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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  Why Doesnt Everyone Own One? - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Bill/Connecticut - July 21 - 5:40 pm

  My TCH (09) has 2K miles on it so it is somewhat broken in. It is an amazing car and I am very pleased with my choice. It was this or a Volvo S80, and the MPG won the day. Having now driven it for awhile I am amazed that the added weight helps with the smoothness of the ride. It reminds me of riding in a friends Lexus ES350. The CVT took me a little time to get used to, but I am figuring it out that there is not upshift like a regular automatic transmission. Test drive one and see for yourself, this is the car of the future.

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  Our second Camry Hybrid - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By 2000kdriver55 - July 17 - 8:49 am

  With about 10,000 miles under our belt and this being our second Camry hybrid I would say this is a great car. Our 2008 Camry Hybrid got about 36 mpg over all and this 2012 gets about 41. My best tank so far has been 43 mpg mixed, with about half of that being 75-80 mph highway driving. As before we have noticed that very cold or hot weather reduces the mileage greatly. I think the interior is well designed and the seats very comfortable. I would however like to have my full leather seats back as I dont care for the cloth panel seats as much. Love that the trunk space is so much greater than the 08 model.

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  Great car, but for the nav system - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Doug - July 15 - 10:26 am

  This car is quiet, comfortable and great for the environment. It ha lots of great options, features that integrate well together. The Bluetooth and the nav system work very well together. The biggest problem is that most of the operations of the nav system and the phone are disabled when moving. This means that a user has to pull over, sometimes into a dangerous place, in order to operate these features. Older versions allowed for an override, but the current version does not. It should be the consumers choice to operate while driving, or to pull over, whichever is the safer option.

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  Im loving it! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By steve - July 14 - 5:26 pm

  I traded in my 16 mpg SUV (GMC Envoy) last month for the TCH with an advertised 34/33 mpg. Im very happy to report that in 5 fill ups Im averaging 39.8 mpg. Two trips on the PA turnpike reduced my overall, but I was using the cruise and lots of hills going west. Five weeks later IÂ’m still perfecting my driving habits, but I have achieved just over 45 mpg. When I purchased my black TCH they seem to be plentiful, now two of my co- workers have theirs on order. The navigation and information systems along with the Bluetooth are both user friendly and entertaining for the kids. Before the TCH I used to dread the stop and go traffic to and from work now Im loving it!

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  2007 TCH - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Frank - July 9 - 4:46 pm

  The vehicle is fantastic. Toyota took a major step up with the new Camry and the hybrid system is a pleasant plus. Fuel economy started at about 36 MPG and is now about 39 MPG with a daily city/freeway comute of 75 miles (13,000 miles on the car now). The ride, handling, interior quiet and interior creature comforts are excellent. Performance is comparable to our 2001 Avalon with better low end torque. The CVT transmission is a dream. We were considering the new ES 350 but opted for the Camry Hybrid instead. We are very happy with our choice. This car is very near the ES 350 in fit, finish and features at a lower cost and excellent fuel economy.

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  Great car!! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By DJP - June 28 - 6:13 am

  I researched the cost of this car at edmunds.com before I went to the dealership to buy it. This car is very quiet and has one of the best rides of any car I have owned. This includes a Crown Victoria with air suspension! Gas mileage is 33-34 MPG in city and 40+ MPG on the highway! Best sedan for the price of gas now!!

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  Camry Hybrid is awesome - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Post - June 24 - 9:00 pm

  Bought the car 3 weeks ago. First tank full I got 37.5 mpg and second tank im averaging 39.5. Much better than new EPA ratings... wonder why they have them set so low! It would take some seriously bad driving to get the 34/33 they have rated for this vehicle!

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  Hands down... awesome car!! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By happyhybrid - June 23 - 11:10 am

  Just purchased a fully loaded 09 in black. It is a great looking car. The technology in there is unbelievable and I havent even spent a lot of time playing with the navi! The ride is so smooth, and I love the fact that while Im sitting in LA traffic, Im not burning any more fuel and helping the econ as well! I dont think Ill ever buy a non-hybrid again! Havent had it long enough to assess true MPG, but expect to get at least the EPA estimates, which is big win for me. Go get one!

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  Great Car! - 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Thomas - June 20 - 3:03 pm

  Had the care about 5 months now. Really like it. Great fuel economy, fun to drive, lots of interior space, and generally feel good driving it. Trunk is a bit smaller than I would have hoped, but to be expected. Overall, I love this car, best I have ever owned to date.

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  Great Purchase, No Regrets - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Kenny Lee - June 19 - 6:20 am

  Had my TCH for about 2 months now and have to say I am very satisfied. I am averaging 38 mpg local, and 40+ on highway. Great idea of killing two birds with one stone, saving money on gas and being eco friendly.