Maybe its Time to Go Green?
The best news about Toyotas new Camry Hybrid is that theres no news at all, or more precisely that it hardly looks or feels much different than the already impressive conventional Camry; recently revamped for the 2007 model year. An attractive chrome grille separates it from the base four-cylinder version, and the rectangular chrome and electric-blue Hybrid Synergy Drive badges attached to each front fender are discreet but nevertheless difficult to miss. At the rear, distinctive taillight lenses, even more jewel-like than the regular Camrys, join a chromed "Hybrid" designation to identify this cars unique advantage over traditional sedans.
And Toyota does make a compelling argument as to why four-door buyers should consider going green. Certainly the hybrid model enjoys fuel savings over a similarly equipped base Camry LE, with a government rating of 41 mpg in the city, where most of us drive, and an even greater advantage when comparing the models rather robust V6, but there are tradeoffs, of course. Toyota has positioned the new car above the base CE and even the LE, but below the top-line XLS, both in its $25,900 entry price and 187 horsepower combination of gasoline and 105-kW electrified performance. Not surprisingly the Camry Hybrid doesnt jump off the line with the same enthusiasm as does the V6, but during side-by-side drag races held on a little-used runway on a mostly abandoned airstrip, the hybrid, which enjoys the equivalent of almost 30 additional horsepower, proved more energetic than the base model time and time again.
I started my first run in the base model, and while optimizing my chances of outrunning the hybrid by pressing on the brake pedal with my left foot and revving the engine with my right, a small initial advantage off the line was quickly reduced to playing catch-up, which, of course, never happened. I followed this test by a run in the hybrid model, using the same left-foot braking technique, which again gave me the jump on my competitor in the base four-cylinder model, an advantage that never let up. The Camry HV runs to 60 mph in under 9 seconds, although Road & Track magazine reports a sprint to 60 mph in the high 7s.
And just how many people who buy either Camry will ever drag race it? No doubt some teenage sons of those who buy North Americas most popular car will push it harder, faster and farther than their parents might ever dare or care to know, but thats about it. In reality, most who step up to the hybrid will be more interested in its ride and handling, among other more obvious points.
To that end, the Hybrid rides well on pretty well any road surface. Its biased towards comfort over sport, not unlike the conventionally-powered LE, but just like the ICE-only Camry it serves up better-than-average all-round handling dynamics, executing highway exit ramps efficiently, even when taken at overly exuberant speeds. The roughly paved streets near the downtown waterfront district were noticeably poor, but the cars nicely sorted fully-independent suspension setup made them smoother, combining with supportive, comfortable front seats for an enjoyable experience overall.
Where the Camry Hybrid truly shined was on the Gardiner Expressway and DVP, where its additional engine output and liquid smooth continuously variable transmission (CVT) made for effortless acceleration for passing purposes. The car shot forward with just a hint of pedal application, quickly climbing up to higher than highway speeds and then settling the engine into a fuel conscious low rev level, almost silently passing by more moderate traffic and Torontos beautiful Don Valley. By the way, the EPA rates the Camry Hybrid at 37 mpg on such a highway, although sans my rather spirited driving style.
Braking is equally impressive; the hybrids four ABS-enhanced discs are helped along by a regenerative system that captures otherwise lost energy to top off the battery pack. The brakes are electronically controlled (ECB), by the way, and feature electronic brake force distribution and brake assist.
On the safety front, the Camry Hybrid gets a full allotment of seven airbags, identical to the regular Camry. Something special, however, is the inclusion of Toyotas award-winning VDIM system, which stands for Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management. Toyota includes this as a value-add, but its more than just a fancy acronym. The system brings together all the electronic driver aids, making them work together for optimal safety. To put it simply, the cars electronic brain reacts to nuances of instability that you might otherwise not notice, keeping the car on alert in case it needs to respond to a loss of control. Testing this system previously, it even pulled to a stop automatically when, at 40 mph I locked the steering to one side on a slippery surface and purposely failed to apply the brakes. There probably isnt a safer stability control system on the market; although some critics will point out it can be a bit invasive on the driving experience. My guess is that most Camry Hybrid drivers, unlike some auto journalists, wont be attempting to four-wheel drift just for the fun of it. For your more sensible purposes, Toyotas VDIM is ideal.
Something else that probably wont go unnoticed by those unfamiliar with hybrids is the new Camrys idle-stop system, which turns off the engine automatically when stopped. Lift your foot off the brake pedal and it revives so quickly and quietly that youll probably soon forget its going through the process over and over again, all the while saving you money and reducing greenhouse emissions.
Those tradeoffs I spoke about earlier? There certainly arent many. After realizing that the trunk is 4.4 cubic feet smaller and fuel tank has 1.3 gallons less capacity, most will find getting over the sticker shock of paying $7,630 more than the base CE model harder to digest. Although, comparing base prices is unfair considering that the Hybrid is stocked with standard amenities that would more or less come close to equaling what an any four-cylinder Camry would cost if so equipped, including dual-zone automatic climate control, a six-disc CD changer with MP3 and Bluetooth compatibility, power front seats, projector headlights, 16-inch alloy rims, a real-time fuel economy gauge, a multifunction display, Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), which integrates traction and yaw control, plus Toyotas ultra-cool Smart Key system, which lets you in the car without the need of a key or even key fob, plus allows you to press a "START" button instead of twisting a conventional ignition in order to bring its drivetrain to alert mode.
To some, mind you, those two "Hybrid Synergy Drive" emblems on each front fender will be worth the price of admission, not only because it may offer them cheaper, more readily available parking, if their city offers such, tax breaks, depending on jurisdiction, reduced fuel consumption and extra power, but mostly because the blue and silver insignias represent doing the right thing; living on the least amount of ever-depleting fossil fuels possible and keeping the air as clean as can be while nevertheless taking care of the transportation needs of a traditional family.
And to that end, Toyota has taken a very different approach with its Camry Hybrid that Honda did with its Accord Hybrid. The Accord is positioned as Hondas flagship sedan, the fastest and most fully equipped; its also its most expensive four-door at $30,990 in base trim, and $32,990 with the optional navigation system. The Camry Hybrid, as previously mentioned, is a mid-pack model that is much more attainable at $5,090 less. Heck, its $3,180 short of even reaching the Accord Hybrids base price when fully loaded, at $29,810, at which point it includes a nice assortment of top-tier features but doesnt deliver the kind of performance its V6-powered competitor does. Although, for most entry-level hybrid buyers, fuel economy is the performance of choice, and this is where the Camry Hybrid excels equally within city limits as it does on the highway. Remember the Camry Hybrids 43 and 37 mpg city / highway range that I mentioned earlier (Canadas version of the EPA came up with 41 / 41 respectively), well, the EPA rates the Accord Hybrid at 25 mpg city and 34 highway.
Where most of us drive, as mentioned before, in the city, the Toyotas dominance is plain to see, besting the Honda by a large margin. While the EPAs fuel economy figures cant be taken as potential real-world ratings, as they run them in optimal conditions for reasons unknown, both vehicles are subject to the same un-reality. Also "unreal" is the Camry Hybrids Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) status, making it one of the cleanest vehicles in the world.
Whether youre motivated to go green due to a social conscience or just because you want to save on the high price of fuel, the timing for Toyotas new Camry Hybrid couldnt be better. Not only are fuel prices remaining at their highest point ever, rarely dipping under the $2.50 per gallon mark, but regular folks, not the early adaptors who bought into the Prius early, are warming up environmental issues and the cleaner ICE-electric vehicles that do their part in reducing greenhouse gases. It was only a matter of time before Toyota and Honda proved themselves, and now that Ford and GM are in the game, and many more are following, choosing a hybrid is no more concerning for a new car buyer than deciding between a four-cylinder or V6. Actually, with all hybrid components backed by 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty, theres not a lot to think about.
Theres also not much to think about when it comes to options; you can go with three packages and two stand alone options, the latter being heated mirrors at $30 and a power tilt and sliding glass sunroof at $940. The Convenience Package, a $470 decision, front heated seats, heated mirrors, and twin color-keyed power-adjustable heated outside mirrors. Move up to the navigation system, a package containing DVD navigation, of course, with voice activation, plus a 4-disc CD changer-enhanced JBL AM/FM audio system with 440-watts of power and and eight speakers, and it will set you back an extra $1,200. Want more, how about the $1,300 Leather Seat Package, which despite the name only adds leather seats (normally packages add bundles of options).
Whether going with the base model or top of the line, Toyotas best of both worlds Camry Hybrid should make for an enjoyable long-term companion and simultaneously be help Toyota, the clear leader in hybrid technology, maintain its front-running status and best company average fuel consumption (CAFC) rating, plus achieve its 1,000,000 per year hybrid sales goal before the beginning of the next decade. The car opens up hybrid ownership to a new set of buyers, who can now lay claim to the ability to drive from Detroit to Seattle on four tanks of gas. And this day and age, achieving near 600 miles per tank is a lot more important than whether or not you can squeeze five golf bags into its abbreviated trunk.
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