2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid test drive

It’s been the best-selling car in America for eight of the past nine years—and we hopped into the hybrid version of the Camry with anticipation. Equipped with Toyota’s exclusive Hybrid Synergy Drive System which combines a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine and small, high-torque 40 HP electric motor for a total 187 HP, the Camry Hybrid garnered EPA ratings of 40 mpg city/38 mpg highway with a base price of $25,900; the model we drove came in at $26,709. Hybrid-related components are covered with a 8-year/100,000-mile warranty (some states longer*), and the hybrid battery is warranted for 10 years/150,000 miles.

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Christine: “At first glance I liked the sleek color and styling. When I walked around the Camry it was hard to tell it was a hybrid with such small badges—I actually like to know I’m in the company of a hybrid or alt fuel vehicle. But overall it looked to be smooth and easy—the perfect car for everyday. Now how would it perform on the street?”

Scott: “I’ve always like the Camry—elegant, if plain—although from the aesthetics angle, I thought the ’07 styling was almost too aggressive and bold. But I knew it was a Toyota Synergy Drive System and that’s what I cared most about: I couldn’t wait to poke around under the hood and behind the rear seat (where the hybrid battery lives).”

For what the gauges and plasma cluster lack in intuitive understanding, they make up for with sleek whiz-bang. It’s one of those cars that once you know ‘em, you got it—but for the new driver to slip in and go—it’s harder to know just what’s what. Just getting the correct CD to play was a challenge at first try. By the end of the week it was a charm. The blue-lighted arcs around the speedometer are supposed to light up according to mpg consumption, but Christine is still a bit confused as to what they’re telling when, but they certainly look cool at night.

On the plus side, the analog gauges are straightforward, although the mpg consumption gauge takes a bit of getting used to—and seemed to vary widely. This gauge is probably supposed to inspire lighter-footed and fuel-efficient driving—and it does, although it would be most helpful to have the mph and mpg needles going in the same direction—Christine didn’t need to confuse the two and have officer friendly pulling her over.

The driver’s 8-way control and telescopic steering wheel aims to assist the driver in finding her comfort zone, though comfort is limited by the somewhat stiff seating. Scott had some trouble reaching the window and rearview mirror controls with the sharply angled armrest pull handle. Overall, both Christine and Scott thought the interior layout was not as intuitive as could be—a surprise since Toyota usually shines with details on ergonomics and style. However, adequate trunk space with a 60/40 split rear seat and lots of backseat legroom are a big plus.

Start the Camry Hybrid’s gasoline Atkinson-cycle engine with the easy push-button electronic Smart Key. The Atkinson cycle is one in which the stroke of the piston can vary in length across the four cycles in a four-stroke engine. Typically, the length of the stroke during the power cycle is increased to promote efficiency; however, because this can come at the expense of a shorter intake stroke, there is some loss of power—for this reason, this type of engine design is best suited to be used in a hybrid system where the electric motor can compensate for these power losses. Toyota has combined the Atkinson cycle with their VVTi (variable valve timing with intelligence) to create an extremely efficient power plant.

Scott found that the driver has a tremendous amount of control over how much the engine runs and the fuel mileage. Once inertia is built up and the driver follows the lay of the land, it’s very easy to go light and easy on the throttle and keep the engine off. Drive like most harried Americans and you’ll end up with a mere 35 mpg, but the potential is there for this hybrid to turn out impressive mileage.