Toyota Camry Hybrid engine and performance
The Camry Hybrid is powered by a 2.5 litre petrol engine that puts out 160 horsepower and 213 Nm of max torque. Additional power comes from a permanent magnetic synchronous electric motor developing 143 horses and 270 Nm of torque, and the car has a combined output of 205 horsepower. The hybrid battery is mounted in the boot and transmission duties are handled an eCVT automatic gearbox.
Push the start button and you wont hear a sound. It is only once you slot into D and start moving is when you realize that the car is indeed running. What is amazing about the Camry Hybrid is the way it drives. With light throttle inputs, the car will run extremely smooth and in total silence. NVH levels are fantastic and you are well cocooned from the outside world. The electric motor gets charged on the go since the car comes with regenerative braking. The tachometer is substituted by a different dial that displays three modes: CHG, ECO and PWR. The needle will drop to CHG when you brake and hover in ECO when you are driving with a light foot. So is the Camry hybrid just about sedate driving? Pushing the accelerator pedal all the way down should answer that question. The needle heads straight to PWR zone and you will be surprised as to how quick the car picks up speed. It is no slouch by any standard. There are two driving modes that are self explanatory: ECO and EV modes. While EV will drive the car in full electric mode, ECO gives a dulled throttle response with a focus on efficiency. There is an energy monitor on the instrument cluster as well. It shows you what is powering the car at every moment, the battery, engine or both, and even shows if the battery is charging while you are driving. We have to admit we really enjoyed trying to drive in an efficient manner and in the process managed to get an amazing 22 kpl on our drive to Igatpuri on a rainy morning.
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