NOTE: Pricing based on data collected October 2008. Costs of hybridization and forced features are UCS estimates based on information available on manufacturer websites.
See full Hybrid Scorecard methodology
Vehicle Summary
Toyota introduced the Camry Hybrid in model year 2007, and it was the first hybrid built in the United States. The midsize car seats five people and gets a combined EPA estimated fuel economy of 34 mpg. The Camry Hybrid is a full hybrid, offering electric-only operation under certain conditions, idle stop/start, power assist, and regenerative braking.
Environmental Score
With a 27 percent reduction in global warming emissions compared with the four-cylinder conventional Camry, the Camry Hybrid gets a smaller percentage of global warming emissions reduction than some other midsize hybrids, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid and the Mercury Milan Hybrid. Toyota uses the same hybrid technology in the Camry Hybrid as it does in the Prius, but fails to achieve the Prius’s impressive 44 percent reduction in global warming pollution. This is in part because Toyota applied the Camry’s hybrid technology to achieve greater acceleration. Toyota could get greater global warming emissions reduction with the Camry Hybrid if it used a more efficient gasoline engine and maintained the performance of the conventional Camry. The smog-forming emissions performance of the Camry Hybrid is very good, earning it an EPA air pollution score of 9.5. This score combined with the global warming emissions reduction give the Camry Hybrid an Environmental Score of 7.1.
Scorecard Environmental Score methodology
Hybrid Value
Toyota is charging $3,799 for the hybrid system in the Camry Hybrid, almost $800 more than it asks for the Prius and more than $2,000 above what it charges for the Lexus HS 250h. With a 27 percent reduction in global warming emissions, the Camry Hybrid earns a Hybrid Value rating in the “High” range. Toyota needs to reduce the price it charges for the Camry Hybrid’s drivetrain, and/or increase the focus of the technology on emissions reductions, in order to bring this model more in line with the Prius and HS 250h as class leaders in hybrid value.
Scorecard Hybrid Value methodology
Forced Features
The Camry Hybrid comes with $2,156 worth of extra or upgraded features compared with the base-model conventional Camry, and gets a Forced Features rating of “$$.” This is actually more than $1,500 less than the cost for forced features in the Ford Fusion Hybrid, though still more than other sedans such as the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Lexus HS 250h. If Toyota were to increase the Camry’s Hybrid Value rating while holding its forced features at this level, it would offer stiff competition against the current Fusion Hybrid. Sample forced features include: remote keyless entry system; smart key system with push-button start; remote illuminated entry; HomeLink universal transceiver; and vehicle dynamics integrated management. Click to see full list of forced features.
Scorecard Forced Features methodology
Hybrid Scorecard Home
Additional Info
Visit the Who’s Got Hybrids section to read comments and stories from actual hybrid owners.
Visit the Reviews page to see what popular automotive websites think of this hybrid.
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