Topic: 2022 Toyota Camry SE Hybrid Nightshade

[Blueprint]

The tree-hugger with the Nascar bod.

https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/20220209/toyota-camry-hybride-se-edition-nightshade-2022-essai-hivernal/

[Blueprint]

There are 17 - 17!! - Camry combinations to pick from. In a bit of marketing wisdom that escapes me, choosing the Nightshade package deletes the heated steering wheel 

[tortoise]

Why would they do that for the Canadian Market?  It just makes no sense.

[Blueprint]

The jury's out, but to my eyes the 5th-gen Camry is a good-looking car, and the SE firms up the chassis to Mazda3 levels. Hybrid drivetrain also smoother and more powerful than the std 2.5 litre / 8-speed combo. Yes, the planetary CVT is better here than the regular automatic!

[Blueprint]

Why would they do that for the Canadian Market?  It just makes no sense.

The only thing I can think of is that cars with that pkg are built in a plant with no access to the supplier of that feature. Otherwise, why would black wheels, spoiler, door handles, badges and window trim delete a cabin feature, with said cabin having zero changes under the Nightshade pkg?

[Blueprint]

The Camry is still the best-selling car in the USA, in 7th place after a bunch of trucks and SUVs.

[Blueprint]

No Hybrid badges on the SE, and even none of these orange cables under the hood. Only the blue bits in the Toyota logos tell the tale. As is usual for me, I never get anywhere near the Energuide ratings with Toyota hybrids. Granted, most of the week we were in the -20's, giving me a 8.1 l/100 km avg (Energuide is at 5.1). The 2021 Camry AWD with the base engine gave me 7.3, but in ideal fall temps and lots of highway driving. Still, the hybrid is more refined and powerful, but I never came to grips with the brakes, hard to modulate, especially at parking lot speeds.

[Blueprint]

More than anything, it's one of the rare cars nowadays that you can just jump in and go. Ergonomics, visiblity are fine, most commands are easily found and read. The car is roomy, has a huge trunk yet never feels bloated. Icy roads show how stable a low, long-wheelbased fwd car is. Lithe describes it well, but one wishes for better finishes inside the cabin, and despite the 17 combos on offer, it's hard to get exactly one to my liking. At less than $35k msrp de-Nightshaded, it's a bargain that will last longer than luggage.

[rrocket]

I really, really like the ES300h with this powertrain.

[Blueprint]

I really, really like the ES300h with this powertrain.

I booked the 2022 ES 250AWD for my b-day week in April - job perks    It will be my first time in a ES! The tester will have the premium pkg, a $3,700 option that basically brings the ES up to Camry XLE level (heated steering wheel, nav, wireless charging, rain-sensing wipers, auot-dimming mirror, etc.). And it's in my fave color, silver over black. The 300h starts at $54k.

For 2022, the Camry XLE is only available with the Hybrid drivetrain, a bit of an ES 300h redux for $39k.

[quadzilla]

Why would they do that for the Canadian Market?  It just makes no sense.

The only thing I can think of is that cars with that pkg are built in a plant with no access to the supplier of that feature. Otherwise, why would black wheels, spoiler, door handles, badges and window trim delete a cabin feature, with said cabin having zero changes under the Nightshade pkg?

Strange because the Corolla keeps the heated wheel with the Nightshade package.

[Blueprint]

Why would they do that for the Canadian Market?  It just makes no sense.

The only thing I can think of is that cars with that pkg are built in a plant with no access to the supplier of that feature. Otherwise, why would black wheels, spoiler, door handles, badges and window trim delete a cabin feature, with said cabin having zero changes under the Nightshade pkg?

Strange because the Corolla keeps the heated wheel with the Nightshade package.

My theory doesn't apply either as all NA Camry models are assembled in the same plant in Kentucky. I really, really don't get it. And it's the same for every Nightshade variant of the Camry (SE, SE AWD, SE Hybrid). I advised readers to save the $900, forget the black trim and keep the heated steering wheel!

[tortoise]

That's a total no brainer.

[Ex-airbalancer]

They should based the new Venza off of this style

[rrocket]

I really, really like the ES300h with this powertrain.

I booked the 2022 ES 250AWD for my b-day week in April - job perks    It will be my first time in a ES! The tester will have the premium pkg, a $3,700 option that basically brings the ES up to Camry XLE level (heated steering wheel, nav, wireless charging, rain-sensing wipers, auot-dimming mirror, etc.). And it's in my fave color, silver over black. The 300h starts at $54k.

For 2022, the Camry XLE is only available with the Hybrid drivetrain, a bit of an ES 300h redux for $39k.

Personally, I'd go for the Ultra. With all the options and features, it's optioned similarly to an LS from not too long ago. The 17 speaker Levinson was the first with PurePlay. This with the super quiet interior sounds spectacular.

[EV Dan]

Why would they do that for the Canadian Market?  It just makes no sense.

The only thing I can think of is that cars with that pkg are built in a plant with no access to the supplier of that feature. Otherwise, why would black wheels, spoiler, door handles, badges and window trim delete a cabin feature, with said cabin having zero changes under the Nightshade pkg?

Strange because the Corolla keeps the heated wheel with the Nightshade package.

My theory doesn't apply either as all NA Camry models are assembled in the same plant in Kentucky. I really, really don't get it. And it's the same for every Nightshade variant of the Camry (SE, SE AWD, SE Hybrid). I advised readers to save the $900, forget the black trim and keep the heated steering wheel!

In the Nighshade package you can't have a heated steering wheel because its infrared signature can be detected in night view goggles   

[Blueprint]

I really, really like the ES300h with this powertrain.

I booked the 2022 ES 250AWD for my b-day week in April - job perks    It will be my first time in a ES! The tester will have the premium pkg, a $3,700 option that basically brings the ES up to Camry XLE level (heated steering wheel, nav, wireless charging, rain-sensing wipers, auot-dimming mirror, etc.). And it's in my fave color, silver over black. The 300h starts at $54k.

For 2022, the Camry XLE is only available with the Hybrid drivetrain, a bit of an ES 300h redux for $39k.

Personally, I'd go for the Ultra. With all the options and features, it's optioned similarly to an LS from not too long ago. The 17 speaker Levinson was the first with PurePlay. This with the super quiet interior sounds spectacular.

In the Camry range, the base and middle audio won't cut it for me, so going for the 9-speaker JBL limits me (in 2022) to XLE Hybrid and XSE V6. No nav in this last one 

[Blueprint]

Why would they do that for the Canadian Market?  It just makes no sense.

The only thing I can think of is that cars with that pkg are built in a plant with no access to the supplier of that feature. Otherwise, why would black wheels, spoiler, door handles, badges and window trim delete a cabin feature, with said cabin having zero changes under the Nightshade pkg?

Strange because the Corolla keeps the heated wheel with the Nightshade package.

My theory doesn't apply either as all NA Camry models are assembled in the same plant in Kentucky. I really, really don't get it. And it's the same for every Nightshade variant of the Camry (SE, SE AWD, SE Hybrid). I advised readers to save the $900, forget the black trim and keep the heated steering wheel!

In the Nighshade package you can't have a heated steering wheel because its infrared signature can be detected in night view goggles   

About the only answer that makes sense 

[EV Dan]

The absence of hybrid badges on the latest cars (including 2022 Venza from what I heard) likely indicates that Toyota is going to make the hybrid powertrain their default ICE option. Plug-ins will have the badges since it's their current cutting edge technology for a little while.
P.S. I can't see why they wouldn't use orange cables under hood, if only for safety, but they also look cool.

[Blueprint]

The absence of hybrid badges on the latest cars (including 2022 Venza from what I heard) likely indicates that Toyota is going to make the hybrid powertrain their default ICE option. Plug-ins will have the badges since it's their current cutting edge technology for a little while.
P.S. I can't see why they wouldn't use orange cables under hood, if only for safety, but they also look cool.

The more efficient LE Hybrid (different battery) still has the badges. And I liked the orange cables too, for the same reasons!