The Sedan sheds off its traditional uninspiring family styling to give way to a sleeker and lower fascia. One more welcome change in the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is the replacement of rear-strut suspension with the double-wishbone suspension which improves ride quality and handling significantly. Overall, this car has become a whole package to look out for this year at a higher-than-before starting price of $27,800.
The 2018 Camry Hybrid comes in three variants. All the variants are packed with a 2.5-liter inline-four turbocharged engine along with an electric motor to produce a maximum power of 208 hp. The continuously varied transmission is standard among all the variants. While the LE uses a lighter Li-ion battery pack, the SE and XLE use Nickel Metal-hydride battery packs which deal a greater amount of power.
The Camry SE hybrid variant is powered by the same engine as that of LE. However, the SE is sport-tuned and has a keener driving-dynamics, credits to the sportier suspension and steering calibration and 18-inch wheels. This variant also sees simulated leather upholstery which goes nicely with the overall styling.
| Trims |
LE |
SE |
XLE |
| MSRP |
$27,800 |
$29,500 |
$32,250 |
| Features |
- 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support
- Smart Key System with Push Button Start
- Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)
|
- Black front grille with sport mesh insert
- 18-in. black machined-finish alloy wheels
- Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)
|
- Entune 3.0 22 Audio with Connected Navigation Scout GPS Link App 21 and App Suite 22
- 18-in. silver machined-finish alloy wheels
- Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P)
|
The XLE variant can be seen as a more powerful and luxurious version of LE. The XLE gets larger wheels, dual-zone climate control, leather upholstery and head-up display, blind-spot monitoring, keyless ignition, extra USB slot and premium JBL sound system at a higher price of $32,250.
We Recommend
The mid-level Sport version SE Hybrid hits the perfect balance of looks, performance, and price. We'd recommend a buyer to opt for additional sounds and convenience package for premium JBL surround-sound experience, keyless ignition, rear air-conditioning, and auto-dimming mirrors.
"The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the most fuel-efficient cars on the road. It has more horsepower than many hybrids, and it delivers a smooth ride even when road conditions aren’t great. And while this is no sport sedan, the Camry Hybrid is athletic enough that you won’t be bored driving it."- cars.usnews
Engine and Transmission
The 2018 Camry Hybrid comes with single engine option. The sedan base variant LE comes loaded with the 2.5-litre I-4 DOHC Hybrid engine which produces a maximum power of 208 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. It is backed up by the CVT type transmission which is the only option in all variants.
| Models |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| MSRP |
$27,800 |
$25,995 |
$34,095 |
$23,340 |
| Engine |
2.5L I-4 DOHC Hybrid |
2.0L CVVT DOHC I4 GDI |
1.5L Direct Injection (DI) DOHC 4-cylinder |
1.6L 4-cylinder and Full Parallel Hybrid System |
| Transmission |
CVT Automatic |
6-Speed Automatic |
CVT Automatic |
6-Speed Automatic |
| Power |
208 hp |
192 hp |
149 hp |
139 hp |
| Torque |
163 lb-ft |
271 lb-ft |
294 lb-ft |
195 lb-ft |
Despite topping the segment on paper, in terms of power the sedan fails to impress on roads. The car leaves the driver wanting for more power and torque and demands two to three downshifts for quick overtakes or surges. This is possibly due to the varied automatic transmission which holds on longer to the gears and hence exhibits poor acceleration and torque. However, this is a common problem among the newer hybrids and clearly, Camry isn't the worst case.
Acceleration
Like power and torque, the 2018 Camry seems to be quickest on charts. The sedan pulls up from 0-60 in just 7.2 sec which is pretty good a figure, given that the Camry has always been a family car with less focus on acceleration. But the car seems to experience a little turbo-lag and the car gives a hard time when one needs a quick surge of power, like overtakes and lane switching.
| Models |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| 0-60 MPH |
7.2 sec |
8.1 |
7.8 sec |
8.6 sec |
| Quarter mile |
15.6 sec |
16.2 sec |
15.9 sec |
16.7 sec |
| Engine |
2.5L |
2.0L |
1.5L |
1.6L |
| Emission(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year) |
3.4 |
4.2 |
1.3 |
3.5 |
Handling and Ride Quality
Toyota has put in a lot of efforts in this car to improve it in this field. The sedan feels a lot lighter than its predecessor and is more fun to drive. Camry provides amazing feedback and moves around quite easily without making the driver feel like he's driving a heavy sedan. The weight distribution is much better than previous Camrys and body rolls are minimal. However, the Sport mode makes it feel a little heavy due to stiffer suspension calibration.
The LE does fairly good in ride quality but the sedan does see some vertical movement on undulated roads. The suspensions on comfort mode take impact quite effortlessly but sacrifice comfort for handling in Sport mode. The cabin isn't particularly hushed and experiences loud engine whirs on highways and traffic noises in the city.
Braking
The sedan has a relaxed pedal which lacks the firmness which most of the drivers would prefer. Camry exhibits lazy braking and comes to halt from 60 in long 125 feet which is way behind the other competitors of this segment. The reason for this lag may be the sedan's weight which is quite heavy being a mid-range family car.
| Model |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| Brake Front(in) |
12.0 |
12.0 |
10.8 |
11.0 |
| Brake Rear(in) |
11.1 |
11.2 |
10.0 |
10.3 |
| Curb Weight(lbs) |
3472 |
3486 |
3543 |
3106 |
| 60-0 MPH (ft.) |
125 |
127 |
120 |
138 |
"The 2018 Toyota Camry has good fuel economy in all but the V-6 version, and the Camry Hybrid is first in its class to exceed 50 mpg combined."- The Car Connection
The Toyota Camry leads effortlessly in the fuel economy department. It runs 51 miles in city traffic after a meal of 1-gallon fuel. It has a mileage of 53 mpg on the highway and 52 mpg combined, credits to its electric motor which adds significant miles to the figures. As a mid-range sedan, Camry puts up quite an excellent figure in terms of mileage. According to Toyota, this improvement in fuel economy is due to its TNGA architecture, which is, in fact, remarkable.
| Model |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| MPG (City) |
51 |
39 |
43 |
52 |
| MPG (Highway) |
53 |
46 |
42 |
49 |
| MPG (Combined) |
52 |
42 |
42 |
50 |
"Inviting, roomy and easy to live with are good hallmarks to have in such a competitive and important class, and the Camry has them all. The 2018 redesign includes many foundational dimensional changes that have improved both the look and the feel of the car." - edmunds
Seating and comfort
The interior exhibits premium aesthetics with dual-tone black and gray leather, which is way better than the previous Camrys. On higher models like XLE, Toyota offers more exquisite material finishes like tiger wood and textured metal. Also, bolder color combinations can be chosen like red and black leather upholstery. Talking about the interior utilities, the small and large item holders offer added convenience along with comfort provided by the dual-zone climate control and power-adjusted seats.
| Model |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
5 |
| Passenger Volume (ft cube) |
99.9 |
102.6 |
90.3 |
100.2 |
| Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.) |
38.3/57.7/42.1 |
39.8/58.1/35.6 |
37.8/56.5/42.1 |
40.1/56.0/41.7 |
| Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg)(In.) |
37.6/55.7/38.0 |
37.8/56.4/35.6 |
35.8/53.2/34.7 |
39.1/55.2/37.4 |
Apart from aesthetics, the 2018 Toyota Camry hybrid dwells more space than any of its competitors and we can't emphasize this enough because, for styling and performance, the hybrid doesn't sacrifice comfort and luxury at all. The car can easily accommodate five passengers and make them comfortable with ample headroom and best-in-class legroom in the front and rear cabins.
Trunk Volume
For a hybrid, the 2018 Camry offers a pretty good cargo space. The sedan gives a spacious 15.1 ft-cube of cargo space which is best in the segment after the Kia Niro FE and this is because of Toyota's intelligent craftsmanship which amazingly veils the battery pack underneath the rear seat. However, there's a problem with Camry's boot-space and that is its low-dipping hinges which makes it quite difficult to load and unload items.
| Model |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| Volume (ft cube) |
15.1 |
13.4 |
10.6 |
19.0 |
Infotainment System
The 2018 Toyota Camry comes pre-installed with a 7-inch Entune infotainment screen with navigation, a touchpad controller with gesture control, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, a wireless charging station and Siri Eyes Free.
The standard sound output works just fine, however, it can be upgraded to a premium JBL system which gives an immersive surround sound experience which is pretty amazing as compared to its competitors. However, Camry doesn't support Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and MirrorLink which is present in the competitors.
"The 2018 Toyota Camry has sportier and arguably more upscale looks. Front and rear occupants sit an inch or more lower, and the Camry is an inch lower and slightly longer and wider too. The goal is to make one of Toyota's most mainstream vehicles more expressive, and to our eyes, it succeeds quite nicely."- carconnection
Dimensions and Weight
The Camry styling has seen an amazing facelift this year with a lower ground-profile, sleeker hood, and longer wheelbases. Toyota has lowered the roof a bit, but that doesn't lessen the headroom because the whole body goes down along with the hood to maintain wider visibility and cabin space. The 2018 Camry flaunts shoulder lines which run along with window frames and merge with the rear roof-end.
| Model |
Toyota Camry LE |
Kia Optima Hybrid Premium |
Chevrolet Volt (LT) |
Kia Niro FE |
| Curb weight(lbs) |
3472 |
3486 |
3543 |
3106 |
| Length(in) |
192.1 |
191.1 |
180.4 |
171.5 |
| Width(in) |
72.4 |
73.2 |
71.2 |
71.1 |
| Height(in) |
56.9 |
57.5 |
56.4 |
60.4 |
| Ground clearance(in) |
5.7 |
5.1 |
5.5 |
6.3 |
| Wheelbase(in) |
111.2 |
110.4 |
106.1 |
106.3 |
| Track width(in) F/R |
63.0/63.2 |
63.5/63.8 |
60.6/61.8 |
61.6/62.2 |
The 2018 Toyota Camry is among the shortest cars in the segment but there is still ample headroom in the cabin. The car comes with the longest wheelbase which gives it a higher ground clearance and hence all its competitors fall far behind when it comes to legroom in the rear cabin.
Exterior Features
- Adaptive LED headlights with automatic high beams
- Remote trunk release
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Rear-camera
- Keyless entry
- Auto-dimming electric rear-view mirror
The 2018 Camry Hybrid comes with all the essential safety features as per standards. The features include:
- Star Safety System—includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC)
- Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist
- Driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System
- LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats
- Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS)
- Intelligent Clearance Sonar (ICS) with Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA)
- Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
- Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)
- Engine immobilizer
The 2018 Camry hybrid has passed the crash test from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with flying colors. 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid has also earned Top Safety Pick + rating from IIHS which is the best possible rating across the board.
| IIHS Safety Ratings |
| Small overlap front driver side |
Good |
| Small overlap front passenger side |
Good |
| Moderate overlap front |
Good |
| Side |
Good |
| Roof strength |
Good |
| Head restraints & seats |
Good |
| Crash Avoidance and Mitigation |
| Front Crash Prevention |
Superior |
| Headlights |
Acceptable |
| LATCH |
Acceptable |
Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan vs Kia Optima Hybrid Premium
The Kia Optima hybrid comes packed with a 2-liter I-4 Full Parallel Hybrid System which produces a max power of 192 hp and 271 torque which is not much behind of Camry. The latter beats the former at fuel economy, cabin space, features, and styling. However, Kia sports a Harman Kardon audio powered 8-inch infotainment system which is best at this price.
Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan vs Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt has the smallest engine despite being the most expensive car in the segment and fails to compete with other rivals. Camry basically one-ups Volt in all the rest of the parameters, be it features such as intelligent cornering lights, moonroof or cabin with convenient instrument panel or the fuel economy.
Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan vs Kia Niro FE
The Kia Niro FE, priced at $23,340 is the cheapest and greatest competitor of the 2018 Toyota Camry for it has a bigger trunk space, better braking, similar fuel economy and largest headroom in the segment. However, Camry has a way bigger engine which produces greater power and torque and does better in every bit of performance than Kia. So, the choice between Niro and Camry may depend on personal preferences.
The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid has all the things to love-snappy performance, better-than-before handling, spacious interiors, aggressive styling, exceptionally high fuel economy but most importantly, the reliability of a Camry. The car which was most loved by families last year is now all set to attract the enthusiasts as well. So, if you're looking for an all-rounder hybrid car in the mid-range segment, 2018 Camry should already be on your list.
