Ever since the Toyota Camry was produced in 2006, the mid-sized sedan was a huge success. Locally speaking, it was the closest car buyers could get to its luxurious counterpart, Lexus. But unlike Lexus, Toyota also premiered the hybrid version alongside the pure petrol powerplant. It took almost three years later before the first Camry Hybrid was launched in Singapore. Now, another three years have passed and the second generation Camry Hybrid looks all set to take on some of the biggest player in the hybrid segment.

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius has been the benchmark for all to follow. It's amusing, predictable and needs very little in the way of sustenance. Coupled with the fact that the Prius C was recently launched a couple of months back, it's relatively easy to forget that there are other Toyota hybrids outside of the Prius brand.

Now it's time to redress that balance. While it may not be the latest Toyota to wear the blue Hybrid Synergy Drive badge, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is probably the most fully loaded vehicle in the Japanese marque's stable.

Exterior

Toyota didn't mess with its success formula when it came to the fundamentals. Despite having several changes up front, it's still unmistakably the bread-and-butter Camry. The tree-hugging sedan sports a sharper look now, with angular lines and a pair of chromed surrounds on the fog lamps to make the overall profile an aggressive one. It's a good effort to woo buyers back to the Japanese brand.

It matches the family car genre well. Looking smoother than its predecessor, the Camry Hybrid has a clean sculpted sheet metal that conveys simplicity and elegance. And to signal the driver's environmental consciousness, hybrid badges are located around the fenders while the signature hybrid blue Toyota logos sit well on the front and the back of the car.


At 4825mm x 1825mm x 1470mm (L x W x H), the hybrid sedan's length, width and height are almost the same (it's a tad wider now). In fact, even its wheelbase of 2,775mm has remained the same from its predecessor. What has changed is the evolution of the car's design. With competition stepping up and COE hikes favouring the continental breeds, Toyota knows it has to place its best face forward and the Camry Hybrid, along with the pure petrol partner, are its best bet.

Interior

Arguably fresher and classier in every measurable way, the cabin of the hybrid has been tweaked to retain its already bountiful buyer base. Some may even argue that Toyota has created a compelling case for anyone who's considering a top-grade Japanese mid-sized sedan with either conventional or a hybrid powerplant.

Toyota has up its game by a couple of notches here, setting the standards for fit and finish higher than before in the Camry Hybrid. Occupants will be surrounded by brushed metal and wooden trimmings, stitched leather wrappings and soft-touch rubber materials that look and feel expensive.


The multi-function steering wheel is tricked out with buttons and toggles for the car's myriad features yet it retains a simplified look. Despite all the modern conveniences, drivers are bound to know how to operate them on first glance.

Space wise, the Camry Hybrid easily outshines most of its peers in its segment. It fits five comfortably, with acres of head and leg space all round. But it's the rear passengers that get to lounge during long drives without having the need to curl into a ball. We even managed to sit cross-legged at the back without adjusting our sitting positions for adequate knee room.

Boot space, although compromised by the battery pack, is respectable and will haul a couple of golf bags with ease. Only problem with the location of the battery pack is sacrificing the folding of rear seats for what amounts to a glorified pass-through.


It's a plus, really, if you're constantly driving people around. The green sedan is a stylistic base hit that will no doubt court its fans. The blend of cosiness and space has never been this well-integrated and affordable, with beige leather upholstery and soft, comfortable benches.

The Drive

Like the diminutive Prius C, the Camry Hybrid comes with both the Eco and EV mode. The latter driving mode is used more often than before and it'll glide along at low speeds of up to 40km/h for as long as two kilometres before the engine seamlessly transits from electric to gasoline and vice versa. As a result, drivability has improved greatly over its predecessor and it now drives like any normal four-pot mid-sized sedan.


What we did experience during the course of the test drive over the entire weekend was 'tender'. The car's suspension, while a little too soft for our liking, dampens out the nastiest conditions on the roads, transmitting little or none of the judders and cracks from the asphalt.

Of course, the sedan bearing the blue Toyota badging hasn't exactly morphed into a driver's car, but it also didn't disappoint in its handling. Having a maximum power output of 205bhp and 213Nm of torque sent to the front wheels, the car will finish the century sprint in a respectable 8.6 seconds. But it isn't so much about the record and sprint timings for the Camry Hybrid. Instead, it's the ability to haul all occupants from point to point in a problem-free demeanour.

And it does succeed in that aspect, thanks to the smooth marriage between the CVT gearbox and the 2.5-litre powerplant. Apart from having more zest, it infuses slightly more refinement into a legacy of comfortable ride quality, making this hybrid sedan impressively close to what buyers can get from a Lexus.

More impressive is the fuel consumption. Although we did achieve an all-time high 18.5km/L, we consistently realised close to the quoted figure of 17.2km/L, without even having the need to be light-footed. For a hybrid that weighs close to 1.6 tonnes, we reckon it's really no easy feat.


Conclusion

The Camry Hybrid leaps past its predecessor in more ways than one. Toyota has certainly taken constructive criticisms to heart and has made the necessary amendments to the car.

Although it will never be the sportiest or the sexiest of the lot, the Toyota hybrid has a rewarding drive, especially when it delivers near-Prius mileage in a time when petrol prices are crazy high.

Ever since the Toyota Camry was produced in 2006, the mid-sized sedan was a huge success. Locally speaking, it was the closest car buyers could get to its luxurious counterpart, Lexus. But unlike Lexus, Toyota also premiered the hybrid version alongside the pure petrol powerplant. It took almost three years later before the first Camry Hybrid was launched in Singapore. Now, another three years have passed and the second generation Camry Hybrid looks all set to take on some of the biggest player in the hybrid segment.

When it comes to hybrid cars, the Toyota Prius has been the benchmark for all to follow. It's amusing, predictable and needs very little in the way of sustenance. Coupled with the fact that the Prius C was recently launched a couple of months back, it's relatively easy to forget that there are other Toyota hybrids outside of the Prius brand.

Now it's time to redress that balance. While it may not be the latest Toyota to wear the blue Hybrid Synergy Drive badge, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is probably the most fully loaded vehicle in the Japanese marque's stable.

Exterior

Toyota didn't mess with its success formula when it came to the fundamentals. Despite having several changes up front, it's still unmistakably the bread-and-butter Camry. The tree-hugging sedan sports a sharper look now, with angular lines and a pair of chromed surrounds on the fog lamps to make the overall profile an aggressive one. It's a good effort to woo buyers back to the Japanese brand.

It matches the family car genre well. Looking smoother than its predecessor, the Camry Hybrid has a clean sculpted sheet metal that conveys simplicity and elegance. And to signal the driver's environmental consciousness, hybrid badges are located around the fenders while the signature hybrid blue Toyota logos sit well on the front and the back of the car.


At 4825mm x 1825mm x 1470mm (L x W x H), the hybrid sedan's length, width and height are almost the same (it's a tad wider now). In fact, even its wheelbase of 2,775mm has remained the same from its predecessor. What has changed is the evolution of the car's design. With competition stepping up and COE hikes favouring the continental breeds, Toyota knows it has to place its best face forward and the Camry Hybrid, along with the pure petrol partner, are its best bet.

Interior

Arguably fresher and classier in every measurable way, the cabin of the hybrid has been tweaked to retain its already bountiful buyer base. Some may even argue that Toyota has created a compelling case for anyone who's considering a top-grade Japanese mid-sized sedan with either conventional or a hybrid powerplant.

Toyota has up its game by a couple of notches here, setting the standards for fit and finish higher than before in the Camry Hybrid. Occupants will be surrounded by brushed metal and wooden trimmings, stitched leather wrappings and soft-touch rubber materials that look and feel expensive.


The multi-function steering wheel is tricked out with buttons and toggles for the car's myriad features yet it retains a simplified look. Despite all the modern conveniences, drivers are bound to know how to operate them on first glance.

Space wise, the Camry Hybrid easily outshines most of its peers in its segment. It fits five comfortably, with acres of head and leg space all round. But it's the rear passengers that get to lounge during long drives without having the need to curl into a ball. We even managed to sit cross-legged at the back without adjusting our sitting positions for adequate knee room.

Boot space, although compromised by the battery pack, is respectable and will haul a couple of golf bags with ease. Only problem with the location of the battery pack is sacrificing the folding of rear seats for what amounts to a glorified pass-through.


It's a plus, really, if you're constantly driving people around. The green sedan is a stylistic base hit that will no doubt court its fans. The blend of cosiness and space has never been this well-integrated and affordable, with beige leather upholstery and soft, comfortable benches.

The Drive

Like the diminutive Prius C, the Camry Hybrid comes with both the Eco and EV mode. The latter driving mode is used more often than before and it'll glide along at low speeds of up to 40km/h for as long as two kilometres before the engine seamlessly transits from electric to gasoline and vice versa. As a result, drivability has improved greatly over its predecessor and it now drives like any normal four-pot mid-sized sedan.


What we did experience during the course of the test drive over the entire weekend was 'tender'. The car's suspension, while a little too soft for our liking, dampens out the nastiest conditions on the roads, transmitting little or none of the judders and cracks from the asphalt.

Of course, the sedan bearing the blue Toyota badging hasn't exactly morphed into a driver's car, but it also didn't disappoint in its handling. Having a maximum power output of 205bhp and 213Nm of torque sent to the front wheels, the car will finish the century sprint in a respectable 8.6 seconds. But it isn't so much about the record and sprint timings for the Camry Hybrid. Instead, it's the ability to haul all occupants from point to point in a problem-free demeanour.

And it does succeed in that aspect, thanks to the smooth marriage between the CVT gearbox and the 2.5-litre powerplant. Apart from having more zest, it infuses slightly more refinement into a legacy of comfortable ride quality, making this hybrid sedan impressively close to what buyers can get from a Lexus.

More impressive is the fuel consumption. Although we did achieve an all-time high 18.5km/L, we consistently realised close to the quoted figure of 17.2km/L, without even having the need to be light-footed. For a hybrid that weighs close to 1.6 tonnes, we reckon it's really no easy feat.


Conclusion

The Camry Hybrid leaps past its predecessor in more ways than one. Toyota has certainly taken constructive criticisms to heart and has made the necessary amendments to the car.

Although it will never be the sportiest or the sexiest of the lot, the Toyota hybrid has a rewarding drive, especially when it delivers near-Prius mileage in a time when petrol prices are crazy high.