It wasn’t too long ago hybrid car buyers sacrificed exterior and interior design and cargo space to get superior fuel economy. The updated 2015 Toyota Camry provides another example how the segment has vastly improved.
The new Toyota Camry looks like a luxury sedan and has an attractive interior. And it’s a fuel-efficient hybrid without any compromise of earlier hybrid offerings.
Key Takeaways
- Test car: the Camry Hybrid SE, the middle trim, with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, an electric motor and a continuously variable transmission.
- $27,995 MSRP and $32,133 as tested, including an $825 destination fee.
- 200 horsepower combined and 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds.
- 40 mpg city, 38 highway and 40 combined on the figures in the review.
- Brakes: Braking is soft.
- Likes: Superior gas mileage.
The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive
The 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that generate 200 horsepower combined and it’s matched with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The base Camry Hybrid LE gets an EPA-estimated 43/39 mpg city/highway. The Camry SE and XLE models earn 40/38 mpg.
Beyond its vast upgrades, the 2015 Toyota Camry has a long list of standard features: rearview camera, push-button start, proximity key, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, Bluetooth, a USB port and Toyota’s Entune audio system with a 6.1-inch touchscreen.
My SE model, the middle grade trim, also had a new grille, black headlight surrounds, 17-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension, a rear spoiler, sport fabric seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and silver interior accents.
The optional features on my weekly driver featured a $1,300 addition: sunroof, upgraded Entune system with navigation and smartphone app integration, a JBL audio system, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. And there were several stand-alone upgrades: power tilt/slide moonroof ($915), remote start ($499), illuminated door sills ($299), the carpet and trunk mat set ($225) and wireless charging ($75).
With its $825 destination fee, the out-the-door price was $32,133, and that about the $2,000 more than the age average price of a new car in the United States. And that seems like a fair price for a good-performing hybrid that gets a combined 40 mpg.
Driving Impressions
The new Toyota Camry Hybrid accelerated better than I expected and it arrived at highway speeds surprisingly well. There’s some wind rush at 50 mph or faster and the new Camry isn’t the quietest sedan. My only other concern was a similar issue to other hybrids. Braking is soft.
What Others Say: “It looks better, it’s more comfortable, and it rides better. It’s just a shame Toyota didn’t also take the opportunity to make some small but meaningful improvements to the powertrain and brakes. Still, if you’re in the market for a Camry Hybrid, you’ll find plenty to like about this one.” Motor Trend. “Newly invigorated, the 2015 Camry Hybrid merits strong consideration from shoppers looking for a comfortable, gas-sipping family car.” Edmunds. “It’s no sports sedan, but it’s a better car to drive than it was.” Motor Trend.
2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid Verdict
It’s no secret the Toyota Camry has been a top-selling sedan for years. The Camry Hybrid, from great gas mileage to comforts, provides another superior example of the carmaker’s enduring legacy for value and reliability.
Likes and Dislikes
Likes
Smooth, quiet ride (under 50 mph).
Overall comfort.
Superior gas mileage.
Intuitive infotainment center.
Dislikes
Soft braking. Be prepared.
Slight engine noise at freeway speeds.
Facts & Figures: 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid SE
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Price | $27,995 |
| As-Tested Price | $32,133 |
| Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with electric motor |
| Horsepower | 200 hp combined |
| Transmission | Continuously variable automatic (CVT) |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive |
| 0-60 mph | 7.2 seconds |
| Fuel Economy (original EPA label) | 40 city / 38 highway / 40 combined mpg |
| Fuel Economy (EPA, revised) | 40 city / 37 highway / 39 combined mpg |
| Fuel Type | Regular |
| Airbags | 10 |
James Raia
A sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.
