Why the 2017 Toyota Camry Hybrid makes so much sense

Until we reach an electric future, a hybrid present is our best bet
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It won't come to you as a revelation that the Toyota Camry has been around for a while. The current generation one, that was first introduced in 2012, wasn't exactly a segment leader, despite being one of the most successful cars manufactured by Toyota (one of the largest selling models in the US and China). Until the Camry Hybrid came along. Suddenly, Toyota had a differentiating factor working for them, and as a result all the Camrys sold in India are hybrids.

So what exactly has worked for the car? To begin with, the Camry is a pretty stellar piece of engineering - even if you were to take the hybrid powerplant out of the equation, you get reclining seats at the back, a fairly large boot, LeBron James level of leg-room and a perfectly tranquil drive experience.

But it's 2017, and if the fuel prices are anything to go by, there hasn't been a better time to divest oneself from the internally-combustible scheme of things. It should be noted that this year, Toyota has crossed the 10 million mark in terms of global hybrid sales - owing largely to the sales of the Prius and the Camry, so it's safe to assume that as far as hybrid technology is concerned, they really have a handle on things.

To be perfectly honest, changes on the 2017 Camry Hybrid aren't radically different. It's got the same 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol motor which is paired to the same electric unit whose combined power gives it a decidedly above average 202 bhp. All the 'rubberband effect' issues stemming from the old CVT unit appear to be largely resolved. Power delivery is smooth and extremely linear - there isn't any urgency to it, nor should there be any, or else it messes with the composure of the car. The Camry continues to waft over most roads, with a perfectly supple suspension setup. It's big as a barge so it doesn't pretend to be a performance sedan at any point. It is, however, a compelling value proposition in the face of much more expensive executive sedans - because as far as the staples of top tier executive luxury are concerned, the Camry still has it.

It's also the only Hybrid luxury car to be manufactured in India, and although the previously offered FAME incentive for hybrid vehicles (slashing the cost by INR1 lakh) have been withdrawn, it's still the most affordable hybrid in the Indian market at INR37.9 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai)

The visual changes are limited to a new pair of LED fog lamps, bigger 15-spoke alloys. On the inside you get a new sound system, new SatNav and a wireless charging. That's pretty much the extent of it. But the rest of it remains as stellar a product as it has always been. But the big changes are on the safety front, where the car gets none airbags (including driver-knee airbags)

The Hybrid isn't a plug-in one and gets automatically recharged as the vehicle decelerates. On full charge the car can move entirely on electric power upto 30 kph - anything over that and the petrol engine kicks in. There's also regenerative braking - a nifty feature, one that's used on Indian roads a lot. Bear in mind, as clever and useful the hybrid system is, the battery does tend to deplete rather quickly and isn't exceptionally quick at recharging. As a result the electric motor's true utility lies in start-stop traffic, and when you floor the accelerator, at which point you would need the combined power of the petrol and electric motor to really get its juices flowing.

What you get at the end is a lot of luxury and utility for your money. Granted, it's not a tiny amount of money, but the Camry continues to tread the middle ground while the market begins making a not so smooth transition to electric vehicles. It might be in need of a stronger visual upgrade, but the Camry Hybrid is all the luxury and utility you need in a vehicle.


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