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2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid Road Test

Maybe its Time to Go Green?

The best news about Toyotas new Camry Hybrid is that theres no news at all, or more precisely that it hardly looks or feels much different than the already impressive conventional Camry; recently revamped for the 2007 model year. An attractive chrome grille separates it from the base four-cylinder version, and the rectangular chrome and electric-blue Hybrid Synergy Drive badges attached to each front fender are discreet but nevertheless difficult to miss. At the rear, distinctive taillight lenses, even more jewel-like than the regular Camrys, join a chromed "Hybrid" designation to identify this cars unique advantage over traditional sedans.

And Toyota does make a compelling

One of a few visual differences you can find on the 07 Camry Hybrid. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

argument as to why four-door buyers should consider going green. Certainly the hybrid model enjoys fuel savings over a similarly equipped base Camry LE, with a government rating of 41 mpg in the city, where most of us drive, and an even greater advantage when comparing the models rather robust V6, but there are tradeoffs, of course. Toyota has positioned the new car above the base

Instead of creating a top of the line model, HSD is mated to a smaller inline-four. (Photo: Bill Petro, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.)

CE and even the LE, but below the top-line XLS, both in its $25,900 entry price and 187 horsepower combination of gasoline and 105-kW electrified performance. Not surprisingly the Camry Hybrid doesnt jump off the line with the same enthusiasm as does the V6, but during side-by-side drag races held on a little-used runway on a mostly abandoned airstrip, the hybrid, which enjoys the equivalent of almost 30 additional horsepower, proved

Drag racing. In a Camry? You bet: Hybrid is quicker than standard inline-four. Its not as quick as the 3.5-liter V6, though. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

more energetic than the base model time and time again.

I started my first run in the base model, and while optimizing my chances of outrunning the hybrid by pressing on the brake pedal with my left foot and revving the engine with my right, a small initial advantage off the line was quickly reduced to playing catch-up, which, of course, never happened. I followed this test by a run in the hybrid model, using the same left-foot braking technique, which

Performance can be considered an added bonus, as the Camry Hybrids key focus is on environmental friendliness. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

again gave me the jump on my competitor in the base four-cylinder model, an advantage that never let up. The Camry HV runs to 60 mph in under 9 seconds, although Road & Track magazine reports a sprint to 60 mph in the high 7s.

And just how many people who buy either Camry will ever drag race it? No doubt some teenage sons of those who buy North Americas most popular car will push it harder, faster and farther than their parents might ever dare or care to know, but thats about it. In reality, most who step up to the

CVT helps keep things smooth while on the move. Idle-stop keeps things green when stopped. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

hybrid will be more interested in its ride and handling, among other more obvious points.

To that end, the Hybrid rides well on pretty well any road surface. Its biased towards comfort over sport, not unlike the conventionally-powered LE, but just like the ICE-only Camry it serves up better-than-average all-round handling dynamics, executing highway exit ramps efficiently, even when taken at overly exuberant speeds. The roughly paved streets near the downtown waterfront district were noticeably poor, but the cars nicely sorted fully-independent suspension setup made them smoother, combining with supportive,

VDIM is a safety net thats sure to keep Camry owners out of trouble. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

comfortable front seats for an enjoyable experience overall.
Where the Camry Hybrid truly shined was on the Gardiner Expressway and DVP, where its additional engine output and liquid smooth continuously variable transmission (CVT) made for effortless acceleration for passing purposes. The car shot forward with just a hint of pedal application, quickly climbing up to higher than highway speeds and then settling the engine into a fuel conscious low rev level, almost silently passing by more moderate traffic and Torontos beautiful Don Valley. By the way, the EPA rates the Camry Hybrid at 37 mpg on such a highway, although sans my rather spirited driving

While not tuned like a sport sedan, the Camry Hybrid is quite capable in the corners. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

style.

Braking is equally impressive; the hybrids four ABS-enhanced discs are helped along by a regenerative system that captures otherwise lost energy to top off the battery pack. The brakes are electronically controlled (ECB), by the way, and feature electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.

On the safety front, the Camry Hybrid gets a full allotment of seven airbags, identical to the regular Camry. Something special, however, is the inclusion of Toyotas award-winning VDIM system, which stands for Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. Toyota includes this as a value-add, but its more than just a fancy acronym. The system brings together all the electronic driver aids, making them work together

Aside from cost, the only setback with the Hybrid is minor: 4.4 cubic feet less trunk space. (Photo: Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.)

for optimal safety. To put it simply, the cars electronic brain reacts to nuances of instability that you might otherwise not notice, keeping the car on alert in case it needs to respond to a loss of control. Testing this system previously, it even pulled to a stop automatically when, at 40 mph I locked the steering to one side on a slippery surface and purposely failed to apply the brakes. There probably isnt a safer stability control system on the market; although some critics will point out it can be a bit invasive on the driving experience. My guess is that most Camry Hybrid drivers, unlike some auto journalists, wont be attempting to four-wheel drift just for the fun of it. For your more sensible purposes, Toyotas VDIM is ideal.

Something else that probably wont go unnoticed

To some the two hybrid badges on the front fenders will be worth the price of admission. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

by those unfamiliar with hybrids is the new Camrys idle-stop system, which turns off the engine automatically when stopped. Lift your foot off the brake pedal and it revives so quickly and quietly that youll probably soon forget its going through the process over and over again, all the while saving you money and reducing greenhouse emissions.

Those tradeoffs I spoke about earlier? There certainly arent many. After realizing that the trunk is 4.4 cubic feet smaller and fuel tank has 1.3 gallons less capacity, most will find getting over the sticker shock of paying $7,630 more than the base CE model harder to digest. Although, comparing base prices is unfair considering that the Hybrid is stocked with standard amenities that would more or less come close to equaling what an any four-cylinder Camry would cost if so equipped,

A number of optional packages add all the goodies you might expect in a Lexus. (Photo: Bill Petro, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.)

including dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-disc CD changer with MP3 and Bluetooth compatibility, power front seats, projector headlights, 16-inch alloy rims, a real-time fuel economy gauge, a multifunction display, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), which integrates traction and yaw control, plus Toyotas ultra-cool Smart Key system, which lets you in the car without the need of a key or even key fob, plus allows you to press a "START" button instead of twisting a conventional ignition in order to bring its drivetrain to alert mode.

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