Toyota Camry Hybrid - Discount Auto Sales
| Consumer Reports | Specials | Safety Notes | Price Quote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camry 4-cyl |
Camry 6-cyl |
Hybrid Reliability | Road Test |
Consumer Reports Toyota Camry Hybrid
Road Test
The Camry is capable, quiet, and well rounded in all test versions, but is not
exciting to drive. Handling is sound, but not sporty. The ride is comfortable
and the interior is roomy. All powertrains are refined and economical; the V6
XLE is very quick and the Hybrid combines good performance with great fuel
economy.
THE DRIVING EXPERIENCE
The Camry's ride is smooth with gentle body motions. Noises are
hushed inside, but engine noise is more noticeable in the
four-cylinder LE than either the V6 or Hybrid versions. Handling is
secure but not very agile. The steering is lightly weighted but
responsive enough. An SE model, with a firmer suspension, doesn't
make the car sporty. At our track, the Camry was balanced and
predictable. The Hybrid and XLE with stability control had a faster
speed and gave the driver more confidence in our avoidance maneuver
than our LE without stability control. The very quiet 187-hp Camry
Hybrid uses a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine and CVT. Acceleration
is slightly quicker than the previous Camry V6, but initial response
is sluggish. At 34 mpg in mixed driving, it's as economical as some
smaller cars. The 158-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, with a
five-speed automatic, is smooth and responsive and returns 24 mpg
overall. The 268-hp, 3.5-liter V6 uses a six-speed automatic and
feels smooth, relaxed, and powerful. It returns 23 mpg overall. A
five-speed manual is available only with four-cylinder models. The
headlights perform well. Dry stopping distances were longer for the
Hybrid version.
Hybrid Technology
The most advanced hybrid powertrain
The HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE power
unit integrates the strong elements of an electric motor and a
gas/petrol engine. It is not merely a package that has an electric motor
and a gas/petrol engine on board. Toyota applied cutting edge
technologies based on our latest research to integrate the dual power
sources in the most ideal way.
There are other models called "hybrid vehicles" in existence, but Toyota
is fully confident that our HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE is the most advanced
hybrid powertrain in the world. In fact, HYBRID SYNERGY DRIVE is one of
the very few systems in the world in 2005 that fully complies with the
UN's definition of a "hybrid vehicle".