FUEL ECONOMY
Camry Hybrid sets the bar high
It’s hard to imagine, but 2017 will mark the 20th anniversary of the debut of Toyota’s first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle, the Prius. Since then, hybrids, and the electrification of the automobile in general, have become almost ho-hum.
Yes, some still get excited about the US$35,000 all-electric Tesla, but electrically assisted, internal combustion engine vehicles are becoming the norm, not the exception, in showrooms. It has come to the point where the normcore Camry Hybrid — and rivals from Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia and Volkswagen — can get left off a new-car buyer’s list. After a week behind the wheel of our 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE, we think that would be a mistake.
Since the early 1980s, the front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, four-door Toyota sedan has been the steady hand of family sedans, a conservative, safe bet for unadventurous buyers. Following the path blazed by the iconic Prius, a hybrid Camry arrived for 2006. Although it initially offered the new hybrid in loaded trim only, Toyota has increasingly added new hybrid models with lower prices.
For 2016, base Camry Hybrid LE models start at $29,235 (freight and pre-delivery inspection fees not included), followed by the sportier $31,610 SE and topped-off by our tester, the allinclusive $36,135 XLE. The top model is highlighted by safety goodies that include blind-spot monitor, lane-departure alert and dynamic radar cruise control.
Nobody is going to mistake a Camry for a Lamborghini, but last year’s exterior and interior design refresh helps it keep up with the competition. The latest generation Camry’s rivals in the stylish hybrid family sedan competition include the 2016 Ford Fusion for $28,749 and the $30,095 2016 Kia Optima.
The only interior tangent the Hybrid version takes from the gas-only Camry is trunk space. Toyota shoved the hybrid’s battery pack forward to gain more space than the pre-2012 iterations. Yet, as is the case with many hybrid family sedans, trunk space is compromised by the extra electric hardware. Compared to the gas-only Camry, the Hybrid’s trunk is down 66 litres, to only 370.
While the gas version gets a 60/40-split fold-down rear seat, the Camry Hybrid gets what amounts to a small passthrough. If that’s not enough for your needs, know that both the new-generation $25,995 2016 Toyota Prius Liftback (697 L) and larger $28,565 2016 Toyota Prius V wagon (971 L) have far more cargo space than any Camry sedan.
How many grocery bags you can get into the back of a family sedan may be one of your top priorities for the purchase of your next vehicle. But how much — or how little — gas the Camry Hybrid sips is also important. In that regard, we have few complaints. The Toyota sedan’s fuel consumption estimates are 5.7 L/100 km in the city and 6.1 on the highway. In real-world driving during our week in the Camry Hybrid, we scored an indicated 6.8 L/100 km, not bad for the late-winter temperatures we were experiencing at the time. Even though the hybrid’s 2.5-L fourcylinder engine, electric motor and continuously variable automatic transmission powertrain dates back to the 2012 full redesign, it still offers a competitive 200 horsepower and 199 pound-feet of torque, allowing for the family sedan to scoot from zero to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds. The top priority for most hybrid-sedan shoppers is saving fuel and not burning rubber, yet Toyota says the latest Camry Hybrid is more of a driver’s car. But we aren’t as convinced.
With the goal of maintaining a comfortable ride yet tighten handling, the changes made last year mean the Toyota hybrid isn’t the sensory-deprivation chamber previous generations were.
The characteristic whine from the Camry’s CVT whenever you touch the gas and the jerky reactions from the regenerative braking system have not been removed entirely. But at least the transitions between gas and electric modes are class leading in their refinement.
Frugalists who like to drive may gravitate to a family hybrid sedan from Ford, Kia or Volkswagen. But in addition to its excellent fuel economy and more interesting exterior design, Toyota’s head start on the competition means the hybrid part of the Camry’s driving experience arguably makes it the best model to buy. Overview: Despite low fuel prices, Toyota continues to offer its electrified Camry. Pros: Excellent fuel economy, most refined Camry Hybrid ever. Cons: Rivals still offer more athletic driving characteristics, less trunk space than gas version. Value for money: Good. What I would change: Not much; the Camry is near perfect for misers who don’t mind driving an appliance. How I would spec it: The base Hybrid LE offers the best value.