Toyota Camry long term review, second report
It’s been a quiet few weeks with the Camry Hybrid, in the true sense of the word. Quiet not because that’s the character of the car (especially in EV mode) but quiet because the strict lockdowns enforced to battle the second surge of COVID-19 have meant that for most of the time we’ve had the Camry, it’s been, well, quietly parked. But, I still got to drive it enough to appreciate it more as a car than just an eco-friendly device, and that meant lounging in the back seat, driving it like a normal sedan and playing around with the gadgets in the cabin. But before that, let’s get the most important thing out of the way – fuel efficiency. Now, when you put down Rs 40.59 lakh for a Camry Hybrid, is efficiency really that important? No, it isn’t but it’s a measure of how efficiently the hybrid system is working and saving fuel; this means lowering exhaust emissions and that means saving the environment, or at least doing your bit for our blue planet. Anyone buying a Camry Hybrid has some sense of eco-consciousness and even if you don’t, you’ll soon develop one the more you drive the Camry Hybrid.
BACK UP Well-cushioned back seat is exceptionally comfortable.
There is something deeply gratifying about driving a big and heavy luxury car that consumes petrol as frugally as a WagonR. Yes, the Camry Hybrid is shockingly efficient, more so in the city than on the highway, as the low-speed environment lets the 130hp electric motor calmly take over from the 2.5-litre petrol motor for short stretches. Also, unlike on the highway, you brake more in the city, and more braking means more electricity regenerated and a longer distance possible on battery power.
I achieved a best fuel efficiency figure of 14.9kpl, which is pretty amazing when you consider the Camry Hybrid’s closest petrol rival, the Skoda Superb, would struggle to even achieve half that figure. Sure, the diesel Superb would be far more efficient and ease into double digits in city driving, but I doubt it could come close to matching the Camry Hybrid’s efficiency. On the highway, it’s a different story and diesels have an edge, but since my Mahabaleshwar trip (see long-term report April 2021 issue) the Toyota sedan has been confined to Mumbai. So, how did it find city life?
