Used 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid midsize sedan can achieve an average of 52 mpg. This car contains two elements that, by themselves, could easily be taken for granted. Together, though, they make something worth appreciating.

Firstly, it’s a Camry, a car that’s been around for decades and has proved itself to be incredibly reliable and robust. It’s one of Toyota’s traditional best-sellers and still does pretty well in this SUV era.

Secondly, it has hybrid technology. Toyota introduced it in the first Prius, as the centuries clicked over from the 20th to the 21st, and it’s been working well ever since.

In conjunction, they create a fine midsize sedan with low emissions and low fuel bills. About that 52 mpg. It’s achieved in the most basic LE trim level, but higher trims can still manage 46 mpg.

The non-hybrid 2022 Toyota Camry is reviewed separately.

Anyone wanting to buy a hybrid is no doubt thinking more about squeezing out as many miles from a gallon of gasoline as possible. As opposed to extracting the maximum number of thrills whenever the low-rolling-resistance rubber (hybrids have special tires contributing to optimum fuel economy) meets the road.

With that kind of mindset, a new Camry Hybrid could be ideal. If the journey is going to be somewhat longer than in a car where the driver is inspired to go faster, then it’s a good thing that the Camry Hybrid is this comfortable.

There is a small price to pay for the fuel savings, though. The brake energy regeneration function means that the first touch of the pedal results in a forceful bite of the discs. Other makers have smoothed out this action in their hybrids and we hope Toyota gives this some more attention.

It’s also slightly disappointing that all-wheel drive isn’t available, considering Toyota can even offer the Prius with four driven wheels. And it’s available in the regular Camry.

It’s interesting in here. We realize this might be the first time anyone has uttered such a sentence in regard to a Camry, but life is indeed full of surprises.

It’s all to do with the swopping asymmetrical design of the center console. Not that it would be distracting, it just makes a nice change from the usual workmanlike approach.

As demand for ever-larger infotainment touchscreens continues, they have become too big to sit in their dashboards, and now stand proud and alone. Like the one in the Camry Hybrid.

Perhaps less interesting but no less welcome are the comfortable seats, the ability to find an ideal driving position in little time, the excellent outward vision, the decent-quality materials, and the way everything has been put together.

Rear legroom of 38 inches takes a back seat (pardon the pun) to the Honda Accord Hybrid’s 40.4. Both cars, however, can accommodate four adults. And maybe an elf in that middle rear seat that no one really uses unless they have to.

Honda takes the prize in trunk space, too: 16.7 cubic feet to the Camry Hybrid’s 15.1. That said, the Camry’s trunk is still large enough for most purposes, the 60/40 split-folding rear seats add some versatility, and this is the same size as the non-hybrid Camry trunk. So adding the hybrid drivetrain’s components has had no detrimental effect.

One of the few changes to the 2022 Camry Hybrid is the deletion of any hybrid badges at the front. The new-for-2022 Nightshade cosmetic variant does away with all hybrid badges.

This car keeps its low-emissions talents on the down-low. It appears much like a regular Camry, which may or may not be a good thing, depending on who’s doing the looking. There are, however, various distinguishing elements between the trim levels.

To no one’s surprise, the base LE is the least fair of them all. The SE brings a more assertive stance with larger front air intakes. Based on the SE, the Nightshade adds a black finish to the alloy wheels, grille mesh, side mirror housings, door handles, badges and window surrounds. The XLE and XSE splash more chrome onto their front ends. The XSE also offers a couple of colors with a black roof.

SMARTPHONE INTEGRATION
It’s simple enough to connect a smartphone to the Camry Hybrid’s infotainment system without consulting the manual. The graphics on the screen look good and the whole setup is user-friendly.

JBL AUDIO
Available as an option in the top two trims, as part of an infotainment system upgrade. On long trips, a good stereo is just as desirable as comfortable seats. The parent company behind JBL is also responsible for the excellent Mark Levinson systems that go into Lexus vehicles.

In LE trim, the 2022 Camry Hybrid has 16-inch steel wheels with plastic covers, LED exterior lighting, keyless entry/start, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, and cloth upholstery.

Every new Camry Hybrid has several driver assistance features as standard, such as forward collision with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assistance/lane tracing assistance, road sign recognition, and automatic high beams. There’s also a rear seat reminder, just in case the driver leaves anything or anyone behind at the end of a trip.

The infotainment system includes a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, Bluetooth, one USB-A port, one USB-C port, and a 6-speaker audio setup.

After the LE comes the SE, with its own sport-tuned suspension, followed by the more luxurious XLE. The range-topping XSE is the best of both the luxury and slightly sportier worlds.

The lower two trims are eligible for several options that are standard in the upper pair. For example: heated front seats, wireless phone charging, self-dimming rearview mirror, universal garage door opener, blind-spot monitoring, Wi-Fi, and a 9-inch touchscreen.

Exclusive extras for the XLE and XSE include heated/ventilated front seats, 9-speaker JBL audio system, 360-degree/bird’s-eye view camera system, navigation, head-up display, and rear parking sensors with rear emergency braking. They come with leather seating surfaces and a leather-wrapped steering wheel as standard.

Other options for all versions of the 2022 Camry Hybrid include a powered tilt/slide moonroof, LED rear seat reading lights, plus things like paintwork protection and nicer mats. The top three trims also offer a heated steering wheel.

A 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine running on regular gasoline and an electric motor energized by a lithium-ion battery combine to endow the 2022 Camry with 208 horsepower (almost as good as the Accord Hybrid’s 212). This goes solely to the front wheels through an automatic continuously variable transmission.

Toyota doesn’t quote total torque figures for its hybrids. The engine here makes 163 lb-ft and the electric motor produces 149 lb-ft. These maximums don’t occur at the same time, but the electric side compensates for a somewhat weak output from the gasoline side.

2.5-liter inline-4
Permanent magnet synchronous electric motor
Combined system output: 208 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 51/53 mpg (LE), 44/47 mpg (SE, XLE, XSE)