4 day long-term test drive: 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid with Package B
Price as tested: CDN$35680
Total mileage through the test: 1000km

When the current iteration of Camry introduced last year, we were impressed with the improvements over its predecessor. Better use of interior materials and softer ride are just its highlights.

Toyota’s Hybrid Syngery Drive is known for its extreme quietness, which is perfect for Camry’s soft character. Over the last few days, its level of refinement and smoothness remind us of a more expensive Lexus LS460, which costs twice as much as our tester. Unfortunately, hybrid’s fuel economy always been a disappointment. We have put through 60% city and 40% highway driving. The average fuel economy is 9L/100km, which is far from Toyota’s claimed 5.7L/100km. To make matters worse, our last long-termer, Accord with 2.4L, had a average fuel economy of just over 6L/100km. On the other hand, we are still not a fan of Toyota’s hybrid transition which isn’t as linear as expected. Always felt as the gasoline engine is trying to intervene with electric powerplant instead of neither nor, which is quite disappointing consider Toyota is the leader of hybrid powertrain right now.

Dynamically speaking, we don’t expect much as its both a Camry and a hybrid. Toyota has given its hybrid version a much softer setting than even XLE trim level. To say it drives like a wet noodle is a bit extreme but certainly no driving pleasure at all. The electric power steering is featherweight and numb. There are plenty of body rolls and understeer is significant, even at a low speed. The best attribute is its ride quality. Its so soft and cushioned. It has the same magic carpet ride comfort as a LS460.

Toyota has given hybrid an XLE treatment inside. That means automatic climate control, leather seats, Plasma Cluster and eve JBL audio system. The Plasma Cluster works exceptionally well for those of us who have allegies. It makes the air we breath inside the Camry fresher and cleaner with a touch of a button.

Due to the battery pack, there is no fold-down rear seat in the hybrid. Its not well thought out right from the start for the hybrid right from the beginning. Unlike the Prius, which comes as a hatchback and even can fold down the rear seats with enough chassis rigidty. Camry is a compromised hybrid package. Camry is not the worse offender of all Toyota/Lexus hybrids. GS450h and LS600h have the equally compromised package when it comes to versatility.

If you really want a Toyota hybrid and choosing between Camry or Prius. We wholeheartly think Prius is a superior choice. As we said earlier. Camry is a compromised package, while Prius is engineered as a hybrid family car from from the beginning. If you are looking for fuel economy and environment protection, look elsewhere, as hybrid represents the worse of both worlds when it comes to these 2 respective areas.