Toyota Camry – the bestselling car in America – Now Comes In a Hybrid Version

Debuting in 2017, the Toyota Camry Hybrid is the gas-electric version of the popular mid-sized Camry sedan, which is the bestselling car in America. It has a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder engine mated with an electric motor that generates 200 horsepower combined. Camry Hybrid's highly efficient combined gas/electric system provides a whopping US Department of Energy rating of 680 miles of range.

The HEV comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission. The base Camry Hybrid LE gets an EPA–estimated 42/38 mpg city/highway; more than the non-electric Camry. It’s also quicker – test drivers say it has crisp, trim handling and can reach 60 mph in 7.6 seconds. Tall riders will love the backseat, which has almost 39 inches of legroom. The NHTSA has given the sedan a five-star overall safety rating.

The Toyota Camry Hybrid comes in 3 trims: LE (base), SE (sporty) and XLE (luxurious). All 3 trims allow drivers to select Eco Mode, which optimizes accelerator response and air-conditioning to improve fuel economy; or EV Mode, which enables the Camry to travel up to 1.6 miles (below 25 mph) on the electric motor alone.

The LE Hybrid features 16-inch steel wheels, automatic headlights, heated exterior mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, a rearview camera, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, an eight-way power driver seat (with power lumbar), cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a color driver information display, and Toyota's Entune Audio interface. The Entune system includes a 6.1-inch touchscreen display, voice controls, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, Siri Eyes Free, and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB interface.

The SE Hybrid adds sport-themed styling details, a sport-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, sport fabric seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The XLE Hybrid keeps all the LE Hybrid's features but adds its own 17-inch alloy wheels, LED running lights, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a four-way power passenger seat, wireless smartphone charging, and Entune Audio Plus. XLE also includes: an integrated navigation system, a Technology package (automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, a forward collision warning system and lane departure warning), a Safety Connect package and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

Edmunds reviewers say this about the interior: "The 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers one of the most comfortable and roomy cabins in its class. There's plenty of headroom and legroom up front and nearly as much in back. A rear-facing child seat will fit in back with ease, but fixed rear headrests make it difficult to properly secure a front-facing child seat. Trunk space is respectable at 13.1 cubic feet, although that's 2.3 fewer cubic feet than the non-hybrid Camry. The rear seatback folds down for added cargo capacity. From the driver's vantage point, most of the physical buttons are large, easy to understand at a glance, and glove-friendly in cold weather. The sensibly designed climate controls deserve special praise for simple, intuitive operation. On the electronics front, the LE and SE get a standard 6.1-inch version of Toyota's Entune touchscreen infotainment system, with an upgraded 7-inch touchscreen standard on the XLE. The graphics aren't as crisp as the segment's best, but like the Camry Hybrid's other control interfaces, these screens are straightforward and easy to use. With a roomy interior, loads of tech features, and more performance than the regular four-cylinder model, the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the best midsize hybrid sedans you can buy."

The Technology Package installed in the Camry Hybrid XLE features advanced safety and driver assistance technologies including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a forward collision prevention system. The Hybrid XLE version also comes with wireless smartphone charging as standard equipment and can be ordered with a Blue Streak Metallic color option. Edmunds.com says “With a roomy interior, loads of tech features, and more performance than the regular four-cylinder model, the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the best midsize hybrid sedans you can buy.”

The Camry Hybrid’s base MSRP is around $26,790.