Toyota Camry Hybrid Review: Exceptional Design and Performance

Introduction

The stunning car featured above is the all-new Toyota Camry Hybrid. Like the traditional Camry, it boasts comfort, efficiency, and practicality. But what sets it apart from earlier Camry models? Let’s explore.

Exterior Design

Before diving deeper into the car, I’d like to clarify a few misconceptions. The Camry has garnered a negative reputation here in the UAE, often seen as a taxi. However, this perception speaks volumes about its reliability. Taxi cars are driven between 18 to 20 hours daily for years, indicating that any vehicle tasked with such demands must be highly dependable and cost-effective to maintain.

In reality, many taxi companies across the country rely on the Camry due to its reliability and reasonable pricing. Therefore, the next time you find yourself trying to convince a friend or family member not to buy a Camry because it’s a "taxi," reconsider your stance.

Exterior Features

There is no significant difference in appearance between the hybrid and gasoline versions. The sporty design features a large front grille, LED headlights, and 18-inch wheels. Minor changes include the blue accents in the Toyota logo, the blue interior door trims, and the hybrid badge on the side and rear of the vehicle.

Interior Design

The car adopts the same distinctive design found in the standard model, showcasing a dashboard and center console layout that emphasizes driver engagement. All buttons and controls are conveniently located within the driver's reach. For instance, the 8-inch infotainment screen is seamlessly integrated into the overall design rather than protruding from the dashboard, unlike some newer competitors.

While the interior space may not rival that of its competitor, the Honda Accord, the rear seats are notably comfortable, equipped with cup holders and rear air vents. Additionally, trunk space has increased to 428 liters due to battery relocation under the rear seats, a significant improvement from the previous 371 liters.

Technological Features

The vehicle is intelligently equipped, featuring a storage area with a wireless charger, dual-zone climate control, a push-button start, a sunroof, an electric sunshade, and a rearview camera. However, compared to its competitors, it lacks features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, adaptive cruise control, and a blind-spot monitoring system.

Driving Experience

The hybrid version is equipped with a 2.5-liter engine and an electric motor. One immediate observation when driving it is that it is quieter and smoother than the gasoline version, primarily because it relies on the battery and electric motor most of the time, meaning the gasoline engine rarely kicks in.

When compared to the gasoline version, there are three main differences. Firstly, the hybrid model boasts additional power due to the electric motor, which adds 37 horsepower, resulting in a total of 215 horsepower. Secondly, the hybrid version features a CVT gearbox that enhances fuel efficiency compared to the traditional 6-speed automatic transmission.

Regarding fuel efficiency, the Camry Hybrid uses regular gasoline, so no special fuel is required. I wanted to clarify this after receiving some inquiries on the subject.

To give you a better understanding, the company claims that the Camry Hybrid can achieve 26 kilometers per liter under optimal driving conditions, though you might realistically get around 20 kilometers per liter. In practical terms, if your commute is 60 kilometers round trip, you would only need 3 liters of gasoline, which is indeed impressive!

Similar to the gasoline version, the car features three driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport, with the addition of an EV mode in the hybrid version. This mode allows you to drive solely on battery power without the need for recharging; the car recharges the battery while driving downhill or using the brakes, which you can monitor on the dashboard.

Conclusion

The Toyota Camry Hybrid stands out with its attractive design and impressive fuel efficiency, making it a car I truly appreciate. Like any vehicle, it has its pros and cons. Let’s discuss the positives first:

• With competitors like the Accord, Altima, and Mazda6 not offering hybrid versions (at least in the UAE), the Camry occupies a unique space in the market.
• Toyota offers an 8-year unlimited mileage warranty on the car's battery, providing peace of mind for customers.
• If you are concerned about maintenance and service costs, rest assured that Al-Futtaim Toyota charges the same for hybrid maintenance as for the standard version.

As for the negatives, there is one significant drawback: the price. This fully-equipped hybrid version costs an additional AED 33,600 compared to the fully-equipped 2.5-liter model, which is hard to justify. In reality, after some calculations, you would need to drive over 318,000 kilometers to offset this price difference. So, will buying the hybrid version save you money? It seems unlikely unless you plan to drive it for more than 318,000 kilometers...