Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Jan. 22, 2015
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid - LE trim starts at $26,790 + $825 D&H and offers owners a 43/41 mpgUS city/highway rating.
It has been a while since we have had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of a Camry. Besides the various MAMA Rally’s, the short lead gave us the opportunity drive the all-new at the time, 7th generation 2012 model in Washington State way back in 2011.
At the time, it was the midsize sales leader thanks in part to its bulletproof reliability, its decent pricing, and excellent fuel economy.
And since that time, it has continued to be a sales leader despite intense competition from its mainstream rival Accord, sharp looking Fusion and the striking Sonata. Why? For the same reasons it lead in the past. Bulletproof reliability, decent pricing, and excellent fuel economy.
Where I personally thought the 7th gen 2012 Camry lacked was its at the limits handling, interior refinement, and plain styling despite the all-new interior and exterior design. With the various updates and refresh, these have been taken care of in order to keep the Camry at the top of its game.
This week’s ride is courtesy of Toyota and arrives in the form of the 40/38 mpgUS city/highway rated 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE. As a press fleet offering, I would have preferred the 43/41 mpgUS city/highway rated Camry Hybrid LE but we are lucky to get what we get which means rarely is there a choice of trims.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Exterior Design
On Lake Michigan in winter with a dirty Camry Hybrid for a photo shoot.
On the outside, the all-new 2015 Camry Hybrid features the hexagonal shaped grille from the chin spoiler all the way up to the upper grille that is split with a single chrome trim strop and large Toyota logo front and center. Slim to a large to slim wraparound front lenses end heading toward the A-Pillar. An interesting sideways boomerang LED DRL cutout finish off the front.
The profile is somewhat non-distinct with slim A and C pillars and coupe like silhouette. A character line begins just after the accentuated fender flares running through the handles and finishes off at the rear lenses. In the rocker panels is a lightly sculpted sweep heading up as it flows through the rear door. Rear corner aerotabs complete the look.
Out back is a chrome horizontal trim strip with a centered Toyota log. A rear spoiler completes the aerodynamic treatment which creates an incredibly low Cd of just 0.27.
2015 Toyota Camry Interior Design
Inside the Camry Hybrid SE we are driving is a modern and comfortable environment. The long reach telescopic and tilt wheel is nothing to speak of other than the SEs wheel is hard leather covered with thick inside stitching. Wish it had the softer SofTex leather covering instead. It also includes audio, Bluetooth telephony, and driver menu screen(s) controls. A soft touch upper dash and hood with single contrast stitch runs across both the driver and passenger side with a 3D like indent just ahead of the passenger. All provides an upscale fell. The vents and central display are surrounded with chrome bezels as is the speedometer and Power meter.
The center console has a sliding cover, driver and passenger power window controls are auto up/down, and the overhead console includes large map lights and a damped sunglasses holder.
The 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support is comfortable and the 102.7 cu. ft. of passenger volume allows 4 adults to seat comfortably front and rear. The thinner seat construction allows decent rear seat ingress/egress and room for a longer drive. 101.3 cu. ft. with the sunroof that does not have an effect with its 0.9 in shorter head room dimension on my taller frame.
The seating ergonomics are far superior to the Corolla, Yaris and Prius family. I have to wonder if two completely different design teams had their hands on this.
The standard gated shifter however is just not me. I despise these things from the first time I drove an Automatic with one and hate them today.
The Entune Premium Audio with Navigation ($1,100) includes 7” touchscreen NAVI with AM/FM/CD/MP3/WMA, SiriusXM, Aux port, USB 2.0 port and iPod Connectivity.
A feature that you are going to hear a lot more about over the next few years is Qi wireless charging. The SE has it as a $75 option. My Galaxy S5 has a wireless charging back and by simply setting it in the dash and depressing the Qi button, it begins charging the phone with no wires. Unfortunately I do not think a Note 3, Mega, or 4 is going to fit due to them being too wide for the allotted cutout. Love it, Love it, Love it! I will add a pic of this must have feature later.
A little pretentious but cool looking is the light blue illuminated Camry chrome sill plates ($299), remote start ($499) – please do not consider this - and 4-season floor mats ($325).
While only 13.1 cu. ft. of trunk volume, it is comparable to most compacts and more than most midsize hybrid offerings.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Drivetrain
Powering the Camry Hybrid is a 156 hp and 156 lb-ft of torque atkinsonized 2.5L I4 mated to Toyota’s excellent full Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD) providing a total system output of 200 hp.
The NIMH traction battery has a total cap of 1.59 kWh supplying the (2) AC Synchronous Motors within the power split device.
The quick warmup and 46 mph glide capability is still here but it does not feel like anything has changed.
Honest to goodness struts to lift and hold the hood up. No prop rod. Nice touch here.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Safety
On the passive safety front, the Camry Hybrid is equipped with driver and front passenger whiplash reducing seats and 10-airbags including front, side, side curtain, knee and rear outboard side. Thank you Toyota for finally making 10 the standard.
Active safety includes Star Safety system equipped with 4-wheel discs, VSC, TC, ABS, BA, EBFD, and engine cutout on brake application.
Beginning this year, Toyota finally spent the money to strengthen the safety cage from the poor results previous year offerings were providing. The 2015 Camry Hybrid is now an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ - when equipped with the advanced safety systems - and earned a NHTSA 5 star crash test rating.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Pricing
The LE Hybrid ($26,790 to + $825 D&H) features auto on/off headlamps, DRLs, heated outside power and manual folding mirrors, 16-inch steel wheels, intermittent wipers, Acoustic noise-reducing front glass and a chrome upper grille and trunk trim piece.
Inside it features dual zone auto climate, backup camera, 6.1-in. touch-screen Entune Audio system and Smart Key System w/Push Button Start
The SE Hybrid ($27,995 + $825 D&H) we are driving this week adds a few more extras that the general public would find tasteful. These include black trim bezels around the headlamp lenses with an auto on/off feature, the much more aggressive Sport mesh front grille – added during the refresh, 17-in. alloys, rear spoiler and a sports tuned suspension. Inside it adds some interesting harder fabric with SofTex-trimmed seats.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Ride and Handling
Ride is not as stiff as I suspected with the std. tuned struts up front and dual-link rear end SE package yet on-center feel, quick and very tight steering make it superior to the 2012 variant. On the curb entry corner I take most of the review vehicles across when in IL, the Camry Hybrid did not bottom, bang, buck, or undulate. This is the first Camry I have no qualms with the ride and handling tuning.
And the calibration drive and Fuel Economy details? I am on it. ;)
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Review
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