2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

　　

2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　A midsize sedan with an efficient gasoline-hybrid powertrain, the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers greater power and fuel economy than a standard Camry in exchange for a modest price premium. Not long ago, the Camry Hybrid battled numerous competitors. But with consumers migrating to SUVs and the discontinuations of the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Kia Optima Hybrid for the 2021 model year, the Camry Hybrid's remaining rivals include the Honda Accord Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, each of which gives the Toyota a run for its money.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$73/mo  for Camry Hybrid LE

　　Camry Hybrid LE

　　LE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $27,270 MSRPSE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $28,785 MSRPXLE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $32,170 MSRPXSE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $32,720 MSRP

　　vs

　　$164/mo

　　Avg. Midsize Car

　　For 2021, Toyota expands the Camry Hybrid lineup with the new XSE trim. Similar to the regular Camry's XSE trim, it has a sportier-looking front end, bigger wheels and a sport-tuned suspension for slightly more responsive handling. All Camrys this year further benefit from freshened exterior styling, a larger infotainment touchscreen option, and more advanced driving assistance systems. Be sure to review our full Expert Rating to learn more about the Camry Hybrid.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.9

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Camry Hybrid drive? There's goodness in broad swaths with the Camry Hybrid. The sedan's power is decent in day-to-day use. In our testing, we measured a 0-60 mph time of about 8 seconds, which is slightly better than average for a midsize hybrid sedan.

　　Hybrid performance is smooth and care-free. Braking is predictable and very usable in everyday applications, and the low-rolling-resistance tires, which are common in this class, also provide average braking distances. Steering and handling are decent for the class. Overall, it's acceptable from a performance standpoint, but day-to-day commuting is its main strength.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Camry Hybrid? Comfort is where any midsize sedan should shine and the Camry Hybrid does just that. The climate control creates a welcome environment, and the seating comfortably accommodates a range of body types. The optional ventilated seats are a boon in warmer climates, and there's very little noise in the cabin coming from wind or the road at highway speeds.

　　Our only nitpick is the XLE hybrid's ride comfort. While great around town, it can sometimes feel overly buoyant at highway speeds. The extra weight of the hybrid system is evident.

　　

Interior

8.5/10

　　How’s the interior? Inviting, roomy and easy to live with are good hallmarks to have in such a competitive class, and the Camry has them all. The interior is easy to use, and all controls are readily within reach. The driving position is largely adaptable, and most people should easily find a comfortable position behind the wheel. Getting in and out of the vehicle is a cinch due to generous door openings, and there's a good amount of interior room for both front and rear occupants and excellent visibility for the driver.

　　

Technology

8.0/10

　　How’s the tech? The Camry Hybrid's smartphone integration includes standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. Both the standard 7-inch and optional 9-inch infotainment touchscreens are easy to read and operate. Built-in navigation is offered on higher trims if you want it. Three USB ports and the option to add a wireless charger should provide plenty of charge for all occupants on the road.

　　All 2021 Camrys come with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+. It's an impressive suite of standard driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist. Previously, some of these systems have been too sensitive for our liking, but they've been refined for 2021 and work much better.

　　

Storage

8.0/10

　　How’s the storage? The Camry Hybrid retains a full-size trunk with no intrusion from a battery pack whatsoever. With the trunk open, you can't tell it apart from a standard Camry. Hybrid sedans usually force you to give up some practicality, but not this one. The 15.1-cubic-foot trunk area is smaller than the Accord Hybrid's (16.7 cubic feet) but the wide opening with a low liftover height helps you make the most of it.

　　The cabin offers a good amount of storage, from the sliding compartment underneath the wireless charger to a nicely sized center armrest bin, plus a small bonus storage cubby on the far left-hand side of the dash. There's also ample room for car seat access, along with easily accessible anchors for speedy installation.

　　

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? EPA-estimated fuel economy for an XLE Hybrid (which is what we tested) is 46 mpg. That's a solid number for a midsize hybrid sedan. The base LE car returns an even more impressive 52 mpg. By comparison, the Honda Accord Hybrid gets an estimated 43 or 48 mpg, depending on the trim level. We yielded about 42.4 mpg during our time with our XLE test car, which doesn't quite hit the mark but is decently efficient.

　　

Value

8.0/10

　　Is the Camry Hybrid a good value? Long the strong point for Toyota, there's good value in the latest Camry Hybrid. Traditional strong Toyota build quality? Check. The interior materials are a nice quality, and the hybrid matches well against the competition in standard warranty and ownership experience.

　　While the base Camry Hybrid is a little more expensive than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata hybrids, the starting MSRP for the top-spec Camry Hybrid XLE is very cost-effective for this class. The raft of standard safety features and stellar fuel economy are double wins for your wallet.

　　

Wildcard

7.5/10

　　This is as normal and middle-of-the-road as a car can possibly get, yet you get such a huge boost in fuel economy without the usual hallmarks of dare-you-to-buy-it styling and buzzy ride common to extremely fuel-efficient cars. It isn't fun to drive in a traditional sense, but it is fulfilling in the sense that you're doing something for the environment (if that's something you care about) and doing it in comfort.

　　

Which Camry Hybrid does zzdcar recommend?

If you're shopping for a 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid, chances are you want to save money on gas or drive a vehicle that emits fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. Either way, the most affordable and efficient version of the Camry Hybrid is the base LE trim level. If you're willing to pay a little more in terms of price and get a little less in terms of efficiency, the SE trim offers a sporty look and handling at the expense of outright efficiency.

　　

2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid models

For the 2021 model year, the Camry Hybrid comes in base LE, upscale XLE, sporty SE and sportier XSE trim levels. See the highlights from each version's standard equipment list below.

　　LE

　　The base trim includes:

　　Automatic LED headlights 16-inch steel wheels with styled wheel covers Dual-zone automatic climate control Power-adjustable driver's seat 60/40-split folding rear seat Keyless entry for front doors and trunk 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system display Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integrationEvery Camry Hybrid also comes with:

　　Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front) Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)Options for the Camry Hybrid LE include a sunroof and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing).

　　Additionally, Toyota offers these option packages:

　　Audio Upgrade package

　　9-inch touchscreen display Backup camera with dynamic path lines Additional remote connected service plansCold Weather package

　　Heated front seats Heated side mirrorsConvenience package

　　Auto-dimming rearview mirror Universal garage door openerSE

　　The Camry Hybrid SE is a sportier version of the LE trim. It features the LE's standard equipment plus:

　　Sport-design styling 18-inch alloy wheels Sport-tuned suspension Simulated leather seats with fabric insertsOptional equipment mirrors offerings on the Camry LE.

　　XLE

　　This version of the Camry Hybrid builds on the LE trim with the contents of the Audio Upgrade, Cold Weather and Convenience packages, plus:

　　Chrome exterior accents 18-inch alloy wheels Leather upholstery Power front passenger's seat Rear air-conditioning vents Ambient interior lighting Bigger driver information display Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert Options for the XLE trim include a sunroof, a navigation system bundled with a JBL premium sound system, a heated steering wheel and adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves). Additionally, you can get:

　　Driver Assist package

　　Ventilated front seats Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield) Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Camry Hybrid and its surroundings for tight parking situations) Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)XSE

　　New for 2021, the Camry Hybrid XSE features the equipment from the SE and XLE, with these exceptions:

　　19-inch alloy wheels Lower-profile tires Gloss black grille trim Metal interior trimIt offers the same options as the Camry XLE with two exceptions. Adaptive headlights are not available for the XSE, but you can get a black-painted roof for this trim.

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2021 Camry Hybrid Highlights

Trim: LESEXLEXSELE

　　

Base MSRP	$27,270
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	52 MPG
Cost to Drive	$73/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	15.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles