Toyota builds a Camry that drives like a Camry
Toronto, Ontario. A bunch of journalists from across Canada are gathered by Toyota to check out their latest gas/electric vehicle, the new 2007 Camry Hybrid.
First of all, the Honda Accord Hybrid is stiff competition for the Camry, being a powerhouse that out-accelerates its V6-equipped counterpart and sips only 6.4 L/100 km on the highway.
In addition, Toyota's research showed that a growing number of people are willing to give hybrid vehicles a try, but they don't want any compromises. These people want to know when their extra investment in a hybrid will start to pay off. How long will it take to recover the higher cost of the car with its fuel savings?
Mechanical
Toyota told us what we were already thinking. Toyota hybrid vehicles emphasize fuel economy and value, while Lexus hybrids showcase the gas/electric powertrain as being the performance flagships of their respective models. The Prius and Camry are champs at the fuel pump,
while RX 400h and GS 450h are champs at the drag strip. Only the Highlander Hybrid, which shares its powertrain with the RX, seems to have an unclear mission.
As a result, the Camry Hybrid's gas engine is not the V6, but the same 2.4-litre inline-4 that powers the LE and SE models. Combined with the 105-kW electric motor, the Hybrid produces the equivalent of 187 horsepower. Toyota chose a continuously-variable (CVT) automatic to manage this powertrain. Fuel economy ratings are stellar: 5.7 L/100 km in city driving as well as highway cruising, second only to the Prius in Toyota's lineup.
Driving impressions
For the road trip, each journalist spent time in a Camry Hybrid as well as in various other Toyota and Lexus hybrid models. Drooling over the brand-spanking-new GS 450h, I was rather assigned to a Prius for half of the trip. But since our route was composed of traffic-filled highways and city streets, the Prius was loads of fun as I tried to get the
lowest-possible fuel economy average. When I stepped out of it, I had managed just 4.3 L/100 km. Meanwhile, the journalist driving the GS 450h felt like a dog on a leash, because the road trip didn't include any open roads to fully exploit the power of the Lexus.
Then, I stepped into a leather-clad Camry Hybrid along with Mr. Stephen Beatty, Toyota Canada's managing director, as my co-pilot. As we drove off, the fuel economy average was 11.0 L/100 km, which left me wondering just what the previous person driving the car did with it...
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| 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
First of all, the Honda Accord Hybrid is stiff competition for the Camry, being a powerhouse that out-accelerates its V6-equipped counterpart and sips only 6.4 L/100 km on the highway.
In addition, Toyota's research showed that a growing number of people are willing to give hybrid vehicles a try, but they don't want any compromises. These people want to know when their extra investment in a hybrid will start to pay off. How long will it take to recover the higher cost of the car with its fuel savings?
Mechanical
Toyota told us what we were already thinking. Toyota hybrid vehicles emphasize fuel economy and value, while Lexus hybrids showcase the gas/electric powertrain as being the performance flagships of their respective models. The Prius and Camry are champs at the fuel pump,
 |
| 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
As a result, the Camry Hybrid's gas engine is not the V6, but the same 2.4-litre inline-4 that powers the LE and SE models. Combined with the 105-kW electric motor, the Hybrid produces the equivalent of 187 horsepower. Toyota chose a continuously-variable (CVT) automatic to manage this powertrain. Fuel economy ratings are stellar: 5.7 L/100 km in city driving as well as highway cruising, second only to the Prius in Toyota's lineup.
Driving impressions
For the road trip, each journalist spent time in a Camry Hybrid as well as in various other Toyota and Lexus hybrid models. Drooling over the brand-spanking-new GS 450h, I was rather assigned to a Prius for half of the trip. But since our route was composed of traffic-filled highways and city streets, the Prius was loads of fun as I tried to get the
 |
| 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com) |
Then, I stepped into a leather-clad Camry Hybrid along with Mr. Stephen Beatty, Toyota Canada's managing director, as my co-pilot. As we drove off, the fuel economy average was 11.0 L/100 km, which left me wondering just what the previous person driving the car did with it...