This is the best Camry yet.
2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Review
It'll cart you around seemingly forever on one tank
Web2Carz Senior Staff Writer
Published: February 5th, 2016
Toyota claims the 2016 Camry "demands respect at every corner" and we would have to agree with that statement, at least if you're talking about its gas mileage rather than its styling or driving dynamics. We recently drove the 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid and came away with a familiar feeling - a healthy amount of admiration. The Camry is a family sedan and over its long lifetime it has only become better.
The Camry isn't too exciting - it won't catch people's eye when you cruise past the neighborhood coffee shop - but that isn't what the Camry is about. It's about all around practicality. It's about being the best car for almost any job, whether that's taking the kids to school, heading to the grocery store for a week's worth of groceries or packing up and heading out of town for the weekend. It's an everyman's car. It's the kind of car that you can be satisfied with and the kind of car you'll own for decades.
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Attractive but Not Exciting
The exterior of the 2016 Camry carries over the significant redesign from 2015 and is probably the most stylish ever. It has a sophisticated look that tries to buck the idea that the Camry is a semi-bland family car. While we applaud Toyota's efforts to ramp up the drama on the Camry, we still feel that it isn't very eye-catching.
- Thin upper grille with a lower large grille that fans out and draws the eye in.
- Attractive, swept-back LED headlights and slimmer taillights than the previous design. Think of it as a big Corolla.
- A sloped, aggressive line starts at the front and works its way to the car's tail section.
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Comfortable and Functional
The interior of the Camry features a very typical Toyota interior and dash, which isn't a bad thing but could use a bit more panache instead of polarizing angles. Everything is intuitively placed and functions exceptionally well, but the dash and infotainment system appear busy. There seems to be a lot going on visually with the Camry's dash, making it seem more complicated than it actually is. Also, some of the materials look and feel cheap.
- Comfortable seats that work well for long commutes but not necessarily for spirtied driving, which isn't the Camry's strong suit, anyway..
- Intuitive layout for controls that make driving easy and less distracting..
- Cheap looking and feeling trim materials overall that could use an upgrade in quality..
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Surprisingly Peppy and Fun
The Camry is no race car, but we found ourselves quite happy with the peppy acceleration. It's actually a fun car to drive, which is something we didn't expect, and because the fuel economy is so good, you can drive the car seemingly forever on one tank of gas.
- Outstanding range.
- Quicker acceleration than anticipated. It's a hybrid, but it's not the slowest thing we've driven.
- Decent steering that's a bit on the vague side. Could use more precision, even though this isn't a sports sedan.
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This is the Camry You Should Buy
We know not everyone wants to own a hybrid, but we think if you're in the market for a sedan like the Camry, you really should consider the 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE. It's got the right chops for sensible owners including stellar fuel economy, practical and usable space and decent long haul comfort.
If it's an exciting car you're looking for, the Camry Hybrid isn't it, but it offers far more than more compact hybrids without letting people know you're actually environmentally conscious. -
Price and Specifications:
Engine: 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with electric motor
Transmission: Electronic Continuously Variable Transmission
Drivetrain/Layout: Front-engine, front-wheel drive
Power Output: 200 hybrid system net horsepower, 156 lb-ft of torque
Fuel Economy (mpg): 40 city / 38 highway
Base Price: $27,995
As Tested: $29,620 (incl. 835 delivery processing and handling fee )
Options on our test vehicle: 50 State Emissions; Entune Premium Audio with Integrated Navigation and App Suite, Includes The Entune Multimedia Bundle (7-inch High Resolution Touch-Screen with Split Screen Display, AM/FM CD Player with MP3/WMA Playback Capability, 8 Speakers, Auxiliary Audio Jack, USB 2.0 Port with iPod Connectivity and Control Advanced Voice Recognition, Hands-Free Phone Capability. Phone book Access and Music Streaming via Bluetooth Wireless Technology), Siri Eyes Free, Entune App Suite; Power Tilt/Slide Moonroof; Oi Wireless Charging
• For more information such as specs, prices, and photos of the 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid, click here: 2016 Toyota Camry Hybrid.