The Bottom Line
What do the Guide Rating stars mean?
When Toyota introduced the Camry Hybrid in 2007, it was the first mainstream mid-size car to offer a hybrid drivetrain, and I loved the way it delivered excellent fuel economy without all the hybrid hype. Toyota has given the Camry Hybrid a going-over for 2010, and while the car itself hasn't actually changed much, the market in which it competes has -- in fact, it's changed quite a bit. How is the Camry Hybrid holding up? Read on. $26,900 base, $32,515 as tested.
Larger photos: Front - rear - interior - all photos
Pros
- Excellent fuel economy
- Aside from the hybrid drivetrain, it's just like a conventional Camry
Cons
- Expensive
- No longer the mid-size MPG champ
Description
- Gas-electric hybrid version of America's best-selling passenger car
- Trim levels: One
- Price range (including options): $26,900 - $32,645
- Powertrain: 2.4 liter 147 hp 4-cylinder engine + 105 kW electric motor, continuously-variable automatic, front-wheel-drive
- EPA MPG estimates: 33 MPG city/34 MPG highway
- Observed fuel economy: 37 MPG
- Best rivals: Ford Fusion hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta TDI, Toyota Prius
- The vehicle for this test drive was provided by Toyota.
Guide Review - 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid
When I first drove a Camry Hybrid back in 2007, I averaged 30 miles per gallon, which made me very happy. The way I saw it, the Camry Hybrid had all the attributes that made the regular Camry America's favorite car, but it went about 20% farther on a gallon of gas than a regular 4-cylinder Camry -- and the only big trade-offs were a smaller trunk (link goes to photo) and a higher price.
This year, for reasons I can't explain, I did even better -- 37 MPG. Toyota hasn't made any significant changes to the powertrain, though they have updated the front-end styling. Basically, it's still the same car as it was in '07, and that's a good thing.
But the Camry Hybrid faces some tough new competitors. And that's a problem.
First and foremost is Ford's new Fusion Hybrid. It gets much better fuel economy, has neater gadgets, and is better to drive. If you ask me, it's the superior car -- but being a new-for-2010 model, it doesn't have the Camry's proven reliability record.
Then there's the diesel-powered Volkswagen Jetta TDI. It's not quite as roomy as the Camry, but it goes a lot farther on a gallon of fuel, and its diesel engine is as simple as a rock compared to the Camry's complex hybrid drivetrain.
If your goal is to use as little fuel as possible, you're still better off with a dedicated hybrid vehicle like the Toyota Prius or the Honda Insight, both of which are new-and-improved for 2010.
So where does that leave the Camry Hybrid? Pretty much right where it was in 2007, which isn't a bad place to be. There are plenty of reasons why Americans buy more Camrys than any other passenger car, and virtually all of those reasons can be found in the Camry Hybrid. It's spacious, it's comfortable, it's reliable, and it gets great gas mileage. There may be better alternatives out there, but the Camry Hybrid is still a smart, solid choice. -- Aaron Gold
