Entered CNET Catalog: 01/27/2006
SKU: CNET2007TOYOTACAMRYHYBRID
Manufacturer: Toyota
Product summary
The good: The 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a comfortable, well-appointed sedan, equipped with a bevy of technology, from the economical hybrid propulsion system to a raft of standard in-car devices, including a Bluetooth interface and a premium audio system.
The bad: The Camry's optional GPS navigation unit struggles with voice commands and can lose its bearings when out of town. Alternating between power sources can lead to a jerky ride.
The bottom line: Easy on the eyes and the pocketbook, user- as well as ecofriendly, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is a fitting front-runner in the new generation of hybrid sedans.
Average user rating: from 98 users
4.0 stars
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: Yes
- Reviewed on: 05/30/2006
However, the 2007 Camry Hybrid comes loaded with cabin features, most of which are standard factory installs. These include a JBL stereo system with MP3 playback (both CDs and portable devices via an auxiliary input), Bluetooth-enabled hands-free calling, and the unique Plasmacluster ionizer (more in Comfort). Also standard on the Camry Hybrid are voice-activated GPS navigation and XM Satellite Radio. Toyota equips the Camry with a well-appointed interior from which to control this array of tech; our test model had heated leather seats, dual-zone climate control, and a snazzy, digital instrument panel.
Toyota loads the Camry Hybrid with all the above tech and appointments and offers it at the single price of $25,900, plus a delivery charge of $580. Buyers can even choose leather seats over cloth at no additional charge. This pricing scheme differs from that of the standard-engine Camry, which ranges from $19,320 for a four-cylinder base model to more than $30,000 for a fully loaded V-6 version.
Owners of the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid can indulge their ecofriendly consciences in style. Optional leather-trimmed seats are complemented by a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift, lending the cabin a comfortable feel and a touch of class. Both front seats can be heated using toggle switches in the center console. At the other end of the climate scale, dual-zone climate control provides effective air conditioning with a high-tech twist in the shape of the Camry's Plasmacluster air filter. Perhaps the most unique element of this car's onboard technology, Plasmacluster works by artificially creating positive and negative ions that seek out and surround harmful airborne substances, such as mold spores, microbes, fungi, odor, germs, and bacteria.Although there will be accusations of first-degree gimmickry leveled at Toyota for making this a selling point of the car, there is a certain brand consistency in the Camry Hybrid offering cleaner in-cabin air. After all, if you're driving an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) car, why should you have to breathe other people's burned-gasoline smog?
The 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with the Plasmacluster ionizer as standard.
With good, clean, filtered air in their lungs, drivers of the Camry Hybrid can talk to their hearts' content using the car's as-standard Bluetooth interface and hands-free calling functions. It took us less than a minute to pair our phone to the system, after which we could make calls using either voice-command dialing or a virtual keypad in the Camry's dash-mounted touch-screen LCD, as well as by simply dialing into our Motorola Slvr L2.
Sound quality for hands-free calls was tolerable but lacked the crisp clarity of the stereo system. From the other end of the line, our Bluetooth buddy John said that we were comprehensible, albeit a little tinny and indistinct. Transferring cell phone contacts to the onboard address book is possible only one entry at a time; those with a lot of friends will have to set aside at least a couple of hours to get them all on speed dial.
Calls can be made either by voice command or via the in-dash LCD touch pad.
Sharing the LCD touch-screen interface with the phone is the Camry Hybrid's GPS navigation system, which we found to be admirably equipped with information and easy to program by hand, though less amenable to voice commands. Destinations can be entered using the onscreen keypad in either A-to-Z or QWERTY configuration, and when in map mode, the screen can be set to display a full map or split between an overhead view and either zoomed-in details or a compass. The GPS was reliable around town and quick to recalibrate when we went astray, but the unit completely lost its bearings on a trip through the Santa Cruz Mountains.
Voice recognition on the Toyota nav unit was also a little disappointing; after learning a list of specific instructions from the manual, we found that certain commands were compatible in only specific screens, which meant a lot of fiddling with the Back button and considerable manual pushbutton work to enable use of the voice-command function. As the point of a voice control is to eliminate pressing buttons when on the road, we found the voice option self-defeatingly complicated. When we finally arrived at the right screen to enter voice directions, our frustration was compounded by the system's inability to interpret our commands (we had no idea that there was such a place as San Ysidro until we tried in vain to locate an address in San Francisco).
Despite these drawbacks, the navigation system is packed full of information. Drivers are able to enter destinations by address, freeway entrance, coordinates, and intersection, as welll as by the name or category of a point of interest (POI). And there of plenty of POIs to choose from; a cursory search for points of interest including the word memorial turned up more than 1,000 results.
A number of other neat options can be accessed through the touch screen, including a display for battery life, cruising range, and gas-mileage readouts; an energy monitor showing an overhead schematic of the car and its propulsion sources; and a calendar with a facility to add dated memos, which then pop up on the screen on their appointed day.
An overhead schematic of the Toyota Camry Hybrid shows the driver where power is coming from at any one time.
As the navigation unit takes up so much space, the Camry's standard JBL six-disc CD changer is downgraded to a JBL four-disc model. However, this doesn't affect the stereo's number of speakers (eight), range of supported playback formats (MP3 CD, WMA, XM or Sirius satellite radio, AM/FM tuner), or auxiliary input jack for playing music directly from a portable MP3 player. And the sound quality of the stereo is exceptional. Toyota labels its in-car audio experience psychoacoustics, which rivals Plasmacluster for gimmickry. But there is no denying that the system sounds good right through the range, with solid bass and clear separation when cranked up and tuned into XM's classical channel.
Toyota's latest hybrid family member looks markedly different from its Camry ancestors; from the side, a fuller rear end and more parabolic lines will likely have passersby mistaking this car for something off the Mercedes-Benz drawing board. Toyota's iconic Hybrid Synergy Drive logos on the tailgate and both fenders subtly let the world know that this car is ecofriendly and--more important--acts as the ultimate alternative-cosmopolitan status symbol.
Toyota's distinctive Hybrid Synergy Drive logo is found on the front fenders and the tailgate.
The 2007 Camry Hybrid qualifies as a full hybrid, which means it can run only on gas, only on electric, or on a mixture of both. Like the Prius, the Camry Hybrid uses Toyota's HSD propulsion system, which incorporates a fearsome amount of technology to allow the car to run as efficiently as possible while maintaining maximum performance. The HSD uses a series of interconnected components, including a gasoline-powered combustion engine, a nickel-metal-hydride battery, a generator, a power-split device, and an electricity inverter. When the car is in motion, power from the gasoline engine is split between the drivetrain--to move the car--and the generator, which uses the resultant electricity either to drive the electric motor to help turn the wheels or to power electronics, as well as to charge the battery, which can then be used to drive the car on its own.
When the Camry is pottering around town, it can survive in electric-only mode, which makes for a smooth--and deathly quiet--ride. Initially, it can be quite unnerving to drive a car of this size in electric mode; more than once, we had to remind ourselves that the engine had not stalled when getting ready to pull off from the lights. To counter our butterflies in these situations, we found that we would step extrahard on the gas pedal to ensure that we didn't hold up the traffic flow, an action that would cause the car to decide that we needed more power and to call upon the gas engine for extra torque. As the Camry switches from electric only to gas-and-electric, the car splutters and judders as it balances the two power sources--a minor design flaw but one we can live with. An LCD in the instrument panel informs the driver which fuel sources are currently being used, while a dial to its left gives an instantaneous readout of current gas mileage.
When called upon, the 147-horsepower 2.4-liter variable-valve timed engine delivers a surprising amount of oomph, enabling the car to pass with ease on the freeway. Acceleration is incredibly smooth due to the continuously variable transmission, which doesn't have the hard gearshifts of a standard automatic.
Handling on the Camry is generally responsive, but we found that when crawling along in traffic, the steering wheel has an alarming tendency to pull sharply to the left or right depending on the camber of the road. This may have something to do with the Toyota's high-tech VDIM systems (see Safety section), but we found it very disconcerting.
A 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine combines with a 105kW battery to power the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Irrespective of all the technology on this car, there are two principal reasons that people will fork out another $1,000 more for the hybrid than for the top-of-the-range petrol-engine 2007 Camry: its fuel economy and its relatively low environmental impact. EPA ratings for the Camry Hybrid are 40mpg and 38mpg for city and highway, respectively. In a mixture of city and highway driving, we observed an average of 35mpg--below the official ratings but still remarkably efficient for a full-size sedan.
The Camry Hybrid qualifies as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT PZEV), which means it includes advanced technology components, as well as a drive mode that produces zero evaporative emissions.
As well as protecting the environment, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid shields its driver and passengers with a decent array of safety features. The Camry Hybrid features Toyota's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which picks up data from a series of sensors around the car and applies it to the car's range of standard safety features. They include ABS, traction control, electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), and vehicle stability control. In situations where the sensors detect that the car is losing control, the VDIM reacts by automatically applying brake force, controlling steering inputs, and coordinating the safety systems to work in sync to maximize accident prevention.Adding to the safety tech is a tire-pressure monitoring system and Whiplash Injury Lessening (WIL) seats, which Toyota first introduced in the Prius. The Camry also provides an impressive array of engine and systems diagnostics via its in-dash LCD, which can be programmed to store maintenance information for most of the car's moving parts.
Scheduled maintenance information for a large number of mechanical and electrical systems can be viewed via the LCD.
Like all 2007 Camrys, the Hybrid comes with dual-stage advanced SRS air bags. Driver and front passenger air bags, front side air bags with head protection, and side head-curtain air bags all come standard, as does a driver's knee air bag.
The 2007 Camry Hybrid is yet to be rated for frontal- and side-impact crash safety, although its scores a respectable four stars in its rollover rating.
The 2007 Camry Hybrid is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile warranty for repairs and replacements, a five-year/60,000-mile power train warranty, and an unlimited-mileage rust protection warranty. The Camry Hybrid also has an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on all hybrid-related components, including the high-voltage battery, the battery control module, the hybrid control module, and the inverter.
User opinions
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4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Quiet ride-plenty of power-outstanding mpg
Pros: Now have 60000 miles on it and have no complaints at all. My only expense has been normal maintenance. Will have to put new tires on it shortly. I love the engine break feature
Cons: Cost to upgrade navigation system is way to costly
Review: Love the heated seats and mirrors, smart key system, gauges are great and very helpfull. We show the average miles per gallon while we drive. We increased our mpg by displaying this instead of the temperature gauge by almost 10%. It gives you a constant reminder of what your fuel consumption is and we have changed our driving habits because of this. no jack rabbit starts and slower acceleration makes a big difference
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
very smooth car
Pros: the outside look
Cons: i just wish they made some kind of protections for the bumpers so they dont get scratch so easy
Review:
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Mileage, Looks, Performace and handling
Pros: MPG ave 38-41, Ride comfort, bought used at a great price,
Cons: Limited trunk space but does have fold down rear seats
Review: This car wasn?t bought to be a sports car or luxury sedan. It was bought to be a work commuter nice enough to still go out on the town or the grocery store in it. With avg. mpg of 40+/- it more than meets and passed my expectations. I would recommend it to anyone who wants an above average all round car.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
The future is here
Pros: Smooth luxury ride, comfortable interior and fabulous mpg (average 36-37 mpg each tank).
Cons: Radio reception on upgraded JBL not as strong as I thoght it would be.
Review: Simply a terrific automobile. Took it out in slick, icy winter snow-covered roads and it preformed like an all wheel drive vehicle. Plenty of room, almost as large as the Avalon inside. My bottom line is that everyone should own one.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Reliable, hi-tech, fun ride.
Pros: Very ergonomic dashboard/GPS/Bluetooth/sound system. Nice power, quiet ride, good handling, excellent heating/cooling system. Lots of passenger room, great sound system. As reliable as any Toyota I've ever owned (ie, very).
Cons: Does not deliver the gas mileage that was promised. Highway driving will get me around 36 mpg; in-town driving (non-urban) gets around 32 mpg. A big surprise is that these numbers go down by around 5 mpg in cold weather, and no one seems to know why.
Review: The incremental cost of buying the hybrid over a non-hybrid will not likely be recouped for a long time. But if you're willing to pay $5K more for the satisfaction of having the nicest, most luxurious, hi-tech hybrid on the market, go for it.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I love it.
Pros: I enjoy driving it. My other car is a Lincoln Town Car.
Cons: But I like it.
Review: I like everything about it so far....
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Makes Commuting a Pleasure
Pros: Mileage, comfort, quality, local dealer/service EXCELLENT!
Cons: Front seats are not the MOST comfortable, no seat warmer (my wife wants)
Review: Besides its easy on the eyes good looks, my 2009 Camry doubled the gas mileage I was getting on my previous car (a pickup truck). Now, I am saving gas comfortably. It has most of the features I would ever want use/including hands free that synchs effortlessly with my Blackbery cell phone. Lots of easy access storage and room.
User Rating:
1.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Flimsy & Overratet
Pros: Plasticy feeling. Poor Handling
Cons: Stylish, High used price
Review: I do not mean this car is terrible, but regarding what you pay, and how it's rated by reviewers, and the popularity I'm really disappointed, I regret I didn't choose the Hyundai Sonata.
User Rating:
0.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
IT SUCKS OUT THE BUTT
Pros: IT HAS NO PROS
Cons: ITS SO UGLY!!
Review: I HATE IT WITH A FIREY PASSION
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
gresham toyota ripoff
Pros: love the 2007 camry hybrid
Cons: rattles, small trunk space
Review: have owned the hybrid for 8 months now 13,000 miles, get 37.5 mpg city, have gottin 42.6 on highway driving. got the run around from gresham toyota after buying the car, they treated me like crap. got the feeling that as long as they got my money they could care less about my problms as well as lying to me about the tax credit, the cost of the car, even talked to owner, he said that he could not be botherd about my problms, sent my to customer relaions and told me that i signed the paperwork and that was that.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Really great car
Pros: Great gas mileage, roomy interior, smooth ride.
Cons: Car is very wide, small trunk, not many colour options.
Review: This is a review of my wife's car, so I'm reviewing it as a passenger. I don't drive myself but I feel so strongly about this car that I have to review it.
When we were in the market for a car a year ago we did a whole lot of research and the Camry Hybrid came top of our list of requirements, but I wasn't sold on it until I rode in it. The styling was what really put me off it - it just looked kinda ordinary. But I've grown to love it, even its looks.
The first reason to get a Camry Hybrid is, not surprisingly, the gas mileage, and our Camry has never disappointed. It's rated at 38mpg for highway and city driving. Even so, after a few weeks my wife had used the Camry's on-board computer to help her to increase her driving style efficiency and now we routinely get 40mpg everywhere we go. The on-board computer actually helps the driver to drive more economically and better, which I find amazing. Since gas prices have gone through the roof in the last months this has saved us literally thousands of dollars - our old car got 20 to 25mpg.
In terms of driving my wife says it's the smoothest ride she's ever had, and I can confirm that. I have a slipped disc so in our old car I would often feel every bump and I'd pay for it later in back pain, but with the Camry Hybrid the suspension soaks up all but the worst bumps and I'm pain free even after long trips. The car is also REALLY quiet and when it's running on electricity it's completely silent.
Sitting in the car is amazing too - the leg room is probably the best of any car we tested. When I'm in the passenger seat I have more than enough room to stretch my legs out straight, and I'm above average height. The seats are very comfortable too and our model has heated seats which come in handy in our New England winters.
In terms of criticisms, we have a few, but none of them detract in any meaningful way from the positive feelings we have towards the car:
Firstly, the car is quite wide for a compact car. It's perhaps more a midsize than a compact. It barely fits into our garage and fitting in parking spaces is a lot harder than in our old car (we had a Ford Escort). We have probably had a couple of extra dings due to people opening doors onto our car because of this. It also takes a bit of getting used to in terms of driving - my wife hit a couple of obstacles while she was getting used to the size of the car - something for people to bear in mind if they're used to a compact car.
The trunk is quite small for a car this size. The reason is the battery, which takes up a lot of trunk space. While the rear seat folds down on one side there's not much scop for putting items longer than 5ft in the trunk - basically a pair of skis might fit through there but that's about it.
My final criticism is one that I have with many cars today - there just aren't a lot of standard colours. The most fun colour we could get as standard was a subdued red. Why oh why can't cars come in a few more exciting colours? It seems manufacturers think that shades of grey is what customers want. Well not me. I wanted orange or yellow - something that would stand out and that people could see. The red is okay, but it's hardly very visible. In my view bright colours are more than an aesthetic consideration: in my opinion they are a safety feature.
But all-in-all I can't imagine a better car. We could not be happier about this car. It's simply amazing, fun to drive and exciting. Heck, I've even come to appreciate its styling. Sure it seems a bit staid at first, but it does have a subtle charm in terms of its design.
When we were in the market for a car a year ago we did a whole lot of research and the Camry Hybrid came top of our list of requirements, but I wasn't sold on it until I rode in it. The styling was what really put me off it - it just looked kinda ordinary. But I've grown to love it, even its looks.
The first reason to get a Camry Hybrid is, not surprisingly, the gas mileage, and our Camry has never disappointed. It's rated at 38mpg for highway and city driving. Even so, after a few weeks my wife had used the Camry's on-board computer to help her to increase her driving style efficiency and now we routinely get 40mpg everywhere we go. The on-board computer actually helps the driver to drive more economically and better, which I find amazing. Since gas prices have gone through the roof in the last months this has saved us literally thousands of dollars - our old car got 20 to 25mpg.
In terms of driving my wife says it's the smoothest ride she's ever had, and I can confirm that. I have a slipped disc so in our old car I would often feel every bump and I'd pay for it later in back pain, but with the Camry Hybrid the suspension soaks up all but the worst bumps and I'm pain free even after long trips. The car is also REALLY quiet and when it's running on electricity it's completely silent.
Sitting in the car is amazing too - the leg room is probably the best of any car we tested. When I'm in the passenger seat I have more than enough room to stretch my legs out straight, and I'm above average height. The seats are very comfortable too and our model has heated seats which come in handy in our New England winters.
In terms of criticisms, we have a few, but none of them detract in any meaningful way from the positive feelings we have towards the car:
Firstly, the car is quite wide for a compact car. It's perhaps more a midsize than a compact. It barely fits into our garage and fitting in parking spaces is a lot harder than in our old car (we had a Ford Escort). We have probably had a couple of extra dings due to people opening doors onto our car because of this. It also takes a bit of getting used to in terms of driving - my wife hit a couple of obstacles while she was getting used to the size of the car - something for people to bear in mind if they're used to a compact car.
The trunk is quite small for a car this size. The reason is the battery, which takes up a lot of trunk space. While the rear seat folds down on one side there's not much scop for putting items longer than 5ft in the trunk - basically a pair of skis might fit through there but that's about it.
My final criticism is one that I have with many cars today - there just aren't a lot of standard colours. The most fun colour we could get as standard was a subdued red. Why oh why can't cars come in a few more exciting colours? It seems manufacturers think that shades of grey is what customers want. Well not me. I wanted orange or yellow - something that would stand out and that people could see. The red is okay, but it's hardly very visible. In my view bright colours are more than an aesthetic consideration: in my opinion they are a safety feature.
But all-in-all I can't imagine a better car. We could not be happier about this car. It's simply amazing, fun to drive and exciting. Heck, I've even come to appreciate its styling. Sure it seems a bit staid at first, but it does have a subtle charm in terms of its design.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Fast and lean
Pros: Everything I want
Cons: 1st gen glitches
Review: This car is fantastic. Gets great mileage, but not as good as sticker. Usually around 35mpg. I love how the engine turns off at stoplights. It's got all the creature comforts; nav, heated seats, dual temps, hands-free phone and Harriet. Can't forget Harriet - the nav voice in the car - who tells you when to turn, when to stop. She's very professional and takes her job oh so seriously. She even turns down the music so you WILL pay full attention to her. Only time I got a little teensy weensy bit upset with her was when driving through LA at 2am on a Saturday night and I missed my freeway turn-off. Harriet efficently re-calculated my route, but she would have taken me through the heart of Compton, on the not so nice side of town. Bad Harriet. Otherwise, we get along fine.
Oh, and the 1st gen glitch, at least to me it's a glitch, but probably a safety feature in disguise. When you hit the start button to turn on the car (foot firmly on the brake!) and shift a wee bit too quickly into D or R from P, the car will tell you that you must have the car in P when starting. Well it was in P. And I'm trying to go F. So you must shift back to P, hit start again. I learned the hard way when starting the car on a hill and trying to go into reverse. Kinda coasted backwards. A few deep breaths and some techy visualizations later, I was able to start the car and go on my merry way. I have to say that new car first gen glitches are better than old car last-legs glitches. Muy muy preferable.
If you don't want a small Prius, buy this car. I had considered the Altima Hybrid, and while the regular tech package looked a little better, the Camry Hybrid's Synergy drive is the most recent, while the Altima's hybrid drive system is licensed and older. But I'm sure the Altima is a good car too. But I have grown very fond of my Camry Hybrid, aka. Harriet the Chariot (c), or Dirty Harriet, depending on her mood.
Oh, and the 1st gen glitch, at least to me it's a glitch, but probably a safety feature in disguise. When you hit the start button to turn on the car (foot firmly on the brake!) and shift a wee bit too quickly into D or R from P, the car will tell you that you must have the car in P when starting. Well it was in P. And I'm trying to go F. So you must shift back to P, hit start again. I learned the hard way when starting the car on a hill and trying to go into reverse. Kinda coasted backwards. A few deep breaths and some techy visualizations later, I was able to start the car and go on my merry way. I have to say that new car first gen glitches are better than old car last-legs glitches. Muy muy preferable.
If you don't want a small Prius, buy this car. I had considered the Altima Hybrid, and while the regular tech package looked a little better, the Camry Hybrid's Synergy drive is the most recent, while the Altima's hybrid drive system is licensed and older. But I'm sure the Altima is a good car too. But I have grown very fond of my Camry Hybrid, aka. Harriet the Chariot (c), or Dirty Harriet, depending on her mood.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Learning to be a Hybrid Driver
Pros: Excellet build quality, great gas mileage
Cons: Blue Tooth Cell Phone Instructions confusing
Review: Traded in our 2005 Camry SE for 2008 Hybrid. Our first trip was to Prescott, AZ. We traveled from sea level to over 4,000 ft. and had no problems climbing the hills. Kept our speed down and avoided jack rabbit starts. Achieved 42 mpg on this 225 mile trip with average temperatures between 68-82F. Still trying to learn to be a good hybrid driver but very happy with being able to get 722 miles on one tank(17.2 gal.) of gas. This is our 3rd Camry and our best!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Very satisfied. A fun car to drive with a lot of spunk.
Pros: Better than expected highway milage.
Cons: Less than expected city milage.
Review: I live in Los Angeles and often drive to Los Vegas or Sedona Arizona. If I stay within the speed limits I will get between 38 and 40 MPG. Close to home around town I seem to average about 30 or less. Perhaps because I live on a steep hill that is 1100 feet high. Overall I love the car and have never had any problems. I have owned it for over a year now.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Big on Gas Mileage and a Full Size Sedan!!!
Pros: Eco Friendly with $1500.00 Canadian Gov't Rebate!
Cons: Small Trunk, Lack of Extendable Sun Visors
Review: My big beefs are the small trunk, lack of extendable sunvisors. Even my 1989 Sienna has them which are necessary for tall people
like me when the Sun is coming thru the drivers window. The car gets amazing mileage for a full size sedan! The IPOD adaptor is in an aweful location. Car should have some manual key system for one to carry spare key in Wallet.
Overall 8 out of 10 rating!
like me when the Sun is coming thru the drivers window. The car gets amazing mileage for a full size sedan! The IPOD adaptor is in an aweful location. Car should have some manual key system for one to carry spare key in Wallet.
Overall 8 out of 10 rating!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Better than I expected, particularly as gas prices continue to remain high.
Pros: Mileage, comfort, mp3 connection, interior room size.
Cons: Some rattling in the console, particularly when A/C is high, small trunk.
Review: When I purchased this car I was somewhat wary of its 4-cylinder engine. After my first few days of driving, I noted that the additional HP provided by the electric engine made this a non-issue. This car has made me a much more careful driver as I have learned the speed ranges that provide the maximum mileage. It is a joy to be able to keep the car at a speed where you know that you are driving strictly on electric. Even at highway speeds, you learn which speeds are most conducive to increased mileage. I have driven the car almost 14,000 miles as of today. MPG per gas tank has ranged from a maximum of 40.5 MPG to a low of 34 MPG (when my wife drove the car for a day or two). Daily commute is approximately 10 miles a day each way in city driving. A/C works very well in South Florida. I would buy this car again in a second.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
why didn't I buy one sooner?
Pros: excellent fuel economy, great standard equipment
Cons: reduced trunk space (understandable)
Review: bought a 2007 model recently for 24K, and absolutely love it. Even the most mundane errands are now pure joy as the car has a 440-watt monster JBL sound system, and I've gotten 40.3 miles per gallon (combined city/highway) , in spite of hauling 3 other passengers. I wanted either a civic hybrid or prius, but settled for this instead, sacrificing some MPGs and a couple of Gs for a far roomier and regular-looking ride.
I just wonder why I didn't buy this sooner
I just wonder why I didn't buy this sooner
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Best car yet for the future
Pros: Quiet; rages against the "machine"; economical gd lks; hauls a few folks comfortably
Cons: slight jerkiness in alternating between power sources
Review: Overall, when I get in this car, I feel good about my budget, good about BIG OIL, good about terrorism, and good about the environment. How many cars can you say that about? Finally, I can vote with my pocketbook without martying myself and by example, favor a company that is trying to move in the right direction for the future of the planet and give consumers what they want. Screw GM.
Lose the old attitudes about muscle cars and speed lurching! Join the world!
Lose the old attitudes about muscle cars and speed lurching! Join the world!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
An incredible mix of technology, quality combined w/ a realisti approach to the future
Pros: 20x the car that my 2006 Volvo s40 was!
Cons: Shame on Toyota for abandoning the EVs in the late 90's, but the current hybrid line sure makes up for it
Review: Wow, what an automobile! Although I have never bought a Toyotay product (other than a used Lexus ES300 several years back), I have come to understand why the make has such a loyal following. After a year and two months of TORTURE owning a new 2006 Volvo S40, moving into my 2007 Camry Hybrid has really opened my eyes. Not that Toyotashould be left off the hook for abandoning its EV program 5 years ago... but I do have to give credit where credit is due. My Camry Hybrid, with the VDIM, knee air bags, and complex yet symphonic Synergy drive is a future force to be reconed with. I think anybody considering a sedan in the near-luxury category would do well to look at the Camry. My 28K car rides circles around the near 30K I paid for my Volvo S40, and has the ability to approach 38 plus MPG and is a partial zero emission vehicle. So, short to say I love it. I won't go back to an all gasoline car again.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
outstanding, comfortable vehicle
Pros: great mileage, good power, comfortable
Cons: small trunk
Review: After 4000 miles, we really are impressed with the hybrid Camry. Mileage has been excellent (up to 42 mpg), and it is a comfortable road car. We would recommend this vehicle highly. This is our first Toyota, our first hybrid, and our first non- SUV in about 20 years. The tax credit and Pa. hybrid rebate make it very affordable.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
From a BMW 5 Series to an 08 Camry Hybrid
Pros: Car of the future, Comfy Ride, Quite and fun, EVERYTHING +++
Cons: Coming from a BMW, cornering is lame, but to be expected
Review: I really love this car, it is grade A
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Outstanding performance during 10-day vacation
Pros: Highway gas milage was surprising
Cons: In-town driving was a little disappointing, but I am still learning how to handle the car
Review: On the day we brought the car home, we started our vacation. We drove from Waco to 50 miles past Little Rock before having to fill up the tank. Because the dealership provided the first tank, we were especially pleased. We drove to northern Kentucky, then down into Tennessee, then to Maryland and Washington, D.C. We put gas in the car a total of three times (including the time I mentiioned earlier). And we were not always running low on gas when we decided to fill up. We thought the high hills/mountains of Tennessee and Virginia would lower the gas milage. We also had three people in the car and luggage for a 10-day trip. This is where the gas milage rose dramatically! At one point, the readout indicated 48 mpg! I guess the battery could kick in more during the decents on the hills. During most of the trip, our gas milage averaged about 43 mpg. On the way home, we filled up three times, but we were never near empty. We returned home Aug. 3, and I'm still running on a tank of gas we bought in a city almost 200 miles away. The mpg has lowered since we returned as most driving is done in the city. Now the mpg is 36-37 mpg, which is much better than my previous car, a 1999 Chrysler Concorde, but I was hoping for more. Still, I cannot say I am disappointed overall. This is a beautifu, outstanding car. It's fun and economical. I'm still familiarizing myself with all of its "bells and whistles" and with how to drive the hybrid for maximum mpg. Overall, I'm in awe of this car!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
A scaled down Lexus
Pros: Smooth ride, good performance, excellent fuel economy, good safety ratings, nice exterior/interior design
Cons: Trunk space
Review: We've had our car just over 2 weeks now, and we are absolutely thrilled with it! We actually find ourselves resisting the temptation to take it out just for fun!
What we like about it:
- smooth and quiet, 'near-luxury' ride (thanks to CVT)
- smooth transition between gas & electric modes
- ample acceleration
- excellent fuel economy
- handles well
- minimal road noise
- excellent sound system
- Bluetooth integration for hands-free calling
- smart key with push-button start
- looks good inside and out
- theater-style interior lighting
- good dash lighting and layout
What we dislike about it:
- trunk space (it's not bad, but with a family of 4 it can get a little tight)
- can't get the integrated home-link receiver to work (for the garage door) - although it could be just me
Our wishlist:
- available trunk lid spoiler (only the wing spoiler is available for the hybrid)
- fog lamps (not even an option)
Overall, we are thrilled with our purchase, as we realize that you won't get absolutely everything you want without (really) deep pockets.
What we like about it:
- smooth and quiet, 'near-luxury' ride (thanks to CVT)
- smooth transition between gas & electric modes
- ample acceleration
- excellent fuel economy
- handles well
- minimal road noise
- excellent sound system
- Bluetooth integration for hands-free calling
- smart key with push-button start
- looks good inside and out
- theater-style interior lighting
- good dash lighting and layout
What we dislike about it:
- trunk space (it's not bad, but with a family of 4 it can get a little tight)
- can't get the integrated home-link receiver to work (for the garage door) - although it could be just me
Our wishlist:
- available trunk lid spoiler (only the wing spoiler is available for the hybrid)
- fog lamps (not even an option)
Overall, we are thrilled with our purchase, as we realize that you won't get absolutely everything you want without (really) deep pockets.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Excellent for SOME buyers!
Pros: Mileage (Sometimes), Spacious!
Cons: Small trunk, lots of strange noises, not silky smooth
Review: We have over 3,000 miles on our Camry Hybrid. Our mileage per tank has been as high as 37 mpg (which strongly beats the real world mileage of any of Toyota's all gas Camrys), and as low as 33 mpg. We average around 35 (real mileage, not the mileage displayed by the car's computer which is not as accurate). The driving conditions can affect mileage greatly. If you do a lot of driving around town at 40 or 35 mph, you can get great mileage. If you do a lot of highway driving, you won't get mileage as high, but it will still be fairly good. If you only take short trips (especially under a mile), you could be greatly disappointed.
The Hybrid takes some getting used to when driving if you are like me and aware of all sounds and vibrations. If you're more like my wife, you won't notice as much, you'll just feel like you're driving a somewhat slow four cylinder. You can feel a slight shudder as the gas engine starts up, the torque frequently feels inconsistent, and the brakes do feel grabby when you get down to around 10 mph. The car also makes plenty of weird noises (most noticeable AFTER you stop and get out). And the trunk is deceptively SMALL. Once you put a large piece of luggage in there, you're basically filling in the gaps with anything else. And the car's rated capacity is only about 900 pounds, which seems low for a sedan.
HOWEVER, we still like our car. The mileage is a big reason, but even with the cheap plastics, the build quality is still Toyota high. You don't NEED to learn how to drive the hybrid, but you can improve your mileage by reading forums and learning how to lift your foot off of the accelerator for a second (and then lightly pushing down again). We don't need the full trunk all that often, and the cabin is much more spacious than a Prius (my in-laws have one and I don't fit very well in that, but the Camry is huge!). Mileage is less than the Prius, but it's much more comfortable. I recently got to spend some time in both cars within minutes, and the Prius is cramped for me while the Camry is luxurious.
The bells and whistles are pretty darn cool, too. Lots of little storage compartments, bluetooth (to work wirelessly and automatically with cell phones through the radio, which I love), auxiliary input for the stereo (standard stereo mini-jack with a pass-through for the cable to a small slot-shaped compartment for an ipod or sansa), individual temp controls for driver and passenger (and an Eco-mode for the A/C which saves energy by adjusting the temperature more gradually) with vents for the rear seats as well.
My biggest negative really is the small and oddly-shaped trunk (the battery is under the area behind the rear seats and requires some space and air venting through the trunk). The pass-through from the cabin to the trunk is ridiculously small (about 15 inches wide and 5 or 6 inches tall), and you can't release the back seat catches from inside the cabin (they are released from the trunk - which is nice for security of you valet your car, but sort of annoying if you like to take road trips and access things in the trunk while on the road).
I had a 1996 V-6 Camry, and I loved it. Lots of power, plenty of room, big trunk, and I even liked the styling (weird, I know). We occasionally would drop one of the rear seats to get to stuff on the trunk while we were on the road. I also used the car to help many people move, I could get a lot of stuff in there, especially by dropping both rear seats and filling the trunk and cabin. Absolutely impossible with the hybrid.
There are definitely some trade-offs when buying the hybrid. You lose a good chunk of cargo space and need to get used to different vibrations and such while driving (and there's nothing in the way of manually downshifting to improve acceleration - you just push the pedal and hope). But, the build quality is very good, the materials are a bit cheap but fine, the bells and whistles are nice, and the mileage can be very good.
If you only drive a couple of miles each way on most trips, this car isn't for you. It will run the gas engine almost the entire time to warm it up, and your mileage will suffer (though 20 mpg reported in other reviews seems awfully low - I don't believe that's at all typical but it could be possible).
If you're big like me, a test drive is a must (I tried several and found that models with a sunroof lose too much headroom for me - I have a long torso). I also recommend driving it for as long as they will let you, at as many different speeds as you can. I took mine up a hill (over 15% grade!) and felt that it handled it fairly well (one of the times when the electric traction motor adds to the engine's oomph), I sped over speed bumps to see how solid it felt, and I took a lot of corners because I knew I had a heavy battery over the rear axle.
I am currently trying to resolve the issues with the trunk space by building some contoured storage units that conform to the weirdly shaped trunk floor and pass-through.
The Hybrid takes some getting used to when driving if you are like me and aware of all sounds and vibrations. If you're more like my wife, you won't notice as much, you'll just feel like you're driving a somewhat slow four cylinder. You can feel a slight shudder as the gas engine starts up, the torque frequently feels inconsistent, and the brakes do feel grabby when you get down to around 10 mph. The car also makes plenty of weird noises (most noticeable AFTER you stop and get out). And the trunk is deceptively SMALL. Once you put a large piece of luggage in there, you're basically filling in the gaps with anything else. And the car's rated capacity is only about 900 pounds, which seems low for a sedan.
HOWEVER, we still like our car. The mileage is a big reason, but even with the cheap plastics, the build quality is still Toyota high. You don't NEED to learn how to drive the hybrid, but you can improve your mileage by reading forums and learning how to lift your foot off of the accelerator for a second (and then lightly pushing down again). We don't need the full trunk all that often, and the cabin is much more spacious than a Prius (my in-laws have one and I don't fit very well in that, but the Camry is huge!). Mileage is less than the Prius, but it's much more comfortable. I recently got to spend some time in both cars within minutes, and the Prius is cramped for me while the Camry is luxurious.
The bells and whistles are pretty darn cool, too. Lots of little storage compartments, bluetooth (to work wirelessly and automatically with cell phones through the radio, which I love), auxiliary input for the stereo (standard stereo mini-jack with a pass-through for the cable to a small slot-shaped compartment for an ipod or sansa), individual temp controls for driver and passenger (and an Eco-mode for the A/C which saves energy by adjusting the temperature more gradually) with vents for the rear seats as well.
My biggest negative really is the small and oddly-shaped trunk (the battery is under the area behind the rear seats and requires some space and air venting through the trunk). The pass-through from the cabin to the trunk is ridiculously small (about 15 inches wide and 5 or 6 inches tall), and you can't release the back seat catches from inside the cabin (they are released from the trunk - which is nice for security of you valet your car, but sort of annoying if you like to take road trips and access things in the trunk while on the road).
I had a 1996 V-6 Camry, and I loved it. Lots of power, plenty of room, big trunk, and I even liked the styling (weird, I know). We occasionally would drop one of the rear seats to get to stuff on the trunk while we were on the road. I also used the car to help many people move, I could get a lot of stuff in there, especially by dropping both rear seats and filling the trunk and cabin. Absolutely impossible with the hybrid.
There are definitely some trade-offs when buying the hybrid. You lose a good chunk of cargo space and need to get used to different vibrations and such while driving (and there's nothing in the way of manually downshifting to improve acceleration - you just push the pedal and hope). But, the build quality is very good, the materials are a bit cheap but fine, the bells and whistles are nice, and the mileage can be very good.
If you only drive a couple of miles each way on most trips, this car isn't for you. It will run the gas engine almost the entire time to warm it up, and your mileage will suffer (though 20 mpg reported in other reviews seems awfully low - I don't believe that's at all typical but it could be possible).
If you're big like me, a test drive is a must (I tried several and found that models with a sunroof lose too much headroom for me - I have a long torso). I also recommend driving it for as long as they will let you, at as many different speeds as you can. I took mine up a hill (over 15% grade!) and felt that it handled it fairly well (one of the times when the electric traction motor adds to the engine's oomph), I sped over speed bumps to see how solid it felt, and I took a lot of corners because I knew I had a heavy battery over the rear axle.
I am currently trying to resolve the issues with the trunk space by building some contoured storage units that conform to the weirdly shaped trunk floor and pass-through.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Excellent!
Pros: Great fuel economy and high-tech gadgets
Cons: Small trunk
Review: I've been driving this car for 6 months it is an excellent car. It is very quiet and interior is very spacious, especially for the rear passengers since there is no bump in the middle. I have a 17 mile commute (one way) and I have been getting 41 mpg on average. The commute is 70% suburban roads (speed limit 35) and 30% highway. Interestingly if I put in no. 93 gas the mpg will increase to 44. So the gas savings is evident.
The car has bluetooth for your cell phone and a 4-disc CD changer that plays audio CD as well as mp3, wma CDs. It has a audio jack for mp3 players but doesn't control the device so it can't display your songs and playlists, etc.
The trunk is small. Although the back seats fold down, there is only a hole that goes through to the car interior. So you can only put a pole through there, which is pretty useless.
Overall it is a very cool car and you can save some money on gas.
The car has bluetooth for your cell phone and a 4-disc CD changer that plays audio CD as well as mp3, wma CDs. It has a audio jack for mp3 players but doesn't control the device so it can't display your songs and playlists, etc.
The trunk is small. Although the back seats fold down, there is only a hole that goes through to the car interior. So you can only put a pole through there, which is pretty useless.
Overall it is a very cool car and you can save some money on gas.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great Car...
Pros: Gas mileage, bluetooth, consumption gauges, air filtration
Cons: Trunk space, no rear camera
Review: After reviewing and driving a number of hybrid vehicles, the Camry was the best fit for our family. The non-Toyota technology does not provide the excellent in-town MPG. Most of our family's driving occurs in town. We also checked out the Altima, but preferred the Camry's options (although the Altima provides a much higher tax write off).
We have owned the car for a month. Our in town MPG is 41.1 for our weekday commute (school, work, etc). A recent trip to Southern California scored a solid 37 MPG. I have found that the ride is smooth and study (no jumping), and the brake system is great.
The filtration system has seemed to be beneficial as we endure another Central Valley summer, and we love all of the car's fun features. The consumption guages have been extremely helpful in teaching me how to drive the car efficiently -- it's like improving your score on a video game.
We enjoy the MP3 input connection, and rarely use the CD player.
Finally, I really appreciate the hands free bluetooth system. I am able to coordinate kid pick ups, errands, etc without taking my eye off the road.
The trunk is very small, I have found myself needing to fold down the back seat to fit items from large shopping trips.
Also, the Prius provides a standard rear camera, which they did not include on the Camry.
We have owned the car for a month. Our in town MPG is 41.1 for our weekday commute (school, work, etc). A recent trip to Southern California scored a solid 37 MPG. I have found that the ride is smooth and study (no jumping), and the brake system is great.
The filtration system has seemed to be beneficial as we endure another Central Valley summer, and we love all of the car's fun features. The consumption guages have been extremely helpful in teaching me how to drive the car efficiently -- it's like improving your score on a video game.
We enjoy the MP3 input connection, and rarely use the CD player.
Finally, I really appreciate the hands free bluetooth system. I am able to coordinate kid pick ups, errands, etc without taking my eye off the road.
The trunk is very small, I have found myself needing to fold down the back seat to fit items from large shopping trips.
Also, the Prius provides a standard rear camera, which they did not include on the Camry.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great ! But not cheap, loaded over $30,000.
Pros: Gas millage at no sacrifice of performance. A comfortable beauty.
Cons: GPS Map Software behind what it should be.
Review: I got 44 at 65 with speed control set on Interstate. Contrary to what most believe you will get much less in city stop and go. I get about 32. It varies greatly with how much you have to change speeds and come to stops. But, because the gasoline motor stops completly when stopped or slowing down, and charges the electric engine battery during slowing, it will do much better than a gasoline motor only.
When the two engines go through their changes they are very smooth, less vibration than an ordinary automatic gear change, there is no motor delay on acceleration.
The button that is used instead of a key to start the car is tricky. Since both engines stop when the car is stopped it is easy to walk away from the car with the motors in ready position. I have returned to the car with the gasoline motor running.
There are some very good new innovations in theft protection. Difficult to explain in this short message.
Map software for GPS did not contain a street that is at least 10 years old.
Bottom line, I most certainly would buy it again if I totaled it tomorrow. (Assmuming I am alive.) I figure at trade in it will have held its value above all other 2007 cars.
When the two engines go through their changes they are very smooth, less vibration than an ordinary automatic gear change, there is no motor delay on acceleration.
The button that is used instead of a key to start the car is tricky. Since both engines stop when the car is stopped it is easy to walk away from the car with the motors in ready position. I have returned to the car with the gasoline motor running.
There are some very good new innovations in theft protection. Difficult to explain in this short message.
Map software for GPS did not contain a street that is at least 10 years old.
Bottom line, I most certainly would buy it again if I totaled it tomorrow. (Assmuming I am alive.) I figure at trade in it will have held its value above all other 2007 cars.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
So far, so great
Pros: Impressive mileage, convenient handsfree operation
Cons: Slight delay moving from stop
Review: I'm still in the honeymoon period with the Camry, but enjoyed my first 1,000 miles more than I thought. Passengers like the comfort, including in the back seat. I got it loaded with the nav system and particularly the bluetooth integration with my cell phone. Once I set it up, the Camry reliably links up with my phone automatically. Toyota put in some nice touches, like a built-in remote that I easily set up to open my garage door. I've driven mostly on the highway at first and have averaged about 35 mpg.
The only negative I noticed so far is a fraction of second delay between the time I press the accelerator and the car starts to move. I noticed it in the test drive, but the car has enough nice features where I bought it anyway. I'm glad I did.
The only negative I noticed so far is a fraction of second delay between the time I press the accelerator and the car starts to move. I noticed it in the test drive, but the car has enough nice features where I bought it anyway. I'm glad I did.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Excellent Hybrid Car
Pros: fuel economy, soft ride, nice interior, quality, styling
Cons: trunk space
Review: I purchased this vehicle in March and have put 3500 miles on it. So far the car has been perfect. No complaints whatsoever. I'm averaging 33-36 mpg fuel economy on mostly shorter trips, but this car can get 40 mpg on longer highway trips. For comparison, my 2003 Ford Focus (a much smaller car) averages mid 20s.
This car is incredibly well built. The hybrid technology works flawlessly and effortlessy. I highly recommend the rear spoiler for added style. For under $300, it really improves the look of the car. Much sportier.
This car is incredibly well built. The hybrid technology works flawlessly and effortlessy. I highly recommend the rear spoiler for added style. For under $300, it really improves the look of the car. Much sportier.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I can't stop driving it!
Pros: sleek, sexy, comfy, agile
Cons: SAT radio is a scam
Review: I've had my new '07 Camry Hybrid for 5 months and seem to always be finding new "excuses" to go for a drive. This is the best car I've ever owned ... so far. I especially enjoy the auto-climate control in the hot Texas summer. You can set different temps for each side of the car.
I also feel very safe in the Camry. It's braking system is excellent and of course, there are air bags everywhere ... just in case.
Don't be fooled by the 4 cylinder engine--this puppy can scoot! It kicks out around 186 horses at max thrust--almost enough kick to pull a few G's. It's amazing how I can just blow the socks off of most everything else on the road. Of course, that screws up the gas mileage--but not by that much. I drive the hell out of the car most of the time and still average around 35mpg, IN CITY. Every now and then I will play the game to see how good the mileage can get, and it will press just over 40 mpg. But to get that consistently, you really have to change your driving habits.
The sound system is awesome too! Standard JBL 400 watt baby that flat kicks it!
Only real disappointment is the so-called Satellite Ready system on the radio. Yeah, it's ready I guess--but the ONLY compatable system is sold by Toyota! And guess how much the dealers want? Try $700. For under $200 you can get a pretty nice after-market model installed, but then it won't work with the built-in radio. This is something REALLY STUPID that Toyota didn't think through very well--they should have just added true SAT reception to every vehicle--that would have been very cool, and smart.
This is a helluva car. You'll luv it.
I also feel very safe in the Camry. It's braking system is excellent and of course, there are air bags everywhere ... just in case.
Don't be fooled by the 4 cylinder engine--this puppy can scoot! It kicks out around 186 horses at max thrust--almost enough kick to pull a few G's. It's amazing how I can just blow the socks off of most everything else on the road. Of course, that screws up the gas mileage--but not by that much. I drive the hell out of the car most of the time and still average around 35mpg, IN CITY. Every now and then I will play the game to see how good the mileage can get, and it will press just over 40 mpg. But to get that consistently, you really have to change your driving habits.
The sound system is awesome too! Standard JBL 400 watt baby that flat kicks it!
Only real disappointment is the so-called Satellite Ready system on the radio. Yeah, it's ready I guess--but the ONLY compatable system is sold by Toyota! And guess how much the dealers want? Try $700. For under $200 you can get a pretty nice after-market model installed, but then it won't work with the built-in radio. This is something REALLY STUPID that Toyota didn't think through very well--they should have just added true SAT reception to every vehicle--that would have been very cool, and smart.
This is a helluva car. You'll luv it.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
60,000 miles in 6 months and YES the correct choice
Pros: Features, Ride, VALUE, Summer MPG, Tax Credit, Size, Quiet, Comfortable, Dependable
Cons: Voice Recognition, Navigation System, Its a Pooch, winter fuel economy, squeeks & Trunk Space
Review: I ordered this car, decked out, without seeing or driving it. Yes, Camry was a good choice, great ride, easy to drive, quiet at highway and city speeds. The voice activated features and the navigation on this vehicle are awful, don't waste your money unless you like to drive in circles, eventually getting to your destination. The voice activation system does not understand english.
Going from US to Japanese I am impressed because I've done nothing more than routine maintenance. There is a squeak in the console that they cant seem to fix but the car has had no warranty work except for the squeak. The fuel economy is much worse in the city than Toyota claims but the highway is more than claimed. I see 32MPG City and 40-42 on interstate. If I drive on rural highways (@60MPH average) the fuel economy jumps to 50-55MPG. If I use the cruise control it will take 5 mpg off those numbers. Winter is another story, 32MPG is all I can get, less if you have a strong headwind.
I went from a GMC Envoy at $50 per day to the Camry @ $40 every other day (fuel only) so even in the winter I am a happy camper. Camry is not as cool or functional as the Envoy but the fuel saving makes the difference for me. I did get in on the IRS tax credit of $2600, an added benefit plus I write off mileage.
I put a quick 60K miles on this car in 6 months and I have not been disappointed. The car takes a week or so to get used to driving if you have never driven a Hybrid. If you like to drive the torque curve of your vehicle don't buy this one, maybe all hybrids are the same here. This car will get very bad fuel economy unless you get it to speed and maintain with gradual adjustments. Remember, you didn't purchase a performance sports car. The last thing I will comment on is the trunk, it is small because of the batteries, the fold down rear seat is a joke because the batteries create a hump making the fold down seat not functional.
Going from US to Japanese I am impressed because I've done nothing more than routine maintenance. There is a squeak in the console that they cant seem to fix but the car has had no warranty work except for the squeak. The fuel economy is much worse in the city than Toyota claims but the highway is more than claimed. I see 32MPG City and 40-42 on interstate. If I drive on rural highways (@60MPH average) the fuel economy jumps to 50-55MPG. If I use the cruise control it will take 5 mpg off those numbers. Winter is another story, 32MPG is all I can get, less if you have a strong headwind.
I went from a GMC Envoy at $50 per day to the Camry @ $40 every other day (fuel only) so even in the winter I am a happy camper. Camry is not as cool or functional as the Envoy but the fuel saving makes the difference for me. I did get in on the IRS tax credit of $2600, an added benefit plus I write off mileage.
I put a quick 60K miles on this car in 6 months and I have not been disappointed. The car takes a week or so to get used to driving if you have never driven a Hybrid. If you like to drive the torque curve of your vehicle don't buy this one, maybe all hybrids are the same here. This car will get very bad fuel economy unless you get it to speed and maintain with gradual adjustments. Remember, you didn't purchase a performance sports car. The last thing I will comment on is the trunk, it is small because of the batteries, the fold down rear seat is a joke because the batteries create a hump making the fold down seat not functional.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I love this car!
Pros: Great milage
Cons: Bumpers scratch too easily.
Review: I love this car. It is a great road care. I consistently get around 45 mph on the road. (Highest 46.6 mph on a 75 mile trip). Very comfortable. Amazing how many compliments I get.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
The perfect product for me
Pros: In opting for the fully loaded hybrid version of the model, I have been able to satisfy every need
Cons: Non North American manufacturer; I would love to be able to write this review for a North American product, unfortunately, non have provided any evidence that they are capable of such a coup.
Review: With reference to some of the overly negative reviews I've read (not entirely from this site alone), I'm disappointed to see that good old fashioned American protectionism still has such a loud voice. Those who have chosen to extend their own negative opinions (as valid as they may or may not be) without acknowledging the obvious merit of this product have exposed themselves as being dishonest in their reviews. This, for me, is the perfect derivative of a historically proven automobile. I am truly fond of the exterior and interior styling. I am completely satisfied with the standard features and the options provided which fill the remainder of my own frivolous needs 
. I am excited to own a car that showcases forward-looking thinking and cutting-edge technology. This is truly a brilliant and notable success. Of course, opinions may vary. And, no, I do not work for Toyota. 
Although, I might like to...
. I am excited to own a car that showcases forward-looking thinking and cutting-edge technology. This is truly a brilliant and notable success. Of course, opinions may vary. And, no, I do not work for Toyota. Although, I might like to... User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Nice car...worth the price
Pros: Toyota reliability very apparent
Cons: Pricey, some bugs
Review: I've driven the 2007 Camry hybrid about 3500 miles. It is quiet and well built. I love the car.
Specific Pros: very quiet, runs smoothly, and the gas engine on/off sounds are not bothersome to me. Stereo system and other interior design aspects are excellent. I get 38-39 MPG with combined highway/city driving. I would buy another one.
Specific Cons: The push button start is confusing if it doesn't start. There is no starter motor one can listen for, etc. Also, it is quite pricey. My model was $31,000. I bought it off the showroom floor because of the long wait, so I got all the bells and whistles. The automatic temp control is 10 degrees off consistently. As for the GPS system---not only is it easily confused, it is hard to figure out. If you want one, I'd look at aftermarket products.
All in all, an excellent car, but not a perfect one.
Specific Pros: very quiet, runs smoothly, and the gas engine on/off sounds are not bothersome to me. Stereo system and other interior design aspects are excellent. I get 38-39 MPG with combined highway/city driving. I would buy another one.
Specific Cons: The push button start is confusing if it doesn't start. There is no starter motor one can listen for, etc. Also, it is quite pricey. My model was $31,000. I bought it off the showroom floor because of the long wait, so I got all the bells and whistles. The automatic temp control is 10 degrees off consistently. As for the GPS system---not only is it easily confused, it is hard to figure out. If you want one, I'd look at aftermarket products.
All in all, an excellent car, but not a perfect one.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great car but...
Pros: gas milage, Noise, Built in Bluetooth, Smart Key
Cons: Smart Key system Trunk Space
Review: We've had our car for almost a year now and its been great. We use it everyday hauling around two young kids and it fits us well. The smart key is great with kids since the doors unlock as you approach the car. There are only two downsides so far. The truck is smaller then average because of the battery. We can only fit our large stroller (a phil&ted E3) and not much else. By far the worst feature is the price of the smart key. We lost a key recently and a replacement cost us $490.86. Yes thats right if you lose or should want another key it will set you back $500. You can't go anywhere else other then a toyota dealer for a key. Other then that the car great.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Exactly as Advertised.
Pros: Comfortable, loaded, and fun to drive.
Cons: None identified yet.
Review: Our Camry hybrid (fully loaded) is roomy, quiet, and comfortable, and consistently gets slightly better than 40 MPG. (On flat ground in the city, the Camry gets approx. 45 MPG.) The car has plenty of power, and is a one-of-a-kind combination of fuel efficiency, comfort, and power. It certainly doesn't look, feel, or drive like an economy car. Bravo, Toyota.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great gas mileage and features for a midsized sedan
Pros: Gas mileage, acceleration, technology, styling, comfort, quiet
Cons: Limited trunk space, cannot control Nav if the car is in motion
Review: You can buy a BMW or Mercedes. You can even buy a Premium Japanese car like the Acura, Lexus, or Infinity. However, for the price and features in this car, you can save about $10,000 less and get a lot more car.
INTERIOR
The instrumetation includes the basic speedometer with a display toggling the odometer, outside temperature, and trip counter. The center console on the dashboard controls the stereo, CD changer, GPS, and other features such as routine maintenance, calendar, phone book, and other diagnostic system screens. The air conditioning controls are in the center of the console, also.
A nice touch is a compartment to connect your MP3 player to the Auxiliary input. There is also a power jack to charge the player.
The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and contains controls for air conditioning, stereo, Bluetooth, CD changer, and voice commands for the GPS.
The center console in between the front seats have a standard bin for personal items and cups.
There is an ECO button for improved fuel economy.
The driver's seat is electronically controlled with lumbar support. The rear seats do not recline but they do fold forward. An air vent in the center of the rear seats gives more ventilation for passengers. Behind the head rests of the rear seat passengers is a vent to cool the battery.
The seats are leather and very comfortable.
Trunk space is about 10.4 cubic feet (1/3 of which is taken up by the battery) - it is just enough for two golf bags.
The windows are large and visibility throughout is very good.
SAFETY:
Safety features: Airbags, side curtain airbags and knee airbags. This vehicle also got a 5 star crash rating.
This has a 'black box' that notifies the investigators information about the crash similar to that of aircraft (this could be good or bad).
Daytime running lights work well.
DRIVING:
Acceleration is quite surprising for a 4 cylinder hybrid with various testers reporting a 0-60 in 7.7 seconds. Passing and merging on the highway is a breeze. The ride is quite quiet, even with the sunroof open. The bumps are taken and the shocks are firm (more firm than the 'bouncy feeling' Avalon).
Braking sounds like an aircraft slowing down but it works very well. Cornering is good without excessive 'leaning'.
Given the size of the vehicle, it gets excellent gas mileage.
NAVIGATION: The controls for the DVD navigation are easy and intuitive. You cannot control the destinations unless you are stopped which is an inconvenience (especially, if your passenger is pushing the buttons).
BLUETOOTH: Reception is good and the call quality is clear.
KEYLESS OPERATION: With the key in your pocket, you have keyless entry. Just grab the driver's side handle and get in. The car is started by a push button start. The trunk opens with a touch of a button. All of this with the keys in your pocket.
SUMMARY:
Overall, Motor Trend's Car of the Year is topped by an excellent all around car, powered by the Hybrid Synergy Drive. I highly recommend this car despite the smaller trunk space.
INTERIOR
The instrumetation includes the basic speedometer with a display toggling the odometer, outside temperature, and trip counter. The center console on the dashboard controls the stereo, CD changer, GPS, and other features such as routine maintenance, calendar, phone book, and other diagnostic system screens. The air conditioning controls are in the center of the console, also.
A nice touch is a compartment to connect your MP3 player to the Auxiliary input. There is also a power jack to charge the player.
The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and contains controls for air conditioning, stereo, Bluetooth, CD changer, and voice commands for the GPS.
The center console in between the front seats have a standard bin for personal items and cups.
There is an ECO button for improved fuel economy.
The driver's seat is electronically controlled with lumbar support. The rear seats do not recline but they do fold forward. An air vent in the center of the rear seats gives more ventilation for passengers. Behind the head rests of the rear seat passengers is a vent to cool the battery.
The seats are leather and very comfortable.
Trunk space is about 10.4 cubic feet (1/3 of which is taken up by the battery) - it is just enough for two golf bags.
The windows are large and visibility throughout is very good.
SAFETY:
Safety features: Airbags, side curtain airbags and knee airbags. This vehicle also got a 5 star crash rating.
This has a 'black box' that notifies the investigators information about the crash similar to that of aircraft (this could be good or bad).
Daytime running lights work well.
DRIVING:
Acceleration is quite surprising for a 4 cylinder hybrid with various testers reporting a 0-60 in 7.7 seconds. Passing and merging on the highway is a breeze. The ride is quite quiet, even with the sunroof open. The bumps are taken and the shocks are firm (more firm than the 'bouncy feeling' Avalon).
Braking sounds like an aircraft slowing down but it works very well. Cornering is good without excessive 'leaning'.
Given the size of the vehicle, it gets excellent gas mileage.
NAVIGATION: The controls for the DVD navigation are easy and intuitive. You cannot control the destinations unless you are stopped which is an inconvenience (especially, if your passenger is pushing the buttons).
BLUETOOTH: Reception is good and the call quality is clear.
KEYLESS OPERATION: With the key in your pocket, you have keyless entry. Just grab the driver's side handle and get in. The car is started by a push button start. The trunk opens with a touch of a button. All of this with the keys in your pocket.
SUMMARY:
Overall, Motor Trend's Car of the Year is topped by an excellent all around car, powered by the Hybrid Synergy Drive. I highly recommend this car despite the smaller trunk space.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Quality and value that raise the bar for competitors.
Pros: This car provides good economy, is stylish and is a pleasure to operate. It even makes my wife happier about riding with me, since it has gentled my driving style.
Cons: The trunk space is very limited and the pass thru area is extremely small, about what a set of skis would fill. Also, the trunk lid closes with a rather tinny sound.
Review: I bought a fully loaded Camry Hybrid in August 06 after walking in to a dealer. Actually I bought two within 48 hours, one for my son who had been waiting over 4 months for a car in the San Francisco area. I find the car a truely quiet and enjoyable ride. It accelerates as well as I need and stops smoothly. On short trips around town I get 32 mpg and on the freeway at 75-80 I get 36-38 mpg. The cruise control gets better mileage than I can and gives a smoother acceleration.
There are a few minor irritants. The trunk is loaded with two 26" suitcases. The instruction book is inadequate in places, with hard to find or follow instructions on the GPS and Bluetooth operation. And the voice recognition system has some problems with short words.
I keep cars a long time, the last one being a 12 year old Lincoln Towncar that caught fire in the garage after being parked 17 hours. I bought an extended warrenty (8 years) and still, after the Hybrid tax rebate, feel I got a good value. This is not a low price car, but for drivers who enjoy a pleasant atmosphere and fewer gas stops, this is a real solution.
There are a few minor irritants. The trunk is loaded with two 26" suitcases. The instruction book is inadequate in places, with hard to find or follow instructions on the GPS and Bluetooth operation. And the voice recognition system has some problems with short words.
I keep cars a long time, the last one being a 12 year old Lincoln Towncar that caught fire in the garage after being parked 17 hours. I bought an extended warrenty (8 years) and still, after the Hybrid tax rebate, feel I got a good value. This is not a low price car, but for drivers who enjoy a pleasant atmosphere and fewer gas stops, this is a real solution.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
An Outstanding Automobile--Near Perfect
Pros: Stylish, economical, fun, and environmentally friendly!
Cons: Navigation system is complicated.
Review: Were it not for the complex navigation system, this car would be an even ten, not a hair's breadth from being a ten. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade the navigation system for anything; it does so many things that just reading the manual is not enough. When my partner is driving, I usually have the navigation system book in hand and experiment to see what all it can do although I have to work fast because all the functions do not operate while the car is moving, which is good.
The driver has a button on the steering wheel which provides information such as MPG, whether the electric motor or gas engine or both, are propelling the car, etc. as well as buttons for speech navigation, and audio control which can be operated without taking the drivers eyes off the road.
While traveling on rural roads, the navigation syatem always showed the road the car was on as well as all crossroads, some of which were just dirt roads. The voice system advised that it would not give commands until we returned to the Interstate, which was not a problem as the navigation screen showed the way.
Our Hybrid is two months old. It has 961 miles on the odometer, and we have only purchased gasoline three times because of rising gas prices, not need. Of course, the dealer delivered the car with a full tank.
On its only real highway trip, it averaged 36.4 mpg: very close to the sticker's 38 mpg for highway driving. In the city, the average has been between 36.2 and 42.5 mpg, also very close to the 40 mpg on the sticker. Overall, mileage is in the 36+ mpg range. (At one point city mileage was 99.9 mpg, but that was a fluke.)
Thanks to the gearless drivetrain, the ride is smooth. The handling is precise.
Even when the gasoline engine is on, the car is amazingly quiet, and when the electric motor is on, there is no perceptable sound.
The Camry Hybrid was purchased with a leather interior and the dealer installed birdseye maple woodgrain interior, however the woodgrain was not installed until the second week of ownership. I found the original interior very pleasant and tastefully done, despite what the first reviewer said.
I am looking forward to the tax credit that I take when I file this year's Income Taxes next year. It, along with the gasoline savings, will make up for the price difference over a similarly equipped XLE for the first year of ownership.
Speaking of similarities, a friend has a Lexus ES. When parked together, the two look identical from the outside. The Lexus has some options not available in the Camry, but it also has a higher pricetag, and the differences in options are for the most part minor.
Some of the reviews that I read prior to purchasing the Hybrid suggested that the fact that the engine stops when the car isn't running was hard to get used to or that the shift from gasoline to electric was not smooth. I have NOT found that to be true. The transition is seamless, and its nice to sit in a car without the engine running when at a stop. Reguired no getting used to.
Don't take my word for it. test drive a Camry Hybrid yourself and I think you will be sold; it is an amazing automobile.
I have seen other 2007 Camry's on the road, but have yet to see another Hybrid. I like that uniqueness however I don't understand why anyone would purchase a Camry and not conisder and buy the Hybrid.
CNet questioned the 10 rating and made me justify it using their Rating wizard. I am an attorney, not a dealer nor do I have any connection whatsoever with Toyota.
The hairs breadth from a 10 is my unbiased opinon as a satisfied owner.
The driver has a button on the steering wheel which provides information such as MPG, whether the electric motor or gas engine or both, are propelling the car, etc. as well as buttons for speech navigation, and audio control which can be operated without taking the drivers eyes off the road.
While traveling on rural roads, the navigation syatem always showed the road the car was on as well as all crossroads, some of which were just dirt roads. The voice system advised that it would not give commands until we returned to the Interstate, which was not a problem as the navigation screen showed the way.
Our Hybrid is two months old. It has 961 miles on the odometer, and we have only purchased gasoline three times because of rising gas prices, not need. Of course, the dealer delivered the car with a full tank.
On its only real highway trip, it averaged 36.4 mpg: very close to the sticker's 38 mpg for highway driving. In the city, the average has been between 36.2 and 42.5 mpg, also very close to the 40 mpg on the sticker. Overall, mileage is in the 36+ mpg range. (At one point city mileage was 99.9 mpg, but that was a fluke.)
Thanks to the gearless drivetrain, the ride is smooth. The handling is precise.
Even when the gasoline engine is on, the car is amazingly quiet, and when the electric motor is on, there is no perceptable sound.
The Camry Hybrid was purchased with a leather interior and the dealer installed birdseye maple woodgrain interior, however the woodgrain was not installed until the second week of ownership. I found the original interior very pleasant and tastefully done, despite what the first reviewer said.
I am looking forward to the tax credit that I take when I file this year's Income Taxes next year. It, along with the gasoline savings, will make up for the price difference over a similarly equipped XLE for the first year of ownership.
Speaking of similarities, a friend has a Lexus ES. When parked together, the two look identical from the outside. The Lexus has some options not available in the Camry, but it also has a higher pricetag, and the differences in options are for the most part minor.
Some of the reviews that I read prior to purchasing the Hybrid suggested that the fact that the engine stops when the car isn't running was hard to get used to or that the shift from gasoline to electric was not smooth. I have NOT found that to be true. The transition is seamless, and its nice to sit in a car without the engine running when at a stop. Reguired no getting used to.
Don't take my word for it. test drive a Camry Hybrid yourself and I think you will be sold; it is an amazing automobile.
I have seen other 2007 Camry's on the road, but have yet to see another Hybrid. I like that uniqueness however I don't understand why anyone would purchase a Camry and not conisder and buy the Hybrid.
CNet questioned the 10 rating and made me justify it using their Rating wizard. I am an attorney, not a dealer nor do I have any connection whatsoever with Toyota.
The hairs breadth from a 10 is my unbiased opinon as a satisfied owner.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Feeling good.
Pros: Mileage, ride
Cons: New driving mindset
Review: I paid $25,700 for by 2007 Camry Hybrid with a minimalist trim (sunroof, heated mirrors, mats) My tax credits will be $1,300 federal, $2,200 State. I did a side by side comparison with the Honda Accord hybrid. The Accord had more pep and a sportier ride but I was not convinced of its fuel economy. And it only comes fully decked out making it more expensive.
I am impressed by smoothness of the Camry's electronic CVT. It gives the impression that you are not accelerating quickly but indeed you are if you watch the speedometer.
The interior is a bit spartan looking and I worry about damaging the plastic door undertrim, banging my shoe on it when I get in and out.
This car makes a different driver out of you. You become obsessed with gas mileage, obsessed with trying to cruise on the battery only, obsessed with the trying to get your foot off the accelerator, etc. But all these obsessions feel good at the moment. I just hope I do not crash the thing while watching the gauges and displays.
At 6' 1" I find the headroom a little scarce even with the seat in the lowest setting. I occassionally bang my knees on the steering wheel even though I adjust and telescope it. In the most comfortable driving position, I find it hard to reach the dash board comfortably.
My wife loves the ride from the right seat and comments about the smooth ride all the time. This is the baby boomers hybrid. I can't see my 18 year old nephew getting too excited trying to tear about with it.
I am impressed by smoothness of the Camry's electronic CVT. It gives the impression that you are not accelerating quickly but indeed you are if you watch the speedometer.
The interior is a bit spartan looking and I worry about damaging the plastic door undertrim, banging my shoe on it when I get in and out.
This car makes a different driver out of you. You become obsessed with gas mileage, obsessed with trying to cruise on the battery only, obsessed with the trying to get your foot off the accelerator, etc. But all these obsessions feel good at the moment. I just hope I do not crash the thing while watching the gauges and displays.
At 6' 1" I find the headroom a little scarce even with the seat in the lowest setting. I occassionally bang my knees on the steering wheel even though I adjust and telescope it. In the most comfortable driving position, I find it hard to reach the dash board comfortably.
My wife loves the ride from the right seat and comments about the smooth ride all the time. This is the baby boomers hybrid. I can't see my 18 year old nephew getting too excited trying to tear about with it.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Spectacular!!
Pros: MPG..quiet!
Cons: small trunk.
Review: I've had my 2007 Hybrid Camry now one week after my trade-in 1998 Audi A6 black. Best decision in 2007 so far...lets not go there..waaay too pricey to maintain with an expired warranty. My new black beauty has grey leather interior, along with the nav system and all the trimmings. And oh..I've been averaging 36 mpg on my first free tank of gas from my dealer. After driving 320 miles so far, I still have a half tank to go...YAAHH!! Did anyone mention you can also use 87 octane. Can we do the math folks!! HAPPY HAPPY!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Nice vehicle, great mileage
Pros: mileage, comfort, ride quality
Cons: trunk a bit small
Review: Have filled tank 5 times with worst mileage 38.1 mpg in mixed urban/highway and best 39.4 in straight highway miles. Both front and rear seating very comfortable. Things I would like to add: memory settings for seats/mirrors and exterior entry keypad. No problems so far. We estimate that when tax rebate is included it will take 3 years or less for hybrid to pay for itself at $2.00/gal for fuel.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
just about perfect
Pros: fuel effeciency with feedback, performance, style, safety
Cons: not sports car handling, although secure enough
Review: If you are at all interested in hybrid technology, or even if you aren't this is a car you could fall in love with. I did. It is a smooth, roomy, fuel efficient, good performing sedan, with features that a few years ago could only have been found in a Lexus. It does not have the blazzing acceleration of the V6 but it is quicker than the regular 4 and has plenty of zip for merging. It lacks the road feel of vehicles aimed at the sporting market, but handling is good and feels secure. It comes standard with side air bags, antilock brakes, stability control and traction. control. Plus, you will find yourself watching (and improving) your driving habits as you try to increase your gas mileage with the help of the car's mpg monitor that takes the place of the standard tacometer. One driving note: the thing is so quite at idle or when coming to a stop that pedestrians and other drivers may not react to your presence in the same way, i.e. they do not hear you coming!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Best Hybrid Car
Pros: Lots of room for family, Great gas milage for size, Quite ride, Great acceleration (Even burns rubber), Keyless entry/ignition/Blue Tooth /8 Speaker JBL sound system great Tech features.
Cons: Console has problem with squeaking noise which is easily fixed at the Toyota dealer.
Review: If you would like to save the world, save some money, and save your family from the cramped spaces of Hybrid like the Prius, then this is the car for you. The CNET editor rating is very good. This is the first car I have ever owned that I have no major problems with and I am very picky. The only problem the car has is a squeaky console that can be fixed by your Toyota dealer with no problems. Once this is fixed you are driving one of the best cars ever produced for the price and the savings it produces. You can't go wrong buying this car. You will get way more than your money's worth in savings and enjoyment.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I didn't like it at first, but now I kind of like it.
Pros: Quiet, efficient, nice looking, not too bad.
Cons: Not as comfortable over bumps as my other car
Review: I have a BMW 525i. I really love that car, the best car that I have ever owned. I needed a car that I could use to travel long distances that is less expensive. I didn't want to put massive amounts of miles on my BMW or even a new one. So, I wanted something that didn't cost too much. I am opening a new business so I will be doing a lot of driving. I kept thinking, "Why am I doing this; I should just buy a new BMW, no matter what the cost." After only a couple of days, I like the Camry Hybrid. I don't get 40 miles to the gallon, as the sticker promises, but I do get about 34 mpg. The car is extremely quiet, especially when I am at a stop light (at that time, the engine turns off). When I run around a parking lot, only the electric engine is running, and that is very quiet, too. I didn't buy the car for quiet, though. The Camry, also, came with an accoustic noise-reducing front windshield. I didn't order any options other than a rear spoiler. The car comes with bluetooth. My cell phone works with the bluetooth. Before, my cell phone wasn't too clear. Now, with the sound coming through the Camry's speakers, it sounds great. My Dad says, it sounds like the person is in the car with us. My Dad is in his 80's, and he marvels at how hitech this car is. He didn't like that I stepped down from a BMW 740il to a 525i to a Toyota. Now, he loves this car. He always sits in the back seat, and this car has more back seat room than my 525 has. Maybe I am just imagining this, but I feel like the car is really clean, like there isn't much dust in the car. My BMW has some filters in it to clean the dust, pollen, dirt, etc. out of the air, but this car has filters that do the same, and it has a Plasmacluster Ionizer. The air does seem cleaner. I have only had the Camry a couple of days and I haven't read the manual, yet. I know that there is so much more that I will like about this car once I know more about the car. Even the stereo sounds great. Now, I wish that I would have ordered some options like the GPS system. I thought that I would miss the leather seats, but the cloth seats are nice and soft; I like the cloth. I miss the sunroof, too. If I had to do it again, I would have ordered the other options; I didn't order any options because I thought that I would just use the car for a year, just enought time to get my business running in Converse, Universal City, and Schertz, Texas. Now, I am thinking that I might order a new Camry next year, but with all of the options that I would like, power sunroof, GPS, remote controll starter, etc. I love this car.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great car - a Lexus in Sheep's clothing!
Pros: Power and all the comforts possible...
Cons: GPS and Satellite radio.
Review: Love this car... it's powerful, mine is loaded with every creature comfort. This car might not turn heads from the outside... but the inside will turn yours. It is co comfortable and for the techno-geeks, it has almost every gadget known to man. Try as I may, I haven't been able to get more than 34.5 miles to the gallon... but this is better than what I was getting and the car uses regular.
Now for my gripes... The GPS rots! I have used a Garmin unit for 4 years... this one is NOT intuitive... I'm good and I have problems with it. I also like the heads-up positioning of my Garmin so I have kept that in the car.
My biggest complaint is the so-called satellite radio. I drive 100 miles a day minimum and live with my Sirius. On the sticker it says XM/Sirius... my salesperson said all I need is to swap the antena... WRONG! After I purchased the car, I found that I needed to swap the radio as well. One dealer quoted me $695 and the second one has not gotten back to me in over a week! So... I use my Stiletto.
Otherwise... I love this car!
Now for my gripes... The GPS rots! I have used a Garmin unit for 4 years... this one is NOT intuitive... I'm good and I have problems with it. I also like the heads-up positioning of my Garmin so I have kept that in the car.
My biggest complaint is the so-called satellite radio. I drive 100 miles a day minimum and live with my Sirius. On the sticker it says XM/Sirius... my salesperson said all I need is to swap the antena... WRONG! After I purchased the car, I found that I needed to swap the radio as well. One dealer quoted me $695 and the second one has not gotten back to me in over a week! So... I use my Stiletto.
Otherwise... I love this car!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Love my Camery
Pros: The way it looks, handles, and the gas mileage, I think the sound system rocks!
Cons: The location of the Aux plug, and the secondary power jack
Review: I purchased a 2007 Prius and had it for two months. The Prius is a great car but for me had too little leg room, I loved the gas mileage. I drove the Camery fell in love with it and traded up. I am very impressed with the ride the comfort. I gave up some gas mileage for more comfort but it was worth it. I am very impressed with how quiet the vehicle is. Having had an opportunity to own and drive a Prius for a couple of months I have learned how to engage the battery power in city driving, and how to change my driving habits to achieve better gas mileage.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
A great commuter car
Pros: Quiet, good mileage, fully equipped
Cons: Minor ergonomic or logic issues with electronics
Review: I'm nearing 3,000 miles with this car and am really enjoying it. Gas mileage averages 38 mpg in a combined freeway and stop and go commute (80 miles round trip daily). Gas mileage is suprisingly good in rolling 10 to 30 mph traffic slowdowns. Another plus is the car is pretty quiet except under hard acceleration. It accelerates better than other Camry 4 cylinders I have had. Also a very comfortable car for sharing rides (except for tall adults in the rear seat).
Pluses: Comfortable seating. Lots of accessories are baseline, like Bluetooth hands off phone capability. Car is solidly built. (I have not had the squeak and rattle complaints that some have.)
Things to improve: Awkward center console lid - your elbow gets in the way. Quirky electronics for heating and A/C take some getting used to. Control buttons on steering wheel are sensitive and can change unexpectedly if you have large hands. ECO button and light are in an awkward location. No explanation of heated side mirrors in owners manual? Owners manual does not always flow logically and can take several readings through to find the information you need. Expensive Smart Key fob is poorly designed - the key ring is on the blade key and your big dollar transponder can fall off unexpectedly (whoever designed this is DUMB!). So buy a leather fob holder or similar band-aid. I would not be put off by these quirks. I think so many car models come with the latest gee-whiz electronics that some things are unproven for the long run. I will say that all three Toyota's I have owned always had reliable electricals and electronics and I trust that will be my experience with the Camry.
Pluses: Comfortable seating. Lots of accessories are baseline, like Bluetooth hands off phone capability. Car is solidly built. (I have not had the squeak and rattle complaints that some have.)
Things to improve: Awkward center console lid - your elbow gets in the way. Quirky electronics for heating and A/C take some getting used to. Control buttons on steering wheel are sensitive and can change unexpectedly if you have large hands. ECO button and light are in an awkward location. No explanation of heated side mirrors in owners manual? Owners manual does not always flow logically and can take several readings through to find the information you need. Expensive Smart Key fob is poorly designed - the key ring is on the blade key and your big dollar transponder can fall off unexpectedly (whoever designed this is DUMB!). So buy a leather fob holder or similar band-aid. I would not be put off by these quirks. I think so many car models come with the latest gee-whiz electronics that some things are unproven for the long run. I will say that all three Toyota's I have owned always had reliable electricals and electronics and I trust that will be my experience with the Camry.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
The Almost Perfect Car!
Pros: Design, MPG, Backseat room, NAV, Audio Quality...
Cons: Squeek in center console
Review: We picked this car up last week, white with ash leather interior and NAV. This car is almost perfect. Toyota has done a great job with design and payed close attention to fine detail. The center console developed a squeek that many others have faced on this car, there is a 10 min. fix on www.greenhybrid.com that works like a charm, no more squeek. We are getting 38 MPG so far which should increase after the break in period. We paid 10% under MSRP, the dealer stated it was $200 over invoice, I think we got a great deal!
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Nice car but issues with dealership and some of the tech toys.
Pros: Quiet, good gas mileage, and great sound system
Cons: Navigation system not intuitive, very pricey satellite radio option, and limited trunk space
Review: The car is nice but I found the sales person new much less about the car than I did. Those who are in the car a lot and are looking at the navigation and satellite radio options, be weary. The navigation system has some nice features but I find it overly complex (particularly compared to the system I had with the car I traded in - a 2004 Acura TL and mu current 2005 Odyssey). If you are looking at the satellite radio option - get ready for sticker shock big time. The radio costs approx $500 and another $250 for the installation. Almost killed the deal for me but I got the Sales Director to lower the cost. The car itself runs great. Much more impressive than the dealership or some of the technology components included. Hope this helps.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Local Driving Mileage
Pros: Toyota Dependability
Cons: Lower gas milage in local driving
Review: I traded a 2000 Avalon for the 2007 Camry Hybrid. I gave up comfort for better gas mileage. I was led to believe that my mileage would be better in local driving than on the highway. I find that I get less mileage in local driving which I do more of.
Made this comment before and my comment was obviously rejected. I see no recent reviews listed.
Made this comment before and my comment was obviously rejected. I see no recent reviews listed.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Loved it at first, but look out
Pros: hybrid engine and look
Cons: Car is put together poorly, lots of rattles and clicks that develop after driving some miles.
Review: I have been back to the dealer three times, and if one click or rattle is fixed, others appear. Very disappointing for Toyota. I have owned Toyotas my last six cars and was excited by the hybrid. The engine is smooth, but the car is a crate as far as body construction. Nearly everyone has a rattle in the console, the drink holder make noise if you have a drink in it. The big problem is everything is plastic and all connected by clips that don't really hold things in place. With no cloth or barriers to all the plastic on plastic, these annoying sounds appear everywhere.
If you are thinking about a hybrid, wait for a newer model. I feel sorry for the dealers who are going to have all these impossible warranty fixes.
If you are thinking about a hybrid, wait for a newer model. I feel sorry for the dealers who are going to have all these impossible warranty fixes.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
as close to perfect as it gets-great toys that work
Pros: great ride,feel,mileage, and fun to own
Cons: seat heaters have only on or off,only 1 auto window
Review: Have owned this auto 6 weeks and put 26oo miles. Averaging 36 mpg on a tank. Ride is solid, great in the wind. Quiet. Gets many looks and always provokes conversation in parking lots and gas stations. I took 1 week to go through the manuel and learn all of the toys. They all work great except for the voice control.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I love it more every day!
Pros: Quiet, comfortable, luxury with economy of operation
Cons: Nav system could be improved
Review: I've owned mine for slightly more than 2 months and driven 2400 miles. It is fully equipped. I enjoy the quiet and above all, the economy: nothing less than 36MPH, often 40+MPH. The Federal tax credit and (here in DC) the elimination of a sales tax for hybrids/alternative fuel vehicles, effectively saved me $5,000 making my $31,000 purchase price to $26,000. Not bad for a car better equipped than some luxury brands!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
The coolest gadget I've ever owned!
Pros: Keyless entry and ignition, hybrid technology & bluetooth!
Cons: No remote start - not sure if I can have that installed...
Review: I just purchased this car on Sat and I love it. I look for excuses to go somewhere with it! The engine is SO quiet and the ride is SMOOTH - no jerking when riding on a highway. Connected with my treo with no problems - so my car rings when my phone rings! So many features, I'm still learning everything - I HIGHLY recommend it!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I Love It!
Pros: Mileage, Silence, Audio, Low Emissions, Style
Cons: Small Trunk, Small Information Display
Review: I've had the car two weeks and I love it. It looks great, rides great, and has provided great mileage per gallon according to the in-dash display. My first tank's average was 40.4. Admittedly, I am a "light" driver and rarely accelerate quickly. The few times I needed to accelerate quickly to complete a pass the car has responded with impressive power, more than I was expecting from a hybrid. Also, low emissions make me feel better about driving it.
The "gadgety" features are great. The keyless remote is my favorite, just reach for the handle and the car unlocks. The trunk works similarly. Bluetooth is nice, as are the 6-disc CD changer and port to plug in an MP3 player. It is equipped with a special air filtration system and the air truly does feel cleaner than in other vehicles I've owned.
The car is very quiet when the gas motor is off and you are in electric mode (usually at low cruising speeds from 0-30). In most ways that is great, but be careful! A woman recently stepped off a sidewalk and right into my path because she didn't hear the car. No, I didn't hit her.
The downsides are the small trunk size (hope you're not driving to the airport with the family!) amd the small size of the information circle in the dash that provides MPG and other stats. If you get the car with the GPS, the information is on the bigger screen in the center. That screen should have been included for this purpose even for the non-GPS equipped versions. One more downside is that you're going to have a tough time getting a deal on the car, at least until the tax credit is cut in half for deliveries after sept 30th. Hybrids are in high demand, so you're going to pay MSRP or close to it.
Personal suggestion: Don't let the dealer scare you into buying the extended warranty. "If you don't get the extended warranty you'll be one of about 3% of people who don't get it, there are complicated computers in there" is the line I was presented with. Well the hybrid system already has a separate 100,000 mile warranty, which of course is not mentioned when they're trying to sell you the extended warranty. Extended warranties are huge profit-makers for dealers.
The "gadgety" features are great. The keyless remote is my favorite, just reach for the handle and the car unlocks. The trunk works similarly. Bluetooth is nice, as are the 6-disc CD changer and port to plug in an MP3 player. It is equipped with a special air filtration system and the air truly does feel cleaner than in other vehicles I've owned.
The car is very quiet when the gas motor is off and you are in electric mode (usually at low cruising speeds from 0-30). In most ways that is great, but be careful! A woman recently stepped off a sidewalk and right into my path because she didn't hear the car. No, I didn't hit her.
The downsides are the small trunk size (hope you're not driving to the airport with the family!) amd the small size of the information circle in the dash that provides MPG and other stats. If you get the car with the GPS, the information is on the bigger screen in the center. That screen should have been included for this purpose even for the non-GPS equipped versions. One more downside is that you're going to have a tough time getting a deal on the car, at least until the tax credit is cut in half for deliveries after sept 30th. Hybrids are in high demand, so you're going to pay MSRP or close to it.
Personal suggestion: Don't let the dealer scare you into buying the extended warranty. "If you don't get the extended warranty you'll be one of about 3% of people who don't get it, there are complicated computers in there" is the line I was presented with. Well the hybrid system already has a separate 100,000 mile warranty, which of course is not mentioned when they're trying to sell you the extended warranty. Extended warranties are huge profit-makers for dealers.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Pleasure to drive, loaded, low emissions, unbelievable mpg
Pros: 41.9 mpg, super silky CVT transmission, very quiet and smooth cabin, well stocked features with base price, low emissions, slick looks in titanium metallic, large back seat, great front legroom
Cons: small trunk
Review: I researched every car out there before buying, including nonhybrids. I test drove several, and found the TCH to be the best ride for smoothness (I outgrew the need for "sporty" driving years ago). I'm getting 42mpg overall, and it's a very relaxing drive. I commute 1.5 hours each way to work, so this car is a perfect fit. I am VERY satisfied with my purchase.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
This car lived up to what I wanted
Pros: Room fuel economy exhaust emissions
Cons: Little bigger trunk
Review: I have owened this car for 2 months and love it more every day and really love it at the gas pump
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
The Prius drives better and has almost as much room
Pros: Very high tech
Cons: Not enough battery power
Review: I have had the Carmy for 2 months now. i have averaged 35 in town and 38 on the road at 75 MPH all the way, and 41 at 65-70 all the way for a 330 mile trip. The Bluetooth works great, the Navigation system works as expected. The back seat is supposed to have more leg room, but i can't find it. The power drivers seat only has forward and reverse, no up and down nor tilt. The hybrid system works well, although i am very concerned about the frequent gas engine starts and stops around town. Isn't that supposed to be the time of most engine wear? Above about 45 athe gas motor is on all the time. You get the best milage using the cruise control, letting the computer figure out the best mode of operation. I am quite disapointed in the from a stop performance. the gas engine always starts. There should be more Electrical plant power to allow all electric driving from a stop light. Overall i like it and intend to trade in three years to a newer hybrid. I would love to see a hybrid with a diesel engine.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
consistantly good milage
Pros: milage, room, quality
Cons: few choices for options
Review: We have owned this TCH for 2 months. True milage is 38-40 city and 37-38 highway. The highway milage is while doing 72 mph. Considering this is not a small car we consider this milage great. Have had no problems with it as was expected with a Toyota. The pickup is not a sports car but then it is not supposed to be one. Had no problem keeping up with the traffic. It is a very quiet and smooth running so it seems like you are going faster. The keyless entry is nice. Never have to take your keys out. Except when you start from a stop it is hard to tell when the engine starts. Only a few high priced options available. We didn't get the GPS navigation system so it did not come with the fancy energy management display. I would think Toyota would want to include this to promote the hybrid system to everyone we give rides to. A very fun car to drive.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
I "traded down"
Pros: Good looking, lots of tech toys, mileage
Cons: Occasional rattle
Review: I had a hard time going for a Camry. What a stodgy car. Something you buy your kid used for their first car, and they wish they had something better. The new body styling changes a lot of that. OK, I'm a car snob. My last car, a Q45. Done the Jaguar already, yep Beemer, too. Hard to go to the Camry. I was seriously considering buying an M35 (the 35 instead of the 45 for the mileage).
Then I decided that I don't want my son to get drafted to fight for oil for my gas guzzler. The Camry was perfect. I paid list after waiting about 10 days. Got it loaded: leather, moonroof, NAV, yep, even seat heaters. I fell in love with it on the way home from the dealer. It drives well, the tech toys are great, it looks good. Even the hybrid is a new tow to play with. On my first tank I've done over 34 mpg. Good enough acceleration (okay not in the league of the M35). This car is fabulous. What is it missing? Coming from the Q45 I miss the burl finishes, leather wheel, extra vibration dampening. The stereo sound seems to leave something to be desired. Occasionally I have heard some squeaks that I can't identify, but some may be the garbage I've already strewn around the cabin. After driving the Camry for 3 days, I drove my Q again since I still own it. I like the Camry better! You will be happy with this car.
Then I decided that I don't want my son to get drafted to fight for oil for my gas guzzler. The Camry was perfect. I paid list after waiting about 10 days. Got it loaded: leather, moonroof, NAV, yep, even seat heaters. I fell in love with it on the way home from the dealer. It drives well, the tech toys are great, it looks good. Even the hybrid is a new tow to play with. On my first tank I've done over 34 mpg. Good enough acceleration (okay not in the league of the M35). This car is fabulous. What is it missing? Coming from the Q45 I miss the burl finishes, leather wheel, extra vibration dampening. The stereo sound seems to leave something to be desired. Occasionally I have heard some squeaks that I can't identify, but some may be the garbage I've already strewn around the cabin. After driving the Camry for 3 days, I drove my Q again since I still own it. I like the Camry better! You will be happy with this car.
Updated
My second tank is averaging 38 mpg, 100% better than the Q. The hybrid system is fun to play with and I love all the gadgets. I am really glad I bought this instead of the M35.
My second tank is averaging 38 mpg, 100% better than the Q. The hybrid system is fun to play with and I love all the gadgets. I am really glad I bought this instead of the M35.
Updated
So far so good. Over 11000 miles. 2 $40 maintenance stops at the dealer. Only repair was blown fuse ($11 but covered by warranty). Waiting for my $2600 income tax rebate! The unexpected pleasure is the long time between fill ups--usually 500 miles. You can tell the difference. When I pass an M35 I don't regret the decision.
So far so good. Over 11000 miles. 2 $40 maintenance stops at the dealer. Only repair was blown fuse ($11 but covered by warranty). Waiting for my $2600 income tax rebate! The unexpected pleasure is the long time between fill ups--usually 500 miles. You can tell the difference. When I pass an M35 I don't regret the decision.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Best-selling Midsize will Now Sell More
Pros: Real-world 38 mpg; $2,600 tax credit (and possible deduction); Smart Key system; smooth, quiet ride; after-market leather as good as factory; angular, "Samurai" styling
Cons: Cheap-looking plastics on dash and panels; slow CD system; everybody and their third cousin will have one within a couple years
Review: Have had a titanium Camry Hybrid for about a week and couldn't be happier with purchase. Getting 38 mpg on mixed driving according to car computer, which I understand is very accurate.
Like the new, angular styling which resembles a Samurai warrior, although I tend to drive this thing everywhere (work, weekend excursions, grocery store, etc.) as if on a Sunday cruise -- call it an easy-going, laid-back Samurai...
Ordered after-market leather from dealer and was impressed by quality. Qualify for full $2,600 tax credit and heard from a source I might even be able to itemize sales tax.
With Smart Key system, I can keep key fob in pocket and open, lock and start vehicle "keylessly".
Dash/panel plastics seem a bit cheap and although JBL system sounds good, 6-disc changer is a bit slower than I'd like.
Overall, very pleased with car but I'm sure I won't be the only one around with a smug expression cruising down the road in my Camry Hybrid...
Like the new, angular styling which resembles a Samurai warrior, although I tend to drive this thing everywhere (work, weekend excursions, grocery store, etc.) as if on a Sunday cruise -- call it an easy-going, laid-back Samurai...
Ordered after-market leather from dealer and was impressed by quality. Qualify for full $2,600 tax credit and heard from a source I might even be able to itemize sales tax.
With Smart Key system, I can keep key fob in pocket and open, lock and start vehicle "keylessly".
Dash/panel plastics seem a bit cheap and although JBL system sounds good, 6-disc changer is a bit slower than I'd like.
Overall, very pleased with car but I'm sure I won't be the only one around with a smug expression cruising down the road in my Camry Hybrid...
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Surprisingly good at everything that you need from a car
Pros: Good acceleration, excellent gas mileage for vehicle size/type, great techie features. high-end feature set
Cons: Not quite Lexus feature set; scolding from system for inefficient driving
Review: I have now owned this vehicle for almost a month. I came to this hybrid/fuel efficient car from a history of owning fuel inefficient but high-end vehicles (e.g., Audi, BMW, Lexus). The fuel economy is shockingly close to reported amounts when the car is driven with an eye to fuel economy (e.g., no “flooring” the accelerator, no late braking). I regularly have accomplished 36-40 mpg on a tank of gas. Fuel economy predictably drops off when the car is driven aggressively. Nonetheless, the car is comparable in size with my old Audi A6 and manages to get 16-20 mpg better fuel economy. Since I had somewhat low expectations, this performance is an amazing result.
I purchased the car fully loaded and therefore have the DVD navigation system. From a features standpoint, this car easily has all of the important technological features that the Audi A6 and the BMW 550i that I considered purchasing would have had. Bluetooth, navigation and stereo are first-rate. (I should note that I haven’t tried the voice recognition or satellite radio features.) In fact, I have concluded that the touch screen on the DVD navigation is clearly superior to the MMI and iDrive controllers featured by those two vehicles. This conclusion is somewhat of a surprise to me, since I actually liked both those two systems when I test drove the vehicles.
I would also note that the trunk space issue, which has been highlighted by others, is not nearly the trouble that I had expected. The trunk is significantly wider than my old Audi, and I had no difficulty putting in two fairly large golf bags w/clubs in the trunk. In my prior car, this was also the practical limit because I had to lay the clubs diagonally across the trunk.
The car is so close to “Lexus” standard, I have to say I do notice the absence of some features that you’d get in this car if it were—say—the Lexus ES330h. In particular, you don’t get memory seating, auto up/down windows for all windows, hidden hinge trunks, woodgrain trim, etc.
All in all, though, it’s just a GREAT car. I couldn’t be more pleased with it. I think that this is the near-term future of all automobiles.
I purchased the car fully loaded and therefore have the DVD navigation system. From a features standpoint, this car easily has all of the important technological features that the Audi A6 and the BMW 550i that I considered purchasing would have had. Bluetooth, navigation and stereo are first-rate. (I should note that I haven’t tried the voice recognition or satellite radio features.) In fact, I have concluded that the touch screen on the DVD navigation is clearly superior to the MMI and iDrive controllers featured by those two vehicles. This conclusion is somewhat of a surprise to me, since I actually liked both those two systems when I test drove the vehicles.
I would also note that the trunk space issue, which has been highlighted by others, is not nearly the trouble that I had expected. The trunk is significantly wider than my old Audi, and I had no difficulty putting in two fairly large golf bags w/clubs in the trunk. In my prior car, this was also the practical limit because I had to lay the clubs diagonally across the trunk.
The car is so close to “Lexus” standard, I have to say I do notice the absence of some features that you’d get in this car if it were—say—the Lexus ES330h. In particular, you don’t get memory seating, auto up/down windows for all windows, hidden hinge trunks, woodgrain trim, etc.
All in all, though, it’s just a GREAT car. I couldn’t be more pleased with it. I think that this is the near-term future of all automobiles.
User Rating:
1.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Camry's over all
Pros: good fuel consomstion
Cons: Bad performance
Review: When i had a test drive of the camry. Its was on ok but it's quite boring and when i had it go up this hill it had a hard time going up. Also interior quaitly isn't that great compared to the Accord a the Camry is a boring, weak and not fun to drive
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Just a test review
Pros: Just a test review
Cons: Just a test review
Review: Just a test review
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Beautiful looking car
Pros: The pep it displays coming onto the highway!
Cons: Bounces more than my Camry did on bumpy roads...
Review: I just bought this classy new hybrid, fully
loaded a week ago. I find when I fully
brake, it makes a swooshing sound, not very
quietly either. I was wondering if everyone's car did that or there's something
wrong with mine. Other than that, I love my
new car! The new technology is a little bit hard getting used to, as my last car was 11 years old and didn't even have a CD player. It was a Toyota Camry, 4 cyclinder, too, but this one really zooms onto the highway much quicker. I feel so safe with all these airbags. I love the dual air conditioning feature! I have friends who like it warmer than I do, so this is great! I can't believe how far I've driven on one tank of gas. Another question I had is this...I bought the $990.00 maintenance plan and now after reading the manual, I realize there is little maintenance needed, mostly oil change
and rotating the tires. I wonder
if it's too late to get out of this, or whether you really need to pay a lot for
the regular maintenance times, and did I possibly get ripped off on this one. I paid a lot on maintenance for my old Camry, so I thought I'd save money by doing this.
loaded a week ago. I find when I fully
brake, it makes a swooshing sound, not very
quietly either. I was wondering if everyone's car did that or there's something
wrong with mine. Other than that, I love my
new car! The new technology is a little bit hard getting used to, as my last car was 11 years old and didn't even have a CD player. It was a Toyota Camry, 4 cyclinder, too, but this one really zooms onto the highway much quicker. I feel so safe with all these airbags. I love the dual air conditioning feature! I have friends who like it warmer than I do, so this is great! I can't believe how far I've driven on one tank of gas. Another question I had is this...I bought the $990.00 maintenance plan and now after reading the manual, I realize there is little maintenance needed, mostly oil change
and rotating the tires. I wonder
if it's too late to get out of this, or whether you really need to pay a lot for
the regular maintenance times, and did I possibly get ripped off on this one. I paid a lot on maintenance for my old Camry, so I thought I'd save money by doing this.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Satisfied Owner
Pros: Mileage
Cons: None
Review: Three months of driving my Camry Hybrid have made me a Toyota fan.
It is a daily use vehicle that spends 1/2 time on the freeway and 1/2 time on the city grid. I could not be happier with the car.
It is a daily use vehicle that spends 1/2 time on the freeway and 1/2 time on the city grid. I could not be happier with the car.
Updated
A wonderful car... 12 months into the experience and I am still very impressed with the Camry Hybrid. I average about 38.5 mpg in mixed hwy/town driving. I have no complaints -
The trunk size has not been an issue.
With the tax credits I received in 2006 it was a value purchase ($2600/$1500). But, I would buy the car again today even without the tax credits.
A wonderful car... 12 months into the experience and I am still very impressed with the Camry Hybrid. I average about 38.5 mpg in mixed hwy/town driving. I have no complaints -
The trunk size has not been an issue.
With the tax credits I received in 2006 it was a value purchase ($2600/$1500). But, I would buy the car again today even without the tax credits.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Nice sophisticated and very pleasant to drive
Pros: Extremely smooth, feels like you are floating
Cons: I couldnt get the wood finish for the interior
Review: This is a very elegant car. Wonderful driving experience and has all the touches that people expect in a decent car today. Its not over the top withh do-dads and bling but will satisfy just about anyone in one way or the other.
It looks sporty, handles decently, accelerates well.
Its a super silky ride and you feel you are in a upscale vehicle. You wont feel disappointed you have this is your garage.
So far 2K miles , average MPG 39.3.
It looks sporty, handles decently, accelerates well.
Its a super silky ride and you feel you are in a upscale vehicle. You wont feel disappointed you have this is your garage.
So far 2K miles , average MPG 39.3.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Does the job...
Pros: Fuel economy, cabin space
Cons: Small trunk, modest acceleration
Review: I originally bought a Camry V6 XLE, but with 2 replacement transmissions in 6200 miles I decided to get a refund which I applied to the Hybrid.
I have had it only 3 days, but enough to form some opinions.
First, as to fuel efficiency (FE), it is great for a midsized car. By the trip computer I am getting 40.5 mpg with about 1/2 the tank remaining. This should get me about 600 miles a tank. I do mainly highway driving at 65 to 70 mpg.
You have to modify your driving habits to maximize efficiency, which I was practicing with my previous cars, but there are more tricks to learn with the Camry Hybrid. You have to learn to look ahead and not race towards the next red light. Jack rabbit starts are not good for FE. You have to learn to keep a light touch on the gas and pay attention when the gas motor starts. If you can maintain speed while keeping the gas motor asleep you are saving gas.
Most of the time you cannot feel the transition between gas and electric power, but you can feel the gas motor start or shut off when at lower speeds.
I am not afraid to use the brakes in this car since they act as a generator to store the energy in the battery. The battery eats up a third of the trunk of the normal Camry, with only 10 cubic feet of space. This also makes the fold down seat feature less useful as the pass through is small.
I think the acceleration is adequate but sluggish compared to the much more powerful XLE V6. I wish the electric motor would handle more of the tasks, but I understand that if it was bigger then the battery would have to be bigger, and the weight and economy would be affected. Passing and merging power are good. The gas motor complains at higher revs. Cruising is quiet.
I like the Smart Key, Homelink remote, Bluetooth, JBL sound.
Quality: The “Liquicell” leather in this car was added by the distributor, and it is clearly inferior to the factory installed leather I had in my XLE, since it is looser and wrinkled in comparison, with a cheaper feel and coarser grain to the leather surface. The middle passenger headrest was stitched crooked, and you can see it from the rear outside. The Bluetooth took several tries to pair my Sony-Ericsson Z520a phone, and it sometimes loses speakerphone function (I couldn’t hear what the other party was saying, and the system did not say anything). Other than these minor issues, the quality seems very good.
Wish list: bigger trunk, auto-up drivers’ window, better distributor installed leather, fog lights, better electric motor and or battery...
I have had it only 3 days, but enough to form some opinions.
First, as to fuel efficiency (FE), it is great for a midsized car. By the trip computer I am getting 40.5 mpg with about 1/2 the tank remaining. This should get me about 600 miles a tank. I do mainly highway driving at 65 to 70 mpg.
You have to modify your driving habits to maximize efficiency, which I was practicing with my previous cars, but there are more tricks to learn with the Camry Hybrid. You have to learn to look ahead and not race towards the next red light. Jack rabbit starts are not good for FE. You have to learn to keep a light touch on the gas and pay attention when the gas motor starts. If you can maintain speed while keeping the gas motor asleep you are saving gas.
Most of the time you cannot feel the transition between gas and electric power, but you can feel the gas motor start or shut off when at lower speeds.
I am not afraid to use the brakes in this car since they act as a generator to store the energy in the battery. The battery eats up a third of the trunk of the normal Camry, with only 10 cubic feet of space. This also makes the fold down seat feature less useful as the pass through is small.
I think the acceleration is adequate but sluggish compared to the much more powerful XLE V6. I wish the electric motor would handle more of the tasks, but I understand that if it was bigger then the battery would have to be bigger, and the weight and economy would be affected. Passing and merging power are good. The gas motor complains at higher revs. Cruising is quiet.
I like the Smart Key, Homelink remote, Bluetooth, JBL sound.
Quality: The “Liquicell” leather in this car was added by the distributor, and it is clearly inferior to the factory installed leather I had in my XLE, since it is looser and wrinkled in comparison, with a cheaper feel and coarser grain to the leather surface. The middle passenger headrest was stitched crooked, and you can see it from the rear outside. The Bluetooth took several tries to pair my Sony-Ericsson Z520a phone, and it sometimes loses speakerphone function (I couldn’t hear what the other party was saying, and the system did not say anything). Other than these minor issues, the quality seems very good.
Wish list: bigger trunk, auto-up drivers’ window, better distributor installed leather, fog lights, better electric motor and or battery...
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great performance AND fuel economy
Pros: 38-40 MPG AVERAGE with comfort for four people.
Cons: Trunk space a bit small due to battery.
Review: After reading a number of reviews that complained about the fuel economy of the Camry, I decided to share my experience. I've driven about 1400 miles, and can say objectively that it doesn't do as well on it's first tank of gas, and high city mileages require getting to know the vehicle better than a typical test drive experience.
This is my favorite car ever. I enjoy great performance, and when I was shopping, I was comparing this car to the Honda Accord hybrid. I was told by the salesman that the Camry Hybrid would perform more like the Camry 4 cylinder, but I think it's more like the V6 in acceleration. The combined horsepower of the two engines really does make a difference when you need to pass or accelerate quickly. I liked the Accord's performance, and test drove it two different times before deciding that it's average fuel economy would likely NOT reach its stated 34-36 MPG, but the Camry would. In reality, I was wrong about the Camry, as it has exceeded expectations on the highway. So far, I've been getting closer to 45 mpg with typical highway driving, but more like 38 around town (It's hard to know for sure, because unlike the Accord, the Camry trip meter only records to around 40 MPG for individual trips.)
So far my tank averages are running 38-40 MPG as advertized, but the first tank was only 34.5 MPG. I have learned that it is more difficult to get the higher mileages around town, and I can understand why many are frustrated with this vehicle because it seems to do lousy in city driving. It's a matter of learning how to drive the car to get the mileages. When the battery for the electric engine is charged well, I have found you can drive a couple of miles at up to 35 miles per hour completely on battery, or you can drive the same distance at the same approximate speed getting 20 MPG or less. The trick is to quickly accelerate to 35, and set the cruise. (You'll never find a quieter ride!) If you don't want the gas engine to kick in at all, you have to start VERY slowly, and gradually build up to 35 or so.
I can't tell that the fuel economy suffers at different highway speeds. Whether running 50 or 70, I still get over 40 MPG as long as the speed is constant (not a lot of passing/braking, etc.)
I like everything about this car as far as comfort and performance is concerned. I ordered one with nearly all options, including nav system, but since I think the wood grain look in the premium package looks cheap, and preferred not to have it, I discovered that getting the car without that option cost the sliding arm rest being dropped as well. YUK! I complained to my dealer, and they added a sliding arm rest for NO CHARGE! Toyota really is big on customer service and satisfaction.
If I didn't drive 40k miles per year, I probably wouldn't buy this car, but since I do, and carry one or more passengers rather often as well, I expect it will be economical in the long run. I have been driving a Chevy Impala before this. I really like the Impala for trunk space and passenger room, but with gas prices the way they are now, I think over time the Camry will be better for my needs. It's not as quick as the Honda, but certainly above average performance with unusually good fuel economy.
This is my favorite car ever. I enjoy great performance, and when I was shopping, I was comparing this car to the Honda Accord hybrid. I was told by the salesman that the Camry Hybrid would perform more like the Camry 4 cylinder, but I think it's more like the V6 in acceleration. The combined horsepower of the two engines really does make a difference when you need to pass or accelerate quickly. I liked the Accord's performance, and test drove it two different times before deciding that it's average fuel economy would likely NOT reach its stated 34-36 MPG, but the Camry would. In reality, I was wrong about the Camry, as it has exceeded expectations on the highway. So far, I've been getting closer to 45 mpg with typical highway driving, but more like 38 around town (It's hard to know for sure, because unlike the Accord, the Camry trip meter only records to around 40 MPG for individual trips.)
So far my tank averages are running 38-40 MPG as advertized, but the first tank was only 34.5 MPG. I have learned that it is more difficult to get the higher mileages around town, and I can understand why many are frustrated with this vehicle because it seems to do lousy in city driving. It's a matter of learning how to drive the car to get the mileages. When the battery for the electric engine is charged well, I have found you can drive a couple of miles at up to 35 miles per hour completely on battery, or you can drive the same distance at the same approximate speed getting 20 MPG or less. The trick is to quickly accelerate to 35, and set the cruise. (You'll never find a quieter ride!) If you don't want the gas engine to kick in at all, you have to start VERY slowly, and gradually build up to 35 or so.
I can't tell that the fuel economy suffers at different highway speeds. Whether running 50 or 70, I still get over 40 MPG as long as the speed is constant (not a lot of passing/braking, etc.)
I like everything about this car as far as comfort and performance is concerned. I ordered one with nearly all options, including nav system, but since I think the wood grain look in the premium package looks cheap, and preferred not to have it, I discovered that getting the car without that option cost the sliding arm rest being dropped as well. YUK! I complained to my dealer, and they added a sliding arm rest for NO CHARGE! Toyota really is big on customer service and satisfaction.
If I didn't drive 40k miles per year, I probably wouldn't buy this car, but since I do, and carry one or more passengers rather often as well, I expect it will be economical in the long run. I have been driving a Chevy Impala before this. I really like the Impala for trunk space and passenger room, but with gas prices the way they are now, I think over time the Camry will be better for my needs. It's not as quick as the Honda, but certainly above average performance with unusually good fuel economy.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Excellent, Comfortable, & Saves Fuel
Pros: Comfortable for long rides. Great fuel mileage. Lots of feedback to drive with better economy.
Cons: Hard to find which leaves some dealers greedy and not competitive.
Review: I enjoy this car a lot. I have a long commute for this area (100mi/day). Mileage is important, but so is comfort as half the time is in heavy, slow traffic. I spend 2.5-3 hours a day in a car. I have an excellent high MPG vehicle but it lacks in comfort. The Camry Hybrid with leather seats fills that void and I do not take a big hit on fuel costs. It fits my 6'3 frame very comfortably. Other passengers say they are quite comfortable in the rear seat. I am averaging 38.5 to 39.5 MPG. The fit and finish is excellent. I have all the options including leather less the navigation. I did not purchase this vehicle for high performance to compete against fast, high HP sports cars. However, it is a great performing high tech vehicle, allows plenty of power to pass or merge when needed. One needs to spend some time to get used to driving this type of car to get the best performance. There is plenty of feedback to the driver so that one understands what is happening with the car. Yes, the trunk and pass though are smaller than a regular Camry - that is where the Hybrid battery is. There seems to be a lot of confusion about warranty - per my documents, it has a bumper to bumper 36 mon 36K mile warranty. The hybrid components are 8 year, 100K. The emission components follow federal requirements. The hybrid battery is warranted for 150K miles in Calif. so it has a long life. There is a $2600 tax CREDIT in 2006 as opposed to a tax DEDUCTION. Toyota has met its quota so that gets cut in half soon (end of 3rd quarter?). The most negative issue is that this car is in high demand and short supply, so some dealers in my area are taking advantage and charging over sticker. Or they are telling cutomers that the higher options are not yet released to make their more basic models more attractive. If this is happening where you live, look hard and find a dealer who will not charge over sticker and tells you the facts. This will go into production in the USA sometime this fall, so some of this maybe remedied.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
best car i've ever owned
Pros: just about everything
Cons: small trunk
Review: i've owned many different vehicles from vw's to mb's & if 2 months can be a determining factor this car is the best i've ever owned.
re the mpg factor, the car has delivered anywhere from 29 to 42 mpg per tank full. the variance depends on the type of driving. hiway delivers the most, city the least. all driving is taking place with the a/c on blast in the phoenix heat. perhaps without a/c city driving mpg's will increase. the power drivers seat is a plus, there is no option for a passanger power seat, a negative. leg room is ample and the seats are comfortable. the auto air works fine but is there really a need for duel zoning? sound system is aok, mp3 multi disc capablity is a welcomed addition to camry.the bland dash could be spiced up if a wood option was available, it's not. keyless entry, auto headlights and all standard options are a plus. the driver's window has auto down but not auto up. surprisingly, i did not find the sunroof limiting head room height. tried to, but in the arizona heat you can't leave the sunroof/moonroof even open for light. the entire system must be closed or you're going to bake your head during the day. the a/c is a blessing; even at 112 it works. hope we dont have to test it at higher temps. after use, parked in the garage, the car does make strange noises - groans and moans. the manual says this is normal. the ionizer sometimes will crackle. why even install the thing? the manual says this is normal. the ride is amazingly quiet & it takes road bumps in stride. enjoy the cvt with no shifting points. all cars should have this. find it handles better than our 06 camry re cornering. very pleased with the brakes. had an unfortunate opportunity to use them in an emergency (bad phoenix drivers) and they stopped on a dime & the car held true. the auto rear view mirror i find does not cover as much of a rear view as i would like. the trunk is small. if you want the hybrid you live with this. the trip computer is amazingly accurate providing you do not top off you tank which i do. the outdoor temp display just does not do what it should. versus our other cars,it is very very slow to read correct outdoor temps & leaves us wondering if it is even accurate. may bring it to the dealership to have them check out. any negatives i have about the car are so minor compared to the plain fun of driving it. it's neat to watch the trip computer show mpg's as you drive, when you're on electric, gas or both. it can teach you to maximize your gas milage. even without a federal tax credit, the value of this car is incredible in my opinion. with gas prices doing nothing but rising what a way to go until something better comes along. right now, good luck finding one at a dealership. ours came with heated outside mirrors which is as valuable as sun tan lotion to eskimos. if you're thinking of the camry hybrid - don't even hesitate. buy the car. you will not regret a thing.
re the mpg factor, the car has delivered anywhere from 29 to 42 mpg per tank full. the variance depends on the type of driving. hiway delivers the most, city the least. all driving is taking place with the a/c on blast in the phoenix heat. perhaps without a/c city driving mpg's will increase. the power drivers seat is a plus, there is no option for a passanger power seat, a negative. leg room is ample and the seats are comfortable. the auto air works fine but is there really a need for duel zoning? sound system is aok, mp3 multi disc capablity is a welcomed addition to camry.the bland dash could be spiced up if a wood option was available, it's not. keyless entry, auto headlights and all standard options are a plus. the driver's window has auto down but not auto up. surprisingly, i did not find the sunroof limiting head room height. tried to, but in the arizona heat you can't leave the sunroof/moonroof even open for light. the entire system must be closed or you're going to bake your head during the day. the a/c is a blessing; even at 112 it works. hope we dont have to test it at higher temps. after use, parked in the garage, the car does make strange noises - groans and moans. the manual says this is normal. the ionizer sometimes will crackle. why even install the thing? the manual says this is normal. the ride is amazingly quiet & it takes road bumps in stride. enjoy the cvt with no shifting points. all cars should have this. find it handles better than our 06 camry re cornering. very pleased with the brakes. had an unfortunate opportunity to use them in an emergency (bad phoenix drivers) and they stopped on a dime & the car held true. the auto rear view mirror i find does not cover as much of a rear view as i would like. the trunk is small. if you want the hybrid you live with this. the trip computer is amazingly accurate providing you do not top off you tank which i do. the outdoor temp display just does not do what it should. versus our other cars,it is very very slow to read correct outdoor temps & leaves us wondering if it is even accurate. may bring it to the dealership to have them check out. any negatives i have about the car are so minor compared to the plain fun of driving it. it's neat to watch the trip computer show mpg's as you drive, when you're on electric, gas or both. it can teach you to maximize your gas milage. even without a federal tax credit, the value of this car is incredible in my opinion. with gas prices doing nothing but rising what a way to go until something better comes along. right now, good luck finding one at a dealership. ours came with heated outside mirrors which is as valuable as sun tan lotion to eskimos. if you're thinking of the camry hybrid - don't even hesitate. buy the car. you will not regret a thing.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Outstanding Value Proposition
Pros: more customer delights then any auto at this price point
Cons: scarcity and availability(mine took 6weeks on order), federal tax CREDIT disappearing after Sept 30, 2006
Review: After having abandoned european cars as being maintenance hogs, I turned to the Toyota Camry in 1993 at the recommendation of my attorney who purchased one and liked it.
Now, I am on my 3rd Camry and believe the Toyota Camry Hybrid offers the best/most equipped car in its class.
The Camry Hybrid purchased by me was fully loaded: leather, navigation, moonroof, etc.
I paid $30,600 and found that if I were to purchase a comparably equipped 4-cylindar XLE Camry I would be paying about $27,000. As there is a $2,600 federal tax credit in effect, and various states offering rebates, the hybrid price premium has vanished.
The car I purchased is identical in color and specifications to the silver unit featured in the editor's review.
After looking at the new Lexus ES, I concluded that the ES has features comparable to the Camry Hybrid loaded, but at a $40,000 price point.
My car purchase focused on my needs to have an auto with GPS-navigation and I found the touch screen systems found in the Lexus cars and Camry are preferable to using systems which necessitate the use of a knob or dial.
As the purchase of a car is the highpoint of car ownership, I am very attentive to maintenance and repair issues.
The Camry Hybrid vehicle has several tweaks which I found compelling from the standpoint of repair likelihood.
First, the problem that I most dread with a car deals with the transmission. Having been inconsistent in servicing my transmissions in the past I found that can lead to a shortened life and the eventual replacement of that powertrain component.
The Hybrid has a CVT transmission which is gearless, and uses a fluid that never has to be replaced under normal operations.
Furthermore, the Hybrid was engineered such that braking is partially done by the electric motor -- hence increasing the life of the auto's brakes.
In summary, in striving to purchase a car which offered the greatest value for the money -- the Toyota Camry Hybrid is the lead contender. I am getting high 36-40 mpg which translates into filling my tank every other week, versus every week -- a savings of $90/month or $1080/year. No other car I found at this price point can deliver so many features and customer delights: tire pressure monitor, ipod jack, soundproof glass, are the notable unique ones which stand out which other autos likely lack.
Now, I am on my 3rd Camry and believe the Toyota Camry Hybrid offers the best/most equipped car in its class.
The Camry Hybrid purchased by me was fully loaded: leather, navigation, moonroof, etc.
I paid $30,600 and found that if I were to purchase a comparably equipped 4-cylindar XLE Camry I would be paying about $27,000. As there is a $2,600 federal tax credit in effect, and various states offering rebates, the hybrid price premium has vanished.
The car I purchased is identical in color and specifications to the silver unit featured in the editor's review.
After looking at the new Lexus ES, I concluded that the ES has features comparable to the Camry Hybrid loaded, but at a $40,000 price point.
My car purchase focused on my needs to have an auto with GPS-navigation and I found the touch screen systems found in the Lexus cars and Camry are preferable to using systems which necessitate the use of a knob or dial.
As the purchase of a car is the highpoint of car ownership, I am very attentive to maintenance and repair issues.
The Camry Hybrid vehicle has several tweaks which I found compelling from the standpoint of repair likelihood.
First, the problem that I most dread with a car deals with the transmission. Having been inconsistent in servicing my transmissions in the past I found that can lead to a shortened life and the eventual replacement of that powertrain component.
The Hybrid has a CVT transmission which is gearless, and uses a fluid that never has to be replaced under normal operations.
Furthermore, the Hybrid was engineered such that braking is partially done by the electric motor -- hence increasing the life of the auto's brakes.
In summary, in striving to purchase a car which offered the greatest value for the money -- the Toyota Camry Hybrid is the lead contender. I am getting high 36-40 mpg which translates into filling my tank every other week, versus every week -- a savings of $90/month or $1080/year. No other car I found at this price point can deliver so many features and customer delights: tire pressure monitor, ipod jack, soundproof glass, are the notable unique ones which stand out which other autos likely lack.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Very nice car for such an efficient vehicle
Pros: Comfy, responsive, spacious, gadgetty yet capable of great economy
Cons: A little tinny, takes hours to learn all the features
Review: I've been driving it for a week, having sold my 5 series BMW after 8 years. It was time to go green. This car is not quite as sporty, but it accelerates smartly when asked, and remains quiet and comfortable as well. Mostly it's very very green, and I'm seeing as much as 60 mpg at times. It has an incredible range (SF to LA and back on a single tank is very possible). It bluetooths to my Treo, connects to my iPod, the nav system knows all the Thai food places along the way. Good warranty coverage, especially on the new bits, suggests this will be a typically reliable Toyota. It is sometimes a bit plastic and "cheap" on the interior fittigs and the door slams. But it does the job at the best performance/price ratio that I've ever seen.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
A great car that comes with lots of technology standard at a Resonable Price
Pros: Very good gas mileage!!!, comfortable and roomy interior, Bluetooth, Push button starter
Cons: Some trunk space is lost due to battery
Review: I recently purchased the Camry Hybrid and I am very impressed with it so far. I dont know where some of the reviewers were getting there Camry's from, but 32K without the nav system seems incredibly overpriced. Considering I would have spent about 27K total for the V6 model that gets 30 miles to a gallon (sticker, probably closer to 25mpg) I didn't feel I was sacraficing that much by spending a 28K. After a recent road trip my Camry figured out it had gotten 37mpg, which I think is pretty good. The great gas mileage, combined with the tax credit from the government will more than make up for the extra grand spent I feel.
It comes with a lot of advanced technology standard including Bluetooth, Push button start, 8 airbags, mp3/wma 6 disc player.
The trunk is smaller due to the battery, but it still has plenty of room for groceries or few cases of luggage. Half the rear seat also folds down which is nice.
The engine has more than enough power on the the road. While it doesn't have the pick up of a 250hp V6, reaching your cruising speed really doesn't take that long. And the variable transmission system is nice and seemless. I was coasting at 70mph while the energy from my tires charged the battery.
All in all I am very happy.
It comes with a lot of advanced technology standard including Bluetooth, Push button start, 8 airbags, mp3/wma 6 disc player.
The trunk is smaller due to the battery, but it still has plenty of room for groceries or few cases of luggage. Half the rear seat also folds down which is nice.
The engine has more than enough power on the the road. While it doesn't have the pick up of a 250hp V6, reaching your cruising speed really doesn't take that long. And the variable transmission system is nice and seemless. I was coasting at 70mph while the energy from my tires charged the battery.
All in all I am very happy.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Not perfect, but close.
Pros: MPG, Ride, Features
Cons: Price, Availability
Review: Background: I purchased my vehicle 3 days ago after a several month wait and wanted to publish a 'Quick Hit' review. I'll do another in a month of so if allowed, once the car is more familiar.
The car: 2007 Camry Hybrid, Metallic Gray with Moonroof, Cloth Interior, DVD system to be added later (backordered).
Paid: MSRP
Accessories Added: Mudguards (worth it). Body Side Moldings (worth it). XM Radio (Worth It) Lojack (Jury is out) Cargo Net (could have skipped).
Driving: I test drove the conventional camry before this one, and I can't find any difference in the ride. I do notice a tiny shudder as the transmission engages coming off a full stop, but none of the transitional issues some people have noted as the power source shifts. If I am not looking at the MPG meter or don't have the eco-drive display on, only the sound of the car allows me to tell what I am using.
Steering is reasonably tight, I came from a Nissan Sentra so I find it a little heavy, but that's more a factor of going up a car size. Braking is also a little odd, the additional drag of the regenerative braking takes a bit of getting used to, plus the car is much heavier than my old one, so I still need to adjust my driving style.
Economy: Having driven over 300 miles in the past few days, these are early observations based solely on the on board display. The 38 MPG highway rating seems pretty close, I have been fluctuating bewteen 36 and 39 average going 70-75 with the AC and cruise control on. The city rating of 40, I can't see hitting all that much. The best I have done in start/stop driving is around 35-36 (which is still not bad). One note is that I am not sure how the MPG calculations are affected by sitting at lights, since generally no gas is being used. When I fill up this wekeend, I will do a manual calc to see how it stacks up against the 36.4 average per tank the car is reporting.
Instrumentation: Here I have a nit to pick. I understand the focus is on efficiency, but the car really drives it down your throat. I find the real time MPG display more distracting then useful, since it changes so much. The Eco Drive is a much more useful indicator of overall mileage. Also, the fact that the lighting changes tone based on MPG is also more of a distraction than useful in my book. Some of the indicator lights are in odd positions as well.
Controls: On wheel controls are great, no issues. The Eco switch for the AC is in a wierd spot, not hard to reach or anything, just not intuitive. The right side of the audio system is a little bit of a stretch if you need to do something not available through the wheel controls. Cruise control lever location took some getting used to but now that I am, its actually in a good spot. Climate controls are fine as are moonroof. Be careful not to hit the gas cap button looking for the eco AC.
Comfort: The AC system works much better than I expected actually. Even in Eco mode, the car cools relatively quickly, and the auto adjust system keeps the temperature nice and even. Seats are comfy, though it took me quite a while to get the lumbar adjusted right.
Space: Yeah, the trunk takes a hit with the Hybrid battery but its still not tiny, just 'not so huge'. Back seat is spacious and comfy.
Smart Key System: Neat gimmick, how necessary over a wireless remote I don't know. but it really makes for a neat intro to showing off the car.
Road noise: Quiet, except with the moonroof open. I have the moonroof wind deflector on order, hope that will help.
Value: The excellent MPG I get aside, I don't know if I would call this car a great value. The added cost of the hybrid system isn't so bad, its the fact that there are not many options to choose from, which brings the price up considerably. Even given my gas savings, I am not sure that without the tax credit ($2600 if you put the car in service prior to 9/30/3006). I would be able to recoup the difference. That said, I am not in a position where a difference of a few hundred a year is an issue, and I truly like the fact I am using less fuel and producing less emissions. Side note: Given the current prices of hybrid non-warranty parts, the extended warranty is not an optional item.
Overall: I love the car! Most of my issues are minor, like positioning of controls, but the car FEELS solid. You can't beat the list of safety features. If money is not a big issue for you, I don't see where you can go wrong here.
The car: 2007 Camry Hybrid, Metallic Gray with Moonroof, Cloth Interior, DVD system to be added later (backordered).
Paid: MSRP
Accessories Added: Mudguards (worth it). Body Side Moldings (worth it). XM Radio (Worth It) Lojack (Jury is out) Cargo Net (could have skipped).
Driving: I test drove the conventional camry before this one, and I can't find any difference in the ride. I do notice a tiny shudder as the transmission engages coming off a full stop, but none of the transitional issues some people have noted as the power source shifts. If I am not looking at the MPG meter or don't have the eco-drive display on, only the sound of the car allows me to tell what I am using.
Steering is reasonably tight, I came from a Nissan Sentra so I find it a little heavy, but that's more a factor of going up a car size. Braking is also a little odd, the additional drag of the regenerative braking takes a bit of getting used to, plus the car is much heavier than my old one, so I still need to adjust my driving style.
Economy: Having driven over 300 miles in the past few days, these are early observations based solely on the on board display. The 38 MPG highway rating seems pretty close, I have been fluctuating bewteen 36 and 39 average going 70-75 with the AC and cruise control on. The city rating of 40, I can't see hitting all that much. The best I have done in start/stop driving is around 35-36 (which is still not bad). One note is that I am not sure how the MPG calculations are affected by sitting at lights, since generally no gas is being used. When I fill up this wekeend, I will do a manual calc to see how it stacks up against the 36.4 average per tank the car is reporting.
Instrumentation: Here I have a nit to pick. I understand the focus is on efficiency, but the car really drives it down your throat. I find the real time MPG display more distracting then useful, since it changes so much. The Eco Drive is a much more useful indicator of overall mileage. Also, the fact that the lighting changes tone based on MPG is also more of a distraction than useful in my book. Some of the indicator lights are in odd positions as well.
Controls: On wheel controls are great, no issues. The Eco switch for the AC is in a wierd spot, not hard to reach or anything, just not intuitive. The right side of the audio system is a little bit of a stretch if you need to do something not available through the wheel controls. Cruise control lever location took some getting used to but now that I am, its actually in a good spot. Climate controls are fine as are moonroof. Be careful not to hit the gas cap button looking for the eco AC.
Comfort: The AC system works much better than I expected actually. Even in Eco mode, the car cools relatively quickly, and the auto adjust system keeps the temperature nice and even. Seats are comfy, though it took me quite a while to get the lumbar adjusted right.
Space: Yeah, the trunk takes a hit with the Hybrid battery but its still not tiny, just 'not so huge'. Back seat is spacious and comfy.
Smart Key System: Neat gimmick, how necessary over a wireless remote I don't know. but it really makes for a neat intro to showing off the car.
Road noise: Quiet, except with the moonroof open. I have the moonroof wind deflector on order, hope that will help.
Value: The excellent MPG I get aside, I don't know if I would call this car a great value. The added cost of the hybrid system isn't so bad, its the fact that there are not many options to choose from, which brings the price up considerably. Even given my gas savings, I am not sure that without the tax credit ($2600 if you put the car in service prior to 9/30/3006). I would be able to recoup the difference. That said, I am not in a position where a difference of a few hundred a year is an issue, and I truly like the fact I am using less fuel and producing less emissions. Side note: Given the current prices of hybrid non-warranty parts, the extended warranty is not an optional item.
Overall: I love the car! Most of my issues are minor, like positioning of controls, but the car FEELS solid. You can't beat the list of safety features. If money is not a big issue for you, I don't see where you can go wrong here.
Updated
With the first tank of gas used.
On board Calculator 36.6 MPG
My calculations 36.7 MPG
I'll run a few more tanks to verify, but at first glance the onboard system seems pretty reliable.
A couple other notes. On a warm night (82 degrees), the AC can run for about 20 mins on battery (set at 73 ECO Auto) before the battery gauge starts to look a little dicey on the low end (1 bar left).
Trunk space - Full load of groceries, no problem, two huge suitcases took some jiggling.
With the first tank of gas used.
On board Calculator 36.6 MPG
My calculations 36.7 MPG
I'll run a few more tanks to verify, but at first glance the onboard system seems pretty reliable.
A couple other notes. On a warm night (82 degrees), the AC can run for about 20 mins on battery (set at 73 ECO Auto) before the battery gauge starts to look a little dicey on the low end (1 bar left).
Trunk space - Full load of groceries, no problem, two huge suitcases took some jiggling.
Updated
Well, I have had this car for over 12 months now and my general impression is still the same, not perfect, but close.
A few observations from putting over 20K miles on the car in that year:
1> Unless you really want the phone and extended power displays, skip the Nav system unless you can get one cheap. I have been using my Garmin Nuvi instead, am very happy and it was $2000 less than what I would have paid for the nav.
2> The Average MPG display seems to consistently run about 1 MPG higher than calculated based on fillups. On average, with a lot of highway driving at 75, I seem to stick in the 34-36 mpg bracket. On a week I stayed local I hit 39.
3> The car seems to wear well, there are several scratches in the paint which on the grey is REALLY noticable, but the cloth upholstery still looks pretty new as do the carpets.
All in all, I still love the car and when it hits 100 K or so, will happily upgrade to the next model!
Well, I have had this car for over 12 months now and my general impression is still the same, not perfect, but close.
A few observations from putting over 20K miles on the car in that year:
1> Unless you really want the phone and extended power displays, skip the Nav system unless you can get one cheap. I have been using my Garmin Nuvi instead, am very happy and it was $2000 less than what I would have paid for the nav.
2> The Average MPG display seems to consistently run about 1 MPG higher than calculated based on fillups. On average, with a lot of highway driving at 75, I seem to stick in the 34-36 mpg bracket. On a week I stayed local I hit 39.
3> The car seems to wear well, there are several scratches in the paint which on the grey is REALLY noticable, but the cloth upholstery still looks pretty new as do the carpets.
All in all, I still love the car and when it hits 100 K or so, will happily upgrade to the next model!
User Rating:
3.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Is this CNET review price correct?
Pros: Haven't evaluated
Cons: Haven't evaluated
Review: I checked on Edmunds.com and it shows that navigation, leather, heated mirrors etc. are all optional and not included in the price. The CNET review made me believe that all these features are included in the price. With all options, the price is $29,666.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Hard to beat
Pros: Quiet, comfortable, economy
Cons: shudders slightly when changing power sources
Review: Nav, moon roof and leather did not come standard on my Camry. The leather cost me an additional $1,400. I get 35 mpg, but only drive in the city. Drives, looks and feels just like a standard Camry, which is saying a lot. I love mine. Do not pay over sticker, I didn't.
The car uses electric, gas and both through an very sophisticated feat of engineering. It takes a little getting used to the right amount of pressure on the gas pedal to get the best milage. If I just drive it like I did my previous Camry I get about 32 mpg.
If you only test drive this car for 30 minutes or less, you really have no idea what it is like to drive it. I would discount the "4" rating from non-owners.
The car uses electric, gas and both through an very sophisticated feat of engineering. It takes a little getting used to the right amount of pressure on the gas pedal to get the best milage. If I just drive it like I did my previous Camry I get about 32 mpg.
If you only test drive this car for 30 minutes or less, you really have no idea what it is like to drive it. I would discount the "4" rating from non-owners.
User Rating:
2.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
not my car
Pros: great gas mileage
Cons: over priced, under powered
Review: I recently drove a Camry hybrid as part of a new car buying adventure and it didn't even come close. I tried other economy cars, both hybrid and straight gas cars and just purchased a Pontiac Vibe. It gets 34 mpg, has better pickup, feels better when driven, has a good look and much more room than a Camry. My Vibe has ABS, a 240 watt stereo system, ONstar, height adjustable seats, monocromatic exterior pkg and well, lets just say its loaded. Plus I like the idea of buying an American car. Sue me. And all for less than 20K, INCUDING taxes, title, and license. The small amount of money saved in the difference of 34 to the Camrys 38 or so would take years to get back when you are talking the 10K difference in price.
Another sweet little car we were looking at was the Dodge Caliber but didn't like the small viewing area out the windshield. I loved the looks, tho.
In summary I believe there are better cars out there and you don't need to look across the ocean to find one. BUY AMERICAN!!!!!
Another sweet little car we were looking at was the Dodge Caliber but didn't like the small viewing area out the windshield. I loved the looks, tho.
In summary I believe there are better cars out there and you don't need to look across the ocean to find one. BUY AMERICAN!!!!!
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
quick, responsive, great gas milage
Pros: Drives like any other car . Quiet and fuel efficient (37 mpg real life driving mileage)
Cons: slight hesitation when stepping on gas from standing start.
Review: Best new car I have ever had strraight from the factory. Hybrid technology is seamless and it makes you wonder why this hasn't been the norm for years. Great value and terrific option packages. A Lexus for $15000 less.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great car all around
Pros: Mileage: 37.8 mpg combinede driving. Ride. Power. Price
Cons: Trunk space is lacking. Availability.
Review: There are lots of things to like about this car. The first one, of course, being the excellent mileage for a full size sedan. The mileage that I got over a month of mixed driving was 37.8 mpg. This is the figure reported by the on board computer and double-checked my own calculations. To get the maximum mileage possible, you have to follow the general guidelines that apply to any car: No rabbit stars, no lead feet, coast to lights, etc. The Camry Hibryd helps you drive this way by displaying the real time mpg. It is a lot easy to refrain from putting pedal to the metal when the gauge jumps to 2 mpg.
One unexpected pro was the power of the car. It has very good passing power. Also, if you must peel off at the light to surprise the people looking at the car and wondering if the car has any power, you can. The electric motor has a torque of 199 lb.ft. Add that to the 139 lb.ft of the engine and you have a great car launcher from stop. By comparison the V6 version has a torque of 248 lb.ft
I know that you can't just add the torque of both engines as they may not be on at the same time as they computer controlling them dictates how power is distributed. However this is just an indication that this is not a just a meek penny pincher. Muscle car owners: Yes, you would still leave it in the dust.
Interior space is as expected for a full size sedan. Head room and leg room are generous for front and rear seats passengers.
There are lost of nooks and crannys to put all your stuff. I specially like the console compartment under the stero/ac controls. There is ample space to store a MP3 player or phone. There is also a jack connection for it as well as a power plug.
The bluetooth connection to my phone is great but not perfect. The minor annoyances don't detract from the convinience of hands free phone usage in your car. One example is that when placing/receiving calls the stereo goes off. I have used this type of service in the van I used to drive; but that carried an extra fee. With the bluetooth connection, you current phone is all you need.
The ride is very smooth. All my passengers have commented on how quiet it is. The CNET reviewer mentioned the transition from electric to gas as one of the cons and he said that it can lead to a jerky ride. I have not experienced this. You can tell when the engine kicks in when starting from a stop position. The electric motor gets the car going and then the engine starts. You can feel that but it can hardly be described as a jerky ride. In fact, it is hard to tell when the electric is on when coasting at around 25~45 mph. The electric motor oftens joins the engine when coasting at those speeds. The only way to tell is by the mpg gauge falling from the 35mpg range to the 45~60 range. There is also a computer display mode that tells your when the engine or electric motor are engaged or when the battery is being charged as you slow down or brake.
Styling of the Camry Hybrid is no different from the styling of the other 2007 Camry's other than the synergy drive logo added. I personally like the styling. I has a modern look with interesting lines.
The only drawback that I really don't like is the lack of storage space in the trunk for the size of the car. The battery uses up some space and makes the passthru to the cabine unsable except for long, thin items like a few 2x4 or skies. I was able to stuff a couple set of golf clubs in there but there was no more room for luggage.
The other drawback is availability. I had to take what the dealer had without the option to add the features I wanted. If you want to wait for a moon roof, good luck. My dealer explained that Toyota doesn't take orders on vehicles. You can put your request in and hope that the car that you want is made. My dealer had only two hybrids available and they were sold even before they were built.
To finish, I really like this car. It is spacious, powerful, quiet, and frugal. On top of that it is priced closer to a similarly priced standard Camry. A silimarly equiped XLE 4-cyl is around $24500. The Hybrid is $25900. Take the tax credit into account and the price is very close. Easy to make up the difference on gas money savings.
The tax credit/deduction will eventually go away as Toyota sells more units. Toyota is saying the units selling after September may have a reduced tax credit so hurry up!
One unexpected pro was the power of the car. It has very good passing power. Also, if you must peel off at the light to surprise the people looking at the car and wondering if the car has any power, you can. The electric motor has a torque of 199 lb.ft. Add that to the 139 lb.ft of the engine and you have a great car launcher from stop. By comparison the V6 version has a torque of 248 lb.ft
I know that you can't just add the torque of both engines as they may not be on at the same time as they computer controlling them dictates how power is distributed. However this is just an indication that this is not a just a meek penny pincher. Muscle car owners: Yes, you would still leave it in the dust.
Interior space is as expected for a full size sedan. Head room and leg room are generous for front and rear seats passengers.
There are lost of nooks and crannys to put all your stuff. I specially like the console compartment under the stero/ac controls. There is ample space to store a MP3 player or phone. There is also a jack connection for it as well as a power plug.
The bluetooth connection to my phone is great but not perfect. The minor annoyances don't detract from the convinience of hands free phone usage in your car. One example is that when placing/receiving calls the stereo goes off. I have used this type of service in the van I used to drive; but that carried an extra fee. With the bluetooth connection, you current phone is all you need.
The ride is very smooth. All my passengers have commented on how quiet it is. The CNET reviewer mentioned the transition from electric to gas as one of the cons and he said that it can lead to a jerky ride. I have not experienced this. You can tell when the engine kicks in when starting from a stop position. The electric motor gets the car going and then the engine starts. You can feel that but it can hardly be described as a jerky ride. In fact, it is hard to tell when the electric is on when coasting at around 25~45 mph. The electric motor oftens joins the engine when coasting at those speeds. The only way to tell is by the mpg gauge falling from the 35mpg range to the 45~60 range. There is also a computer display mode that tells your when the engine or electric motor are engaged or when the battery is being charged as you slow down or brake.
Styling of the Camry Hybrid is no different from the styling of the other 2007 Camry's other than the synergy drive logo added. I personally like the styling. I has a modern look with interesting lines.
The only drawback that I really don't like is the lack of storage space in the trunk for the size of the car. The battery uses up some space and makes the passthru to the cabine unsable except for long, thin items like a few 2x4 or skies. I was able to stuff a couple set of golf clubs in there but there was no more room for luggage.
The other drawback is availability. I had to take what the dealer had without the option to add the features I wanted. If you want to wait for a moon roof, good luck. My dealer explained that Toyota doesn't take orders on vehicles. You can put your request in and hope that the car that you want is made. My dealer had only two hybrids available and they were sold even before they were built.
To finish, I really like this car. It is spacious, powerful, quiet, and frugal. On top of that it is priced closer to a similarly priced standard Camry. A silimarly equiped XLE 4-cyl is around $24500. The Hybrid is $25900. Take the tax credit into account and the price is very close. Easy to make up the difference on gas money savings.
The tax credit/deduction will eventually go away as Toyota sells more units. Toyota is saying the units selling after September may have a reduced tax credit so hurry up!
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
First 10 days with the Camry Hybrid
Pros: Quiet, smooth, full of creature comforts, excellent gas mileage
Cons: Driver window control too far forward
Review: This is the most exciting car I have owned since my 1970 240Z. The whole family agrees, not a common experience in my house.
The college age sons love the sound system. Both are 6 foot or more, and were very comfortable in the back seat during a long trip yesterday. Their only complaint was when dad turned the air conditioning off to see if we could improve the gas mileage. Still got 38.5 ave mpg on the current tank.
My wife likes to watch me leave for work as the "ghost car" silently pulls away. She also tells me that it is very clean, I'm not into that, but I sure like passing up the gas stations for 500-600 miles.
We like the styling, the bluetooth phone works great, the fit and finish is superb and the Smart Key is just cool.
Mine looks just like the picture in this review, but without the nav package and leather seats.
Driving is fun again.
The college age sons love the sound system. Both are 6 foot or more, and were very comfortable in the back seat during a long trip yesterday. Their only complaint was when dad turned the air conditioning off to see if we could improve the gas mileage. Still got 38.5 ave mpg on the current tank.
My wife likes to watch me leave for work as the "ghost car" silently pulls away. She also tells me that it is very clean, I'm not into that, but I sure like passing up the gas stations for 500-600 miles.
We like the styling, the bluetooth phone works great, the fit and finish is superb and the Smart Key is just cool.
Mine looks just like the picture in this review, but without the nav package and leather seats.
Driving is fun again.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Overall, a good investment for commuters like me
Pros: Very nice exterior design, interior layout is nice and is a good commuters car.
Cons: smallish trunk, body design is a bit boxy, power transition not as smooth...
Review: As an owner of a Prius, and I drive a Ford Escape Hybrid for work, my new Camry (which I preordered last February)is a nice change in regards to comfort, especially since I spend about 3 hours commuting a day. The body style is nice, but I think it may be a bit too boxy which seems to affect my visibility in blind spots. The interior layout is also nice, but for $25,000 I thought Toyota could have spent a few more dollars on some nicer materials. Also for this price I think they should have engineered a better or smoother transition between the power (gas to electric). Overall, my comments are merely my wish-list, in reality this is turning out to be a good purchase for me.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great Outside Look
Pros: Nice Interior
Cons: Gas Mileage
Review: For the outside it's like a nice vehicle but I was wondering. How many miles is one gallon of gas.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
My smartest and most fun car ever!
Pros: Cost to drive
Cons: Interior quality
Review: I've had my wonderful new Camry for one month now, and even tho I've owned many cars in my life, this one is the best for many reasons.
I'm a real estate agent. I used to own a 2002 Acura RL, a gorgeous car. But 3 tanks of gas a week is very motivating... to change!
Yes, I agree that the interior feels like a lot of plastic, especially after the luxurious Acura. But, now that I am only putting ONE tank a week in my car, I ABSOLUTELY can live without the luxurious leather.
I love the red color, and the car is very fun to drive. It has spunk and the new look is fantastic.
I am thrilled and don't regret my purchase in any way.
I'm a real estate agent. I used to own a 2002 Acura RL, a gorgeous car. But 3 tanks of gas a week is very motivating... to change!
Yes, I agree that the interior feels like a lot of plastic, especially after the luxurious Acura. But, now that I am only putting ONE tank a week in my car, I ABSOLUTELY can live without the luxurious leather.
I love the red color, and the car is very fun to drive. It has spunk and the new look is fantastic.
I am thrilled and don't regret my purchase in any way.
User Rating:
4.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Fantastic Car!
Pros: Great Mileage, Great new Looks, Smooth Ride
Cons: Reduced Trunk Space and no Seat Memory.
Review: We've had our Camry Hybrid for a little over a week and have put just over 500 miles on it. This is our first Hybrid vehicle the the experience has been excellent overall. Obtaining good mileage in this car required some modification to our driving technique, but the car has a ton of information available to assist you in this quest, especially if you have the NAV equipped model.
We use this as our work car and take turns during the week. The ride is smooth and I've found the interrior to excellent with comfortable seats. The leather is a nice touch and the sunroof is huge. Back seat room is ample and should be enough for even taller adults. With just a little practice in the beginning, we were soon besting the EPA mileage estimates, with my best trip to work ( 18 mile mix of city and hwy) averaging just over 43 mpg. The average for our first tank was 39 mpg, right in the middle of the 38 Hwy / 40 City ratings.
I only have two cons that I can think of at this time, neither of which had I noticed before I bought the car would have made a difference. The first is that the batteries take up a good bit of trunk space compared to the standard Camry. It would have been nice if they could have tucked them under the seats or off to one side of the trunk. The second is that since my wife and I share this car, a seat memory feature would have been great.
Overall this car offers a substantial mileage improvement over the standard Camry for only about $1800 more if you compare similarly equiped models, great looks and a very comfortable ride. This is going to make a huge impact on my monthly gas bills when you consider that my other two vehicles are a Mercury Mountaineer ( V8, averaging 16 mpg ) and a Dodge Charger R/T ( Hemi V8 averaging 15 mpg ). When you look at the premium for the Hybrid and consider the $2600 Federal Tax Credit, you would be foolish not to give this car a serious look.
Rob
We use this as our work car and take turns during the week. The ride is smooth and I've found the interrior to excellent with comfortable seats. The leather is a nice touch and the sunroof is huge. Back seat room is ample and should be enough for even taller adults. With just a little practice in the beginning, we were soon besting the EPA mileage estimates, with my best trip to work ( 18 mile mix of city and hwy) averaging just over 43 mpg. The average for our first tank was 39 mpg, right in the middle of the 38 Hwy / 40 City ratings.
I only have two cons that I can think of at this time, neither of which had I noticed before I bought the car would have made a difference. The first is that the batteries take up a good bit of trunk space compared to the standard Camry. It would have been nice if they could have tucked them under the seats or off to one side of the trunk. The second is that since my wife and I share this car, a seat memory feature would have been great.
Overall this car offers a substantial mileage improvement over the standard Camry for only about $1800 more if you compare similarly equiped models, great looks and a very comfortable ride. This is going to make a huge impact on my monthly gas bills when you consider that my other two vehicles are a Mercury Mountaineer ( V8, averaging 16 mpg ) and a Dodge Charger R/T ( Hemi V8 averaging 15 mpg ). When you look at the premium for the Hybrid and consider the $2600 Federal Tax Credit, you would be foolish not to give this car a serious look.
Rob
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Economics & Ecology do mix
Pros: Hybrid Milegage & Toyota Workmanship
Cons: Slightly higher up front cost
Review: Okay a few things about this car , on the down side it does have a slightly higher cost then a non hybrid ,
but its also important to figure in the tax incentives & in some places commuter express lane access that a hybrid will give its driver. Both of these are direct benefits on top of the fact that it will use about 1/2 the gas of a non hybrid car of the same class.
It may take a few years to see the hybrid benefit but with gas prices rising that wait is being shortened very quickly.
My thought is that all cars being made by all makers should be hybrids in the next few years.
but its also important to figure in the tax incentives & in some places commuter express lane access that a hybrid will give its driver. Both of these are direct benefits on top of the fact that it will use about 1/2 the gas of a non hybrid car of the same class.
It may take a few years to see the hybrid benefit but with gas prices rising that wait is being shortened very quickly.
My thought is that all cars being made by all makers should be hybrids in the next few years.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Most satisfying car I've owned
Pros: Fuel Economy, Quality, Value
Cons: Materials (ok though for price range)
Review: Most poor reviews are from people that test drove or had a quote well over MSRP. I'm an owner! I "traded down" from an Infiniti FX45 for this and am not disappointed in the quality or materials. I would have liked less plastic, but this is a mid priced, mid size mainstream model.
The BAD: The trunk is smaller than most, but only by about the size of 1 large suitcase. Would suit most needs 95% of the time I'm sure. There is plastic in the interior, but this is a car that you can get in the $26,000 range if you want and that's acceptable.
The Good: I'm averaging 38.5MPG overall. It's comfortable. Mine has moonroof, leather, navigation and 440 watt stereo. All for $31,589 MSRP. That may seem high to some but I was looking at cars in the $37 to $45K range as alternatives and this one satisfies me just as much and it's going to save me a lot. If you're the type that would be satisfied with a 4c stripped Camry then you probably don't want this. But if you normally would buy a $30,000 type of car this won't dissapoint you. In addition to great gas Milage, I will get a $2600 Fed Tax Credit, and expect somewhere around a $3000+ State Tax Credit. That puts this in the $26,000 range. For that price and 38mpg, I consider this the ultimate luxury economy car. Corolla economy, Lexus styling, Toyota quality wrapped up into one vehicle.
A short test drive can't adequately describe the advantages of this car. Talk to someone who's living with it and see if they have any complaints.
The BAD: The trunk is smaller than most, but only by about the size of 1 large suitcase. Would suit most needs 95% of the time I'm sure. There is plastic in the interior, but this is a car that you can get in the $26,000 range if you want and that's acceptable.
The Good: I'm averaging 38.5MPG overall. It's comfortable. Mine has moonroof, leather, navigation and 440 watt stereo. All for $31,589 MSRP. That may seem high to some but I was looking at cars in the $37 to $45K range as alternatives and this one satisfies me just as much and it's going to save me a lot. If you're the type that would be satisfied with a 4c stripped Camry then you probably don't want this. But if you normally would buy a $30,000 type of car this won't dissapoint you. In addition to great gas Milage, I will get a $2600 Fed Tax Credit, and expect somewhere around a $3000+ State Tax Credit. That puts this in the $26,000 range. For that price and 38mpg, I consider this the ultimate luxury economy car. Corolla economy, Lexus styling, Toyota quality wrapped up into one vehicle.
A short test drive can't adequately describe the advantages of this car. Talk to someone who's living with it and see if they have any complaints.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Forget the politics-what does this car offer?
Pros: Toyota design, quality and resale value
Cons: Cheap materials, higher price
Review: I'm not buying this car for its geo-political impact though I appreciate that it uses minimal fuel. I traded my SUV for this car and am getting about 35 mpg combined--almost twice the mpg that I was getting before. That makes me feel good.
The car is beautifully designed and drives well though it does lurch at highway speeds. My biggest complaint? The small trunk and tiny pass-through hinder capacity. The cheap headliner and questionable use of ugly, bland cloth on nthe seats.
The positives? Great mpg, nice styling overall, boy-toys like bluetooth (cell-phone access), navigation, smartkey (leave the key in your pocket--you can start the car without it as long as you carry it--it senses it). The cost was high--$28,000 for mine at full MSRP. But remember, until September 30th, 2006 there is a $2600 federal hybrid tax credit that you will receive [on the Camry] when you file your taxes. Many states offer additional incentives. In Oregon where I live, there is an additional $1500 tax rebate. So next year I will get $4100 back which clearly helps the higher hybrid initial cost.
At $3.09 a gallon now, I am saving $150 a month for fuel compared with my SUV. My insurance is lower and I feel better about driving alone. The Prius offers even better tax rebates, $3150 federal.
The car is beautifully designed and drives well though it does lurch at highway speeds. My biggest complaint? The small trunk and tiny pass-through hinder capacity. The cheap headliner and questionable use of ugly, bland cloth on nthe seats.
The positives? Great mpg, nice styling overall, boy-toys like bluetooth (cell-phone access), navigation, smartkey (leave the key in your pocket--you can start the car without it as long as you carry it--it senses it). The cost was high--$28,000 for mine at full MSRP. But remember, until September 30th, 2006 there is a $2600 federal hybrid tax credit that you will receive [on the Camry] when you file your taxes. Many states offer additional incentives. In Oregon where I live, there is an additional $1500 tax rebate. So next year I will get $4100 back which clearly helps the higher hybrid initial cost.
At $3.09 a gallon now, I am saving $150 a month for fuel compared with my SUV. My insurance is lower and I feel better about driving alone. The Prius offers even better tax rebates, $3150 federal.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Camry Hybrid... Disappointing
Pros: Gas Mileage, Quiet Ride, Improved Exterior Design
Cons: Power Lungung at Highway Speeds, Limited Trunk Space, Cheap Interior Materials, Expensive
Review: After taking a 30 minute test drive in the new Camry Hybrid I must admit that I was quite disappointed. Initially I was very excited with Toyota's new design for the Camry. Introducing Hybrid technology to the masses is a great idea, and one that is long over-due. I was excited to see my Camry waiting for me at the dealer (I had pre-ordered one several weeks ago). Although the exterior design is a vast improvement over previous Camry, it does have some strange visual elements. One that sticks out is its bulbous nose. Yes, as you look at the car from the side it looks as if it actually has a nose on the front.
Upon entering the car I was immediately struck with the amount of cheap plastic that permeated throughout. Although I had ordered the leather interior upgrade, the amount of plastic still created a very "un-luxury" feel. Buttons looked and felt cheap. The high doors and small side windows also give the car a confining feeling when sitting inside. The headliner is made of a cheap felt-like material that reminded me of the cheapest economy autos of the 1980's.
The driving experience is best described as "interesting". I had previously driven a Prius and enjoyed the way it handled. I did enjoy how the Camry drove in stop and go traffic. The transition from battery power to the engine was silky smooth. The new Camry certainly had a great deal of power when pulling away from an intersection, or upon entering a highway. Unfortunately once the car reaches full highway speed, there is a terrible lunging when settling into a cruising speed. At 70MPH the car would repeatedly jerk forward then relax... it seemed impossible to maintain a constant speed. I had seen this before in the Road and Track Magazine Test Drive, and I experienced it myself today. This was one of the deal-killers for me as the car felt unsteady and difficult to control at highway speeds.
Finally, I was greatly disappointed at the reduced trunk space. Yes, the rear seats do unlatch and flip down, but there is a huge hump between the rear seats and the trunk that holds the batteries. This creates a wall that forbids you from sliding anything larger than a set of skis into the back seat. Why Toyota did not locate the batteries under the seats, like they did on the Prius, is beyond me. The batteries not only prevent you from loading long items in the trunk, it also reduces the overall volume of luggage.
This, along with the speed problems, and the cheap materials used for a $30,000 automobile, made my decision very easy. Believe me, I was hoping this car would be terrific, but Road and Track is right. If you really want a good buy on a Camry, go for the regular four cylinder. It has a great gas mileage, is $8,000 cheaper, has a huge trunk, is 750lbs lighter, and is almost as quick. Let's hope that Toyota improves its design and the quality of the interior materials on their future cars.
Upon entering the car I was immediately struck with the amount of cheap plastic that permeated throughout. Although I had ordered the leather interior upgrade, the amount of plastic still created a very "un-luxury" feel. Buttons looked and felt cheap. The high doors and small side windows also give the car a confining feeling when sitting inside. The headliner is made of a cheap felt-like material that reminded me of the cheapest economy autos of the 1980's.
The driving experience is best described as "interesting". I had previously driven a Prius and enjoyed the way it handled. I did enjoy how the Camry drove in stop and go traffic. The transition from battery power to the engine was silky smooth. The new Camry certainly had a great deal of power when pulling away from an intersection, or upon entering a highway. Unfortunately once the car reaches full highway speed, there is a terrible lunging when settling into a cruising speed. At 70MPH the car would repeatedly jerk forward then relax... it seemed impossible to maintain a constant speed. I had seen this before in the Road and Track Magazine Test Drive, and I experienced it myself today. This was one of the deal-killers for me as the car felt unsteady and difficult to control at highway speeds.
Finally, I was greatly disappointed at the reduced trunk space. Yes, the rear seats do unlatch and flip down, but there is a huge hump between the rear seats and the trunk that holds the batteries. This creates a wall that forbids you from sliding anything larger than a set of skis into the back seat. Why Toyota did not locate the batteries under the seats, like they did on the Prius, is beyond me. The batteries not only prevent you from loading long items in the trunk, it also reduces the overall volume of luggage.
This, along with the speed problems, and the cheap materials used for a $30,000 automobile, made my decision very easy. Believe me, I was hoping this car would be terrific, but Road and Track is right. If you really want a good buy on a Camry, go for the regular four cylinder. It has a great gas mileage, is $8,000 cheaper, has a huge trunk, is 750lbs lighter, and is almost as quick. Let's hope that Toyota improves its design and the quality of the interior materials on their future cars.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Best car money can buy.
Pros: Camry plus HYBRID, what more do you need.
Cons: Head lights could have been bolder.
Review: Let me talk about the facts, Its the number one car and the largest selling car in the USA. And repeating this achievement for years and years is not a simple task. This car with hybrid option is here to rule. Honda accord has already lost the hybrid race even before CAMRY HYBRID made a debuit, obviously Honda does not have hybrid techonology to make as fuel efficient car as Toyota CAMRY HYBRID with four cylinder engine, thats why honda came up with performance HYBRID car with V6 option as a face saver (And Honda loves this slogan "we were the first to introduce this ... techonology" ).
Honda makes excellent cars but TOYOTA makes better cars than HONDA, and when it comes to HYBRID'S forget HONDA, Mark my words I can challange HONDA won't be able to to come up with a four cylinder accord which can even come close to CAMRY HYBRID 2007 performance by 20012.
I am sorry for HONDA FANS who like the Honda's because of the slight better exterior looks of Honda accord compared to camry and a cheaper price tag, well if you belong to the category I just mentioned, my friend open up your mind go to a Toyota dealer look at 2007 CAMRY, the cheaper price tag would be the surprise, and you will find camry better looking than the lastest accord with the modified tail light. And I am really sorry for people who are stuck with accord Hybrid and also for those who are still fans of accord after looking at camry 2007, well I think they are jealous.
-Munnawar.
Honda makes excellent cars but TOYOTA makes better cars than HONDA, and when it comes to HYBRID'S forget HONDA, Mark my words I can challange HONDA won't be able to to come up with a four cylinder accord which can even come close to CAMRY HYBRID 2007 performance by 20012.
I am sorry for HONDA FANS who like the Honda's because of the slight better exterior looks of Honda accord compared to camry and a cheaper price tag, well if you belong to the category I just mentioned, my friend open up your mind go to a Toyota dealer look at 2007 CAMRY, the cheaper price tag would be the surprise, and you will find camry better looking than the lastest accord with the modified tail light. And I am really sorry for people who are stuck with accord Hybrid and also for those who are still fans of accord after looking at camry 2007, well I think they are jealous.
-Munnawar.
User Rating:
5.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Great Car for midsize sedan
Pros: Good gas mileage and reasonable price
Cons: Nothing significant
Review: I think camry hybrid is the best for midsize. I just want to comment one of the opinion by sbhatia. You are totally wrong. I do not know how you got that information. The MSRP is 25900 and it is loaded much better than Accord. If you want to buy car for its performance choose Porsche instead.
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
BUY A HYBRID CAMRY STARTING AT $22,000
Pros: Good milage ratings w/ hybrid options.
Cons: $32,000 with hybrid option! Cheaply Built
Review: Every camry i've rode in feels cheaply built. We owned a Toyota Prius, same issue!
I read an ad at yahoo.com's (i cannot remember exactly what site it was, but pretty sure yahoo.com) homepage, and it read: "Brand new 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid starting at $22,000". And when i suddenly got interested (because i already have a Honda Accord Hybrid for which i paid $32,xxx), i clicked on the ad. There were so many thing that disappointed me.
First, the hybrid option wasn't even included in that starting price of $22,000, and then i found out that the gas milage isn't that great at all.
According to the ad, the gas milage on this new camry was 32mpg highway. It's good and all, but not that great!
Later i found out that if i want to buy a fully loaded camry with hybrid option and nav, my quote came to be around $38,000 (not including tax). [why would someone spend over $5000 extra just to get a hybrid that only saves $200 in gas purchases PER YEAR!!!]
I think i'm happy with my 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid that gives an average of 34-38mpg. No thanks, camry!
I read an ad at yahoo.com's (i cannot remember exactly what site it was, but pretty sure yahoo.com) homepage, and it read: "Brand new 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid starting at $22,000". And when i suddenly got interested (because i already have a Honda Accord Hybrid for which i paid $32,xxx), i clicked on the ad. There were so many thing that disappointed me.
First, the hybrid option wasn't even included in that starting price of $22,000, and then i found out that the gas milage isn't that great at all.
According to the ad, the gas milage on this new camry was 32mpg highway. It's good and all, but not that great!
Later i found out that if i want to buy a fully loaded camry with hybrid option and nav, my quote came to be around $38,000 (not including tax). [why would someone spend over $5000 extra just to get a hybrid that only saves $200 in gas purchases PER YEAR!!!]
I think i'm happy with my 2005 Honda Accord Hybrid that gives an average of 34-38mpg. No thanks, camry!
User Rating:
2.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
today $$$ cost is higher
Pros: gets temporary high perceived value
Cons: future true value will be flat
Review: ---At this time the ignorance and lack of understanding by the majority of buyers is giving anything called Hybrid a higher perceived value.
In reality, people and governments who are buying these trendy silly things are wasting money and not achieving any real savings.
---What is the true cost of owning these things when future battery replacement costs are thrown into the real calculation? Where is the info on future "proprietary battery" costs (Will Sears sell 'DieBrid'/will Costco sell 'KirkBrids' or will they only come from Toyota at top dollar)? What about the higher cost oil changes that require local mechanics to get special syn oils from the dealers or the higher cost low roll resistance tires? What about other repairs that may appear on new tech electronic systems that these things need to function?
Let others experiment with their money.
---Real example: A 2.7 liter V6 Dodge Intrepid achieves real 29-31 mpg on highway trips with AC running in NY metro area with plenty of traffic at times; the car new cost $20,900 w/taxes; has required only regular oil changes, normal brake pads, and new tires in 5 years of ownership. How is that going to be bettered by spending "high $20s to low $30,000 for this Camry Hybrid? Where is the logic for me to look at a hybrid?
---People are keeping cars for longer periods of time (9 years plus and growing) per the latest news. Will hybrid owners keep their cars that long that or just sell it after 3-4 years (BEFORE the batteries go flat and wont recharge) while the hype is still strong and used buyers will be willing to overpay for these things?
---Time will tell; I won't be part of the experiment.
In reality, people and governments who are buying these trendy silly things are wasting money and not achieving any real savings.
---What is the true cost of owning these things when future battery replacement costs are thrown into the real calculation? Where is the info on future "proprietary battery" costs (Will Sears sell 'DieBrid'/will Costco sell 'KirkBrids' or will they only come from Toyota at top dollar)? What about the higher cost oil changes that require local mechanics to get special syn oils from the dealers or the higher cost low roll resistance tires? What about other repairs that may appear on new tech electronic systems that these things need to function?
Let others experiment with their money.
---Real example: A 2.7 liter V6 Dodge Intrepid achieves real 29-31 mpg on highway trips with AC running in NY metro area with plenty of traffic at times; the car new cost $20,900 w/taxes; has required only regular oil changes, normal brake pads, and new tires in 5 years of ownership. How is that going to be bettered by spending "high $20s to low $30,000 for this Camry Hybrid? Where is the logic for me to look at a hybrid?
---People are keeping cars for longer periods of time (9 years plus and growing) per the latest news. Will hybrid owners keep their cars that long that or just sell it after 3-4 years (BEFORE the batteries go flat and wont recharge) while the hype is still strong and used buyers will be willing to overpay for these things?
---Time will tell; I won't be part of the experiment.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Nice car but I want WAGON HYBRID Camry
Pros: nice car, roomy, powerfull
Cons: Hybrid cars is good direction, but you still need tank gasoline (mostly from arabic countries)
Review: Car looks very nice, but i would like to see also wagon version. Wagon cars are very helpfull and they don't eat that much as SUV.
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Toyota ...moving forward
Pros: Duh, it's a Camry
Cons: higher price compared to regular version
Review: It's nice to see Toyota finally bringing a Hybrid to the market that is more practical then that horribly ugly Prius machine. Toyota is no doubt the leader in Hybrid Technology right now. However, this still uses gasoline...we need to stop being so dependent on foreign oil for transportation needs. All the "OPEC" /Gas Kings are making records profits off of the US Consumer and we need to put an end to that game for good. In my opinion, a more promising alternative is the hydrogen gas powered vehicles (I believe GM is currently testing).
User Rating:
4.0 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Bring on the diesels!
Pros: Size, comfort, and efficiency
Cons: complexity, battery life time
Review: Good to see that this larger sedan will be available as a hybrid. Though a gasoline powered hybrid is certainly commendable, we should be concentrating on having more diesels on the market.
Anyone that lives or visited Europe will recognize that more than 1/2 of new vehicles sold are diesels. Likely due to the fact that diesel fuel costs are artifically lower (Gov't mandated) and that fact that diesel engines are about 25% more efficient that gasoline engines. BTW. There are only two types of diesels in Europe, regular and bio-diesel (cheaper).
The technology is well understood and those clunky, rattly, black smoke spewing diesels of yester years are no longer produced.
When I've visited Germany on numerous occassions, I've rented out Opel and Renault diesel cars. Power is good and mileage is incredible. Mixed highway/city driving (I cruise at 130-150km/hour (80-90mph) on the autobahn), I was still averaging 6L/100km (40MPG)!
Personally, I would like to see a diesel powered hybrid.
Anyone that lives or visited Europe will recognize that more than 1/2 of new vehicles sold are diesels. Likely due to the fact that diesel fuel costs are artifically lower (Gov't mandated) and that fact that diesel engines are about 25% more efficient that gasoline engines. BTW. There are only two types of diesels in Europe, regular and bio-diesel (cheaper).
The technology is well understood and those clunky, rattly, black smoke spewing diesels of yester years are no longer produced.
When I've visited Germany on numerous occassions, I've rented out Opel and Renault diesel cars. Power is good and mileage is incredible. Mixed highway/city driving (I cruise at 130-150km/hour (80-90mph) on the autobahn), I was still averaging 6L/100km (40MPG)!
Personally, I would like to see a diesel powered hybrid.
User Rating:
3.5 stars
out of 98 user reviews
Everything should eventually come in a Hybrid option...
Pros: Another car option, a normal looking car
Cons: not all that great on MPG, too expensive for the fuel savings
Review: Eventually, all cars should be available in a more efficient HYBRID version, but buyers need to stop expecting the same performance as a standard car. This CAMRY would perform much better on MPG if Toyota didn’t need to make it go 0-60 in 8 sec.
The major problem with cars like the new CAMRY is that they are too expensive for the fuel economy. If you were to do the math, the money you save in fuel cost would not counter the additional $2,500 sticker price for nearly 7 years. That’s a long time to break even on the supposed “savings of hybrid technology”.
If car makers and the government want to encourage better sales of the HYBRID technology there needs to be a price incentive to do it. A hybrid car should cost less then the “gas guzzling” counterpart. Consumers should feel the savings when they drive off the lot, not 7 years in the future.
I gratefully accept the car makers who are trying to roll out more HYBRID cars, but there is no point in offering a higher priced vehicle that saves a negligible amount of fuel. Before this technology will truly take off, consumers must feel a greater value through ownership.
The major problem with cars like the new CAMRY is that they are too expensive for the fuel economy. If you were to do the math, the money you save in fuel cost would not counter the additional $2,500 sticker price for nearly 7 years. That’s a long time to break even on the supposed “savings of hybrid technology”.
If car makers and the government want to encourage better sales of the HYBRID technology there needs to be a price incentive to do it. A hybrid car should cost less then the “gas guzzling” counterpart. Consumers should feel the savings when they drive off the lot, not 7 years in the future.
I gratefully accept the car makers who are trying to roll out more HYBRID cars, but there is no point in offering a higher priced vehicle that saves a negligible amount of fuel. Before this technology will truly take off, consumers must feel a greater value through ownership.
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