There would be a lot more Camry Hybrid sedans on the road, if the government was to revise its GST bracket for hybrids, which currently stands at a whopping 28%, with a 15% compensation cess. This brings the total amount to an unfeasible 43%, which is a shame because the Camry is both a flagbearer for luxury sedans and for sustainable mobility. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the new Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the most sensible and wholesome cars in the country.
You know the story by now. The Hybrid version of the Camry is the only one that’s been sold in the country since 2019. It remains one of the longest-selling models in the country by the Japanese car making giant, and is presently the only sedan sold by Toyota. It’s also pretty-much the only self-charging hybrid in the segment so it has a certain lone ranger quality that, in the Indian context, adds a layer of exclusivity and mystique to what is globally a fairly standard and humdrum luxury sedan.
Design
The Camry was always big-as-a-barge with grand proportions and long overhangs. Since the new one is based on the same TNGA-K platform, it retains those proportions except now a bit more lean, a bit more streamlined with sharper edges. A sharp crease runs along its shoulder-line giving it a tauter appearance. The LED headlamps are slimmer, with a downward-pointing nose and bonnet-lines converging with the bumper’s highly stylised air-dam to create a more aggressive and rakish front-end. It’s not quite as razor-sharp as the new Prius (which looks fantastic) but there’s no mistaking it for a quintessentially Japanese sedan. You will be forgiven for mistaking it for a Lexus because it is a) priced like one and b) has had enough tweaks to bridge the gap between this and the ES even further. The side profile, enhanced by those 18-inch alloys is pure Lexus.
Interiors
Step inside and there’s the same Lexus-like plushness with black and tan leather upholstery but it doesn’t feel quite as cutting-edge. The gear selector is still straight out of the mid-2000s. It’s still a very intelligently designed cabin but it focuses more on functionality than gimmicks. Seat comfort still remains a USP of the Camry, both in the front and the back with the rear retaining reclining function (with climate control access) and the front-seats getting 10-way power adjustment so you hit the sweet spot of comfort and visibility. The features list is also more extensive than before. There’s a function that allows the rear seat passenger to adjust the front passenger seat, for a proper bourgeois experience. Toyota has even also equipped the Camry Hybrid with a connected car suite, enabling remote engine start, control of seat ventilation, boot access, and a range of other safety-related functions.
But what really contemporizes the Camry is the new ADAS function which includes forward collision avoidance, lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
Performance
The Camry Hybrid has never been a scorcher but the new one certainly feels lighter and more responsive as far as throttle response is concerned. The CVT gearbox does hold it back a tad bit, and is fairly noisy at higher revs but on the whole this is a Camry that masks its bulk very well. It has the same 2.5-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine tuned to put out 187 hp and the same 221 Nm of torque. It’s certainly not the minor power bump that improves the performance. More likely, it’s the changes made to improve the tag-team workings of the motor and the engine, something that improves efficiency by allowing it to run on battery power for longer periods.
What the Camry doesn’t enjoy is full-throttle driving. It’s at its most composed when you leave just a little room under the accelerator, at which point it’s less noisy and remarkably quick and lithe.
Verdict
The Toyota Camry Hybrid has stuck to the timeless “don’t-fix-what-isn’t-broken” tenet. It has remained a luxury staple across the globe thanks its adherence to the fundamentals of luxury. It offers the aesthetics and grandeur of a sedan while also providing considerable ground clearance. At no point did the Camry cause me to wince as I drove it over a speed bump, with the underbody remaining contact-free the whole time.
However, with prices starting at Rs 48.9 lakh, the Camry enters German entry-level luxury territory. It only manages to stay in that territory due to the distinction of being a hybrid, and therefore not having a competitor. With its exceptionally supple ride quality, good levels of sound-insulation, reclining seats – the Camry is a far more reliable and fuel-efficient alternative to its rivals. And with the new host of features, it emerges as a fairly sensible choice of luxury mobility.
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