automobile! Loaded with features! - 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By David B. Hilton - January 26 - 11:27 pm

  Overall mpg is fantastic. Ive never owned a Hybrid car before and I wasnt ready to go all electric. This car was a welcome treat coming from a large 4-Door BMW sedan that averaged 17mpg TO now averaging 31+ mpg in the Camry. Long trips averaged about 40 mpg! This model is several thousand more than the standard non-hybrid. For those that plan on keeping the car for at least 5-years or longer can probably justify the higher price being off-set by fuel savings - especially when gas starts to climb up again. If you keep your car for only about 3-years or like to lease, than I would not recommend this model due to the higher cost. My lease is up in 5 more months. The car is in excellent shape and will be turned in with less than the maximum mileage limit. However, my purchase option (residual) is higher than the retail prices that Im seeing right now.

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  Motorboating - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By cowboy32 - January 19 - 12:54 pm

  A weekend trip to Texas found my TCH leaving a wake in the heavy rain soaked pavement. It did cause me to drive slower then but otherwise there was quite a bit of 75 MPH driving. All in all we covered 681 miles on 16.803 gallons before stopping to fill up. 40.53 MPG = Great for this driving. The car handled well on all surfaces and proved to be quite and comfortable as well as enjoyable to drive. Glad we got it . The local hailstorm saved me 35%. (Well just 25% off of sticker after repairs). Happy as a hog in new mud!