2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid: What's New

Vehicle Overview
With the redesigned 2007 Camry, Toyota brought that model’s first hybrid version to market. The Camry Hybrid uses Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive, the system used in the automaker’s Prius hybrid. The system’s electric motor and four-cylinder gasoline engine combine to produce 187 horsepower while yielding combined gas mileage of around 39 mpg.

Outside, the Camry Hybrid looks much like a bread-and-butter Camry LE. Interior additions include dual-zone automatic climate control, a multi-information display with real-time readouts for energy usage, keyless push-button ignition and a six-CD JBL audio system.

Exterior
The Camry Hybrid is virtually indistinguishable from most other Camrys. Toyota says the car has an acoustic noise-reducing windshield, something exclusive to the hybrid car. Sixteen-inch alloy wheels are standard. Heated side mirrors and a moonroof are optional.

At 57.5 inches tall, the Camry Hybrid stands slightly shorter than its stablemates. Total length equals 189.2 inches, which is about 2 inches shorter than a Honda Accord Hybrid.

Interior
Five occupants can fit inside the Camry Hybrid. Cloth seats are standard, but leather is optional. As the car’s hybrid battery pack sits behind the rear seat, trunk volume is reduced from about 15 cubic feet to 10.6 cubic feet. A backseat center armrest, which comes standard on other Camrys, is not available in the hybrid model.

Under the Hood
The Camry Hybrid teams a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to make a combined 187 hp. Electric power comes from a high-voltage battery, which is recharged from the car’s braking friction. A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard.

The hybrid comes with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty for all hybrid components, including the battery.

Toyota says the Camry Hybrid accelerates from zero to 60 mph in less than nine seconds. Estimated gas mileage is 40 mpg in city driving and 38 mpg on the highway; the city figure is higher because at low speeds the Camry can drive on electric power alone, while on the highway the gasoline engine runs almost all the time.

Safety
All 2007 Camrys have seven standard airbags. They include the required dual front airbags, plus front-seat side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags. A driver’s knee airbag is also included. Four-wheel-disc brakes have standard ABS, and an electronic stability system — optional in other Camrys — is standard in the hybrid.

Driving Impressions
Under anything short of full-bore acceleration, the Camry Hybrid feels unconventional. Without the sound and feel of a traditional drivetrain revving through its gears, it’s an awkward sensation: I felt like I was gaining speed, but I didn’t quite know how.

Around town, the electric motor is useful for gas-free (and silent) acceleration, though the threshold at which the engine turns on drops quickly as speed builds. Once I trained my right foot to know exactly where the threshold was, I was able to drive in electric mode as high as 20 mph. Drivers behind may have little patience for this, as engine-free acceleration is slow. Acceleration with the engine and electric motor combined is reasonably swift, though it lacks the all-out punch of the Camry V-6.

Like other Camry’s, the hybrid car’s cabin is well-appointed. Dual-zone automatic climate controls leave something to be desired, as some of the buttons are small and feel cheap. The rear seat is comfortable for two, but three passengers will find it cramped. Up front, I found plenty of head and legroom, and I’m just short of 6 feet tall.