2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan

In spite of being one of the best, the Toyota Camry doesn’t go unrivalled. Joining along the arsenal of big guns competing against this Japanese sedan is the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Ford Fusion Hybrid. How does it fare amongst them? Let’s find out.

Split in 3 trim configurations, the Toyota Camry Hybrid comes with a standard FWD drive under which rests a 2.5L inline-4 married to an electric motor and a standard CVT transmission across all trims. The LE base trim uses a lighter lithium-ion battery pack while the SE and XLE pack a nickel-metal hydride battery. Starting at $28,150, the LE trim offers a decent dosage of basic features for a base trim and climb up the trim ladder and you’d find more premium features.

Trim	Camry LE	Camry SE	Camry XLE
MSRP	$28,150	$29,850	$32,725
Key Features	Bi-LED combination headlights with auto on/off feature	LED combination taillights	LED taillights
	LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature	LED combination taillights	Color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators
	Dark gray front grille 4-wheel Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)	Black front grille with sport mesh insert	Bright metallic front grille
	Color-keyed power outside mirrors	Single-zone automatic climate control with air filter	Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) with direct pressure readout
		Entune 3.0 Audio with Connected Navigation Scout GPS Link App	Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)61with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
		Color-keyed outside door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature

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The SE seems like the best choice for it offers aplenty technology alongside abundance of excellent list of features, especially considering it costs a bit over $1500 over the base trims. If you’re looking for performance including almost all features in the Camry, the XLE offers an optional V6 engine and is the cheapest of the highest trims to offer said powertrain.

“There's goodness in broad swaths with the Camry Hybrid, but some areas have yet to be conquered. Power and hybrid performance are smooth and plentiful, but its brakes and economy-focused tires spoil the party.” -edmunds

Engine and Transmission

Powering the Toyota Camry through its front wheels are a 2.5L inline-4 cylinders paired to an electric motor and a CVT transmission to spurt out combined 203 hp and 184 lb.-ft. of pulling power. Don’t be fooled by these subpar output figures; the Camry is a charm to drive on tarmac. It pulls you straight ahead with absolute ease and refinement. Its powertrain is butter smooth and is more than what you could ask for in a Hybrid sedan. Cruise around city or passing speeds on highway? Pfft, the Camry says ‘sure!’. The energy efficient battery pack makes sure the front wheels zip in electric speed and providing an exceptionally great fuel economy.

Quite frankly, the competition sees a stiff rivalry with the Toyota Camry and not the other way around. While the Japanese 4-door may not boast the highest numbers out there, the ones that do however manage to give it a slight rivalry but nothing that big a concern so as to put the Camry on the list of any derogative opinions alongside them.

Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
$29,070	$34,485	$37,490	$25,320	$22,830	$28,945	$34,395	$37,420
2.5L i4	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	1.5L Inline-4	1.5L i4	1.8L i4	2.5L i4	1.5L i4
Continuously variable automatic	Continuously variable automatic	Continuously variable automatic	Continuously Variable Automatic	Continuously variable automatic	1-speed direct drive	Continuously variable automatic	1-speed direct drive
208 hp@ 5700 rpm	188 hp@ 6000 rpm	188 hp@ 6000 rpm	212 hp 6200 rpm	151 hp@ 6000 rpm	160 hp@ 5700 rpm	215 hp@ 5700 rpm	149 hp
163 ft-lbs@ 3600 rpm	129 ft-lbs@ 4000rpm	129 ft-lbs@ 4000rpm	232 lb-ft	99 ft-lbs@ 5000 rpm	184 ft-lbs@ 2500 rpm	163 ft-lbs@ 3600 rpm	294 ft-lbs@ 0 rpm

Acceleration

Jabbing the throttle does work pretty well for this Hybrid sedan. Getting the front wheels rolling from naught to 60 mph takes the Camry Hybrid a laudable 7.2s while it races the quarter mile in 15.6s – and mind you, these tests are done quicker than its gasoline variant!

Whilst Toyota basks in glory, the Accord comes out blazing 6.7s from 0-60 while the Volt follows the leaders at 7.5s. Matching them in the quarter mile might make them stand on the same pedestal, but the Accord sure is quickest of the Hybrid lot.

Models	Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion HybridTitanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
0-60 MPH	7.2	8.3	8.5	6.7	8 sec	8.5 sec	N/A	7.5
Quarter mile	15.6	16.1	16.3	15.4	16 sec	15.8	N/A	N/A
Engine	2.5L i4	2.0L i4	2.0L i4	1.5L i4	1.5L i4	1.8L i4	2.5L i4	1.5L i4
Emission (Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.4	N/A	N/A	N/A

Ride and Handling

Great powertrain performance gives way to other expectations, no? Somewhat right, if the gasoline variant is a supposed benchmark here. The Hybrid Camry doesn’t really drive or ride as great as its gasoline variant. Steering is accurate, handles moderately well in corners with excellent maneuverability and limited body roll.

Although the ride is very comfortable on plain tarmac with supple and nimble handling, it is not without its flaws. Ride over bumps and you’d feel the potholes and jittery surface warrantying body roll and discomfort. Even its steering takes a bit of a hit here; due to the heavy implication of driver assists to the wheel, it feels light and consequently there is less road feedback.

Braking

With the Camry regardless of it feeling smooth and predictable, the brakes feel like a hit and miss. Stopping the 3500 pounds from 60 to a standstill takes 128 feet and that is an average result for the Japanese sedan. Its weakness doesn’t stop there; the transition between regenerative braking to mechanical feel clunky and lethargic especially when you’re stuck in traffic. On the other hand, its Japanese rival, the Honda Accord, takes 120 feet while the Ford Fusion Hybrid stops at 123 feet.

Model	Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
Brake Front (in.)	12	11.8	11.8	11.5	11.1	11.8	N/A	11
Brake Rear (in.)	11.1	11.9	11.9	11.1	10.2	11.3	N/A	10
Curb Weight (lbs.)	3472	3668	3986	3342	3000	3366	3638	3519
60-0 MPH (ft.)	128	123	129	120	121	N/A	N/A	N/A

Like its gasoline variant, thrifty is one word you should call the Camry’s powertrain; it sparingly guzzles down fuel, shooting it at the top of the ladder as one of the most efficient amongst midsize Hybrids. Joined by its direct competitor, Honda Accord, it is followed by the Chevrolet Malibu, and the rest follow suit. The Fusion siblings on the other hand rests at the bottom of the pit.

Model	Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
MPG (city)	51	43	43 (109 MPGe)	48	55	49	43	42
MPG (highway)	53	41	41 (98 MPGe)	48	49	43	44	42
MPG (combined)	52	42	42 (103 MPGe)	48	52	46	44	42

“The Camry's cabin won't wow you with its opulence, but it does get the fundamentals right. The driver's seat will satisfy a truly broad range of sizes and shapes, and the cabin is spacious. And with easy-to-decipher controls, the Camry is a cinch to live with on a daily basis.” -edmunds

The Toyota Camry features a comfortable and roomy interior but there isn’t anything wow or luxurious about the interior of the Camry. Capacity to seat 5 passengers, the cloth-stitched seats feel plush alongside enough headspace and legroom in both rows even for tall passengers. Visibility around the cabin has good viewing angles with not much to complain, and materials used and finishing touches have a rather upscale and soft feeling unlike some of its rivals.

6-way adjustable driver seat ensures solace if you’re behind the wheels and a 60/40 folding rear seats assures you of a tad more space than the miserly cargo space. Entering and getting out the vehicle is easily done due to the large and narrow doors of the sedan.

Model	Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
Passenger capacity	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	38.3/57.7/42.1	39.2/57.8/44.3	39.2/57.8/44.3	39.5/58.3/42.3	39.3/56.9/42.3	39.1/58.5/41.5	38.5/42.1/58.3	37.8/56.5/42.1
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)	37.6/55.7/38.0	37.8/56.9/38.3	37.8/56.9/38.3	37.3/55/40.4	36.9/55.0/37.4	37.5/57.1/38.1	37.9/40.4/57.1	35.8/53.2/34.7

Interior Features

Inside the cabin, Toyota Camry includes some of the following features –

• Dual zone automatic climate control with air filter
• 6-way adjustable driver and front passenger seat
• 60/40 split fold-down rear seat with center armrest with cup holders
• Fabric-trimmed front seats with passenger-side seatback pocket
• Integrated backup camera with projected path

Infotainment System

Floating in the middle of the dash is a 7” infotainment system with smartphone integration. Albeit you’d find the system fairly simple and easy to use, the rivals in the segment have better integration of the system as well as seemingly intuitive. Some standard features found in the Camry are –

• Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa
• Navigation (GPS scout link)
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi Hotstpot
• 6-speaker sound system

Cargo Capacity

Oh dear, this is one segment you’d wish Camry replicated the interior’s spirit. A paltry 15.1 cubic feet of cargo volume descends the sedan in lieu of practicality. However its own sibling and the Honda Accord offer more spacious luggage accommodation. The Fusion siblings along with the Chevrolets disappoint in this area.

Model	Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
Cargo Volume (ft.3)	15.1	12	8.2	16.7	15.1	13.0	16.1	10.6

“The 2019 Toyota Camry is, dare we say it, stylish.” -thecarconnection

5.7” from the ground, at first sight you’d see the wide and front-grille and the athleticism of the sleek design of the sedan with 16” steel wheels on four corners spinning the sedan down the tarmac. Molded around the slightly curvaceous physique of the midsize sedan has a bold and sporty design infused to create one of the best looking car in the price segment.

Toyota insignia sits on the similarly T-sculpted hugging the meshed-grille and horizontal grilled-framework underneath it. Bordered by the Bi-LED headlights on either sides, the design takes over the giant-cat clawed character lines on the hood.

Bulbous windshield erupts atop the car, chiseling out a shark fin antenna along the tapering roofline down the slightly elevated rear. The sedan signs off with well-proportioned and straightforward rear design, fitted with a single exhaust pipe on the right lip.

Model	Toyota Camry LE Hybrid	Ford Fusion Hybrid Titanium	Ford Fusion Energi Titanium	Honda Accord	Honda Insight LX	Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid	Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid	Chevrolet Volt LT
Curb weight (lbs.)	3472	3668	3986	3342	3000	3366	3638	3519
Length(in)	192.1	191.8	191.8	192.2	183.6	194.2	195.9	180.4
Width(in)	72.4	72.9	72.9	73.3	71.6	73.0	72.8	71.2
Height(in)	56.9	58.0	58.0	57.1	55.5	57.9	56.5	56.4
Ground clearance (in)	5.7	N/A	N/A	5.8	N/A	5.9	5.3	N/A
Wheelbase (in)	111.2	112.2	112.2	111.4	106.3	111.4	113.0	106.1
Track width (in) F/R	63/63.2	62/62.3	62/62.3	63/63.4	60.9/61.6	62.6/62.5	62.3/63.6	60.6/61.8

Exterior Features

Standard features included in the exterior of the Camry are –

• Body-colored door handles
• Body-colored front and rear bumpers
• LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature
• Bi-LED combination headlights with auto on/off feature
• 16” steel wheels

Amongst the features installed to curb any possibility of unsafe experience you might ever face in the sedan include -

• Lane departure alert with steering assistance
• 4-Wheel Disc Brakes
• Automatic high beams
• Integrated backup camera30 with projected path
• Adaptive cruise control
• Hill Start Assist Control
• Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking

Toyota Camry Hybrid vs Honda Accord Hybrid

Frankly, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are equally excellent buys since they share many strengths of the same nature. Both equip frugal powertrain, great drivability, spacious interior alongside quality materials, strong crash test records and plethora of safety and convenient features. We’d recommend test driving these sedans since both have their own design and styling which might appeal to you.

Toyota Camry Hybrid vs Ford Fusion Hybrid

So you’re testing the Toyota Camry Hybrid and the Fusion Hybrid. Drive the Ford and it’ll impress you with its spirited driving and fun handling, and its segment-leading SYNC 3 infotainments sytem – and that’s about it. Take the Camry for a spin and there’s so much you’d appreciate about the sedan compared to its American rival. Pick the Camry Hybrid; it’s the worthier choice.

A complete package – three words we to best describe the Toyota Camry Hybrid. It comes equipped with excellent tech and convenient features alongside having a solid safety crash test record and driver assists. The rivals in its segment, try as they might, are overshadowed by the Camry when you compare its overall package. It’s no surprise the Camry is still a popular choice for a lot of buyers in the Hybrid configuration and we hope you have concluded our stance on the recommendation of the car by now.