2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Exciting Frugality

The all-new Camry Hybrid won't light hearts on fire with its looks, but those who pine for better fuel efficiency will be smitten.

The 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s environmental statement is so subtle that most other drivers probably won’t even notice it. Without making particularly overt appearance changes versus standard versions of the popular sedan, Toyota has installed its Hybrid Synergy Drive, which pairs an efficient four-cylinder gasoline engine with a powerful electric motor into the new-for-2007 redesigned Camry.

Most auto-industry analysts agree that this is the future of hybrid systems — essentially as a powertrain package that savvy buyers would be willing to pay more for. While cars like the Prius have introduced the technology in a unique package that gets attention, it’s now on its way to the mainstream. And what better way to do that than with the Camry? Toyota has sold more than 6.5 million of the Camry in the U.S. alone since its 1983 introduction. The reliable if somewhat boring sedan has come to embody middle-class Americana nearly as well as the Chrysler minivan or the Ford pickup.

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The economics of buying a hybrid are shaky at best, as the Camry Hybrid sells for $6,000 to $8,000 more than a comparably equipped standard four-cylinder Camry. Considering that the actual mileage for most hybrid buyers has been lower than the EPA estimates of 40 mpg city/38 mpg highway, recouping the initial cost in terms of money saved at the pump could take years.

Hybrid buyers are probably idealists willing to pay more for a vehicle that showcases sophisticated gasoline/electric powertrain technology and eco-friendly ideas like reducing our reliance on petroleum and curtailing pollution.

The Prius has been on sale in the U.S. for more than five years and in Japan for several years longer, so hybrid technology isn’t exactly new, and so far it has proven robust and reliable. In the U.S., Toyota is extending its powertrain coverage on hybrid-related components to eight years or 100,000 miles (15 years or 150,000 miles in states observing California emissions rules), and warrantees on hybrid batteries to 10 years or 150,000 miles.

The Camry Hybrid drives just like a regular gasoline-powered car but gets better gas mileage than most vehicles its size. Expect to average about 30 mpg in normal driving conditions.