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2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid Road Test and Review

Ryan ZumMallen
by Ryan ZumMallen
April 25, 2016
7 min. Reading Time
2016 Toyota Camry hybrid badging ・  Photo by Toyota

2016 Toyota Camry hybrid badging ・ Photo by Toyota

There is no car more ubiquitous with the midsized sedan segment than the Toyota Camry. Built to please and designed for mass appeal, the Camry is an exceptional example of an automaker executing their plan to perfection. Toyota has carefully improved the Camry year by year, packing it with value and making it easier and easier to use, and the people have spoken: in 2015, Camry was the best-selling vehicle in the United States and racked up an astonishing 429,355 total units sold.

On top of that, many believe that the hybrid is actually the best version of the Camry you can buy. It manages to significantly improve fuel economy, without sacrificing performance or utility. In fact, the extra heft from the hybrid’s battery pack arguably gives the Camry Hybrid a better, more composed ride than its gasoline counterpart. Anyone interested in a Camry, for any number of reasons, will likely find that the Camry Hybrid fits those needs just as well, while adding more capability than you might expect.

Visuals Up to Speed

The drastic redesign introduced by the 2015 Toyota Camry carries over for 2016, without changes. It felt dramatic at first to see the normally-staid Camry with a gaping maw on its front fascia, but the passage of time has gracefully eased the look as it ages. Slanted accent lights and an especially aggressive, blacked-out grille make the Camry Hybrid SE that I tested the sportiest of the bunch, while the base LE and top-end XLE offer subtle style, too. There aren’t many clues that this is a hybrid, either; the most obvious is the Toyota badge up front, highlighted in blue.

One of the designers' visual tricks is a black plastic extension at the end of the backseat window, to give the impression of a slimmer D-pillar and a more coupe-like profile. In this way, Toyota was able to change the perception of the Camry, even though the only exterior dimension that has changed since 2012 is that the total length grew by 0.6 inches.

Customers are certainly responding to the new design, but it does more to bring the Camry Hybrid up to date than really push the envelope. Competitors like the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid took big risks with their recent redesigns, and conventional midsized offerings like the Nissan Altima, Mazda6, and even the Honda Accord are clearly intent on leaping into the future. It will be interesting to see how long Toyota sticks with this design before moving on.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Inviting Interior

Open the doors and you won’t find much more difference from a gasoline-powered Camry here, either. One of the only clues is the disappearance of a traditional tachometer, displaying RPM. Instead, a gauge left of the speedometer displays your energy consumption. Clockwise from bottom to top, it reads CGH (for charging), ECO (for economy), another ECO, and then PWR. There are also numerous displays to monitor your fuel economy, as well as the power being generated or used as it flows to the battery and engine. Combined, these eco-tools instill a mindset to achieve the most efficient drive possible.

Greeneries aside, the interior of the 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid is warm and welcoming for nearly any passenger. The seats are wide and comfortable, the driver’s seat has standard 8-way power adjustment, while headroom and rear legroom are ample. My only complaint is the central 6.1-inch touchscreen, which works fine, but is susceptible to glare and often becomes unreadable in the Southern California weather. Otherwise, I was very impressed by the optional Entune Premium Audio with Navigation system ($1,300) and its 6-speaker audio system. Outside noise and vibration are minimal. By its very nature, a Camry is nothing if not accommodating, and the 2016 Camry Hybrid SE is no exception.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Hybrid Tech

The heart and soul of the 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid is its 245 V nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack, which powers the 105 kWh electric motor and its 199 lb.-ft of torque. Nickel-metal hydride is an older technology that has been phased out of the hybrid vehicle market almost entirely, except for the Camry and some versions of the Prius. Here though, it works very well, capable of carrying the Camry Hybrid regularly from a stoplight to 20 mph, or even as much as 40 mph on electric power alone. Sometimes the EV mode even kicks in on the freeway, provided the battery is charged and you’re babying the throttle.

One of the best ways to quickly charge that battery is through regenerative braking. The 2016 Camry Hybrid has an integrated regenerative brake system on both the 11.65-inch front discs and the 11.06-inch rears. Each press on the brake pedal captures kinetic energy and stores it in the hybrid battery pack, which can later be used to drive the Camry Hybrid on electric power. The only downside is lackluster feel from the brake pedal, which isn’t very responsive as you slow, and then gets very grabby right before stopping. You get used to it after awhile, but the Camry Hybrid's stopping power is not one of its strong points.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Engine, Electric, or Both

Toyota uses its familiar 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 156 horsepower and 156 lb.-ft of torque, and combined with the AC electric motor, the Camry Hybrid makes a total of 200 horsepower. When both the gasoline and electric systems are working together, acceleration is smooth and easy whether it’s off the line or making a dash into the carpool lane. On its own, the 2.5-liter engine is less forthcoming with the power, but that’s the tradeoff for fuel economy ratings of 40 city, 38 highway and 40 overall MPG in the Camry Hybrid SE and XLE. (The base version LE has an even better 43/39/41 rating.)

Extracting the best fuel economy possible becomes an enticing game from behind the wheel. There are all kinds of little tricks to pick up, whether it’s trying to drive under EV-only power as much as possible, or switching the gear level into B to maximize the regenerative braking opportunities. Personally, I stayed away from that mode because it slows the car considerably rather than coasting, and because it makes EV mode unavailable. I preferred to drive in ECO mode, which limits throttle response and air conditioning, and allows up to 1.6 miles of EV-only driving — though I regularly drove farther than that without the engine kicking in. During my week with the 2016 Camry Hybrid SE, I saw an average of 39.9 MPG and used only about a quarter of the gas tank.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

On the Road

The Camry Hybrid is a breeze to drive, and the silent electric power often gives off the impression of effortless acceleration. A longer 109.3-inch wheelbase, athletic chassis and improved structural rigidity also make it quite capable. Starting with the 2015 model year, all Camrys are fitted with independent McPherson strut suspension with a stabilizer bar up front, and an independent dual link suspension with a stabilizer bar at the rear — the Camry Hybrid SE that I drove has that suspension sport-tuned, as well. It’s a very nice combination, especially with the added heft of the battery pack on the floor of the vehicle, giving the Camry Hybrid a particularly smooth ride and low center of gravity.

Changing directions is still a weakness, however, mostly due to the Electric Power Steering (EPS) system. The Camry Hybrid has an excellent turning radius and good natural dynamics due to the improved suspension, but the steering wheel just doesn’t translate action to the wheels quickly enough to create an exciting driving experience. There is a noticeable delay and lack of feedback lost in translation. Obviously, most people aren’t coming to the Camry for twisting roads. The important point here is that the Camry, especially in Hybrid SE trim, delivers a very composed and quiet ride and can comfortably seat five in the process.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Safety

The 2015 redesign brought high marks to the table and they carry over this year, earning the 2016 Toyota Camry a Top Safety Pick+ mark from the IIHS, the highest honor possible. The Camry scored the highest rating, Good, in all of the front overlap, side, roof strength and head restraint crash tests. NHTSA also awarded the 2016 Camry a 5-star rating, with 4 stars for the front driver crash test, 4 stars for the rollover test, and 5 stars for everything else. All Camry models and trims come with 10 standard airbags.

The Camry also earned high marks for the accident prevention technologies that are available, working to both prevent and detect possible collisions, and then try to avoid them. The optional Pre-Collision System, for instance, uses radar to detect an impending collision and will then slow (but not stop) the car to avoid the crash or lessen its impact.

My test car did not come equipped with the Pre-Collision System, but the 2016 Camry Hybrid SE does come with Brake Assist standard. Brake Assist works differently, in that it detects when a driver induces panic braking, based on the suddenness and the force of the action, and adds extra braking pressure to improve stopping distance in an emergency. It also comes with Smart Stop Technology (SST), designed to eliminate unintended acceleration by cutting off power to the engine if an on-board computer detects a jammed gas pedal.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Trims & Pricing

In addition to the Camry Hybrid SE, there is also a Camry Hybrid LE on the lower end and a Camry Hybrid XLE on the higher end. Price of entry for the Camry Hybrid LE is $26,790, which gets you the same foundation as the other trims with the 200-horsepower gasoline-electric powertrain, along with steel wheels, cloth seats and 205mm all-season tires. Stepping up to the Camry Hybrid SE for $27,995 nets the tuned suspension, alloy wheels, rear spoiler, Sport Fabric SofTex trim on the seats and 215mm all-season rubber. The highest Camry Hybrid XLE for $30,140 includes leather seats, standard satellite radio and chrome wheels.

The Camry Hybrid SE that I tested included the Entune Premium Audio system ($1,300), a power sliding moonroof ($915) and Qi wireless smartphone charging ($75). All told, with $835 delivery and handling, the fuel-efficient sedan came to $31,120 out the door.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

The Competition

To be honest, you’d think that there would be more competition in the midsized hybrid sedan market by now. The success of the Prius should have spurred a full scale assault on this market, and yet the Camry Hybrid faces only a couple of foes. The newest and perhaps most formidable is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, which boasts attractive sheetmetal and an impressive 47 city and 46 highway MPG rating — considerably better than the Camry Hybrid and nearly as good as the Prius. Pricing is also competitive, though a smaller trunk and some lower quality interior materials may not be to some people's liking.

Elsewhere, the recently redesigned Hyundai Sonata Hybrid offers a near-luxury hybrid experience, while the Ford Fusion Hybrid has a great interior and nimble handling. Buyers looking for a hybrid, but who are open to different vehicle sizes and body styles, could also consider the larger Toyota Avalon Hybrid, or the smaller 5-door Chevrolet Volt and its extensive EV range. Also, in just a matter of weeks, the new 2017 Honda Accord Hybrid will come to market with two electric motors helping to achieve 48 combined MPG. It’s a segment with several all-stars that will only continue to improve, and the 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid rightly earns its place near the top yet again.

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota

Pros & Cons

    •    Simple controls     •    Comfortable interior     •    More rigid, athletic chassis     •    Multiple trim levels, including sporty SE model     •    Engine and electric motor work well together     •    Numb steering     •    Tricky braking     •    Tough to predict EV mode     •    Competitors have better fuel economy

 Photo by Toyota

Photo by Toyota


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