Some might see it as a Prius without the special wrapping, and others might agree with Toyota's sentiment that the appeal comes from it being a car first, hybrid second.
Ultimately, though, value will sell the Hybrid Camry. Toyota's first conventional car delivering petrol-electric thrift and feel-good to the masses is going to seem a better buy, to fleet operators especially.
Toyota New Zealand makes no bones that the business sector is the primary target for a car that effectively carries a specification-adjusted premium of $2000 over the regular Camry. About 80% of the 470 cars landing this year will be base editions, set to be rep-mobiles and taxis.
Expectation is that the Prius will outsell the Hybrid Camry this year, but only because of supply constraint. Within two years, the Camry will be key to doubling Toyota-Lexus hybrid sales.
To hybridise the Camry, Toyota has added electric motors to the standard edition's petrol 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and thrown in stop-start, wind-cheating aero adjustments and low-rolling-resistance tyres. It appeals over a regular Camry by burning less fuel (TNZ estimates a $700 annual saving) and emitting less CO2 and might pip the Prius because, while more anonymous, less high-tech and not as thrifty, it is slightly cheaper, more practical and a better drive.
There's also the happy side effect of enhanced oomph. At optimum the hybrid has 140kW to work with and, by 100kmh, it pulls more like a six than a four.
That it is only marginally faster up to 100kmh than the regular Camry is more due to a 95kg weight gain and the time taken by the CVT to get its act together.
There's no tachometer, so you can't tell how fast the engine is spinning. Instead there's a gauge giving an estimate of the instantaneous fuel use.
Other than this it is just like any other Camry - grey and plasticky, more sensible than sensational, though the flagship i-Tech's touch screen leaves a good impression.
The cabin dimensions are untouched by the conversion, but boot space is limited, though the 389-litre capacity is more than a Falcon taxi toting a LPG/CNG cylinder can offer, Toyota says.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
