2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid--Penny Wise and Not Fuelish

Nobody asked me, but . . .

In setting out to reinvent the Camry, the best-selling car in America for eight of the past nine years, Toyota engineers and designers did something they have never done before: They created a hybrid version. And for those who considered Toyota’s first hybrid sedan, the Prius, too controversial, let me allay all your fears immediately. The Camry Hybrid is by far the most conventional of Toyota’s hybrids. It’s simply a Camry!

This is not to imply that the 2007 Camry is merely boring transportation because while the new Camry package is evolutionary in nature, it has been poked, prodded and tweaked in all the right places to assure it retains its mid-size sedan leadership position.

Check out the Camry’s more stylish exterior. More sporty and modern . . . but it will still play well in Peoria. Overall length is identical to the previous model but the wheelbase has been stretched two inches, the track is wider and the wheels are pushed out toward the corners, making for more contemporary curb appeal.

Inside, give or take a half inch here or there, the new Camry is as roomy as its predecessor, rear seaters lose half an inch of head room but gain an equal amount of leg room compared to the previous model. Other interior dimensions are pretty much a wash. But Toyota designers improved the feeling of spaciousness by pushing the base of the windshield forward, redesigning the front seats and allowing these seats nearly a foot of fore/aft travel.

Typically for Toyota, all controls are logically placed, sensibly sized and easy to operate. The steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach but the pedals are not adjustable. And everything was impressively well screwed together, even though my Hybrid test car was a pre-production prototype.

Unlike the Prius, with the Camry Hybrid it’s possible to make a direct comparison with a conventional gas-only Camry model. A few of the pertinent specs are summarized in the attached chart:

The price difference is a good approximation of what the hybrid technology costs these days: not much more than a moonroof, a navigation system or leather seats.

Camry safety starts with a stronger passenger cabin. And also includes standard dual-stage airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag. All 2007 Camrys also come equipped with an Antilock Brake System (ABS). Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with traction control is standard on the Hybrid and optional on other models.

The Camry’s sportiness is more than skin deep. All models get larger brakes and Toyota's Brake Assist, an electronic function that senses an emergency stop and applies increased braking power once the driver touches the brake pedal, is standard. Wider, larger-diameter wheels and tires are fitted to all models and the chassis was retuned for sportier ride and handling.
Camry Hybrid comes standard with Smart Entry, which allows you to lock/unlock the doors with the “key” in your pocket. It also includes push-button starting. As is typical with most hybrids, during braking, the engine deactivates and the electric motor acts as generator to charge the battery pack. Braking response is very linear and the most natural-feeling of any Toyota hybrid to date.
But Toyota engineers still have work to do on the electric-assisted steering. It’s numb on center, vague and the boost isn’t linear. Steering aside, the handling and ride get high marks. Most hybrids feel heavy in the rear when cornering because of the batteries lurking under the rear seat. The Camry Hybrid is nicely balanced and even a bit more sporty than previous generations. And the ride is smooth and supple.
Under the hood the Camry’s two conventional gasoline engines are both more powerful for 2007. The 2.4-liter 4-cylinder adding four ponies and the V6 adding nearly 80 horsepower as a result of an increase in displacement from 3.0 to 3.5 liters.
Harnessing this V6’s output is an all-new 6-speed automatic transmission that uses 21 percent fewer parts than the conventional 5-speed automatic transmission it replaces. This new transmission, which can be shifted sequentially, relies upon a newly developed gear train that uses a Ravigneaux-type compound planetary gear for reduced size, weight and friction.
This new transmission also uses a quick-response, low-friction clutch pack for enhanced fuel economy; an ultra-flat, low-inertia torque converter for high transmission efficiency; a set of high-response, low-slip clutch packs and new electronic and hydraulic control systems that incorporate an intelligent shift control that learns driver's driving style and selects gears based on that style.
The Camry’s “other” powertrain is Toyota’s exclusive Hybrid Synergy Drive, consisting of dual gasoline and electric power sources that are complementary and produce a combined 187 horsepower. This system varies power between gas and electric, or both, as needed and is coupled to an electronic continuously variable transmission (CVT).
The first half of this system consists of the 2.4L four-cylinder 2AZ-FXE Atkinson-cycle engine, which generates 147 hp and is coupled to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The second half of the Hybrid Synergy Drive equation consists of a small, specially developed electric drive motor that produces 45 horsepower, an ultra-small inverter with a specially designed compact battery and a transaxle to provide the economy and seamless performance hybrid drivers seek.
Hybrid performance rates eight smiles out of 10: It’s more than acceptable when running only on the 4-cylinder and it feels a lot like the boost from a turbocharger when the extra power and torque from the electric motor kick in. At a stop, the engine can enter an idle stop mode to save fuel. Restart is accompanied by a very slight shudder.
Because there are situations in daily driving in which the gas engine in a Toyota hybrid is completely shut down, air-conditioning and power-steering systems are driven electrically, rather than by the engine. This ensures these features will continue to operate, whatever the status of the Camry Hybrid's drive system.
The Camry Hybrid also has an eight-year/100,000 mile warranty that covers the hybrid–related components,
If you’ve considered a Toyota hybrid previously, but were turned off by the unconventionality of the Prius sedan, now’s the time to head to your nearest Toyota dealer. You’ll see green all around . . . from the Hybrid’s low-polluting, high-fuel efficiency “motor” and from your neighbors’ envy.