Toyota Camry Hybrid 2.5 Review: Toyota's crown jewel

Inside, the new car is what you’d come to expect of a Camry – acres of space and bulletproof build quality. In terms of rear passenger room, the new car is an improvement despite having the same wheelbase as the old car. There is even more legroom, so much so that even the tallest of adults will find the rear of a Camry a comfortable place to be in. New convenience features for rear passengers include the grab handles on the rear of the front seat backs as well as a fold down feature for the front headrests for a better view out front.

Up front, the driver’s seat is both comfortable and supportive, and offers convenient electrical adjustments. The new driving environment is a further improvement over the old model’s, featuring new instruments that are easy to read at a glance, new switchgear for the climate control system as well as a new design for the leather-wrapped four-spoke steering wheel with integrated controls for the stereo and trip computer. The factory-fitted stereo system features a 6.1-inch LCD screen that displays settings for the stereo but also doubles up as the monitor for the reverse camera and the standard navigation system. The Hybrid model features some key differences when compared to the petrol-powered models – the instrument pack features a power gauge instead of a rev counter and a large fuel economy gauge while the instrument dials all feature a blue theme. Other key differences include Hybrid-specific wood trim that look even better than those on the standard models.

Perceived luxury and quality levels are high inside the new model. The wood trim on the dashboard and centre console looks more convincing than the old car’s, upping the overall luxury ambience of the cabin while the exposed surfaces on the dashboard are mostly made from soft-touch plastics.

The range-topping Hybrid is kitted out with more standard luxuries than the rest of the Camry range. These goodies include VSC Vehicle Stability Control, auto fold wing mirrors, Bluetooth telephone connectivity, ventilated front seats, LED headlamps and so on.

The Hybrid commands a $14,000 premium over the 2.5 petrol model. It’s a small price to pay if you consider the Hybrid’s additional performance and standard equipment as well as the fuel savings from its better fuel consumption numbers, and not forgetting that cool factor of driving a hybrid-powered Toyota, just like Messrs’ Wurz, Nakajima, Buemi et all did at Le Mans last June. Still, we reckon most Camry buyers will still go for the petrol-powered models – these buyers can ignore the highly convincing Hybrid model at their own peril.

Credits: Story and photos by Raymond Lai