2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid Sedan | First Drive | Review |

2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid Overview

There are advantages of being the pioneer of technology.  In the case of the hybrid powertrain first developed back in 2000, Toyota had the lead in the game by solidifying its performance and reliability before competition even surfaced.  During that time, the hybrid powertrain was only available in the Toyota Prius.  The box-like four door semi-hatchback  wasn’t exactly eye catching; but rather, pleased by its practicality and low maintenance costs.

Toyota’s approach was to start small and go big.  The Toyota Prius had been the test bed for its hybrid powertrain for six years until they began porting the design over to its siblings.  But enough about the history, let’s fast forward about a decade and talk about the 2014 Toyota Camry Hybrid.

When it comes to the Toyota Camry, there isn’t much not to like.  The 2014 Toyota Camry features contemporary styling with great visibility and a plethora of room in both the front and rear seats.  It’s also an ideal all-around package with a well balanced dose of handling, acceleration, comfort and quietness in the cabin space.  The lower stock LE and XLE trim models do suffer from lowered quality material.  Fortunately, buyers have the option to upgrade to the Hybrid XLE leather and premium audio package equipped with a moonroof, UltraSuede Seat Surfaces, heated front seats, enlarged 7″ touch panel display audio with navigation, SiriusXM, 10-speaker audio system, blind spot monitor (BSM) and a rear cross-traffic alert system.

Powertrain and Performance

As an every day driver, you don’t need a  lot of horsepower, and Toyota seemed to have found the perfect balance in acceleration and performance with the Toyota Hybrid Camry.  Under the hood lies a 156 horsepower 2.5 liter four cylinder engine.  Coupled in series with the driveshaft is an electric motor powered by an on-board battery pack combining the overall power output to 200 horsepower.  On low speed the Toyota Camry Hybrid can runs solely on its electric motor.  As you accelerate to city speeds and merging onto highways, the engine kicks in provide the additional power.  This greatly reduces fuel consumption by using the electric motor in combination with the engine.

In addition to the aided power produced by the electric motor, electricity is “regenerated” by using the on-board electric motor as an electric generator while braking to slow down the vehicle.  This energy is re-captured back into the on-board battery packs to power the electric motor for acceleration.

At a curb weight of 3441 lbs, the Toyota Camry Hybrid (XLE) isn’t exactly classified as lightweight.  Despite the fact, the Toyota Camry Hybrid still feels light and nimble during its acceleration thanks to its instantaneous torque delivery by the electric motor while the onboard engine makes its way into its optimal power band during acceleration.

The 2014 Camry hybrid accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in 7.6 seconds, which is a great excellent.

Good things can be said about the fuel economy for the Toyota Camry Hybrid.  Scoring in at a combined 41 mpg for the lower LE model (43 city / 39 highway) while the XLE is attenuated down at 40 mpg (40 city/ 38 highway).

Interior Design and Features

Just like its predecessors, the Toyota Camry Hybrid features a simplistic interior cabin space complemented by excellent use of interior space.  While credits can be given to the Toyota Camry Hybrid for its practicality, the interior design and quality of materials fall behind some of its competitors, mainly the Kia and Hyundai full size sedan flagship.  The Suede leather on the front seats are nice to the touch, but the reduced contour count makes the seats less comfortable than what it could be.

Interior cabin space throughout is well mannered until your eyes catch the instrument cluster.  While extra indicators are nice to have, but was overall too cluttered and could have been simplified.

Driving Impressions and Final Thoughts

The Toyota Camry Hybrid delivers quite a unique driving experience.  While conventional gas engine vehicles rely solely on burning fuel alone, the Toyota Camry Hybrid creates a driving dynamic that rewards you by driving economically.  It’s almost like a real life video game.  Accelerate gently to minimize engine use, and you’re substantially rewarded with a lower gas bill.  The accelerator pedal mapping sensitivity is also relaxed to easily stay within the “ECO” range and avoid oscillating between ECO and Power mode where extra engine power kicks in; thus, burning more fuel.

Smooth torque delivery on the Toyota Camry Hybrid is made possible thanks to the feather-smooth electric motor and reduced internal vibration thanks to a smaller 2.5 liter engine.

The 2014 Toyota Camry is well received by refreshed and modern exterior styling and unmatched hybrid fuel economy ratings.  For consumers who are more picky about interior quality, the Kia Optima, Hyundai Sonata or Mazda 6 offer a Hybrid powertrain option.  The 2014 Toyota Camry is priced at $32,229, which is on par with its competitors in the hybrid market.