Toyota has just launched the facelifted Camry in India, and we've had a chance to drive the more popular Hybrid variant of the car.
DETAILS
- Make Toyota
- Model Camry
- Edition 2015 Hybrid
What is it?
The Camry is probably one of Toyota’s most important cars. A massive
seller in the US and China, it’s a car that gives Toyota a very healthy
profit margin. This, however, is not the case in India. Here, the Camry
is strictly a niche player. Ever the bridesmaid in the past to Honda’s
Accord, things changed for the Camry when Toyota decided to assemble the
car here. This brought a small shot of success. What took things to the
next level was when Toyota became the first carmaker to locally
assemble a hybrid car in India. This brought the price of the Camry
Hybrid close to the regular car, and the move was so successful, 73
percent of all Camrys sold here today are hybrids. Customers love the
fact that the vehicle is more efficient, greener, is packed with
exclusive features, and rides and drives like a regular car.
This is why, when Toyota organised a test drive of the facelifted
Camry, it brought mainly Hybrids. Now the look of Camrys in the past has
always flitted between mild and wild, so it’s par for the course that a
mild Camry is followed by, well, a wild one. And a wild one it is; just
look at the size of that air dam! And the chrome surround that runs
around the chin – it’s borderline over the top. Toyota designers have
also moved the main, slot-like grille higher up on the nose, there are
LED daytime running lights and there’s a LED main lamp as well. The top
of the bonnet gets a mild power dome and the turning lights are placed
at a jaunty angle in front of the wheel arch. Now, some designs don’t
translate well into three dimensions, but not this one; it really works
well. And so does the small change at the rear, where Toyota has made
the bumper a bit wider at its base.
The insides are very similar to the pre-facelift car. This is one of
Toyota’s best dashboards – interesting, beautifully layered and with
improved materials. I particularly like how the wood and chrome accents
work together, and the other good bit is that noting feels old
fashioned. There’s also a new colour information display in the centre
of the instrument panel, which is easily controlled from the steering
wheel. As on the earlier car, the rear gets its own temperature setting,
the rear seat backs recline up to eight degrees and while you are sat a
bit low, rear seat pampering and comfort are first rate.
What's it like to drive?
There aren’t too many changes from behind the wheel. The car still
takes off beautifully with electric motor assist at low speeds, the
instant dollop of torque from the word go feeling gratifying. And you do
feel the combined force of 202bhp from the powertrain when you
accelerate hard as well. What’s also particularly impressive is the
seamless integration of electric and petrol units. Toyota has made a
couple of changes – the cabin now is much better insulated from both
road noise and engine sound and the guys responsible for the suspension
have given it a bit more suppleness by recalibrating the valves in the
dampers. So now low-speed ride is a bit better as well. The handling,
however, has become a bit soggier. The Camry still turns in well and the
poise of the car is still good; it’s just that it runs out of grip
pretty soon.
Should I buy one?
Now mildly improved over the earlier version,
the updated Camry Hybrid is a perfectly agreeable and practical large
executive sedan. It’s now better suited to its role as a quasi-luxury
car – it rides better, is better insulated and with a Rs 70,000 rebate
via the Government of India’s FAME initiative, better value too. No, at
Rs 31.92 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi), the Camry Hybrid facelift isn’t
exactly cheap, but consider the comfort and luxury this car can serve
up, all the unique fuel-saving technology present, and the size and
space on offer, and the Camry looks like quite an attractive
proposition.
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