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2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid
A crown of comfort and economy
Mike Bumbeck / autoMedia.com
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The 2009 Toyota Camry is the latest successor in a long line of regal Toyota sedans that ultimately lent the Camry its name. The word Camry ascended in a phonetic translation of the Japanese word kanmuri - or Crown. Not surprisingly, the flagship of the Toyota lineup in Japan before the advent of Camry was the mighty Toyota Crown. Executive level motoring luxury has since been spun off into the brand known stateside as Lexus. Deluxe motoring coaches aside, the Toyota lineup has always featured a mileage champion. The 1984 Toyota Starlet boasted an almost unbelievable EPA mileage rating of 55 mpg highway. This figure was likely achieved at the then national speed limit of 55 mph, and with an accompanying level of ride possible only in a small, short wheelbase compact hatchback. Merging the previously unrelated concepts of a comfortable, practical, and roomy sedan together with the fuel economy of a compact car is the hybrid version of the popular four-door Toyota Camry.
Either And/Or Both
A small emblem on the Toyota Camry Hybrid fender is the only external clue to the dual-mode propulsion system under the hood. A 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine is joined with a permanent magnet electric motor. The system is known by Toyota as the Hybrid Synergy Drive. Power created by both sources is channeled through a continuously variable transmission to the front wheels. The electric motor, the gasoline engine, or a combination of both supplies the collective power that drives the Camry Hybrid while underway. The dual power sources work together seamlessly depending on application of throttle and charge of the batteries. The gasoline engine kicks out 147 horsepower and 138 lb.-ft. of torque. The electric motor produces a stump pulling 199 lb.-ft. of torque. Around town the electric motor sees more use. Out on the highway the gasoline engine kicks in with occasional help from the electric motor. The combined twist of both gasoline engine and electric motor deliver 187 hp and gets the Camry Hybrid moving with verve onto turnpikes or interstates alike.
Smooth Operator
Driving with the Hybrid Synergy Drive is relatively seamless. The automatic stopping and starting of the gasoline engine and various sounds unique to the system operation are at first unusual, but soon become familiar. All sounds are part of normal and beneficial operation. None indicate any trouble afoot. The slight whine heard while braking is energy contained in the inertia of the hurtling Camry being sent back to the battery pack as electricity by way of four-wheel-disc regenerative braking. The only driving operation of the Camry Hybrid that takes but a few minutes of getting used to is the power-up and power-off sequence, which is confounded slightly by the smart key system. Driving the Camry Hybrid has other surprising rewards. Top fuel efficiency as a result of a featherweight throttle foot is trumpeted by the in-dash display on powering down the car for a quick stop at the Dunkin Donuts. The electronic high five of "EXCELLENT!" appears on the Eco-Meter when the car and driver manages greater than 35 mpg over the course of a drive. The Toyota Camry Hybrid is rated at 40 mpg city and 38 mpg highway. On a mostly highway bound trip, the Eco-meter lit up repeatedly with an excellent 37 mpg.
Larger Style
The first thing that everyone seemed to notice about our Camry Hybrid tester was the borderline atomic pale green metallic finish that Toyota calls Jasper Pearl. The color along with the fender emblem helped along the conception that this Camry was green inside as well as out. As hard as it may be to think of the practical and utilitarian Toyota Camry Hybrid as an exciting sort of automobile, people were genuinely excited about the car and the technology under the completely restyled-in-2007 sheetmetal. Many questions arose during the few times the car had to be refueled. How the system worked and what sort of mileage were the two most popular. The Camry even drew looks of interest from the hard working University of Vermont students on a trip through the bucolic campus. Whether this interest was from the styling or the hybrid technology is hard to say, but the interest was clearly present. While the numbers place the Camry in a midsize automobile world, the style portrays a more regal full-size appointment.
Copyright autoMedia.com 2000-2009
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