Toyota Camry [2019-2022]

The Camry is one of Toyota's highest selling sedans in the world. But sales have been slow for the model in India. More so, after the GST on hybrids went up almost a year and half ago. Toyota though is soldiering on with the car.

However, the carmaker believes that, for a country like ours which is still so heavily dependent on coal for power generation, a hybrid is the best bet in the short and mid term. And so, to show its intent, Toyota has launched the latest generation Camry Hybrid in India. And this is what we thought of it after driving it.

The Camry is long and low. And it has traditional sedan proportions - a long hood and a relatively stubby boot. In its eighth generation now, the Camry's design has finally gotten some spunk.

It's still more luxurious than sporty in its design. And, with those LEDs, the chrome highlights, and the gaping front bumper, it has its fair share of bling as well. The 18 inch wheels shod with low profile tyres further add to the car's visual appeal.

Just to throw in some facts - the new Camry measures 4,885mm in length, 1,840mm in width, and 1,455mm in height. This makes it both longer and wider than the diesel powered and similarly priced Volkswagen Passat. What's more, at 2,825mm, the Camry has a significantly longer wheelbase as well.

It comes as no surprise then that the new Camry is extremely spacious, particularly in the rear. There's enough and more kneeroom for even the tallest adults. And the shoulder room is handsome too; excessive for two and roomy enough for three. Also, with the battery stack now placed under the rear seat, Toyota claims the boot is both bigger and more usable.

We, meanwhile, fell in love with the rear seats on the new Camry. To begin with, these are supremely comfortable. They are large, cushy and supportive and feel great to touch. And, they have electrical adjustment for the back rest.

Besides that, there's a dedicated climate control zone for the rear passengers. And the rear central armrest now gets capacitive touch operation for audio, seat-back adjustment, and climate control. Furthermore, the left rear passenger also has the option to adjust the front passenger's seat; the perfect feature for those being chauffeur-driven.

Upfront, the dash design is refreshing. There's a large touchscreen surrounded by aircon and shortcut buttons for the audio. And, the choice of colours and materials give the Camry's interior an air of opulence. 

Additionally, the front seats, much like the ones at the back, are big, comfy, and rich to the touch. These are also electrically adjustable for reach, recline and height. And, they also have memory function, and are vented!

Other telling features include, in-built navigation, a head-up display, three-zone climate control, rear power shade  and a sunroof. For safety, the Camry gets nine airbags, stability control, traction control, and tyre pressure monitoring.

However, a closer examination brings up chinks in the Camry's interior. Now, these aren't those make-or-break type of flaws, but they do fall a little short of our expectations for the car. The power window switches, the matte black finish on the steering, the choice of fonts for both the touchscreen and the driver MID, leave a little to be desired. These lack that luxury and quality feel that Camry is selling.

The new Camry is powered by a four cylinder, 2.5-litre petrol engine. On its own, it develops a little under 180bhp and 221Nm of peak torque. But, this one is a parallel hybrid, which means there's electric power to help things along as well. 

That electric help comes in the form of a permanent magnet motor with output figures reading 88kw (120bhp) and 202Nm. However, the engine and the electric motor never deliver their maximum at the same time. The combined power output, as a result, is more like 220bhp and not almost 300bhp as simple mathematics would have you believe.

The two powerhouses channel their outputs via a CVT which drives the front wheels. Now, on the new Camry, this CVT also offers paddleshifters, and there are three driving modes as well - Eco, Normal and Sport. 

Normal is the default mode, while Eco nudges the drivetrain to use as much e-power as often as possible. In Sport, the throttle response becomes more immediate, the steering weighs up ever so slightly, and the manual mode and the paddle shifters finally feel relevant. 

Having said that, the difference is anything but dramatic. In fact, nothing about the way the Camry drives screams sporty. It's more of a quiet, easy-going, mile-muncher. 

Don't hurry it along, and it's almost effortless to drive. It rides well over small undulations, tiny potholes, and road joints. It remains flat and poised. Add to it, the good visibility, courtesy the low dashboard, and the relatively thin pillar, and there's really very little that bothers you about the Camry.

But, it doesn't feel at its best when wrestled around or driven hard. At higher speeds, its rear begins to wallow, which is anything but comfortable. It also doesn't like being thrown around from corner to corner. Its length and soft suspension setup get in the way. And, even though it has a quick steering rack, there's hardly any feel at the wheel to talk about.

And, lest we forget, the engine, although rev-happy, does get loud when revved. And then there's the CVT’s innate ability to hold the revs constant near the redline when driven with a heavy foot. That and the loud engine isn't a great combo.

The Camry is one of its kind. It's the only luxury sedan under 40 lakhs to come with a hybrid drivetrain. Which, was true earlier as well, sure, but the previous model lacked desirability beyond the 'green tag. 

That changes with the new Camry. It's desirable to look at, it is well-appointed on the inside, and it is fantastic when it comes to rear seat comfort. It's also packed with features. 

Yes, it's still not a car one would buy for driving pleasure. And, yes, it could do with better materials at places. But overall, it is a significant step-up from the car it replaces. And, one that is easier to recommend now.

Photographs by Kapil Angane