Author Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid (Read 9741 times)

Autos_Editor · « **on:** May 14, 2015, 06:30:45 am »

Toyota's perennial mid-sized best-seller in hybrid guise. Is it worth it?
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alljay · « **Reply #1 on:** May 14, 2015, 07:29:52 am »

Did they intentionally make the look like a carp? It even has yellow barbels.... The Toyota Coy design inspiration?

aaronk · « **Reply #2 on:** May 14, 2015, 08:13:47 am »

Any comment on the observed fuel economy?

Noto · « **Reply #3 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:19:42 am »

The Camry hybrid has long been known to be an excellent all-around car, if not the enthusiast's choice.

That the battery no longer completely blocks access to the rear makes it a much better car.

...but the new styling isn't to my liking. Still, for $31k destination-in, show me a better-equipped, fuel efficient, high-resale car that you can use to fit 5 in without problem.

A Thule Box is also a good upgrade for extra cargo capacity.

johngenx · « **Reply #4 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:23:47 am »

Best hybrid value on the market - superb cars that offer amazing fuel economy in a large sedan with almost no compromises. Not an enthusiast car at all - but great at what it was designed to do.

whaddaiknow · « **Reply #5 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:24:45 am »

The epitome of sensible personal transportation.

Noto · « **Reply #6 on:** May 14, 2015, 10:54:53 am »

Quote from: johngenx on May 14, 2015, 10:23:47 am

Best hybrid value on the market - superb cars that offer amazing fuel economy in a large sedan with almost no compromises. Not an enthusiast car at all - but great at what it was designed to do.

I just find it amazing how many taxis are Camry hybrids given the trunk compromise. Great cars, for sure, but I always thought the Escape Hybrid or Prius V Taxis were better.

redman · « **Reply #7 on:** May 14, 2015, 11:00:58 am »

Any word on a revised hybrid version coming out to match the revised Camry ?

Speaking of recent article on vehicle company technology sharing, be interesting to see fully electric Toyota's encompassing some to Tesla technology.
Should be an easy match given the relationship between Toyota, Tesla and Panasonic.

Wildsau · « **Reply #8 on:** May 14, 2015, 11:03:47 am »

Quote from: aaronk on May 14, 2015, 08:13:47 am

Any comment on the observed fuel economy?

Hey Aaron,

Sorry, I'm not sure if you're asking if someone else has a comment on my observed fuel economy or if you couldn't find it in the review. In case it's the latter, I did put it in there - averaged 5.8 L/100 km after one week. Mostly slower city driving (commuting in Edmonton), a daily freeway sprint (only about 5 km) and a couple of highway jaunts. Very impressive mileage for this car's size, especially considering it never feels slow or underpowered.

tortoise · « **Reply #9 on:** May 14, 2015, 12:14:07 pm »

Wow, this seems to be an impressive value.

If I were to buy a Camry, the SE Hybrid is the one I would get. In any colour other than beige or silver.

I couldn't tell from the article, does it come with heated seats?

Blueprint · « **Reply #10 on:** May 14, 2015, 12:48:03 pm »

Quote from: tortoise on May 14, 2015, 12:14:07 pm

Wow, this seems to be an impressive value.

If I were to buy a Camry, the SE Hybrid is the one I would get. In any colour other than beige or silver.

I couldn't tell from the article, does it come with heated seats?

No heated seats, not even as an option, on LE and SE.

Only the XLE supplies heat to the seat of your pants. Weird packaging for Canada...

Noto · « **Reply #11 on:** May 14, 2015, 01:16:38 pm »

Quote from: redman on May 14, 2015, 11:00:58 am

Any word on a revised hybrid version coming out to match the revised Camry ?

not likely.

The Rav4 Hybrid and NX300h both have slightly de-tuned versions (likely higher torque figures, but those aren't usually published for Toyota's hybrids due to the dual-system function) to handle the larger vehicles' weights. Also odd given that the AWD versions have an additional motor driving the rear wheels (and should therefore add power - it doesn't to the rating).

...but in both guises, Toyota hasn't highlighted any changes to the drivetrain.

This is all my thought and nothing official - sorry, Sir O!

tortoise · « **Reply #12 on:** May 14, 2015, 01:24:56 pm »

Quote from: Blueprint on May 14, 2015, 12:48:03 pm

Only the XLE supplies heat to the seat of your pants. Weird packaging for Canada...

Yeah, that makes no sense.

Blueprint · « **Reply #13 on:** May 14, 2015, 01:30:14 pm »

Quote from: tortoise on May 14, 2015, 01:24:56 pm

Quote from: Blueprint on May 14, 2015, 12:48:03 pm
Only the XLE supplies heat to the seat of your pants. Weird packaging for Canada...

Yeah, that makes no sense.

Ditto the sunroof. Basically, the 34,800$ XLE is the one to get. No options available on LE, SE or XLE, opposite of what they were doing not too long ago. I blame fleet packaging. Still, lot of kit in that XLE for a bit less than Accord Touring hybrid, or same msrp as Fusion Titanium Hybrid (and THAT one has a bunch of upgrades available, including not-std sunroof).

Wildsau · « **Reply #14 on:** May 14, 2015, 02:19:27 pm »

I was taken aback by the lack of heated seats during my review too. Both reasons mentioned here already - first of all, it just comes across as cheap when you're going to far as to put advanced technology into your car like a touchscreen AND A GAS-HYBRID POWERTRAIN and secondly, the packaging seems strange for the Canadian market. Less equipped cars (that cost $10,000 less) have heated seats as standard equipment. I don't get it either.

As noted, if these things matter, you have to step up to the XLE which isn't crazy expensive, but might be more than some care to spend.

Noto · « **Reply #15 on:** May 14, 2015, 03:12:37 pm »

Give it time...Toyota always does this, and then always 'rectifies' in a mid-cycle refresh.

Blueprint · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2015, 03:25:35 pm »

Quote from: Wildsau on May 14, 2015, 02:19:27 pm

I was taken aback by the lack of heated seats during my review too. Both reasons mentioned here already - first of all, it just comes across as cheap when you're going to far as to put advanced technology into your car like a touchscreen AND A GAS-HYBRID POWERTRAIN and secondly, the packaging seems strange for the Canadian market. Less equipped cars (that cost $10,000 less) have heated seats as standard equipment. I don't get it either.

As noted, if these things matter, you have to step up to the XLE which isn't crazy expensive, but might be more than some care to spend.

The gas-only LE & SE have no heated seats either, and they're not even included in the LE upgrade pkg. First trim level to have them is the XSE at 30k$. Sunroof is an extra 2k$. A 19k$ Corolla LE has them standard - go figure.

Strangely, the gas XLE is 33k$, so it's only a 1800$ upgrade to XLE Hybrid. No wonder most XLE's I see have the Hybrid badge!

johngenx · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2015, 03:28:08 pm »

Yup - $1800 for the hybrid is an amazingly low premium.

aaronk · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2015, 03:59:54 pm »

Quote from: Wildsau on May 14, 2015, 11:03:47 am

Quote from: aaronk on May 14, 2015, 08:13:47 am
Any comment on the observed fuel economy?

Hey Aaron,

Sorry, I'm not sure if you're asking if someone else has a comment on my observed fuel economy or if you couldn't find it in the review. In case it's the latter, I did put it in there - averaged 5.8 L/100 km after one week. Mostly slower city driving (commuting in Edmonton), a daily freeway sprint (only about 5 km) and a couple of highway jaunts. Very impressive mileage for this car's size, especially considering it never feels slow or underpowered.

Ha ha, guess I missed it in the article - thanks for taking the time to clarify.

Ex-airbalancer · « **Reply #19 on:** May 14, 2015, 04:04:23 pm »

For $500 you can have heating elements installed in the front seats