Our Rating
The new Camry is not what it used to be in any way. Firstly, it isn't made in Australia anymore. Secondly, it has been completely redesigned with sharper lines, sleek edges and an overall more aggressive stance. The model reviewed is the Camry Hybrid Ascent Sport, which sits above the Ascent but below the SL.
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Engine & Drivetrain
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Performance
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Fuel Economy
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Interior
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Gadgets & Technology
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Safety
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Ride & Comfort
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Practicality
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Affordability
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Behind the Wheel
The new Camry is not what it used to be in any way. Firstly, it isn’t made in Australia anymore. Secondly, it has been completely redesigned with sharper lines, sleek edges and an overall more aggressive stance. The model reviewed is the Camry Hybrid Ascent Sport, which sits above the Ascent but below the SL.
Engine
The Camry Hybrid is powered by the petrol and electric motor which provides greater performance and improved efficiency.
The petrol powered part of the engine is a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that puts out 131kW of power and 221Nm of torque, coupled with an electric motor that combines power output to 160kW!
Performance
The combination of both motors ensures the Camry Hybrid has enough kick throughout the low and mid end to pull away in the overtaking lane.
The electric motor does its job well in the low end with instant torque, till more power is needed when the petrol engine kicks in. The car pulls itself together quite well and has enough grunt. Despite some body roll from its front-wheel chassis and large footprint, the Camry performs quite well for what it is.
Fuel Economy
This is truly where the Camry Hybrid shines. The electric motor is charged purely from kinetic energy and does not require any plug in charging – which is the way it should be. This enables the electric motor to do the work in 1st gear where most fuel is consumed before the petrol engine kicks in and the electric motor recharges itself.
This is possibly the first car that the claim fuel economy rating was correct in the real world. 4.2L/100km is smack bang on point for this vehicle, give or take a few tenths.
Interior & Technology
The Ascent Sport model gets an 8.0-inch infotainment screen, six-speaker sound system, Bluetooth, Toyotaβs smartphone connect, navigation, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone air-conditioning and cloth trim.
The SL gets the leather trim and extra bells and whistles, hence the extra thousands for that model.
Toyota has been reluctant to adopt CarPlay due to privacy concerns, but we expect to see it on models in the near future.
Safety
Regarding safety, all Camrys come equipped with seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control and a reverse camera.
The Camry Range gets a 5-Star ANCAP safety rating.
Ride & Comfort
The thick profile wheels provide for a comfortable and effortless ride in the Camry. It is responsive yet subtle and spacious for the entire family.
Props to Toyota for making the new Camry’s much more sportier whilst still maintaining the spacious cabin and comfortable interior/ride.
Warranty & Servicing
Toyota offers a 3 year/100,000km warranty.
The Camry will need to be serviced every 12 months of 15,000km.
Toyota’s capped-price servicing program limits the first five years of servicing (or 75,000km) to $195 per service which is incredibly respectable and the cheapest for capped price services.
Pricing
ASCENT 2.5LULP6 SP AUTO $27,790
ASCENT (HYBRID) 2.5LHyb/ULPCVT AUTO $30,090
ASCENT SPORT 2.5LULP6 SP AUTO $30,090
ASCENT SPORT (HYBRID) 2.5LHyb/ULPCVT AUTO $32,090
SL 2.5LULP6 SP AUTO $40,090
SL (HYBRID) 2.5LHyb/ULPCVT AUTO $41,090
SL V6 3.5LULP8 SP AUTO $44,090
SX 2.5LULP6 SP AUTO $33,390
SX V6 3.5LULP8 SP AUTO $37,390
Overall
The Camry is an efficient, reliable, cheap to run car that provides enough room and comfort for the entire family and reasonable grunt for its size.
ALL our videos of the Camry Hybrid Ascent Sport:
Full Exterior Tour:
Full Interior Tour:
POV Test Drive:
All Settings/Modes Head Unit/Dash:
