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Why am I so surprised that the 2012 Camry Hybrid is so darn quiet and refined? I’m not sure, but it sure is a very quiet ride out on the open road where most of my driving takes place. The tires are quiet, but it takes barely any cornering forces to make them squeal like a pig, and wind and road noise are basically non-existent.
This is perfect for a car like the Camry Hybrid where, really, what the owner wants is an unobtrusive driving experience, and that is what this Camry does best. The CVT transmission, usually a hated commodity in the car field, suits this car perfectly as it ensures that power is delivered in the smoothest possible way.
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Step on the gas gently and the torque from the electric motors get you moving before the gas engine fires up for extra assistance. But stomp on the accelerator and all 200 hp is unleashed—it’s not fast, but the Camry Hybrid offers extremely smooth acceleration. At times the power actually surprises you as it is delivered so smoothly that acceleration can feel jet-like as the speed climbs and climbs without a fuss.
In fact, the engine is so quiet in the new Camry Hybrid you would be vary hard pressed to hear it even at full acceleration! When cruising or during idling I have to use the provided energy readouts to determine if the gas engine is running—it is that seamless and quiet as the system switches between electric and gas power.
With a light foot you can stay in EV mode up to about 75 km/h, which allows me to do a lot of my commute in EV mode. As a result the average fuel consumption readout has been praising me daily as I arrive at my destination. So perhaps the Camry Hybrid isn’t exciting in the traditional sense, but I had the choice today to take it or a Hyundai Genesis for my daily commute and I chose the Camry for its quiet and comfort—not to mention fuel savings.
