2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid review: Fresh face, familiar feels
The more things change, the more they stay the same. The new Toyota Camry Hybrid proves it, despite its dapper new looks
A DECADE ago, I had a Toyota Camry. I came into it the old-fashioned way, which is to say I married into it, albeit with some sadness because it meant my own car had to make way for the old barge (I mean the Toyota, not my new wife). I can’t say I loved it, but it certainly won my respect for running like a Swiss watch.
While I like to think my old Camry is still out there, defying the grim reaper through a crafty combination of anonymity and flawless reliability, the so-called ninth-generation model has come along to assume its mantle of being the default choice of sensible small-business owners, middle managers or the stealthy wealthy who have a nose for quality.
Camrys used to come in different flavours, but the latest one is exclusively a hybrid. Toyota insists it’s all-new, but it’s more the product of a very heavy facelift, despite its new XV80 model code.
In fact, when you pop the bonnet it looks like someone photocopied the previous Camry’s engine bay and pasted the image over the engine of this one. Not that that’s a bad thing, mind you, because it means that Toyota technicians could probably work on the 2.5-litre engine with their eyes closed.
Better output
But probe deeper, and you’ll find a shiny new lithium-ion hybrid battery in place of the old nickel-metal hydride setup. Outputs are up, too – 185 horsepower from the engine and 134 from the electric motor work in concert to push out a combined 227 hp, which is a solid 20 hp more than before. The stopwatch confirms the improvement: the Camry now hits 100 kmh in 7.2 seconds, down from 8.5.
Fuel consumption, however, has gone the other way, with the Camry now rated at 5.1 L/100 km, up from 4.4 L/100 km. That’s still impressive, and it’s still a nice balance between prudence and performance.
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Visually, the XV80 Camry does make an effort, too. The hammerhead grille, sharper lines and slim lamps up front give it a clean, confident look. The side profile is familiar, by which I mean exactly the same.
The 18-inch wheels fill the arches nicely but don’t exactly scream excitement, while the 2,825 mm wheelbase is unchanged, more evidence that this isn’t quite the generational leap that Toyota claims.
Coherent interior
The interior, though, deserves applause. The last Camry’s cabin looked like several people were in charge of the design but none of them were on speaking terms, but things are much more coherent now. The 12.3-inch touchscreen isn’t the sharpest, but it’s clear and easy to use, and while some brands have declared war on physical buttons, Toyota still likes them, so everything feels intuitive, tactile and crucially, functional.
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In the back, there’s still a Lexus-on-a-budget vibe to the Camry. Rear passengers get their own control panel, an electric rear blind and even reclining seats, but those seats don’t fold down, so there’s a trade-off: boot space drops to 500 litres (24 litres less than before) and can’t be expanded.
Behind the wheel, though, the Camry Hybrid is as well-sorted as they come. The acceleration is perky, the steering is pleasantly weighted and the suspension keeps body roll in check. It’s by no means sporty, but it’s predictable and easy to handle, while the suspension feels like its engineers took advice from Goldilocks herself — they dialled up the firmness to prevent wallowing, yet kept it pliant enough to smooth out rough tarmac.
Bump in the road
For all that, there is a bump in the road for the Camry. While it’s been meaningfully improved, it’s also seen its price soar by roughly a hundred thousand dollars since it was last updated, thanks to the familiar villains of higher upfront taxes and hideous Certificate Of Entitlement premiums.
That makes it a tougher sell than ever, but it’s still the one car that balances plushness with dependability probably better than any other, especially if the dapper new model is anything like the one that arrived with my wife. In seven years of ownership, it only wanted a new battery and rear shock absorbers. If only all cars (and marriages, come to think of it) were as trouble-free.
Toyota Camry Hybrid Elegance Engine 2,487cc, 16V, in-line four Electric Motor 134 hp System Power 227 hp Gearbox 8-speed auto Top Speed 180 kmh 0-100km/h 7.2 seconds Fuel efficiency 5.1 L/100 km Price S$255,888 with Certificate Of Entitlement Agent Borneo Motors Available Now
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