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 what you do for me.... - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By NY Joe - October 15 - 5:46 pm

  I am 67" 250 and generally a hard to fit consumer. Thats especially true with cars. Previously had a pickup because of the size requirements. When I read of the new TCH, I was interested. Well I went into the dealership, sat in one, had plenty of headroom, leg + shoulder room. Its even plenty of room behind me for my daughter. The Tilt/Telescopic wheel really makes it comfortable for me as the wheel adjusts over my knees!! The new TCH looks great too! Ive owned it for 2 weeks and am getting 44-47 mpg combined mileage. Toyota definitely was conservative in its estimates. Plenty of power on the hills of the Hudson Valley. Gets lots of looks from kids here in Newburgh too!

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  Go Hybrids! Camry efficiency excels again! - 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By J. DeVries - October 4 - 10:34 am

  Yes, the trunk is smaller because its a hybrid

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  Believer! - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By TD - September 24 - 10:46 am

  Traded a BMW 745i for a Toyota Hybrid. With gas approaching $4 for premium it was time for a change! Tested Prius but could not make the transition with hardly any creature comforts available in this region. Didnt discover the Camry until the last minute. Customer reviews here and elsewhere on the web boast how great this car is so I went to take a test drive. Truly, I thought I would give up a lot to save gas and the environment but instead was quite surprised! Got the hybrid fully loaded and couldnt be happier. Every day I ask myself, "what took me so long!" Get a Camry Hybrid!!

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  Reliable, Economic and Valuable - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Luis - September 14 - 12:40 am

  It feels as though youre driving in a cloud. The kids fall asleep in it instantly even though the powerful stereo system may wake them. Its a very quite car. You do not hear any noises coming from the engine and for me that is a plus. You get over 600 miles to the tank full and it only needs 17.4 gallons to fill up approx. I love my Camry. First time owner and will continue buying Toyota from now on. Its like buying gold. Try it out I think you wont regret it.

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  Solid Value - 2013 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By rmiddlemas - August 25 - 1:20 am

  Ive put 2500 mainly highway miles on this new car. Averaging 41 mpg. Im pretty tall and large (62", 240 lbs), but this car fits me extremely well (no sunroof, thankfully). Electronic steering assist does not give great feedback, but it surprisingly makes the front wheel drive feel very solid and absolutely neutral...no FWD steering torque. Engines integration is absolutely flawless and the transmission is seamless. This is a very competent, solid car and is a screaming value...now, if they would put this drivetrain in the Venza!

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  Gave up my Lexus for TCH - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By James - August 23 - 11:46 am

  I gave up my IS 300 which was only getting 24 mpg and required super unleaded gas for the TCH which has averaged +/-40 mpg and takes regular gas. That and the fact this is more of a family car makes the daily 90 mile commute (Playa del Rey to Irvine) somewhat bearable. I went with the base model in magnetic grey because no dealer (went to 4 and contacted 10) had the set up I wanted (grey & leather). No complaints so far. Only quirk I noticed was the low gas light came on and the cruise range stated 29 miles, but when I filled the tank, it only took 14.5 gallons. I guess the car is very conservative about running out of gas. Probably couldve waited another 100 miles.

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  The Good and The Bad - 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By BillT - August 18 - 6:56 am

  The car is saving me plenty of money. I am a moderately aggressive driver, but with conscious throttle application, the car has been achieving 36-39mpg over 6000 miles. The car is very spacious and comfortable for 4 people. The car is fully loaded, and as such it has all the amenities that I could want. The navigation is easy to use and follow, although it needs an update. The JBL sound system is truly amazing, although it does cause a few rattles in the car. Bluetooth is great and easy to use. The acceleration is more than adequate, although a little more oomph and less drone from the CVT would be nice. The handling is not sporty AT ALL, but the ride is very smooth and ultra quiet.

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  Further update - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By Brant - August 17 - 8:16 pm

  After 18,000 miles still very happy with this car. A recent trip to PA from CT with cruise set at 75, 4 people on board, and A/C set on economy, got 36-37 mpg. When filling the tank afterward, my own calculation was closer to 38. My wife had a bumper issue backing out of a space and clipping an SUV so yes the bumpers are suspect - it looked like someone pushed a basketball about half way into the front bumper corner. I took off the plastic shroud underneath and wedged a crow bar up there and popped the dent back out. No damage to the paint and only a slight crease left at point of impact. Just saved a big repair bill at the bodyshop!

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  2007 Camry Hybrid update - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By brantw - July 27 - 5:22 am

  Ours is the loaded Silver anniversary edition bought new now with 116K miles. Mileage is ok at 28-30 city and 34-35 highway. Car has been reliable except for recall for steering issue and the hybrid batteries just failed. Luckily we live in CT, a CARB state so it was replaced under warranty. Interior fit an finish is subpar and dashboard clicks and pops when cold. We have never gotten more than 30k miles on a set of tires and we buy good quality tires. Not a great effort from Toyota.

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  Worth the extra money - 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
  By salaud365 - July 25 - 8:23 am

  Beautiful, practical, roomy and comfortable car. It states the gas mileage is 36-40 mpg. I average 31. I dont feel I accelerate to quickly so I am not sure why it doesnt get better. Also, the interior material on the dash directly in front of the shifter rubs and makes an annoying noise. I am going to take it in and see what they can do.