Road Test: 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid car review; a hybrid in winter

It wasn’t by plan that we had a test drive with the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid during a subfreezing cold snap, but there we were, sitting in the cold with the engine cycling on and off, keeping itself warm and us too. In more temperate climes, the engine would just go into auto-stop mode and stay there until aroused for work. But not in the cold.

 

That was our Big Finding during our week with the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. Perhaps that affected our overall mileage. We recorded 32.0 mpg, compared to the EPA estimate of 33/34 mpg city/highway. That’s still not bad. But we suspect that in Fairbanks the engine would never shut down, except of course when the driver pushes the start/stop button on the dash.

 

The button on the dash is because all Camry Hybrids have the “Smart Key” system, an option or not available on other Camry models, that allows Toyota’s family sedan to be opened when the key—actually a fob-looking object—is in proximity of the car, and started without ever taking the key from pocket or purse by pushing the button.

 

 

Smart Key of course is not what makes the Camry Hybrid different from other Toyota Camrys. Rather it’s Toyota’s “Hybrid Synergy” drive that in the case of the Camry combines a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission. It’s the system used in various Toyota and Lexus models, albeit with different gasoline engines, and also adapted for use in Ford, Mercury and Mazda models.

 

The Toyota hybrid system has an auto-stop feature works on the assumption that when the car’s engine isn’t running, it doesn’t burn fuel, and that’s generally considered a fuel-saving feature. So when the Camry Hybrid stops, say at a traffic light, and other conditions are right, so does the engine. The engine will also quit running even at highway speeds if engine power isn’t needed, such as when going downhill.

 

The gasoline engine will fire up, however, when its power is needed regardless of speed.

 

If the engine has had any kind of a cold soak—allowed to cool down from normal operating temperature—the system will run the engine on startup so it’s ready to run when needed.

 

But as we noted, the engine has to run occasionally just to keep itself warm and thus the cycling we experienced.

 

Otherwise the Camry is much like other Camrys, with the same interior room, seats and trim, including the panel on the center stack that has an odd extra-terrestrial green glow. We thought the seats felt small with a seat bottom too short for full thigh support.

 

We weren’t impressed by how the Camry Hybrid went around corners, a little weak and wobbly in the knees, and the “drive by wire” brakes didn’t have a linear feel. When braking to a stop, the car would surge and then brake more heavily as the car came to a stop, all without a change of pressure on the brake pedal.

 

Toyota’s “Permacluster” air ionizer, which is supposed to make the air healthier, is also standard in the Camry, though we couldn’t notice anything different in the air. The automatic temperature control did what it was supposed to do, however, maintaining set-and-forget constant temperature.

 

We’ve read that hybrid vehicles are a good way to pick up chicks, with exotic cars passe for that particular activity. We wouldn’t know, never having needed to use wheels to attract the young ladies and we’re now otherwise off the market, but any green points the Toyota Camry Hybrid might score would be offset by its being, well, a Toyota Camry, and a family sedan, no matter how green, is we would think only one step above a pastel minivan as a chick magnet.

 

If that seems rather cold, well, accept it that at least the Toyota Camry Hybrid will cycle on and off to keep itself—and you—warm in the coldest of weather. We know. We’ve tried it. Even if it wasn’t our idea.