2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid Road Test

**Tideland Prius** · 01-07-2007, 02:34 PM

I couldn't do it. In two weeks, I couldn't empty the fuel tank of my Toyota Camry Hybrid.

True, the snow that fell at the beginning of December in the Laurentides region kept the car quietly parked in its space. In addition, my Camry Hybrid was equipped with all-season P215/60R16 tires, which are not very good fit for winter driving. Moreover, the traction control system can't be deactivated by a button on the dashboard. As a result, on a snowy/icy hill, the system has fun breaking the much needed engine momentum.

That said, I still managed to cover 780 kilometers with the Camry Hybrid with a mix of city-highway driving. Total fuel consumption: 59.3 liters. I could have driven some 60 kilometers more before running out of gas, but the result would have been the same: 7.6 L/100 km.

True, that's almost two liters more that what Toyota promises (5.7 L/100 km), but let me remind you again that I was driving during winter. If it were not for those cold mornings where the Camry took a good half-hour to warm up, I would have achieved a better result.

The Camry Hybrid definitely does not like winter...

Full Article

MSantos · 01-07-2007, 03:06 PM

All in all, it seems like an OK article.

But in saying that "the Camry ... does not like Winter" these reviewers continue to attempt to score points on the obvious. And that, is something we all know: no car likes the winter. Come to think about it... did they ever make such a remark for non-hybrid vehicles?

We did look at the Camry HY a several months ago before buying our P-II, and I do agree with some of the other points though. I think the Camry deserves different interior materials, perhaps something that "feels" better to the touch and more inline with what a typical midsize sedan buyer would expect. The interior colour schemes also appear to have been selected primarily to look neutral and very subdued.

Oh, and those controls & buttons on the center console are way too small and impractical for some to operate with winter gloves. The trunk space is the other aspect of it that may not impress many folks. For a car that large it should at least have more trunk space than what you find in a Civic-hybrid. In this department the Prius was a no-brainer for us, sadly it may be so as well for others. All in all, we did find it to be a gem of a car. Not perfect but almost there.

Cheers;

MSantos

**Tideland Prius** · 01-07-2007, 08:42 PM

Oddly enough, the TCH is selling like hot cakes on the west coast. There's a 3 month waiting list.

What I don't get is Toyota trying to limit colour choices to save on cost (which I assume is the reason why). I don't know about you but the bird's eye maple doesn't quite match the stone interior on the XLE V6 model.

The stone interior also doesn't quite match with the silver trim on the Hybrid model. The silver trim gets lost within the light grey interior.

There's also a few other differences between the new Camry XLE V6 and our 2002 Camry XLE which I found odd.

Anyway, getting back on track. 7.6L/100km ain't all that bad I would think. That's still netting nearly 800km. I get that distance in the summer as my record tank (granted, I use half the amount of fuel but still...).

01-07-2007, 02:34 PM	#1
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,771 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	I couldn't do it. In two weeks, I couldn't empty the fuel tank of my Toyota Camry Hybrid. True, the snow that fell at the beginning of December in the Laurentides region kept the car quietly parked in its space. In addition, my Camry Hybrid was equipped with all-season P215/60R16 tires, which are not very good fit for winter driving. Moreover, the traction control system can't be deactivated by a button on the dashboard. As a result, on a snowy/icy hill, the system has fun breaking the much needed engine momentum. That said, I still managed to cover 780 kilometers with the Camry Hybrid with a mix of city-highway driving. Total fuel consumption: 59.3 liters. I could have driven some 60 kilometers more before running out of gas, but the result would have been the same: 7.6 L/100 km. True, that's almost two liters more that what Toyota promises (5.7 L/100 km), but let me remind you again that I was driving during winter. If it were not for those cold mornings where the Camry took a good half-hour to warm up, I would have achieved a better result. The Camry Hybrid definitely does not like winter... Full Article __________________ 2005 Tideland Pearl Premium Package as of 25th Oct 2004 VVT-i Emblem, Sport Pedals, OEM All-Weather Mats, Cargo Mat, EV Mod, JDM Prius Interior Footwell Lighting, DICE iPod Integration Kit, LED licence plate lights, Phillips Vision Plus 2008 smart fortwo passion coupé as of 28th Apr 2008 Foglights, dash pods, leather seats, OEM rubber mats, BRABUS alum. handbrake, LED licence plate lights & dome lamp

01-07-2007, 03:06 PM	#2
MSantos Skeptical Accelerometrist Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada, Winnipeg Posts: 225 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: Base Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	All in all, it seems like an OK article. But in saying that "the Camry ... does not like Winter" these reviewers continue to attempt to score points on the obvious. And that, is something we all know: no car likes the winter. Come to think about it... did they ever make such a remark for non-hybrid vehicles? We did look at the Camry HY a several months ago before buying our P-II, and I do agree with some of the other points though. I think the Camry deserves different interior materials, perhaps something that "feels" better to the touch and more inline with what a typical midsize sedan buyer would expect. The interior colour schemes also appear to have been selected primarily to look neutral and very subdued. Oh, and those controls & buttons on the center console are way too small and impractical for some to operate with winter gloves. The trunk space is the other aspect of it that may not impress many folks. For a car that large it should at least have more trunk space than what you find in a Civic-hybrid. In this department the Prius was a no-brainer for us, sadly it may be so as well for others. All in all, we did find it to be a gem of a car. Not perfect but almost there. Cheers; MSantos __________________

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01-07-2007, 08:42 PM	#3
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,771 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Oddly enough, the TCH is selling like hot cakes on the west coast. There's a 3 month waiting list. What I don't get is Toyota trying to limit colour choices to save on cost (which I assume is the reason why). I don't know about you but the bird's eye maple doesn't quite match the stone interior on the XLE V6 model. The stone interior also doesn't quite match with the silver trim on the Hybrid model. The silver trim gets lost within the light grey interior. There's also a few other differences between the new Camry XLE V6 and our 2002 Camry XLE which I found odd. Anyway, getting back on track. 7.6L/100km ain't all that bad I would think. That's still netting nearly 800km. I get that distance in the summer as my record tank (granted, I use half the amount of fuel but still...).