With one vehicle – the Hybrid Camry – Toyota Australia has elevated the status of hybrids into the automotive mainstream.
Good as the company’s remarkable Prius is, the perception of the groundbreaking marvel is that it’s a compact hatchback.
The Hybrid Camry changes all that – it’s a genuine mid-sizer with all of the acknowledged Camry attributes.
This vehicle also makes a statement about Australia’s automotive manufacturing prowess. Australia is now one of only four countries in the world manufacturing hybrid vehicles and according to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, it has injected some $90 million into our component-manufacturing sector in Victoria and South Australia.
What You Get
The Hybrid Camry important because it’s a Camry that’s kind to the planet.
The Hybrid model retains all of the Camry features Australians love – nice package size, good interior and luggage space, high equipment levels and a sharp price. There are two model grades – Hybrid Camry priced at $36,990 and Hybrid Camry Luxury priced at $39,990.
Sure it’s high-tech - Hybrid Camry production required major changes at Toyota’s Altona, Victoria plant with more than 300 unique parts. Some 150 manufacturing robots had to “go back to school” for major re-programming to assemble the new model. There are 28 underbody changes alone compared to standard Camrys, including Australian-designed aerodynamic panels under the engine, passenger compartment and luggage area.
But Hybrid Camry motoring is ridiculously easy, convenient, reliable and service costs are no more expensive than for a conventional Camry. The Prius first appeared in Australia back in 2001 with more than 13,000 sold, and in that time Toyota has replaced just three faulty batteries. Hybrid Camry buyers using Toyota Service Advantage will pay a flat rate of $130 for up to four standard scheduled services during the first three years or 60,000kms of their vehicle’s life.
Under The Hood
This is more than a Camry with bolt-on hybrid technology. Toyota has gone for an Atkinson Cycle 2.4-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine with two electric motors (MG1 and MG2).
The Atkinson Cycle design provides a longer expansion stroke on intake. Just the petrol engine delivers 110kW of power at 6,000rpm and peak torque of 187Nm at 4,400rpm.
One electric motor (MG2) provides 105kW of power and 270Nm of torque. Hybrid Camry uses this power source exclusively (the petrol engine is not operational) for take-off, reversing and low-speed driving.
The other electric motor (MG1) is mainly a generator and starter motor.
Using just 6.0l/100kms, Toyota says the Hybrid Camry delivers the lowest fuel consumption of any Australian built car. Emissions are 142g/km and this is Euro 4 compliant.
The Interior
Most noticeable inside is the revised Optitron instrumentation. The tachometer or rev counter is not needed, so it’s replaced with an economy gauge providing instant readouts advising whether you are making power (in regenerative braking), using electric power and - when the petrol engine is being used - instantaneous fuel consumption.
When fitted with satellite navigation, the seven-inch center console screen – like the Prius – doubles as a display for the Hybrid Synergy Drive system with excellent graphics highlighting the Camry’s operation and a wide selection of fuel consumption information. The screen also operates as the reversing camera display.
Otherwise, it’s the Camry we know – nice, comfortable seats and plenty of space. Hybrid Luxury models gain leather and electronic seat adjustment as part of their extra features.
Standard audio is a six-speaker 6-CD system, or there is an upgraded eight-speaker system with Bluetooth connectivity as an option.
While still providing 389 litres of capacity, the boot is a little different as the batteries are stored under the parcel shelf (with their own in-built cooling system). This means the 60;40 split rear seat only has slide-through access on one side (big enough for a snowboard).
Exterior & Styling
At first glance, Hybrid Camry differs little from conventional Camrys but in fact Toyota Style Australia developed significant unique features both for aesthetics and to improve fuel consumption.
At the front are blue-tinted headlights, a smaller upper grille and enlarged lower air intake which shifted the fog lights wider. The front bumper – like the Prius – has sharp outer edges to better deflect airflow.
Rear combination lamps have a clear cover and are LED for reduced power use.
Subtle badges also distinguish the Hybrid model.
Luxury models gain a bootlid spoiler.
On The Road
Car Showroom tested the Hybrid Camry over a route that included inner city Melbourne and the flowing roads of the Mornington Peninsular.
Around town, it’s just like driving a Prius. The electric motor is virtually silent in its operation and provides spirited acceleration from standstill until the petrol engine seamlessly takes over.
Onto the flowing stuff and we were impressed with the extensive suspension development work which has made the Hybrid Camry an all-round sharper vehicle than its petrol-powered siblings. For starters, shifting the batteries to the rear provided Toyota engineers with a chassis that has close to 50:50 weight distribution and in fast corners the reduced mass over the front wheels provides a nice feel.
In fact it is stiffer all-round with front spring stiffness up by eight per cent and the rears by 12.5 per cent. Front and rear low-speed compression damping is 10 per cent firmer, rear rebound damping has actually decreased by five per cent and the front anti-roll-bar stiffness has also been reduced.
Hybrid Camry also adopts speed-sensitive electric power steering.
It’s a very competent and engaging drive.
NVH and other noise levels are impressively low and refinement levels are extremely high.
Challenges
By any measure, this is a very significant, world-class Australian-built car and in terms of its suitability for Australian conditions it is very hard to fault. We did tackle one steep uphill section and the 2.4-litre petrol engine became a little noisy when worked to the extreme.
Verdict
Toyota plans an annual production rate of 10,000 vehicles and had more than 1,000 orders for Hybrid Camry before it was launched. Major fleet customers with an eye on carbon credits for their businesses would seem to be prime customers and Toyota anticipates these will account for 70 per cent of sales.
Private buyers, keen to embrace new-age motoring and its planet-saving technology, will also be attracted to this groundbreaking new Toyota.
We give Toyota full-marks for the Camry Hybrid. This is technology for today – environmental responsibility without sacrificing convenience, performance and day-to-day lifestyle. We’re still huge fans of the Prius but the Hybrid Camry delivers a larger all-round package with styling that is less ‘edgy’.
The Competition
Honda’s Civic Hybrid is more a competitor for the Prius, but its sharp pricing and dynamic interior do score points.
Likes:
Brilliant technology; excellent build quality; engaging drive
Dislikes:
Petrol engine gets noisy when worked to the max
