Toyota Camry Hybrid
So, you're interested in a Camry hybrid, but with all the Toyota recalls, you are concerned.
Who wouldn't be? Fortunately, very few Camry hybrids were outfitted with the faulty CTS accelerator petal. In fact, as few as 11 total cars were equipped with the faulty part according to some reports.
Still, recently Consumer Reports named the Toyota Camry hybrid the 10th Best Overall Value. That's compared to ALL vehicles, not just hybrids. More important, CR made this pick after the recalls.
Ultimately, if you review the data, as Consumer Reports has, then you realize, despite the recalls, most Toyota vehicles are very safe and reliable. Let's remember, this recall goes back years, and the safety data from those years is clear. Despite the recalls, Toyota vehicles are still statistically very safe and reliable compared to the competition. Moreover, a professor specializing in death statistics found that it is 19 times safer to drive a recalled Toyota than it is to walk.
That does't mean that Toyota doesn't have a problem, but every automaker has problems and recalls are a normal part of the process. Every automaker offers advantages and disadvantages, and on the whole, most Toyota vehicles according to data from Consumer Reports and JD Power are very safe and reliable and most consumers would buy again.
In particular, however, the Toyota Camry hybrid is one of the Best Values available, but that wasn't the only interesting thing Consumer Reports found.
According to Consumer Reports, the Camry hybrid and the Ford Fusion hybrid both averaged 34 mpg, despite the higher EPA numbers for the Fusion hybrid. And the Camry hybrid is cheaper. No doubt the Fusion hybrid is a fantastic hybrid, but the Camry hybrid is probably your better deal today.
The hybrid
version of the Camry offers a 2.4-liter,
4-cylinder gas engine which achieves 147 horsepower with a maximum boost of 45 horsepower from the
electric motor. Thus, the combined gas/electric system can
temporarily produce 192 horsepower, about
the same as the V-6 engine version of today’s Camry, but with better than 4
cylinder fuel economy.
The
continuously variable transmission powered Camry hybrid has been
estimated by the EPA to achieve 33 mpg in the city and
34 mpg on the highway. (For more
on Camry hybrid fuel economy, check out our Camry
hybrid testimonials).
However, in my Camry hybrid experiences, much better fuel economy is possible. Unlike the Prius, however, it takes a bit longer for the engine to warm up and city fuel economy can be sluggish on very short trips.
Of course, if your trip is that, maybe you should be walking. I mean, you must be an environmentalist if you're interested in a Camry hybrid, right?
Anyway, the Camry
hybrid is now produced in Kentucky, making it the
first Toyota hybrid produced in the U.S.. The
Kentucky plant is capable of producing more than 60,000
Camry hybrids per year.
So, if you're worried about buying a foreign-made car, at least this Toyota was assembled by American workers here in the US.
Recently,
I went hybrid shopping at a Toyota dealership and I found
a good selection of available Camry.
And, since the gas spike of 2008, dealers seem willing to negotiate the prices on Camry hybrids.
Still, if
you like the Prius, but need a more refined
ride, then the Camry hybrid is your hybrid.
I love the
moonroof on the Camry hybrid, something unavailable on the Prius,
as well as the remote start. The Camry hybrid is my kind
of hybrid.
Let me be
honest, I love the Toyota Prius, but the Camry hybrid is just more comfortable. The
seats in the Camry hybrid are just better than the Prius
and the hybrid Camry can support my bad lower back in a
way the Prius just cannot achieve.
The Camry
hybrid simply does not disappoint.
Yes, the
Camry hybrid provides a little sticker shock when
compared to the standard Camry, but if you keep the
Camry hybrid for 5 to 7 years, the Camry hybrid can be a
smart financial move.
And, if gas prices keep going up,
or if most of your commuting is done in urban traffic,
the Camry hybrid, like the Prius, can be a very wise
investment and hedge against energy costs.
If you
like the Toyota Camry, then you'll love the Toyota Camry
hybrid. |
