Still a Camry
Despite the hybrid powertrain, the car still drives and handles like any other Camry, save for the SE model: slow and over-assisted steering, soft suspension and body roll, generous interior space, ride comfort and quiet cockpit.
My test car has a two-tone dashboard with silver trim on the steering wheel and center stack. The switchgear is all easily accessible, and a load of controls is also found on the steering wheel. However, fit and finish is somewhat tarnished by misaligned plastic pieces; very unusual for Toyota. Is the manufacturer victim of its own success, having to cut corners to meet production demand?
One of the Camry Hybrid's penalties is the size of the trunk that's smaller because of the electric motor. The rear bench still folds down, but the pass-thru is greatly reduced; you can still fit skis or other slim objects through, but that's about it.
Fuel consumption
Now, did I succeed in achieving a fuel economy average of 5.7 L/100 km? No.
However, I did manage a quite respectable 6.7 L/100 km, and I had to work hard to get there. You see, your average will depend on your daily commute, your driving habits and the temperature outside; like any vehicle, hybrids consume more in winter.
Driving solely under electric power doesn't happen all that often if you live in the country, but more probable if you mainly drive around town. Going to work in the morning, when I approached the usual traffic jam caused by a junction of two major roadways, I was pretty excited! By slowly creeping ahead in traffic, the combustion engine is takes a nap while the electric motor takes over. In my town, the speed limit of a long boulevard is 30 km/h, which is also ideal.
On the highway, the Hybrid Synergy Drive system manages both engines well, and one can consume under 6 L/100 km while driving at a steady 100 km/h.
The big advantage of the hybrid system is that the combustion engine shuts down completely when we stop. When we're under way again, we feel the engine firing back up, but the associated shudder is perceptible without being irritating like in the Honda Accord Hybrid, which will not return for 2008. By the way, the 2008 Camry Hybrid is virtually unchanged from this 2007 version.
Despite the hybrid powertrain, the car still drives and handles like any other Camry, save for the SE model: slow and over-assisted steering, soft suspension and body roll, generous interior space, ride comfort and quiet cockpit.
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| Fit and finish does not meet the high standards that Toyota usually offers. |
My test car has a two-tone dashboard with silver trim on the steering wheel and center stack. The switchgear is all easily accessible, and a load of controls is also found on the steering wheel. However, fit and finish is somewhat tarnished by misaligned plastic pieces; very unusual for Toyota. Is the manufacturer victim of its own success, having to cut corners to meet production demand?
One of the Camry Hybrid's penalties is the size of the trunk that's smaller because of the electric motor. The rear bench still folds down, but the pass-thru is greatly reduced; you can still fit skis or other slim objects through, but that's about it.
Fuel consumption
Now, did I succeed in achieving a fuel economy average of 5.7 L/100 km? No.
However, I did manage a quite respectable 6.7 L/100 km, and I had to work hard to get there. You see, your average will depend on your daily commute, your driving habits and the temperature outside; like any vehicle, hybrids consume more in winter.
Driving solely under electric power doesn't happen all that often if you live in the country, but more probable if you mainly drive around town. Going to work in the morning, when I approached the usual traffic jam caused by a junction of two major roadways, I was pretty excited! By slowly creeping ahead in traffic, the combustion engine is takes a nap while the electric motor takes over. In my town, the speed limit of a long boulevard is 30 km/h, which is also ideal.
On the highway, the Hybrid Synergy Drive system manages both engines well, and one can consume under 6 L/100 km while driving at a steady 100 km/h.
The big advantage of the hybrid system is that the combustion engine shuts down completely when we stop. When we're under way again, we feel the engine firing back up, but the associated shudder is perceptible without being irritating like in the Honda Accord Hybrid, which will not return for 2008. By the way, the 2008 Camry Hybrid is virtually unchanged from this 2007 version.
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| The published consumption numbers are hard to obtain. |