Toyota Camry Hybrid
Before last weekend's brewfest, the wife and I got to put the babysitting time to good use. We test drove a car. Not to say that beer drinking wasn't a good use, but it wasn't as constructive. Anyway, we wanted to compare a couple of hybrids but we ended up with just one. The Saturn Aura - Green Line wasn't available at our local dealership. Not due to arrive for another 5-6 weeks. Someone should've done a better job coordinating marketing with product delivery. I suppose it's just as well. My wife had her heart set on the Toyota Camry Hybrid.
The hybrid runs the same dimensions as the regular versions. There's no way to distinguish a hybrid Camry from one that isn't. They look exactly the same. The hybrid version just states its identity on the nameplate affixed to the rear. There's no compromise on comfort in the cabin either. It's quite spacious, at least by our standards. We're used to driving a Honda Civic sedan and Subaru Outback so the Camry is a step up for us.
The ride is smooooooth. Acceleration was fine. Its rated at 187 horsepower, which blows a couple of other hybrid models away. The transmission was weird. It never really shifted like you'd expect in an automatic (both our cars are standards so automatics are foreign to us anyway). Its an electronically controlled continuous variable transmission (ECVT), if that's helpful to anyone. Braking was really sensitive, even for ABS (at least when compared to my Subaru and it had a brake job just last year). Forget about stopping on a dime, you could stop on a grain of sand. A by-product of regenerative braking I suppose.
One feature I was unaware of beforehand was electronic steering. There's no linkage here, thus less parts to wear down. A care with the sensitivity of power steering but without the system. No power steering fluid levels to monitor. No pump to break down. Sweet!
Obviously they had to compromise somewhere, so Toyota chose the trunk. Whereas a regular Camry has 14.5 - 15 cubic feet of trunk space, the hybrid model has 10.6. Not a big deal to me, though it might be to others. It also has a 17.2 gallon gas tank while regular Camry's have 18.5
Fuel efficiency is rated at 40 city / 38 highway. 24/34 is the rating for non-hybrids.
Price is certainly a big deal. Unlike the Prius, this isn't an hybrid entry level vehicle. The Camry is for grown ups with a solid income. You're looking at $26,200 for the base model, though there are so many standard amenities that I think most people would stop there. Still, when you consider what people are willing to plunk down on a truck or monster SUV, $26k is certainly reasonable. The federal tax credit, though reduced, is still in effect for a few more months and Connecticut doesn't charge sales tax on hybrids.
We're going to buy it. We have a few things to take care of first but we should be ready to make the deal in mid-June. When we do, I'll take pictures of the various parts so that readers can see something of it without having to walk on a lot and get assaulted by a salesman (though ours was surprisingly casual by salesman standards). In the meantime, I really recommend the website to learn what you can.
One can easily see Toyota (and Honda) are the leaders in hybrid technology. While Ford has scored some points with their Escape SUV, they've squandered their momentum. Their next hybrid, a version of the Five Hundred, isn't due out until 2009. Meanwhile, Toyota's working on the Volta, a hybrid sports car rated at 408 horsepower and will go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, all while sipping gas at a reasonable 31 mpg. Now that's technology worth getting excited about.
\_/
DED
The hybrid runs the same dimensions as the regular versions. There's no way to distinguish a hybrid Camry from one that isn't. They look exactly the same. The hybrid version just states its identity on the nameplate affixed to the rear. There's no compromise on comfort in the cabin either. It's quite spacious, at least by our standards. We're used to driving a Honda Civic sedan and Subaru Outback so the Camry is a step up for us.
The ride is smooooooth. Acceleration was fine. Its rated at 187 horsepower, which blows a couple of other hybrid models away. The transmission was weird. It never really shifted like you'd expect in an automatic (both our cars are standards so automatics are foreign to us anyway). Its an electronically controlled continuous variable transmission (ECVT), if that's helpful to anyone. Braking was really sensitive, even for ABS (at least when compared to my Subaru and it had a brake job just last year). Forget about stopping on a dime, you could stop on a grain of sand. A by-product of regenerative braking I suppose.
One feature I was unaware of beforehand was electronic steering. There's no linkage here, thus less parts to wear down. A care with the sensitivity of power steering but without the system. No power steering fluid levels to monitor. No pump to break down. Sweet!
Obviously they had to compromise somewhere, so Toyota chose the trunk. Whereas a regular Camry has 14.5 - 15 cubic feet of trunk space, the hybrid model has 10.6. Not a big deal to me, though it might be to others. It also has a 17.2 gallon gas tank while regular Camry's have 18.5
Fuel efficiency is rated at 40 city / 38 highway. 24/34 is the rating for non-hybrids.
Price is certainly a big deal. Unlike the Prius, this isn't an hybrid entry level vehicle. The Camry is for grown ups with a solid income. You're looking at $26,200 for the base model, though there are so many standard amenities that I think most people would stop there. Still, when you consider what people are willing to plunk down on a truck or monster SUV, $26k is certainly reasonable. The federal tax credit, though reduced, is still in effect for a few more months and Connecticut doesn't charge sales tax on hybrids.
We're going to buy it. We have a few things to take care of first but we should be ready to make the deal in mid-June. When we do, I'll take pictures of the various parts so that readers can see something of it without having to walk on a lot and get assaulted by a salesman (though ours was surprisingly casual by salesman standards). In the meantime, I really recommend the website to learn what you can.
One can easily see Toyota (and Honda) are the leaders in hybrid technology. While Ford has scored some points with their Escape SUV, they've squandered their momentum. Their next hybrid, a version of the Five Hundred, isn't due out until 2009. Meanwhile, Toyota's working on the Volta, a hybrid sports car rated at 408 horsepower and will go from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds, all while sipping gas at a reasonable 31 mpg. Now that's technology worth getting excited about.
\_/
DED
Labels: cars, technology
posted by DED at 9:32 PM
10 Comments:
Cool. Sounds like a sweet set of wheels, Ded. I await a full report & pics when you make the perchase.
I found this review:
There’s nothing wheezy about this hybrid. Holding the pedal down brings a high-revving purr from the engine room and a surge to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds, almost a full second quicker than a four-cylinder, five-speed Camry SE (March 2006). The quarter finishes in 16.3 seconds at 92 mph, compared with 16.9 at 86 mph for the four...
Amazing technology. Toyota puts you in the driver's seat.
Mike: I'll be sure to blog about the car and include pics when we buy it.
Mort: Yeah, it wasn't wussy at all. Granted, it's no Tesla but that's ok. ;)
Unlike the Prius, this isn't an hybrid entry level vehicle. The Camry is for grown ups with a solid income. You're looking at $26,200 for the base model
Um... Yeah.
We just paid $24K for our Prius (the base model starts at $22K). I guess that somewhere in that $3K difference lies the reason I've never felt like a grownup. Although I would certainly describe my income as "solid".
Seriously, the Prius seats four very comfortably and has much better cargo capacity than the Camry. Also gets better mileage, obviously. Given the similar price ranges, the choice has a lot more to do with what you're looking for in a car than with income or, um, maturity level.
$4,000, which in automobile pricing is enough to move from one bracket to the next, and it's a question of image. The Prius has a different image than the Camry. The latter is considered more mainstream a vehicle, while the former gets lumped in the econoboxes, though unfairly.
No disagreement about fuel economy or the cargo space. The Prius is a hatchback while the Camry is a sedan. One can fill the Prius' back end all the way up if one doesn't mind giving up using the rear view mirror.
I apologize if you took offense for my Prius' comments. My intent was not to criticize Prius owners but rather to highlight how hybrids are going mainstream and no longer "fringe". The MSM doesn't seem to realize that everyday people are driving the Prius. They needed Toyota to pop out a Camry version.
You're easily offended, aren't you?
$4,000, which in automobile pricing is enough to move from one bracket to the next
No, it's not. $4K is a difference between option packages. If we'd gone for the Prius' "sports package", that would have put us at $26K. Entry level cars are in the Yaris/Fit/Civic class. My point is that there are no "entry level" hybrids. Our Prius is in exactly the same buyer class as any other mid-20K car. Which is to say, "mature" and requiring a "solid income".
Seriously, re-read your post. Where did that "solid income" bit come from? You think your typical fresh-from-college kid or entry-level job applicant can afford a $24K vehicle? That was a status snob remark, and...
You're easily offended, aren't you?
Yeah, I am, to some extent. But what offends me more than anything is when people say stuff that just isn't true. You made a generalization that was 100% bogus. "Solid income"? "Grown ups"? Come on, dude. Just admit it. Those were dick things to say in denigrating a car that sells in the mid $20K's. It was condescending and inaccurate. Nice two-fer.
And, please, let me be clear: I like you, and I like your blog, and I agree with 99% of what you write. That's why this pissed me off so much. You should know better.
Good golly, Miss Molly. PC reactions to car reviews along with everything else. I just want to know about flat area storage (back seats flopped down, of course) in the Prius and the Camry. I need to carry flat art and really like both/either cars in theory....can't stand going to dealers but I may have to to answer my questions if you don't have them. I am thinking laydown space requirements of aobut 25x 35 inches. Can either car handle this? Thanks. Karl P. Koenig
Good golly, Miss Molly. PC reactions to car reviews along with everything else. I just want to know about flat area storage (back seats flopped down, of course) in the Prius and the Camry. I need to carry flat art and really like both/either cars in theory....can't stand going to dealers but I may have to to answer my questions if you don't have them. I am thinking laydown space requirements of aobut 25x 35 inches. Can either car handle this? Thanks. Karl P. Koenig
With the increasing price of gasoline, I expect to see more camry hybrids on the road this year!
I just want to know about flat area storage (back seats flopped down, of course) in the Prius and the Camry. I need to carry flat art and really like both/either cars in theory....can't stand going to dealers but I may have to to answer my questions if you don't have them. I am thinking laydown space requirements of aobut 25x 35 inches. Can either car handle this?
Hi Karl,
I'm sorry for taking so long in getting back to you and I'm sure that it's too late, but FWIW.... Yes you can lay stuff down in the Camry trunk so long as you don't exceed the dimensions you just asked about.
Yes, Frank, I've certainly seen more hybrids in 2008 as the selection has increased.
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