2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

As far as hybrid variants go, the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid seems to be one of the top contenders for the model year. After being fully redesigned, the Camry Hybrid is even more impressive than the outgoing 2017 model. By all the usual standards, the Camry Hybrid is a good vehicle that mixes the comfort and ease of a sedan with the fuel efficiency of the hybrid.

What's New for 2018?

The 2018 Toyota Camry has been totally overhauled for the model year. Toyota has attempted to make the vehicle more driver-friendly than ever before. The vehicle's center of gravity has been lowered, as indicated by the lowered seats and a sloping roofline. The hood line was also lowered by 1.5 inches to allow for better visibility.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid – The Pros

1. Impressive Fuel Economy

There is no denying it; the Camry Hybrid's biggest selling point is its outstanding fuel economy. Depending on which trim you buy, you can get somewhere between 44-51 mpg city and 47-53 mpg highway. This keeps the vehicle right at the top of the hybrid pack for fuel efficiency.

2. Spacious Interior

The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is one of the more spacious hybrids on the market. The 2 inches that were added to the wheelbase lends extra space to the cabin, giving passengers and the driver a bit more legroom than ever before.

3. Plenty of Cargo Space

The Camry Hybrid doesn't have as much cargo space as its Prius sibling, but it certainly exceeds the amount of cargo space you will find on other hybrids. You can load a good amount of groceries and other bulky items into the trunk and not have to compete with the battery pack for space.

4. Smooth Ride Quality

The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid has a smooth and refined ride quality that gives it an edge over many of its competitors. Regardless of what type of road surface you are driving over, the vehicle absorbs shocks and is insulated well enough to block unwanted road and wind noise from the cabin.

5. A Comfortable Cabin

The cabin itself is extremely comfortable and feels very much like the Camry sedan. The seats are exceptionally well-bolstered, and regardless of your hip width, your hips will have plenty of wiggle room in these seats. Since the engine tends to run quietly, you won't have much noise filtering in and interrupting a peaceful car ride once you take the vehicle up to highway speeds.

6. Affordable For a Hybrid

For a hybrid model, the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is quite affordable. It is priced below the new Honda Accord Hybrid and several other major competitors. Also, the optional packages and add-on features are reasonably priced so that the average consumer will feel more encouraged to buy them.

7. High-Quality Materials

Toyota doesn't skimp on quality. All of the materials used in the construction of the Camry Hybrid appear to be of high-quality. All of the buttons and knobs look securely fastened into place. Since Toyota places a major emphasis on safety, you can rest assured that high-quality metal was used in its construction.

8. The Etune Infotainment System

The Etune infotainment system is surprisingly easy for non-tech-savvy drivers to use. All controls are clearly labeled and appear to be fully functional. The touchscreen isn't too touchy or laggy. Everything about this system feels intuitive and sensible.

9. Plenty of Safety Features

The Camry Hybrid is loaded with safety features. Some of the vehicle's standard active safety features include adaptive cruise control, a rearview camera, and the Toyota Safety Sense suite. This suite contains pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, and a lane departure warning. Additional safety features that can be added on include rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, a surround-view camera, and blind spot monitoring.

10. Three Trims to Choose From

You can choose between three different hybrid trims. The Toyota Camry Hybrid LE is the base trim. Up a slot from that is the SE, and the leather-clad XLE tops the trim line. There is not a drastic price difference between these three trim levels, so it will depend on which performance stats and features speak most to your needs.

 

Reasons Not to Buy a 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid – The Cons

1. CVT Feels Lackluster

The biggest drawback to driving the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is that the CVT feels pretty sluggish. It just does not help to generate enough get-up-and-go power on this vehicle. It doesn't seem as fluid as the CVTs found on other hybrid models with sportier performances.

2. Missing Some Technological Features

While the Camry Hybrid comes with quite a few attractive features, certain features that come standard on most vehicles are inexplicably missing from the Camry. Noticeably absent are Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which simply doesn't make sense to leave out.

3. No Lower LATCH Anchors On Middle Seat

This isn't a huge gripe, but if you're a parent of a little one, you won't want to put their car seat in the rear middle seat. There are no lower anchors on it to add extra safety and stability. You will have to put your child seat into one of the other seats for real security.

4. Handling Is Just Average

The handling on the Camry Hybrid isn't terrible, but it feels very average and kind of basic. It just isn't as exciting as it is on some of the Camry's competitors.

How it stacks up to the competition:

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid vs. 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid

While the 2018 Honda Accord Hybrid prices a little bit above the Camry Hybrid, it includes more features and gets a competitive fuel economy. It is also incredibly safe, comfortable, and spacious. Also, the CVT is slightly more exciting than the one on the Camry Hybrid, and the handling is a bit sportier, too.

2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid vs. 2018 Chevy Bolt EV

The 2018 Chevy Bolt EV is a top-notch, all-electric pick for environmentally-conscious drivers. This zero-emissions vehicle boasts an impressive 238-mile range and can be rapidly recharged on a level 3 fast charger.

Conclusion

Overall, the 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid is a safe and reliable vehicle that packs in a good amount of features. It also has a fuel economy that is difficult to best. Although the Prius is slightly more affordable, it's hard to ignore the lure of the Camry's spaciousness and stellar ride quality.