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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  From the SUV to MPG - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By JOHN - March 6 - 1:03 am

  Gas near $4 a gallon had to get rid of the 15.5 mpg SUV for better gas mileage. A great move. I do have a heavy foot and getting 34 in the city and near 38 in the highway. Purchased a fully loaded one with all of whistles and bells (leather, navigation). We love this car, it is very comfortable, roomy and quiet. Took it for a 840 mile trip with 3 adults and a 7 month old in a car seat and everyone was comfortable. I have had luxury cars before BMW 740IL and the Q45 and this car has most of the finer features wish this car had a memory seat button and I wish the trunk would open with the keyless system like the doors. If you are looking for a good looking, affordable car with good MPG this is it.

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  First impressions - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By stephenupton - March 4 - 7:10 pm

  Second time around Camry Hybrid owner, did over 60k miles in my 2010 all trouble free but was suffering a boredom attack so wanted to try the 2012 model, pretty much the same except for the little EVO button, press it in and be ready for some fun, even will give the V6 a run for its money and still do 40 MPG

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  If you choose a Hybrid, get a Toyota - 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Adrian Stepp - February 24 - 8:19 am

  Toyota has a long history of producing high quality hybrid vehicles. The Camry Hybrid is a really nice, upscale hybrid. The XLE trim level is hard to beat. Yes, the Honda Accord Hybrid has more bells and whistles on their equivalent model. But good luck getting it serviced properly if it has major malfunctions with the hybrid drive train or lane departure and assisted braking systems. The interior of the Camry Hybrid XLE is extremely nice, especially the heated leather seats. The power seat function would be nicer if it had memory for adjustments for different drivers, but it doesnt. The entertainment system is nice. The JBL sound system is great. But the Scout GPS navigation system that works with your cell phone is still buggy. And if you are using the GPS on back roads and lose your cell phone signal, youll need your mapquest directions if you dont know where you are going. Garmin is still the best system for GPS. Why didnt Toyota interface with them to allow voice and maps over the Entune app system? Thus far, the driving experience has been great, and the gas mileage has been right at 39 to 40 mpg as advertised. As I write this review, I just passed 1000 miles. So its still too early to judge realiability. This car is primarily driven by my wife. I was worried that it might not be comfortable for me on a trip. We took our first trip last weekend and I was pleasantly surprised. I drove the entire time and did not feel any driving fatigue. The seat remained comfortable and I arrived without a sore back!

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  Almost Perfect - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By crocksntex - February 16 - 6:03 am

  We purchased the Camry hybrid in hopes of saving lots of money at the pump. We have done that and then some with the rising of gas prices. The features (Bluetooth, navigation, instrumentation, etc) are far beyond what we are used to in a car. The car has held to between 36-38 mpg in the San Antonio area. We do a lot of stop and go and some highway for 10-50 miles at a time. It is neat to watch your progress on the huge screen the camry provides in dash. I only wish the Bluetooth was a little better as far as picking up your voice. You have to be very quiet to have a normal conversation but it does the job. We also received the $2600 tax credit for being one of the first to purchase.

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  Quiet and comfortable luxury - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By David Kennell - February 11 - 12:03 am

  We purchased our hybrid two weeks ago. So far it is a very comfortable car with a very quiet ride. We got 34 mpg with mostly city/short drives on our first tank of gas. We expect to get better after the car is broken in. We went from a 2000 Civic to a fully loaded Camry. We wanted a luxury car without compromising gas mileage. So far so good. Dont think we could have made a better choice, but will write again in about 4 months to see if we still like the car as much as we do now.

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  My first Camry Hybrid - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By TCH_Driver - February 10 - 1:00 pm

  I have had this car for 3 months. This car is reliable. The navigation is great. It has a spacious interior. I routinely get 38+ MPG with this car. Trunk space is limited compared to a regular Camry due to all the batteries, but I dont mind. The engine is underpowered compared to a regular Camry, but this is normal for a hybrid car. If you understand the limitations of this hybrid, you will be happy with it. I love the low fuel consumption and the infrequent trips to the gas station.

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  Love It! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By bluebonnet - February 9 - 10:23 am

  I dearly love my hybrid 09 Camry. It had 9000 miles on it when I bought it and what fun to drive. It says I am getting 37.9 miles to the gallon. Wonderful comfort and pick up.

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  I love this car, I hate Big-brother - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Dave Joyce - February 4 - 4:56 pm

  The choice between the Camry Hybrid and all of the other hybrids (Civic, Altama, Prius, etc..) was a simple one. The Camry is very comfortable and well built. As with any Hybrid it does have trade offs. The trunk is 5 cubic feet smaller than the standard Camry, and the fold-down seats pass-through is somewhat of a joke. You may be able to fit a set of skies through it, though the odds are they would be in a sky rack. My only complaint about this car is the navigation system. I feel that Toyota is trying to play big brother by preventing you or your passenger from using the system while the car is moving. If you need to enter an address you will need to come to a complete stop first.

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  8/30/2009 - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By jeff - January 30 - 12:33 pm

  I bought my 2007 Camry hybrid used a little over a year ago. Hands down the best car Ive ever had. Its quiet, smooth and has all the power youll ever need. With the CVT transmission theres no shifting. Most people think hybird = no power. Im 51 years old and this car has as much power as any that Ive ever owned. I bought my Camry with 59,000 miles on it. It now has 78,000 miles on it. Ive only had 1 problem. It didnt start at 20 below zero. I cant wait to see how long my brakes last. I was told 200,000 to 300,000 miles they look great so far. Oh I almost forgot I get between 38 to 41 mpg March though November and about 35 to 38 mpg in the winter.

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  My First Toyota - But My Second Hybrid - 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Chassy - January 26 - 2:00 am

  Was going to buy a Prius - but for the same price - you can get a Camry and get, as the sales man said - a real car! LOL I just liked it better - although the mileage is 35-40 but for that you get more room, quiet and nice ride and handling.