2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

I recently had the pleasure to test drive a 2007 Camry Hybrid. My experience left me wanting more. There's no way a ten-minute test drive can do this car justice. I have been a fan of the Camry nameplate for quite some time. I feel that makes my opinion a little biased, however I usually prefer a V-6 engine. The Camry Hybrid had the pick-up and handling one would expect from cars such as the Ford Taurus. I have owned two including my current 2001 Taurus. The Camry would make a nice upgrade for anyone looking to replace their current car and would like to possibly improve the comfort, convenience and gas mileage of their automobile.

When you first see the 2007 Camry, you are presented with something that looks more like a Lexus. Here's a little inside info. Toyota makes Lexus. So you're basically buying a beefed up Toyota. (Sorry Lexus fans.) With this year's Camry you are getting basically the same comfort with a lower price. (The Hybrid model still costs US$5,000 more than the base Gasoline-Only Camry.) The interior of the Hybrid is cloth. This is a plus for me as I do not like vinyl/leather seating as they retain heat and cold. I do not like freezing or burning myself when I get into my car.

Speaking of economics, this is where a ten-minute test drive doesn't do this car justice. I rather have had it out for a week so I could put it through the paces of my average driving. I average 100-200 miles a week and have to fill up every other day. I remember when $20 could get me through the week. (Of course, gas cost less and I drove less.) At $100 a week, that is still a lot of money. Anything that could get this cost down would be beneficial. 38/40 is a much better ratio than my current 17/20. I would love to get a third or forth trip to work out of my half tank.

Two features that I like are the 6-Disc in-dash CD player and the Smart Key. I don't know if they all have it, but every Camry Hybrid I have seen have had the 6-Disc in-dash CD player. I'd love this as I'd listen to more CDs. I'd probably also spring for the CD/MP3 version. Smart Key is really cool. You essentially have no key, just a key fob that knows when you are near it to unlock the car. Once in the car, you push the button to start it. Camry can tell when the key is in the car, so unauthorized starting is out of the question. You can program the key fob to unlock all the doors or just one. Just to note: Some people have had issues when programming the key fob. Just make sure you have read the instructions and called necessary tech support for help.

Now it's time for the bad news. The only downfall that I can think of is the price. $26,000 can be a little much for some consumers. I'd imagine the gas you save would make up for it, but sticker shock can be an issue. When the new 2008 models come out, you'll probably be able to snag one for a lower price. You could also wait for a used Camry, but the Camry holds its value and slowly goes down in price. When I was buying my Taurus, I shopped around and while my mother's dealership could get me a '01 Camry, it had high mileage. (70,000 compared to 30,000.) You could try looking online for a lower price, but I'd imagine most people would want to stay local.

If the price doesn't scare you off, I say buy it. Don't lease it. Buy it. Make this baby yours. You'll want to drive this car into the ground. Fortunately this won't happen since you bought a Toyota. You'll enjoy the sound as you blast by gas station after gas station looking for the lowest price. Not because you need to, but because you can.