The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid’s hybrid drivetrain provides outstanding fuel economy and quiet operation. There is a Bluetooth phone system and navigation accessible.
In This Article...
The Bad
Audio output is subpar, even with the premium stereo. An auxiliary audio jack is an MP3 player’s sole input. Advanced functions like live traffic are missing from the navigation system.
The Bottom Line
The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers a simple and comfortable driving experience while delivering exceptional fuel economy and incredibly low emissions, despite its outdated interior technology.
The Prius may be the most well-known hybrid, but Toyota also offers the Camry Hybrid for individuals who don’t need to flaunt their environmental friendliness to such an extent. The 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid appears identical to other Camrys save from hybrid logos on the sides and back. Alternatively, an unremarkable midsize vehicle.
It doesn’t achieve the Prius’ levels of fuel efficiency due to its larger size and engine, but it still managed to achieve a respectable 35 mpg in our testing while offering a more comfortable ride. The Camry Hybrid’s interior technology has rudimentary navigation and Bluetooth phone compatibility, but music enthusiasts will be let down by the sound.
On the road The Toyota Camry Hybrid, like other complete hybrids, begins to boot up rather than start when you press the power button. The center LCD comes to life, the gauge needles move, and the instrument panel illuminates. However, the engine doesn’t make any noise unless the battery is low.
The engine is silent after pressing the start button, yet the instrument panel is illuminated.
The drivetrain is powered by an electric motor, which keeps the engine silent as it exits our parking garage. On the road, however, applying light pressure to the accelerator pedal triggers the software that manages the power sources to start the 2.4-liter engine. Although obvious, the change from pure electric to gas is seamless.
Tech nerds like us are encouraged by the Camry Hybrid to tinker with the drivetrain, in our case attempting to keep it powered only by electricity for as long as possible. But in a busy metropolitan environment, where impatient drivers behind won’t be able to accept the slow acceleration or 20 mph speeds required to keep the gas engine off, that is not practicable. We discover that applying the brakes results in a certain sense of satisfaction due to the regenerative braking because the battery is recharged.
Returning to our usual driving practices, the Camry Hybrid demonstrated excellent capability and comfort on city streets. For a non-luxury vehicle, the ride is remarkably smooth, and the interior is modest. It helps that our test vehicle has all of the newest technology and the leather seats package. The navigation system’s maps and destination panels all appear to be of high quality, however we are dissatisfied that the only connector available for an MP3 player is an auxiliary input. Of course, we don’t really want to hear the distorted audio system playing our favorite songs.
Real-world acceleration tests are best conducted around freeway exits, where the Camry Hybrid exhibits some weaknesses. We don’t sense much oomph from the hybrid system’s combined 187 horsepower; instead, we experience a progressive wind up from the gas engine and electric motor. There isn’t the thrilling surge we want when the accelerator is all the way to the floor, but it’s enough to safely bring the car onto the freeway.
The Camry Hybrid appears like it would be extremely pleasant for that type of driving out on the freeway, and we start to wish we actually had a daily commute with heavy traffic. It has little trouble operating at a high speed, allowing us to unwind while viewing the fuel economy indicator and power animation.
Normally, we test drive cars in the hills to observe how they respond to sharp turns. The Camry Hybrid, however, didn’t feel like it belonged for that kind of driving. Although it doesn’t feel as tippy as a Prius, it is unquestionably not geared for sports.
Toyota keeps the interior of the 2009 Camry Hybrid clutter-free. The Camry Hybrid relies on a touch-screen LCD surrounded by a few chosen buttons for navigation and audio operations, unlike the Acura TSX’s button-obsessed interior. The phone, radio, and climate control buttons on the steering wheel’s spokes are all seamlessly integrated. We really enjoy Toyota’s implementation of the climate control feature because it allows you to change the temperature while keeping your hands on the wheel.
The navigation system includes the essentials but lacks more sophisticated functions like traffic.
The improved JBL audio system and navigation system for the Camry Hybrid are sold together as a package. The DVD-based navigation system is rather speedy, but you must first select a new region if you wish to set a destination that is more than a few states away. There are many ways to enter destinations, including phone numbers and GPS locations, however all of these inputs are disabled while the car is moving, which is annoying if another passenger wishes to set a destination. A destination command is recognized by the voice command system, however it only directs you to the touch screen.
With the Bluetooth phone technology, voice command provides enhanced functionality, allowing you to voice call. The call quality was acceptable, and linking an iPhone to the car’s system was simple. You must manually push entries from a phone into the phonebook of the car; however, not all phones have this feature.
The stereo is a bit odd, with the four-disc changer’s slot concealed underneath the LCD. MP3 CDs can be read by this changer, and we had no trouble using the on-screen interface to select music. At the base of the stack, there is a storage compartment with an easily accessible auxiliary input. The stereo also supports satellite radio.
When the LCD turns on, the four-disc changer is visible. We would want a position on the stack that is simpler to reach.
If this premium audio system is this good, we can only image how awful the stock unit must be. The 440-watt amp used by this JBL system completely overpowers its eight speakers. The highs were clear and crisp, but the midrange and bottom end were muddy and everything else was a complete mess. Even worse, songs with even a little bass severely rocked the speakers. The amp produces a lot of power, but power cannot replace fidelity.
Inside the engine The Synergy hybrid system, which can choose to drive the wheels with an electric motor, a gas engine, or both depending on what the driver asks of the car, is at the center of the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. The Camry Hybrid’s system isn’t the most recent model, though. This year, Toyota will introduce a new, more effective Synergy system in its 2010 Prius and 2010 Lexus RX 450h models.
The 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine used by Synergy in the Camry Hybrid produces 147 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. A 105-kilowatt electric motor, powered by a 150-pound nickel-metal hydride battery pack, completes the Camry Hybrid’s powerplant. The gas engine and the regenerative brakes both recharge the battery pack. Toyota estimates that this system has a total horsepower of 187.
The Camry Hybrid’s EPA estimates are 33 mpg in the city and 34 mpg on the interstate, but with no effort, we witnessed fuel efficiency reach 35 mpg. Less trips to the gas station are undoubtedly possible with such fuel efficiency, but the AT-PZEV emissions rating from the California Air Resources Board is also impressive. The best emissions rating available, short of a fully electric vehicle, is AT-PZEV.
The car’s transmission, which simply includes drive, reverse, and an engine braking mode, serves as a solid illustration of the kind of driving that the Camry Hybrid is designed for. Driver control over this virtual gearbox is limited.
Air conditioning and the power steering system are also electric to reduce the need for the gas engine. The steering was well-tuned by Toyota to provide some feedback. The Eco button on the Camry Hybrid’s dashboard controls how much power the air conditioner uses. We did a lot of driving with the Eco button on, and we didn’t experience any pain from the underpowered climate control, but in really hot climates, that might not be the case.
In conclusion, the base price of the 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid is $26,150. Ours had a variety of packages, the most technologically advanced of which cost $2,350 and included navigation, a JBL sound system, Bluetooth, and 18-inch wheels. For an extra $2,710, other extras included a sunroof and power-adjustable heated leather seats. Our final sum, including the $720 destination fee, was $31,930.
The Toyota Camry Hybrid has an exceptional performance rating from our ratings despite not being a sports car due to its power train’s economy and smoothness. Despite its bland exterior, it also receives a high design rating from us because of the interior’s usefulness and the easy-to-use interface for the cabin’s equipment. The only negative is that the interior electronics don’t offer advanced services like traffic or iPod support, even though they do cover some of the essentials.
How can I pair my phone with the Bluetooth on my Toyota Camry?
Check the Bluetooth option on your smartphone by going to the settings menu. On the touchscreen of your Toyota Camry, select apps and then setup. After selecting Bluetooth, add a new device. Accept the connection on both your phone and your Camry after they’ve found one another.