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 all around car! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By shannon - September 20 - 2:46 pm

  Just wanted to let everyone know what a wonderful car this has been so far. Very reliable and super smooth and comfortable Lexus like ride. Hell, this car is better b/c it is same parts, one third less price. Slow off the line but kicks in big time like a turbo, and throws you in the seat, really. The trick is to do a rolling start then this heavy granny getter rolls! Only problem so far has been gas cap loosening. No biggy, just return extra clicks and engine light will eventually go off. Stereo rocks. Upgraded with aftermarket hids and foglights, that really made it Lexus like. Totally love this car for many years to come. 34 avg. mile per gallon. Thanks Toyota, love you! Always!

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  Camry Hybrid has impressed me - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Laugh007 - September 11 - 3:26 am

  I purchased this car last week and absolutely love it. Smooth as silk CVT, very quiet, and I am getting 42.1 mpg in combined driving. Plenty of storage space. I have difficulty stretching my legs and have back pain from riding in most cars, but this one has been exceptional.

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  Fun to Drive Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By seiker0808 - September 4 - 2:26 pm

  I had a Mercedes that I loved because it hugged the road, so I hesitated to trade - imagine my surprise that this car does give good feedback. I feel fully engaged with the road. I love this car! I wish I had bought it sooner. I had planned buy a Prius and I liked it, but I loved the Camry. I decided to sacrifice a little of the Priuss gas mileage for the Camrys moonroof and heated seats and just general overall more of a stable sedan feel.

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  Camry Hybrid in Northern NJ - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Jefff S - August 29 - 4:16 pm

  I have had an excellent experience. I have been averaging around 35 MPG combined city/highway driving. In contrast to what is reported, my best mileage is coming from open highway driving vs bumper to bumper city traffic. I recently took it on a 500 mile trip of open highway driving and averaged 38 MPG. In the city when it is in electric only mode, I average about 35 mpg. This is probably because the electric motor is too weak to drive the vehicle unless the grade is completely flat or downhill.

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  A Step into Heaven - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Cathy - August 19 - 3:30 pm

  This car is a smart car. I have always known to not accelerate quickly or slam on the brakes abruptly, but this car teaches me how to drive in order to maximize miles per gallon. In fact, I have vastly improved gas mileage on my 97 4runner as a result. Could not decide between Lexus RX 350 & this car. I have not regretted my choice . . . Lexus, who? :-) If you are looking for a luxury car for at least 10-15k less, Toyota Camry Hybrid is it! Way to go Toyota!

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  Great cruiser. - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By RDavis - August 5 - 3:40 pm

  To and from work, to and from work. This is what I bought this vehicle for. I wanted comfort, convenience, advanced tech (MP3, iPod port, etc), better mileage. I got them all in this car. I had a Lexus ES. I prefer this vehicle. This will be our touring car as well. Ive gotten over 40 MPG on flat freeways and 35-37 MPG on my daily route because there are a lot of hills. I consider this excellent! Ive had it for about a month and I think its well worth every penny.

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  My Travelling Office - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By samfatboy - August 2 - 9:16 pm

  I work in outside sales and drive 30-35,000 miles per year. I have 73,000 miles on my 2007 Camry Hybrid. This is my third Toyota car and in over 350,000 miles of driving them, the only non-regular maintenance replacement was a water pump on my 2000 Camry at 142,000 miles. My son still has that car with 176,000 miles on it. I love my Camry Hybrid. I dont know about other reports about tires. Mine came with lifetime free tires and oil change. They just put on new tires at 72,000 miles. The old ones had just hit the wear markers. My only complaint would be that the ride is a little mushy. At this point I prefer comfort to racing performance, and this car is very comfortable.

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  A hybrid may not be for you - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Barry - August 2 - 6:20 pm

  Does everything well but nothing outstanding. WARNING: does not enter electric mode on short trips (< 1.5 miles) or over 40 mph even when the battery is charged and the engine is warmed up. Typical toyota quality and reliability which is better than most other cars. The SE with the V6 and 6 speed would be a lot more fun to drive, but would not get as high gas mileage.

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  love our 2012 camry hybrid - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By nwcamryhybrid - July 28 - 12:28 pm

  We love everything about it and are so glad we decided on good ol’ dependable Toyota instead of something else. We got it as a commuter car as well as a family car. We love the leg room on the back so the kids can have a comfy ride to gramma’s house. We wanted the 7 inch navigation that unfortunately came with a lot of other pricey upgrades, but even so, we are very happy we got this car. Some critics say this car does not “stand out.” Well, we don’t want to stand out. We wanted non-flashy, dependable quality, and we got it in our Camry Hybrid. We want something that is sophisticated instead of trendy. The Camry has a classy, timeless look.

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  Good for tall eco-conscious types - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Dan - July 28 - 3:33 am

  We wanted a Prius, but it was too small for my 62 frame on longer road trips. On our first tank of gas we averaged 43.2 mpg combined city/highway by accelerating slowly and watching the gauges. If you want to save fuel and reduce your CO2 emissions, you can do fairly well with this car.