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2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid Performance Review

October 30, 2008

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

The Camry Hybrid feels a little cruder than the Prius
Popular Mechanics

Camry Hybrid leaves little to be desired
Cars.com

Takes turns smoothly and easily
Mother Proof

33 mpg city, 34 mpg highway
Edmunds

TheCarConnection.com finds that the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid's performance rivals that of not just other hybrids, but some gasoline-powered sedans as well.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is propelled by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which also powers the Toyota Prius. It consists of a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. The other component, the Camry Hybrid's electric motor, can run the vehicle independently, but only at speeds below 30 mph. The engine provides 147 hp, but Edmunds notes that the "electric motor adds another 40 hp," making for a decent 187 hp total.

The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid goes from 0-60 mph "in a very respectable 8.4 seconds," according to Edmunds. "The ride and handling are no sacrifice at all. This Camry virtually glides down the road and takes turns smoothly and easily," Mother Proof reports, adding that it's possible to "feel the moment when things move from electric to gas and back again." For some, this might be fun—for others, it might get old.

"Fuel economy is an impressive 33 mpg city, 34 mpg highway," according to Edmunds. And that's quite good except when compared to the 2009 Prius' "48 mpg in the city, 45 on the highway" as cited by Autoblog. This discrepancy leads Popular Mechanics to wonder if people "are willing to pay about the same for the larger Camry Hybrid as they will for the slick but smaller Prius." Since fuel mileage is the stick by which hybrid vehicles are typically measured, it's a very valid question.

Conclusion

The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid achieves better fuel mileage than the four-cylinder, gasoline-only version and adds a significant performance advantage.

PERFORMANCE | 8 out of 10Expert Quotes:The Camry Hybrid feels a little cruder than the PriusPopular MechanicsCamry Hybrid leaves little to be desiredCars.comTakes turns smoothly and easilyMother Proof33 mpg city, 34 mpg highwayEdmunds TheCarConnection.com finds that the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid's performance rivals that of not just other hybrids, but some gasoline-powered sedans as well. The Toyota Camry Hybrid is propelled by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which also powers the Toyota Prius. It consists of a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder gasoline engine mated to a continuously variable transmission. The other component, the Camry Hybrid's electric motor, can run the vehicle independently, but only at speeds below 30 mph. The engine provides 147 hp, but Edmunds notes that the "electric motor adds another 40 hp," making for a decent 187 hp total. The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid goes from 0-60 mph "in a very respectable 8.4 seconds," according to Edmunds. "The ride and handling are no sacrifice at all. This Camry virtually glides down the road and takes turns smoothly and easily," Mother Proof reports, adding that it's possible to "feel the moment when things move from electric to gas and back again." For some, this might be fun—for others, it might get old. "Fuel economy is an impressive 33 mpg city, 34 mpg highway," according to Edmunds. And that's quite good except when compared to the 2009 Prius' "48 mpg in the city, 45 on the highway" as cited by Autoblog. This discrepancy leads Popular Mechanics to wonder if people "are willing to pay about the same for the larger Camry Hybrid as they will for the slick but smaller Prius." Since fuel mileage is the stick by which hybrid vehicles are typically measured, it's a very valid question. ConclusionThe 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid achieves better fuel mileage than the four-cylinder, gasoline-only version and adds a significant performance advantage. 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID STYLING [7 out of 10] Motor Trend: "Its looks are still fresh" Edmunds: "Rivals King Tut's tomb for quietude" Cars.com: "Virtually indistinguishable from most other Camrys" Car and Driver: "A pleasing if slightly dull vehicle" Mother Proof: "Calming gray ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

The Altima Hybrid, which also uses a full-hybrid system, has mileage and overall performance that's very similar to those of the Camry Hybrid, but the Camry's interior is a little roomier. The luxurious, diesel-powered Mercedes E320 BlueTEC seems like an unlikely competitor, but it also attracts buyers who want to decrease their petroleum use, and it gets 32 mpg on the highway. To its credit, the E320 BlueTEC rides, handles, and accelerates just about as well as the gasoline E350, but it's more than twice the price of the Camry Hybrid. Or if you'd like a full-hybrid powertrain in a compact SUV, there's the Ford Escape Hybrid, which is rated at 34 mpg city, 30 mpg highway. Finally, if you don't need all the space of the Camry and don't mind a hatchback, you might as well go for the much more fuel-efficient Prius, which gets 48 mpg city, 45 mpg highway.

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See the Toyota Camry Hybrid in Other Years:

2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007

Comments (1 total)

  1. By Edward the Good #1, Posted: 10/20/2008

    King of England

    It is obvious that if this Camry and the Honda Civic and Accord Hybrids and the Altima Hybrid and the Escape-mariner Hybrids looked SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT in EXTGERIOR Styling than their NON-Hybrid twins, they would, like the PRIUS, sell DOUBLE and TRIPLE the numbers they are selling now, and the sky would NOT be restricted by the DEMAND but only on how fast they woould be able to MAKE THEM.

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