Toyota Camry Hybrid 2019 Review

In the next few years the one millionth Camry will be sold in Australia. One million!

For a car derided across much of its existence as whitegoods on wheels and fleet fodder that’s a pretty meritorious achievement.

Still, not everyone is as dismissive of Camry as, erm, me. There are such things as Camry Car Clubs where enthusiasts meet and greet and no doubt discuss things like the evolution of the trailing link rear suspension.

But here’s the kicker. In its eighth-generation the Camry mid-size sedan really is worthy of discussion and even a fan base. And the Ascent Hybrid being tested here is among the best models in the range.

The latest Camry almost deserves the blatantly over-used term ‘all-new’.

Of course, one sad aspect of that is it’s now imported following Toyota’s decision to cease local manufacturing in late 2017. Beyond that though, there are a bunch of positives.

It’s based on more rigid underpinnings dubbed TNGA (Toyota New Generation Architecture), is longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, has overhauled drivetrains, new suspension designs, a stylish interior and an exterior that is recognisably Camry yet… appealing.

The Hybrid models, which account for nearly 40 per cent of sales, get a new Atkinson cycle 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine that combines with an electric motor to produce 160kW (up 9kW) an unspecified amount of combined torque – the engine makes 221Nm at 3600rpm, the motor 202Nm from 0-1500rpm.

The Ascent Hybrid continues to deploy two motor generator units that now combine with parallel gears (replacing planetary gears) to act as a pseudo CVT, or continuously variable transmission. The auto now also comes with six computerised gear steps.

It also has an old-school Ni-MH (Nickel-metal hydride) battery rather than the lithium-ion packs that have become very popular as the electrification of the car industry gathers pace.

However, the pack has been moved from the boot to under the rear seat, improving boot space from 415 litres to 524 litres and allowing the installation of a split-fold rear seat function.

In an era when pure battery electric vehicles are starting to infiltrate the market, the Camry Hybrid is the old stager.

OK, it can’t really run on electricity alone for long or at much above walking pace, but the system does provide a fuel economy aid, as well as a bit of a performance boost.

The official claim for the Camry Ascent Hybrid is 4.2L/100km, which is obviously fanciful as most of those ratings are. But after three weeks in the Ascent Hybrid we achieved a 5.2L/100km average. That’s the hybrid system, idle-stop and a new auto glide coasting function working together there.

That impressive figure included all sorts of driving from city gridlock to country freeways. It’s a better number than lots of much smaller cars and absolutely smacks the best rivals like the Mazda6 and Holden Commodore (including diesel) could hope to achieve.

Now combine that frugality with a cut-throat price. The Ascent is the cheapest Camry hybrid model you can buy at $30,090 before on-road costs. Few of its rivals come close to that.

It’s also one of the cheapest Camrys, with most orthodox four-cylinder and V6 petrol models more expensive than it. That makes it all the more compelling.

For that money it’s no safety stripper either; you get seven airbags, autonomous emergency braking, active cruise control, lane departure assist with steering assist, LED headlights with auto high-beam and a reversing camera.

Comfort gear isn’t such an impressive list; dual-zone climate control, a small 7.0-inch touchscreen embedded in the centre stack, power lumbar adjust on the driver’s seat, a wireless phone charger, keyless smart entry and ignition and new cloth seats wrap it up.

There’s no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connection. Instead you have to make do with Toyota Link, which doesn’t even include satellite-navigation at this level. It also proved impossible to hook up to. In fact, Toyota advises Camry buyers to get their dealer to do it for them before they leave the showroom.

So that sucks the big one. Toyota says Apple and Android are coming, but don’t hold your breath. A temporary spare tyre isn’t all that pleasing, nor manual adjust for most driver’s seat functions. We’d also like front and rear parking sensors thanks.

Of course, the Camry Ascent Hybrid now benefits from Toyota’s new five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty. Services only comes once per year and cost $195 each for the first five years.

Let’s be frank, calling this the best-driving Camry yet isn’t exactly setting the high-jump bar to world record levels.

But it is still an impressive achievement. In addition to the familiar quietness the hybrid drivetrain delivers in EV mode, there’s now a confidence to the handling and suppleness to the ride that’s unrecognisable.

This Camry is actually enjoyable to drive. Yes, that’s not a misprint. Rolling on 17-inch Michelin Primacy rubber, it has vice-free steering, decent body control and a willingness to respond with promptness to instruction.

There’s no sign of the traditional steering-rack kickback, desperation to lean all its body-weight on the outside front tyre or early onset understeer.

Hey, it’s not about to teach a Mazda6 any lessons in the twisties, but it will keep it well and truly in sight.

And then there’s the clever drivetrain, which combines low-rev electric torque with solid petrol power further up the range to deliver step-off response and mid-range depth.

You can vary that response via the new Drive Model Select that provides pure EV, eco, normal and sport options. The higher you go up the chain the better the response.

The pseudo-CVT also gets into the act, actually allowing manual downchanges with some revs onboard rather than killing it off with a conservative limit.

But it would still be nice if there were flappy paddles to select gears as well as the lever, there was a bit less tyre roar on coarse chip surfaces and the brake pedal didn’t feel quite so wooden. No doubt that latter issue is something to do with the electricity regeneration function.

The interior of the new Japanese-built Camry is a marked improvement thanks to a more modern dashboard design and some nice materials, including good-looking stitching. However, dull plastics could be jazzed up.

There is space and storage aplenty front and rear. A small highlight is the way the lid glides smoothly closed atop a bin at the head of the centre console.

Two adult passengers will comfortably be accommodated in the back in terms of head, knee and foot-room.

There is one throwback to the past and that’s the fixed rear headrests. Height adjustable items would be much preferred.

The split-fold function, operated by levers in the boot, is small, but you can accommodate a full-size mountain bike with a bit of fiddling. The boot is a bit bare, with no sound deadening for the lid, no trays and no nets.

The Toyota Camry Ascent Hybrid is an affordable, frugal and even – I can’t believe I’m writing this – fun car.

There’s a lot to like here and not that much wrong to counterbalance it. OK, it’s not an SUV, but if you’re not fashion-conscious then that’s no bad thing.

It would be appropriate if Camry one million is a hybrid, because it is the best and most versatile of the breed.