2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid Milwaukee WI
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2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
November 20, 2009 By Alison Lakin, Associate Editor
2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
DriverSide Overview
The Toyota Camry has been one of America’s favorite four-door family cars for years, always competing for the top spot against the Honda Accord . The two go head to head in almost every respect: the Camry bests the Accord in starting price (by $1,800) and interior design, while the Accord squeaks ahead with more power and a sportier exterior. But the Camry has something that the Accord doesn’t, or at least doesn’t anymore: a hybrid . Opting to go green means the Toyota becomes a much pricier proposition, as the base price shoots up $7000 to $26,150. However, a number of positives present themselves in the process. The Camry hybrid nets 187 hp, almost 30 hp more than the regular Camry, while getting 33 mpg in the city and 34 on the highway – a substantial gain in mpg too. But what about that extra $7000 over the base model? It all comes out in the wash considering the hybrid is chockablock with standard features and luxuries, putting it on par with similarly priced XLE . Affordable, well-appointed and good for the planet? Take that, Honda.
What's to Like
The hybrid’s fuel savings will make a big difference in the price of the weekly top-up, and the handy hybrid display system lets drivers know when the gas engine kicks in or the regenerative brakes start engaging. Toyota’s nicely designed cabin features a pared-down instrument panel and center stack, meaning you can easily find HVAC controls or make volume adjustments without looking away from the road.
What's Not to Like
We’d love to see a base Camry hybrid on offer, so that buyers could go green without spending extra on luxuries they may not want or need. Also, the hood bump and bulbous rear end of the exterior don’t do it any favors – think slimming lines, Toyota. You want the car to appear as if it may actually be aerodynamic.
The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Many hybrids offer only gas savings as a bonus to buying into the technology, but the Camry also offers a punchier ride as part of the deal. By upping the horsepower to 187 with the hybrid motor, this four-door delivers a more appropriate amount of power for the size of the car. The cabin is very quiet, thanks to the electric start and off at idle feature. Toyota’s abundance of sound deadening materials help too. It is not what you could call a driver’s car, however. The Camry doesn’t provide much in terms of feedback, via either the road or steering. Cornering is mushy and transmission shifts are gentle, meaning you’ll hardly notice you’re even driving. This is all fine for some buyers who want a mode of transportation with the least amount of fuss. To make use of battery power only mode – the way to get the most mpgs out of your hybrid – your foot must act as a feather on the thr...