The 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid is an excellent family sedan. It boasts great fuel efficiency, surprisingly peppy performance, a roomy and comfortable cabin, and many standard driver assistance features. All in all, it’s a great choice in the midsize sedan category.
The five-passenger Camry Hybrid got redesigned for the 2018 model year and gets a few additional standard features for 2019 including a Wi-Fi hotspot and Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa connectivity.
It’s available in three trims: LE, SE and XLE. Starting prices range from $28,150 to $32,725. The base model is spendier than some competitors, while the top-of-the-line XLE trim is more in line with well-equipped rivals. Front-wheel-drive is standard.
All trims get the same powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with an electric motor, paired with an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission. Total output is 208 horsepower (a few more horses than the base gas-powered Camry which has 203 hp) and 163 pound-feet of torque.
You don’t usually think of a Camry as having zippy performance. But the Hybrid is surprisingly quick off the line. There’s more than enough power for most driving situations including passing and merging at freeway speeds. However, the braking system is less than perfect. The transition between the standard and regenerative braking can feel harsh. And you’ll notice a little body lean around turns. Overall, though, the Camry Hybrid provides a nice ride with little road and wind noise. Visibility is good all the way around.
Fuel efficiency is excellent for a midsize sedan. EPA ratings for my tester are 44 mpg city and 47 mpg highway with a combined rating of 46. I got 45 mpg during my week with a mix of city and highway driving.
The cabin is spacious and comfortable. Materials are of good quality and many are soft-touch. Controls are logically laid out. Seats are roomy and accommodate passengers of different shapes and sizes. Adults in both rows have plenty of leg- and headroom.
The updated Entune infotainment system is faster with better graphics. Menus make sense and there are old-school knobs for routine functions such as volume and radio tuning. The system responded well to touch and voice commands. Climate controls are located below the touchscreen so you don’t have to use the infotainment system to make adjustments.
Standard features include proximity key entry, push button start, rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable driver’s seat, heated front seats, seven-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, USB port, Wi-Fi hotspot, six-speaker audio system, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa (so you can connect your vehicle to your in-home device). Android Auto is not available.
Available features include faux leather upholstery, leather upholstery, leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable passenger seat, auto-dimming rear view mirror, eight-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, moonroof, head-up display and rear spoiler.
Every Camry comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense which includes several driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assistance, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high beams. Available driver assistance systems include blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking, intelligent clearance sonar and a 360-degree Bird’s Eye View camera.
Unlike many hybrids that lose trunk space for the battery pack, the Camry Hybrid has 15.1 cubic feet in the trunk, same as the gas-powered Camry. (The battery pack is stored under the second row.) In fact, this is one of the biggest trunks you’ll find in a midsize sedan. The trunk opening is wide with a low height which makes it easy to load bulky items. The second row folds flat.
The 2019 Camry Hybrid has excellent safety ratings. It gets a top overall rating of five out of five stars in NHTSA tests, and is named a 2019 Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
It’s worth noting that one of the Camry Hybrid’s main contenders is the Honda Accord Hybrid, which also got a makeover for 2018. Both are excellent vehicles.
The good:
Plenty of power for most driving situations
Great fuel efficiency for the class
Roomy and comfortable cabin
User-friendly infotainment system
Long list of standard features
Top safety ratings
Trunk space the same as gas-powered Camry
The not-so-good:
Costs a bit more than many rivals
Braking can feel harsh
No Android Auto
Pricing info:
My tester starts at $32,725. The Driver Assist Package is $1,550 and adds a bird’s eye view camera, Intelligent Clearance Sonar and rear cross-traffic alert with automatic braking. Adaptive headlights are $415 and add LED headlights with level control and automatic on/off features. The Navigation Package is $1,760 and adds the Entune 3.0 Premium Audio with App Suite, dynamic navigation, nine-speaker JBL with Clari-Fi system including subwoofer amplifier, eight-inch touchscreen, CD player, satellite radio, Entune 3.0 Toyota Connected Services, and Wi-Fi hotspot. The power tilt/slide moonroof is $845. Delivery fee is $920 bringing the grand total to $38,215.
Bottom line:
If you’re looking for a midsize sedan that can serve as an excellent family hauler and daily driver, you’ll definitely want to check out the 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid. It’s fuel-efficient, comfortable, surprisingly zippy, has a user-friendly infotainment system and is equipped with many driver assistance and safety features.
