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.

Exterior

The first time you see the redesigned Camry, you might think you’ve seen it before. The new Camry’s styling is more distinctive and upscale, but still very derivative. There’s no denying that it borrowed its swoopy roofline and some design cues from the larger Avalon sedan and various Lexus sedan models. Looking a bit more closely, some might say that the multileveled rear deck and body lines that wrap around to the taillights are a permutation of what BMW has used on its sedans in recent years.

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Compared to the previous Camry, dimensions are relatively unchanged, though the model might appear slightly larger, as the wheelbase has been stretched about two inches, with the wheels pushed farther outward.

Aside from modest “Hybrid” badges along the sides and at the rear, Camry Hybrid models get only a few slight design changes from other ’07 Camrys. The grille is a bit different — with chromed horizontal bars — headlight reflectors are tinted blue and taillamps use LED technology. With the minor cosmetic differences, don’t expect to stand out as a hybrid driver.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Camry is the best-selling car in the U.S., and that’s not likely to change. Within a year, the streets will be flooded with them. To put it bluntly, if you want a vehicle that gets you noticed, this isn’t it. The redesign might look fresh now, but from the other end of the parking lot, it’ll still be a Camry.

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