2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review
Car Tested: 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid; Road Test No. 1051; Test Location: Hyderabad
Price OTR Mumbai: Rs. 42,76,817/-
The Camry offers a great value in terms of performance, comfort and reliability
The Toyota Camry is a car that needs little introduction. One of the most successful sedans in the world, the flagship Toyota saloon has done rather well in the diesel-oriented Indian market as well. In fact, when the hybrid version of the Camry was launched, Toyota sold more cars than they expected and such is the demand for the efficient powerplant, that for the new Camry, Toyota has decided to go hybrid only. Of course, that is not the only talking point. The new Camry is an improvement over the older car in all respects. It’s bigger, more luxurious, better equipped, better styled, more efficient and cheaper than the outgoing car!
Motor Quest: The Toyota Camry is now in its 8th generation and Toyota has decided to go hybrid-only with this sedan. The Camry is a super popular car worldwide and is known for its reliability and no-nonsense nature.
The Camry now looks more striking, do you like the styling?
Exteriors – Stylish and sophisticated are the best words to describe the new Camry’s design. Gone are the boxy and slightly awkward looks of the older car replaced by something much more futuristic. The front of the car looks very nice with the twin-grille set-up. The top grille is minimal with a large chrome strip across it merging into a ‘V’ at the centre with the blue-tinged Toyota logo atop it. The lower grille looks busy with several lines running on it but is neatly flanked by sharp housings for the fog lamps. The tail-lights are sharp and intricate adding to the smartness of the front. There are many cuts and creases across the bonnet but none of it looks overdone.
The 2019 Camry is based on the TNGA platform, shared with the ES 300h
The 2019 Toyota Camry’s styling is flashy now and it has many bold elements
It is surprising how elegant the Camry looks despite so much on its body. Even on the side, there are many lines flowing across but it looks purposeful and not done for style’s sake. We love the design of the alloy wheels and the long, stately character of the side-profile. The rear may not be the prettiest part of the Camry but the large tail lamps look like they are brought in from Lexus. The prominent scoops on either side of the bumper and the air vent like element that extends from the taillamp to the bumper look interesting. There is that typical chrome finish with Camry inscribed on it above the registration plate. Overall, we think this design will age better than the previous one.
The dashboard is driver-friendly, ergonomics are perfect
Interiors – The first thing you notice when you enter the Camry is that the seating position is a bit low. However the cowl of the dashboard is not very high and with electric seats, it’s a breeze to get into a comfortable driving position. The interior of the Camry feels plush, well appointed and fitting to a car of this price. The dashboard has a unique Y-shaped design which looks cool. The knobs and physical buttons feel quite nice to operate and kudos to Toyota for keeping the physical buttons alive. It gets really easy to operate commands on the move. The only catch is that the quality of some plastics is not quite in the league of the Skoda Superb or the Volkswagen Passat. The cabin lacks the solidity and the heft of some German cars
While the older Camry had more buttons, this one is very modern
The cabin is well-appointed with features and has very good space too
Toyota has lavishly equipped the Camry with the latest in tech and comfort. The front seats are powered as well as ventilated and there’s a memory function for the driver’s seat. You also get power-reclining rear seats, powered sunshades with touch-sensitive controls in the rear centre armrest, 9-speaker JBL audio system, a reverse camera and a head-up display amongst others. When you slot into reverse, the rear windscreen sunshade automatically folds down so that you get a better view and then it comes back when you slot into D. This gets a bit annoying though when you’re parking in a tight space and need to do switch between D and R multiple times. The sound quality from this infotainment system is very good, the menus are also well laid out and navigation works great but my grouse is with the richness of the display because when compared to other premium cars, the display on this feels a step behind.
Both the front and rear seats score high when it comes to space and comfort
The light brown wood theme is also pleasant to your eyes and we like how there are different colours and textures on the seats. They look refreshing compared to an all-beige theme. The seats, as always are supremely comfortable. The Camry has lots of space in the front and the back and it is one of those cars you can spend hours in. The front seats offer excellent comfort and they’re designed in such a way that you don’t get tired even after really long drives. Same goes for the rear seats which offer phenomenal comfort and space is also very good. Leg room is brilliant and the best part is that the front seat can be pushed forward by the rear passenger via a couple of buttons placed on the side. The boot is also humungous, we stashed a lot of bags and it just took in everything. The Camry doesn’t disappoint when it comes to storage spaces in the cabin, with ample amount of cubbyholes and storage to keep various things.
The hybrid powertrain pulls nicely and offers interrupted power delivery
Performance – The Toyota Camry Hybrid shares its powertrain with the 2018 Lexus ES 300h. Meaning, it has a 2.5-litre petrol engine which comes matched to an electric motor. Yes, the previous generation Camry had a similar powertrain but Toyota has made significant changes to the engine such as a longer stroke and high compression ratio and enhanced cooling. The location of the hybrid battery has also been moved from the boot to the area under the rear seat. The powertrain produces a combined 215 HP. Like I had mentioned in the ES 300h review too, this powertrain is extremely refined, it doesn’t make any noise even when you start the car.
It is very refined and silent and goes from EV to hybrid and back without a fuss
Power delivery is also ultra smooth. The engine has a lot of kick and it doesn’t mind going all the way to the redline too. In city driving, the 10th generation Toyota Camry fares really well, with the powertrain delivering a good punch. You won’t be disappointed on the highways too, because this motor pulls very cleanly and takes you to triple digit speeds without any strain. The e-CVT gearbox works well with this powertrain, the rubber band effect isn’t felt as much as it does on conventional petrol-CVT cars and this transmission is very refined too. The Camry also gets paddle-shifters but I found little use of them.
Different driving modes work well to alter the engine’s performance
The Camry offers a good thrust of power & the hybrid powertrain is very smooth
There’s no tachometer on offer, but the older Camry’s display did throw up a tacho if you went into Sport mode. This time around, the instrument cluster display just has a change of colours when you toggle different modes. Of course, these modes do alter the driving experience too. In Normal mode, the Camry feels at ease, delivering power when you want it and cruising comfortably otherwise. Things change when you move into Sport mode when the powertrain starts feeling more responsive. It reacts very swiftly to throttle inputs and delivers power more aggressively. With the transmission shifted to S, it works in tandem with the powertrain for a more linear and quick output.
The Camry delivers a fuel efficiency in the range of 10-14 km/l
There’s an Eco mode too, which makes the Camry feel a bit laid back and you can use it if you’re going to be driving on a really long patch of highway and don’t want to push the car much. It’ll reward you with good efficiency too. There’s a pure EV mode too, but the range is very limited. The Camry gets the 4th generation hybrid system and I really liked the smoothness with which it transitions from EV mode to hybrid mode and vice versa. With a mixed driving cycle, you can expect a fuel efficiency of about 10-14 km/l, which is pretty decent for a sedan in this segment.
The Camry fares well in comfort, but not in driving fun
Driving Dynamics – The main purpose of the Toyota Camry is to transport its passengers in utmost comfort and you bet, it does its job very nicely. The suspension has been tuned for a very plush ride, potholes or rather craters on our roads don’t bother this sedan much and in fact, it just glides over everything. The Camry feels very stable and composed throughout. Even after a really long drive in this, you won’t feel much fatigue and full marks to the suspension for that.
The Camry is an effortless mile-muncher
The steering feel is also quite sorted, light at city speeds and weighs up nicely as you increase the pace. It could’ve offered better feedback though. Body roll can be felt when you corner hard because the suspension setup is on the softer side, but compared to the last generation, the body roll is significantly lower. The brakes also work great offering a sharp bite while the tyres have good levels of grip.
So many safety features and Toyota’s brilliant service are big USPs
Safety and After Sales Service – Safety is never a bother with Toyota’s India line-up. It is but natural then that the top-spec car from the company’s range gets a whole hog of safety. Toyota gives 9 airbags, ABS with EBD, traction control, ESP and child seat anchorages as standard. It is likely that the Camry will score top marks in crash tests with so much on offer. The Camry offers world-class safety and it is right up there with the competition. Toyota’s service and reliability, as we all know, is top class too.
Buy the Camry and it’ll never disappoint you
Verdict – The 10th generation Toyota Camry Hybrid is indeed a step up from the older car. It has so much more tech, offers excellent comfort and the powertrain is brilliant. There’s not much to dislike about this sedan actually. The new model is priced a bit lower than the outgoing car and it offers good value for this price because it comes bundled with Toyota’s stellar service and reliability. Talking about competition, well the Camry rivals the Honda Accord Hybrid which is priced significantly higher. For the price of the Camry you do get entry-level luxury saloons but for people who don’t care much about the badge and want a car that lasts for years if not a lifetime, the Camry is the one to buy.
Will you buy the Camry over entry-level German cars?
What’s Cool
* Technology and features on offer
* Comfortable seats and plush ride quality
* Brilliant powertrain offering excellent performance
* Toyota’s service and reliability
What’s Not So Cool
* Driving dynamics aren’t meant for enthusiasts
* Entry-level Germans available for the same price (better snob value)
Alternatives: – Honda Accord Hybrid, Volkswagen Passat, Skoda Superb
Hybrids are the way forward for our country
2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid Specifications
* Engine: 2487cc, 4-Cyl, Petrol, 160 kW Electric Motor
* Power: 175 HP @ 5700 RPM (Petrol Engine), 118 HP (Electric Motor)
* Torque: 221 Nm @ 3600-5200 RPM , 202 Nm (Electric Motor)
* Transmission: 7-Step e-CVT
* Fuel Consumption: 10-14 km/l
* Fuel Type: Petrol
* Tyre Size: 235/45/18 (Front & Rear)
* Suspension: MacPherson Strut (Front), Double Wishbone (Rear)
* Brakes: Disc (Front), Disc (Rear)
* Safety: 9 Airbags, ABS with EBD, ESP, Hill Start Assist
2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid Dimensions
* Overall length x width x height: 4885 mm X 1840 mm X 1455 mm
* Wheelbase: 2825 mm
* Turning Radius: 5.8-metres
* Fuel Tank Capacity: 50-litres
* Kerb Weight: 1665 kgs
The Toyota Camry Hybrid competes with the Honda Accord Hybrid mainly
Testers’ Note:
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