2007 Toyota Camry goes hybrid

I just spent a rather enjoyable and enlightening week with the hybrid version of the 2007 Toyota Camry. Seems everyone has the same two questions, so I'll answer them here.

One: How good is the mileage? Answer: 30 MPG in town. That's about 50% better than I'd expect from a four-cylinder mid-sizer, and a lot better than the 23 MPG average Jason saw during his 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid test drive. But it's not as high as the 44 MPG I averaged in a Toyota Prius hybrid the week before. I guess size does matter: the Camry Hybrid's 2.4 liter 4-cyl engine is bigger and more powerful than the engine in the Prius, but a lot more modest than the Accord Hybrid's 3.0 V6.

Two: Does it drive like a Prius? Answer: Better, actually. The Camry's controls are entirely conventional, and both wife Robin and I liked them better than those of the futuristic Prius. The Camry's ride is smoother and quieter, to the point that you really have to pay attention to tell if the car is running on electric or gasoline power. On paper the Camry Hybrid accelerates faster, but frankly I never thought the Prius was a slouch. Performance around town is similar; it's only when you put the pedal to the metal (or is it pedal to the lightweight second-generation composite?) that you feel the difference.

Alas, Toyota still has announced pricing for all of the 2007 Camry models except the hybrid. (In case you're wondering: $18,270 for the base model up to $27,520 for the XLE V6, plus options.) I'm hoping Toyota will keep the Hybrid's price in the middle of that rage; hybrids aren't the be-all and end-all -- they still rely on non-renewable gasoline as fuel -- but anything that makes eco-friendly transportation more practical and sensible for John and Jane Q. Public is good, and the Camry is the car that will bring hybrid transportation to the masses. -- Aaron Gold