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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I love my 2007 Camry Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By stevenvillatoro - July 11 - 2:10 amI am switching from two cars (a Lexus SC 430 and a Honda Insight) into one car that combines both luxury and economy features. A fully loaded Camry Hybrid has an amazing list of standard features. Now, with 700 miles logged in three weeks, I have to say this car has exceeded every expectation. The Camry is solid, quiet, large, and giving me 39 MPG average with lots of horsepower. The stereo is excellent, love the NAV, Bluetooth, nice leather, and the Smart Key entry/ignition. Other owners Ive met are praising the Camry, too.
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Great Choice Camry - 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Bob Francis - July 4 - 1:09 amToyota Reliability Number 1
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A great car! - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Grandpa - June 28 - 6:46 pmWe just purchased a Hybrid Camry. We want to use the car on the long trips to our daughters. We just took the car on a 750 mile trip out west. The car performed great. We used 17 gallons of gas. We drove the speed limit 70 miles per hour on the interstate and other posted limits in towns, etc. The car was loaded with luggage and gifts for our family. I was amazed at the mileage going out, so I was even more careful to note amount of gas used and miles coming back. Sure enough we drove the 750 miles on 17 gallons coming back.
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Love my new Camry Hybrid - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Babs - June 27 - 6:20 amI traded an Avalon and find that I am exceptionally pleased with the Camry. I love the various displays related to measuring fuel economy. Handles great, nice ride!
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Awesome - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Joe W - June 16 - 12:50 pmEPA mileage is a diservice to this vehicle. I averaged 40.1 and 36.7 MPG. This included a roundtrip from Phoenix, AZ to Laughlin, NV at an average speed of 59 MPH. This is the first car I owned that exceeded the EPA estimates.
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Lexus for the price of a Toyota - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By sukhoixx - June 14 - 5:06 pmVery very quiet and comfortable car. The ride is so fun, in the way that I am amused by not hearing the engine sound so much, and not feeling the road. I get to enjoy my CDs and watch the FE gauges. The car feels very stable as if driving a mini-tank, yet it is very responsive and fast. I dont know how quiet and comfortable Lexus can get, but after getting this car for $26.3k out the door, I dont think Id wanna go for Lexus for $$$ more.
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Miss my 2012 Hybrid - 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By camrygirl2 - June 11 - 6:53 pmKept the car up until 12,000 miles. I regret getting rid of it. I was averaging around 40-45 mpg. The most I averaged was 63 mpg! This car is very stylish, comfortable & great on gas. Very quiet, nice & smooth; however, it almost sounds like a spaceship. It has plenty of power. I felt confident driving in California while merging on to freeways/highways. It had more power than my 2005 Camry LE. The interior is nice & plenty of room. Some plastic parts seem a bit cheap. The only thing I worried about was how long the hybrid battery would last & how much it would cost to replace it. Also once replaced would it cause other electrical components in the car to malfunction. This was a great car!
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I love my Camry - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Dawn Lietz - May 23 - 9:00 pmI live in the No Nevada area where there are a lot of mountains and long distance driving. I average between 39 - 41 MPG! Plenty of power, fun to drive, excellent vehicle!
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Love my new 08 Camry - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Remard C - May 21 - 9:20 pmI needed to replace my 2000 Grand Am for daily travel to work. Because of the rising gas prices I wanted to look at a hybrid. I chose the 2008 Camry because of the incentives Toyota was offering, Toyotas reliability, and because I was really impressed with the design of the car (internal and external. I also have a 2 year old daughter and the Camry is one of the safest cars on the road. After driving the car for a couple weeks I know I made an excellent decision.
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The car to Buy - 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid
By Beth - May 21 - 12:50 pmI traded an 06 Camry for this 07 hybrid and have never beey sorry. It started in the coldest of weather and even though I commute round trip 100 miles per day (i.e., mostly interstate driving), I rarely get less than 46 mpg highway and have many times reached 65-78 mpg in city driving (my hubby once got a tank avg. reading of 95 mpg in the city). Coupled with Toyotas now-notorious reliability, ahh. Ill never, never, NEVER back to so-called domestic makes after this experience. Ive got my cell phone blue-toothed so I can have hands-free conversations, love the cars "smart key" also.
