148 |AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDET
he eighth-generation Camry
is imported from Japan. The
2019 range includes carry-over
2.5-litre four-cylinder/six-speed
automatic and new 3.5-litre
V6 petrol/eight-speed auto
drivetrains, plus a more effi cient
petrol/electric hybrid system,
which we’re testing here.
The base 2.5-litre petrol Camry
Ascent is $27,790; the base
Camry V6 SX is $37,390 and SL
with all the fruit is $44,090.
Camry Hybrid prices start at
$30,090 for the Ascent, a $2300
premium over the equivalent
2.5-litre petrol model. Ascent
Sport, our test car, is the value
sweet spot at $32,090, while the
top-spec SL is $41,090.
Camry Hybrid Ascent Sport is
astounding value at $32,0 90. You
won’t fi nd another sedan (or SUV)
of comparable size at that price,
let alone one with a powerful,
effi cient hybrid drivetrain, fi ve-
star safety, dual-zone air, eight-
inch infotainment touchscreen,
voice control, navigation, parking
sensors at both ends, a camera
with movable guidelines, keyless
entry and starting, a power-
adjustable driver’s seat and auto-
levelling LED headlights.
Add bulletproof reliability and
low service costs — $975 over
fi ve years/75,000km — and the
Camry ownership proposition
looks as grief-free and fi nancially
astute as they come.
A supple, quiet ride, the silent
operation of the hybrid drivetrain
in cruise mode and a driving
position that can be tailored for
people of all sizes make the Camry
Hybrid an exceptionally relaxing,
enjoyable long-distance machine.
The driver’s seat cushion could
use more supportive padding,
though, and while infotainment
includes digital radio, voice
control that works (and extends
to reading emails and messages),
accurate speed camera alerts
and real-time traffi c information,
the touch screen graphics are
dull and icons can occasionally
be unresponsive. Toyota
still refuses to connect your
smartphone via Apple CarPlay or
Android Auto, too.Rear seat legroom is vast, it’s
a pleasant place to travel and
vents, front seat pockets and
door bins are provided. Boot
space is the same 525 litres as
the Ascent Sport petrol variant.
Seven airbags, adaptive
cruise control, automatic
emergency braking, lane
departure warning/lane keeping
and automatic high beam are
standard on Ascent Sport; SL
adds blind spot monitoring and
rear cross traffi c alert.
Camry’s front-wheel hybrid
drivetrain includes a 2.5-litre
petrol engine, CVT transmission,
two electric motors and a
nickel-metal hydride battery.
Performance is excellent, with an
immediate, strong surge of high-
voltage torque from rest and an
effortless midrange, similar to a
turbodiesel. The hybrid system is
completely smooth and seamless
in operation.
The uglier the traffi c, the
prettier the fuel numbers (on
regular unleaded) look. I got3.5-4.0L/100km in heavy traffi c;
low to mid fours are average in
town, while high fours/low fi ves
can be expected on the highway.
Camry Hybrid is built for
comfort, not for speed. Driven
to that brief, it handles with
reasonable confi dence and poise.
It’s nose heavy and a tad nautical
in tight corners, but it also carries
its weight close to the road, so
it’s securely planted at speed
on rough surfaces. The brakes,
which combine mechanical and
regenerative functions in the
hybrid, remain a weak point.
They’re grabby and diffi cult to
modulate at low speeds – a pain
in the neck in heavy traffi c.
If you prefer a big sedan to an
SUV, you’ve got up to $40,000 to
spend and you want maximum fuel
effi ciency, Camry Hybrid should be
right at the top of your test drive
list. Its value is unbeatable.TOYOTA CAMRY FROM $27,790
SafetyPerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for moneyOverall
STARS
THINGS WE LIKE
The best-value large sedan in
Australia
Best-in-the-business quality,
durability and reliability
Frugal, refi ned drivetrain
Comfortable ride
Loaded with safety features
Low running costs
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Doesn’t do Apple CarPlay or
Android Auto connectivity
Wooden brakes
A bit of a boat in corners
Driver’s seat could be more
supportiveSPEX
Made in Japan
2.5-litre petrol/electric hybrid/CVT/
front-wheel drive
131kW of power at
5700rpm/221Nm of torque from
3600-5200rpm
4.2L/100km highway; 4.7L/100km
city; 95 octane premium; CO2
emissions are 96gkm
Warranty: Five years/unlimited km
Standard: Seven airbags, stability
control, adaptive cruise control,
automatic emergency braking, lane
departure warning/lane keeping,
automatic high beam, 17-inch
alloys, dual-zone air, voice control,
navigation, parking sensors,
camera with movable guidelines,
keyless entry and starting, auto-
levelling LED headlights
Redbook future values: 3yr: 45%;
5yr: 32%compare with ...
Holden ZB Commodore, Ford
Mondeo, Mazda6, Subaru Liberty,
VW PassatS