Page 61 - ElectriCar Magazine

Hybrid Models LE $28,250 SE $29,950 XLE $32,550
MPG 51/53/52
Hybrid System Net Power - 208 Motor - 2.5-L 4-Cylinder ECVT Hybrid Electric Motor Voltage - 650v
The 2020 Hybrid ranks near the top of the hybrid and electric car class.
It combines a refined powertrain
and respectable fuel efficiency
with perfect safety marks and a
good predicted reliability rating.
The 2020 Hybrid’s #1 ranking is based on its score within the Hybrid and Electric Cars category. It was
a finalist for our 2020 Best Hybrid or Electric Car for the Money award and a finalist for our 2020 Best Hybrid
or Electric Car for Families award. Currently the Toyota Camry Hybrid has a score of 8.7 out of 10, which
is based on an evaluation of thirty- one pieces of research and data elements using various sources.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan can carry five people. You’ll find both rows of seats to be accommodating, with a decent amount of head- and legroom. A standard eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat makes finding an ideal setup a cinch.
Cloth upholstery and heated front seats are also standard, and notable options include synthetic or genuine leather upholstery and ventilated front seats.
There are two complete sets
of LATCH connectors for the rear outboard seats. The rear middle seat has an upper tether and can borrow a lower anchor from each side.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the Camry’s LATCH system the highest rating of Good+ (with the”+” indicating an extra seating position). All of the anchors are easy to find and access, and it’s simple to attach the car-seat straps.
Taking a cue from many luxury vehicles, Toyota places the lower anchors behind dedicated plastic flaps instead of burying them down in the seat cushions.
This hybrid Camry has a sleek, attractive interior. The stylish dashboard features sweeping lines that accent the centrally mounted infotainment screen.
As with most vehicles from affordable brands, materials quality gets better as you move up the trim ladder. You might notice a fair amount of hard plastic
surfaces, especially in places that you touch often, such as the doors. However, there’s an equal smattering of soft-touch materials, and the range-topping model has wood trim.
There’s 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space in the Hybrid. While hybrid versions of nonhybrid cars typically lose some trunk space in favor of the battery, that’s not the case with this Toyota. The Hybrid has the same
size trunk you get with the nonhybrid Camry. Although 15.1 cubic feet is about average for the class, it’s still less than the Honda Accord Hybrid’s 16.7 cubes. Other hybrids are hatchbacks that afford much more space.
The trunk is still big enough
for several suitcases, and a wide opening makes it easy to put things in. The liftover height is also low, helping you to load heavy gear.
The car comes standard with an infotainment system that has a 7-inch touch screen, though an 8-inch version is optional. Both setups function the same way, with on-screen buttons that are large and clear. The touch screen is responsive, and the menus are easy to navigate. You’ll find several physical buttons around the screen for shortcuts such as changing the audio source
or enabling smartphone integration.
Other controls are easy to reach from the driver’s seat, though a few are unintuitive. Clearly marked climate controls are located beneath the
touch screen, but the audio tuning knob is right below the volume knob, making it easy to confuse the two.
Android Auto debuts for the first time in the Camry Hybrid for this model year, and it comes standard. Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa are also standard, as are satellite radio, three USB ports, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. Optional amenities include wireless device charging, HD Radio, two additional USB ports, navigation, and a nine-speaker JBL premium stereo.
The Camry’s hybrid powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The total system output is 208 horsepower, helping the Camry deliver respectable
Toyota Camry continued on page 81 59
straightforward and easy to use.
We like that the Toyota Camry has
a traditional transmission selector, not potentially confusing buttons or a knob like the Honda Accord and Ford Fusion. The Camry has easy- to-use and easy-to-see controls
for its 7- and 8-inch touch-screen infotainment systems, with redundant buttons on the steering wheel.
Base models get one USB port, while more expensive versions get three. Note that in the Camry TRD model, the rear seat doesn’t fold
as normal because of its additional rear bracing. Rear-seat air vents are standard on XLE and above models, or optional beginning on LE trims.
Toyota continues to up its game with the Camry’s exterior style, and this newest model is its most daring. We think this Camry is among the best- looking yet, and certainly the most design-forward. From front to back, the 2020 Camry aims to show off its dynamic athleticism and attitude.
Its large front grille is hard to miss, and the Camry’s sleek low aluminum hood shows off interesting creases.
JUNE 2020