AutoTrader SCORE
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STYLING8/10
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Safety9/10
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PRACTICALITY8/10
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USER-FRIENDLINESS9/10
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FEATURES8/10
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POWER8/10
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COMFORT8/10
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DRIVING FEEL8/10
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FUEL ECONOMY9/10
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VALUE9/10
The Prius may be the best-known of Toyota’s hybrids, but there’s also a gas – electric version of the Corolla and the 2023 Camry Hybrid that’s offered alongside the conventional Camry lineup.
It’s also one of only three midsize hybrid sedans currently on the market, along with the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata hybrids. Unchanged for 2023, the Camry Hybrid comes in four trims. The model tested here was in the SE, which starts at $36,650 including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,820. This one was further equipped with a $2,340 Nightshade package, bringing the asking price to $38,990 before tax.
Styling: 8/10
The SE is the sporty member of the family, and so includes “sport-styled” front and rear ends, a rear spoiler, and 18-inch wheels, along with a sunroof. It’s handsomely styled overall, but I truly don’t get the thin fake vents that drip down from the taillights on all Camry models. On a light-coloured car, they look like a rubber seal around the lights has fallen out and is hanging down. The Nightshade package adds black badging and trim, and 19-inch bronze wheels in place of the SE’s 18-inch rims.
The cabin design is busy but interesting, with the nine-inch infotainment screen captured by asymmetrical trim that rolls over into the centre console. The SE includes faux-leather seats with fabric inserts.
Safety: 9.5/10
The Camry earns the top five-star crash test rating from the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), along with the highest Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
All trims come with a number of driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control, emergency front braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure assist, road sign assist, and automatic high-beam headlights, along with the rearview camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. All but the base LE further include blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and emergency rear braking.
Features: 8/10
The entry LE trim includes dual-zone automatic climate control, LED headlights, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats, and push-button start. The SE adds sport-tuned suspension, plus a sunroof, fabric and faux-leather heated seats, and a heated steering wheel. You also get a wireless charger, nine-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, and trial packages of connected services. The highest XSE trim then adds leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, and ambient lighting.
User-Friendliness: 9/10
Many electrified vehicles are stuffed with high-tech controls to go with their advanced drivelines, but the Camry Hybrid is refreshingly simple, which cuts down on distraction. There are dials and buttons for the climate control, hard buttons to bring up the centre screen menus, and buttons for the three-stage heated seats and heated wheel.
The steering wheel controls were originally created to mimic the new iPod controls – and that shows you how long they’ve been around, but they’re still valid and easy to use.
Practicality: 8/10
The Camry Hybrid doesn’t have as much front-seat legroom as the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, but it has more rear legroom. The Honda Accord Hybrid is being redesigned for 2023, and while we don’t have full specs as of this writing, it will beat both for rear-seat legroom. At 428 L of cargo space, the Camry also trails the Sonata at 453 L, and the all-new Accord at 473 L.
The trunk has a fairly low liftover, but when you fold the rear seats down they create more of a wide pass-through than a fully open space for packing in larger items. Small-item storage up front is a bit limited, with an open cubby in the centre stack – which contains the wireless charger – and a medium-sized covered console box.
Comfort: 8/10
The Camry is a comfortable vehicle, with supportive seats that heat up to three levels; and while its head- and legroom don’t lead the segment, there’s still enough to keep its occupants happy, even if they have longer limbs. The ride is smooth and the cabin is quiet, and it’s equally fine for tackling inner-city traffic or longer highway trips.
Power: 8/10
The Camry Hybrid uses a 2.5L four-cylinder engine, which on its own makes 176 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. It’s mated to twin electric motor-generators, and the combination can make up to 208 hp.
Power goes to the front wheels through an automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT). The conventional Camry is available with all-wheel drive (AWD) but the hybrid is not. The lithium-ion hybrid battery doesn’t get plugged in but recharges using regenerative braking – capturing the energy otherwise lost when slowing down – and, if that isn’t enough, recharges from the engine.
The system automatically switches between gasoline, electricity, or a combination of the two, depending on driving conditions. Acceleration is smooth and there’s enough power for passing, although you need a firm foot on the throttle for that. There’s a button for electric vehicle (EV) mode that’s supposed to keep it on electricity at low speeds, but the car does that anyway, and it doesn’t take much acceleration for EV mode to shut off, so the button’s pretty much pointless.
Driving Feel: 8.5/10
The steering is light but confident, and the car is responsive and easy to manoeuvre. The switch between electricity and gasoline is smooth and almost seamless, and I sometimes had to bring up the driveline display to see what propulsion was in play. Paddles on the steering wheel let you sequentially move between pre-set points in the CVT to mimic manual shifting, but it’s really more gimmick than useful, and you’ll probably play with it a bit and then let the transmission do its thing.
The Camry feels tight and agile, taking corners well and handling rougher surfaces without jostling its occupants. Regenerative braking can sometimes feel harsh or touchy, but pedal feel here is smooth and confident.
Fuel Economy: 9/10
Most trims of the Camry Hybrid are rated by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) at 5.3 L/100 km in the city, 5.0 on the highway, and 5.1 in combined driving. With fewer features to add weight, the base LE trim rates 4.9 L/100 km combined.
The 5.1 is on par with its Honda and Hyundai competitors, which rate at 5.0 L/100 km. I spent a week in cold weather and a lot of highway runs (hybrids do better in city driving where they can run more on the battery) and racked up 6.8 L/100 km. It takes regular-grade, 87-octane gasoline.
Value: 9/10
The 2023 Camry Hybrid ranges from $32,010 to $39,970. My SE with Nightshade was $38,990, but I’d probably opt for it without that appearance package, which would bring it down to $36,650. Since it doesn’t plug in, the Camry Hybrid isn’t eligible for any provincial or federal “green” rebates. By contrast, the non-hybrid Camry, which starts at a higher trim level than the hybrid, runs from $32,010 to $39,260 (all prices here include delivery).
As of this writing, pricing hadn’t been announced for the redesigned 2023 Honda Accord Hybrid, but the 2022 version is priced between $39,150 and $45,870. The Hyundai Sonata Hybrid comes only in top Ultimate trim and is $42,974.
The Verdict
With only three entrants in the midsize hybrid sedan category, you’re going to want to test-drive all three. And if you’re considering a midsize but haven’t thought about gas-electric, test-drive the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid against its conventional sibling. The smooth performance, fuel economy, and relatively small price jump to the hybrid might just convince you to switch.
| Engine Displacement | 2.5L |
|---|---|
| Engine Cylinders | I4 |
| Peak Horsepower | 176 hp @ 5,700 rpm (engine alone), 208 hp (hybrid system net) |
| Peak Torque | 163 lb-ft @ 5,200 rpm |
| Fuel Economy | 5.3 / 5.0 / 5.1 L/100 km cty/hwy/cmb |
| Cargo Space | 428 L |
| Model Tested | 2023 Toyota Camry SE Nightshade |
| Base Price | $34,830 |
| A/C Tax | $100 |
| Destination Fee | $1,820 |
| Price as Tested | $39,090 |
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Optional Equipment
$2,340 – Nightshade Package, $2,340
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