POLISHED PERFORMER
Toyota’s hybrid sedan is one of the best value green vehicles on the market
IT’S A STEPPING STONE
Ever since the launch of the awkward looking Toyota Prius, most of the world’s carmakers have delighted in pouring scorn on the brand’s hybrid technology.
One German luxury car executive even dismissed the Prius as a “marketing exercise”. But the technology has been warmly embraced by buyers in recent years. Toyota sold a record 65,491 hybrids in Australia last year, almost a third of its total sales.
If you’re looking to reduce your carbon footprint but can’t bring yourself to pay the exorbitant premium for a fully electric vehicle, the Camry hybrid is an excellent way to put your toe in the water. And there’s no range anxiety or lengthy recharging times.
YES, THEY ARE USED AS TAXIS
For some buyers the cabbie connection will be a deal-breaker, but for those willing to look past this, the Camry will reward with top-notch quality, quiet, comfortable motoring and fuel savings to brag about.
The Camry Hybrid is at its most efficient in the city, where its regenerative braking system feeds charge back into the battery, allowing the electric motor to supplement the 2.5 litre petrol engine and cut fuel use.
Under light throttle, the Camry can take off from the lights on electric power only, while on the highway it will sometimes briefly take over cruising duties from the petrol engine. When the tacho drops to zero rpm, you’ll know the electric motor’s doing the job.
It also supplements the power of the petrol engine under heavy acceleration – on its own the 2.5-litre makes 131kw, but the electric motor boosts this to a healthy 160kw.
COMFORT IS TOP NOTCH
There are few more comfortable seats for longrange cruising than the Camry’s. It strikes just the right balance between support and cushioning.
The suspension does its job in delivering a serene driving environment as well, soaking up road imperfections with minimal fuss. It will float a little over bigger bumps, taking a fraction of a second to settle, but it is surprisingly capable through the corners for such a comfortfocused machine.
The dual-zone airconditioning can quickly produce Arctic conditions on a sweltering summer’s day, although the imitation leather can get toasty if the car’s left in the sun for too long at the beach.
IT’S NO TECHNO MARVEL
Our SX Hybrid test car costs about $43,300 drive-away and for that money the cabin lacks the hi-tech wow factor of similarly priced vehicles from competitors, who often have fancy digital instrument readouts in front of the driver. The Camry has traditional dials and needles, with a smallish digital readout between the tacho and speedo. The centre touchscreen is large and easy to navigate but the graphics look a little old school. Apple Car Play and Android Auto are standard and the voice recognition works well, but there’s no wireless charging and only one USB port in the front (there are two in the back).
DRIVER AIDS ARE PLENTIFUL
There are no notable omissions on the safety front. The Camry will hit the brakes automatically if it sense an imminent collision, check your blind-spot, pull you back into the lane if you wander and warn you if you’re pulling out of the driveway into passing traffic.
Radar cruise keeps a safe distance to the car in front on the freeway and the prevailing speed limit is displayed on the dash, although it’s not always 100 per cent accurate.