• Overall
• Prices
• Performance
• Exterior
• Interior
• Safety
• Reliability
• Photos & Videos

Toyota Camry Hybrid - What the Auto Press Says

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid ranks 4 out of 24 Affordable Midsize Cars. This ranking is based on our analysis of 50 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers all of the virtues of the Toyota Camry - rock-solid dependability, exceptional comfort and low long-term cost of ownership - with better fuel economy for a slightly higher price.

Last redesigned in 2008, The Camry and Camry Hybrid see slight exterior styling changes for 2010, including a reshaped bumper and new tail lights. But you'd have to look closely to notice the differences. The Camry Hybrid is perfect for those who are interested in the efficiency of a hybrid, but still need the practical versatility of a family sedan.  It is not as fuel-efficient as the Toyota Prius, but reviewers say it achieves a better balance of traditional midsize car virtues with green car credibility. Newsday reports, "The Prius can't match the Camry's quietness and its elegant ride." The Camry and Camry Hybrid shared the U.S. News Best Car for the Money Award in the midsize car class for the 2009 model year. They won the award thanks to a low five-year cost of ownership, the result of strong fuel economy and reliability scores.

Shoppers looking for a midsize hybrid sedan have a few new alternatives to consider.   Nissan licenses its hybrid drivetrain components from Toyota -- so the Nissan Altima Hybrid uses the same propulsion system and boasts similar fuel economy numbers as the Camry Hybrid.  Reviewers say the Altima Hybrid has a more exciting ride that's tighter in the corners than Toyota's hybrid, but doesn't hold its value as well over time.  The all-new Ford Fusion Hybrid is a factor as well. The Fusion Hybrid actually boasts better fuel economy than the Camry Hybrid, and some say it's a more engaging driver's car.  As a brand new model, however, it doesn't have the proven reliability of the Camry Hybrid.

Be sure to check for current Toyota Deals that may be available on a new Camry Hybrid.

• "If you want to be green but don't want to announce it to other road users, then the Camry hybrid makes sense." -- Car and Driver
• "The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid's compelling duo of superior fuel economy and comfortable family sedan attributes makes it a top choice for a hybrid vehicle. On the opposite end of the driving excitement spectrum, Toyota's dull-but-frugal Prius offers similar passenger room, greater trunk space and better gas mileage for less money than the Camry." -- Edmunds
• "This may be the only car on earth able to satisfy performance junkies and ecoconservatives. It's a uniter, not a divider." -- Motor Trend
• "We had a galactic good time in the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. A sleek package and a smooth, spacey look give this sedan a rich feel without leaving out any functionality. If the smallish cargo space doesn't give you pause, I'd say blast off in this hybrid!" -- Mother Proof
• "Out of all the hybrid cars on the road today, I like the Camry hybrid the most; the 41 miles-per-gallon Ford Fusion hybrid goes on sale this spring so the competition is going to stiffen. But it's not the Camry hybrid's respectable 33 mpg in the city that wins me over, or even the silent electric motor pulling the car along at school zone speeds. It's that you quickly forget it's a hybrid vehicle while driving." -- Detroit News
• "A well-equipped sedan that holds big people in comfort while getting the mileage of a coupe or sedan better suited to Smurfs." -- Chicago Tribune

Camry-Hybrid Performance - 8.0 (Very Good)

Driving the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid, you could almost fail to realize that it wasn't a conventional car. The Detroit News describes the ride as "Butter. Smooth and quiet, the little 16-inch wheels never feel harsh on even Detroit's winter-marred highways. In the snow, the wheels bit down and chewed through the city's unplowed streets. The sedan feels heavy in a good, well planted sort of way." Still, the stopping and starting of the Camry Hybrid's engine and the regenerative braking might take some getting used to. Read More

Camry-Hybrid Exterior - 8.0 (Very Good)

The Camry Hybrid sees a slight styling update for 2010, with subtle changes to the front fascia and taillights, and a new grille that separates it from its conventional counterpart.  Still, reviewers say it's most notable for how conventional it looks. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram notes, "There's no oddball styling that pronounces to the world that it's a 'green' car... so if you're wanting a gasoline-electric hybrid car to make an obvious statement to your fellow motorists that you're energy- and environmentally conscious, the...Camry Hybrid might not be the vehicle for you." Read More

Camry-Hybrid Interior - 8.4 (Very Good)

The 2010 Camry Hybrid is packed with features, carrying most of the equipment found on top-level Camry trims. Toyota has paid particular attention to the ergonomics of the car, building a cabin reviewers find intuitive and comfortable. Mother Proof raves, "Power seats adjust in every direction, and the steering wheel tilts and telescopes into the perfect piloting position. There are controls for the stereo and phone on the steering wheel, so I didn't have to let go of the wheel to manage things. And obviously, what spaceship would be complete without a huge moonroof for stargazing?"  Read More

Camry-Hybrid Safety - 9.9 (Excellent)

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid does well in federal government crash tests.  The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety doesn't test the hybrid separately because the car shares most of its critical safety systems with the conventional Camry - but the mechanically-similar conventional Camry earned top scores in all of its tests. Read More

Camry-Hybrid Reliability - 10.0 (Excellent)

The 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid reliability score shown is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS). Toyota offers a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty for the 2010 Camry Hybrid. Read More