Toyota Camry Hybrid is a gasoline – electric model that was first premiered by the Japanese auto maker Toyota Motor Corporation in January 2006. It is the seventh generation model and has a lot more to offer than what its predecessors had. The Toyota Prius is the big daddy of all the hybrid cars. Due to the exceptional fuel economy and carbon emission levels, Prius was recognized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and United States Department of Energy as the most fuel efficient gasoline car currently sold in the United States. The new Camry Hybrid does not seek to compete with the in-house Prius but rather with the rival Ford Fusion Hybrid. You would see that the new Camry has received a number of evolutionary changes for this model year.
The 2011 Camry is powered by a 2.5 liter Atkinson cycle four cylinder gas engine which can generate 156 hp at 5700 rpm and 156 pound feet of torque at 4500 rpm. At the same time, the electric engine can generate 140 hp at 4500 rpm and 199 pound feet of torque at maximum 1500 rpm. The total power that this whole setup can crank out is somewhere about 200 hp which is 13 more ponies than the previous model year. The fuel economy stands tall at 41 mpg city and 38 mpg highway averages. It can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in just a matter of 7.6 seconds which is simply superb for a car belonging to this segment.
Coming to the exteriors, you would see that the engineers at Toyota have not done much of the changes to the new Toyota Camry Hybrid’s exteriors. But this will not be a bad thing because the comfort and safety elements which are the hallmarks of a Toyota Camry will remain untouched. No significant changes as such but in order to increase the aerodynamics of the car, the exteriors have got a little more pointing nose and flattened bumper corners. But we all know that Camry is not a looker but a performer. Its looks are not bad either.
Toyota has spent a lot of time in redesigning the interiors of the new Camry Hybrid, it seems. Unlike the exteriors which are more or less the same as the older versions, the interiors seem to have received a complete makeover. The quality of the plastic used on the interiors looks good. The seats are clad in fabric and leather which seems not of the highest class though, but not worth a complaint also. The best part of the interior is that there is ample space now which makes the complete riding experience a joy. There is a huge revamp in the interior designing for this model year.
Talking about the pros and cons, we would say that the Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with great fuel economy but there are a number of models that do pretty much same at all other aspects.
The price of the LE version of Toyota Camry Hybrid is $25,900 whereas the XLE version is priced at $27,400.