The 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid get 40 mpg city.
.When the Toyota Camry Hybrid made its debut for the 2007 model year, gasoline was inching toward $3 a gallon. By 2012, the price was tickling $4 a gallon.
Now, with gasoline hovering back around $2 a gallon, some might ask if the added cost of the gas-electric powerplant in the Camry Hybrid is worth the money.
The Camry Hybrid, for example, gets 40 mpg city and 37 mpg highway; while a regular, four-cylinder Camry gets 24 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. It takes a lot of fill-ups to bridge the price gap between a base Camry ($23,070) and the cheapest Camry Hybrid ($26,790).
Still, there are lots of reasons to like the Camry Hybrid besides its fuel economy ratings. And if you think gas will stay under $2 a gallon for the likely 10-year lifespan of a Camry, please raise your hand.
I, for one, do not.
Full disclosure: My last two daily drivers have been hybrid sedans, including one of the aforementioned 2007 Camrys. Besides the Toyota's outstanding mpg numbers, other virtues include a whisper quiet ride, nearly indestructible brake pads for mountain driving, and surprising amounts of mid-range torque that makes the hybrid much quicker than you might expect.
' Just the facts: The Camry Hybrid is a gas-electric, five-passenger sedan with legendary Camry durability and gas mileage that tops 40 mpg city. A continuously variable transmission coupled with a full electric drive at lower speeds makes the Camry one of the most comfortable, quiet cars on the road. Its relaxing traits makes it perfect for touring and commuting.
' Worthwhile options: Our Camry Hybrid XLE tester comes with an abundance of standard equipment such as 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats and a seven-inch touchscreen. Worthwhile options include a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert ($500); a JBL audio system with integrated navigation and Entune apps ($710); and a safety-tech package with pre-collision braking, lane departure alert and radar cruise control ($750). Our tester's attractive Blizzard Pearl paint is a $395 extra.
' It's good for Chattanooga buyers because: The CVT eliminates gear hunting when driving up mountain grades, and the hybrid system recaptures brake force when driving downhill. Consequently, I once put 80,000 miles on a set of Camry Hybrid brake pads.
' How much? Our tester has a bottom line of $35,658, which includes about $5,000 in optional equipment.
'Cool stuff: The Camry Hybrid has a nice blast of mid-range torque that pushes it from zero to 60 mph in about 7.2 seconds, according to Car and Driver.
' We wish for: A little more padding where our elbows rest.
' While you are looking: Check out the stylish and smooth Ford Fusion Hybrid, the Honda Accord Hybrid and the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid.
Contact Mark Kennedy at mkennedy@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6645.