2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid vs 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid continued to uphold Toyota’s legacy in the U.S., a history spanning over 60 years. The Camry, a staple in Toyota’s lineup since 1983, had evolved through eight generations, with the hybrid variant introduced in 2007. By 2022, the Camry Hybrid had received a mild makeover in 2021, resulting in minimal changes for the 2022 model year. Despite being largely a carryover, the 2022 Camry Hybrid impressed with its futuristic and expressive exterior design, featuring a bold front end and a range of wheel options from 16-inch steel to 19-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, the 2022 Camry Hybrid boasted a similarly futuristic and expressive design. The dashboard featured a sweeping curve, creating a dynamic look across the center stack and console. The interior was spacious, with a roomy second row and high-quality materials throughout. Toyota’s attention to fit and finish was evident, with even gaps, smooth paint, and quality trims, making the 2022 Camry Hybrid a well-crafted vehicle.

The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid, six years into the eighth generation, introduced new styling elements like the Reservoir Blue paint and the Nightshade Edition’s matte-bronze 19-inch wheels. The Nightshade Edition, available only with SE trim, featured black-trimmed headlights and taillights, a TRD mesh grille, and black accents, giving it a distinctive look. The 2023 model offered a choice between a standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a hybrid powertrain, with front-wheel drive for hybrids and optional all-wheel drive for non-hybrids.

Inside, the 2023 Camry Hybrid retained the SE-spec interior, which had been in use for over half a decade. While Toyota claimed impeccable fit and finish, the interior featured some cheap-looking plastics and allowed road noise into the cabin. The trunk and doors also exhibited a less substantial feel. Despite these drawbacks, the 2023 Camry Hybrid offered a range of features, including optional blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and other convenience upgrades, making it a well-equipped vehicle.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was designed for fuel efficiency rather than track performance. The entry-level LE model achieved an impressive EPA-rated fuel economy of 51 mpg city/53 mpg highway/52 mpg combined, while other trims managed 44 mpg city/47 mpg highway/46 mpg combined. The hybrid system combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors, producing a total of 208 horsepower. An electronically controlled CVT sent power to the front wheels, with paddle shifters available on SE and XSE models for a more engaging driving experience. The Camry Hybrid’s handling benefited from a lower center of gravity due to the lithium-ion battery pack placement, offering a better driving experience compared to its gasoline-only counterpart.

The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid offered three powertrain options, with the hybrid variant combining a 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder engine, an electric motor, and a lithium-ion battery pack for a total output of 208 horsepower. The hybrid system simulated a CVT, with six programmed ratios to mimic a traditional automatic transmission. The sporty SE and XSE trims featured paddle shifters and multiple driving modes, including Normal, Eco, EV, and Sport. However, the test car’s fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging only 33.4 mpg compared to the EPA rating of 46 mpg combined. Despite this, the hybrid system provided quick acceleration and well-isolated drivetrain noise, with better-than-expected brake pedal feel and modulation.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid excelled in ride height, seating position, and ease of use. The driving position was comfortable and adjustable, accommodating a range of driver preferences. The interior offered ample storage options, including a spacious glove compartment and multiple nooks throughout the dash. The second row was roomy and easy to access, with generous bottle holders and map pockets. The trunk provided 15.1 cubic feet of space, with a passthrough for long items and fold-down rear seats for additional cargo capacity. The 2022 Camry Hybrid came with a comprehensive warranty, including a 10-year/100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.

The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid maintained a simple and durable interior design, with easy-to-use controls and a no-nonsense layout. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment for the driver and manual adjustment for the passenger, with a manual height adjuster for added comfort. The SE trim featured SofTex artificial leather, which was not as soft as in other Toyota models. The back seats were comfortable but lacked the spaciousness of competitors like the Honda Accord. The trunk space remained at 15.1 cubic feet, with the ability to carry full-size suitcases on their sides. However, the lack of a handle to close the trunk lid was a minor inconvenience.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid was equipped with advanced technology features, including a premium JBL audio system with nine speakers, available on XLE and XSE models. The system offered impressive sound quality, with sophisticated algorithms for digital audio sources. Embedded navigation was also available on higher trims, while Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a WiFi hotspot were standard across all models. The LE, SE, and SE Nightshade came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while the XLE and XSE featured a 9-inch touchscreen. Additional features included a smart key system, push-button start, and a projected-path rearview camera.

The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid offered a choice between a 7-inch or 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display, both with smartphone connectivity, including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The larger 9-inch system included connected navigation and a JBL premium sound system. Both systems were Amazon Alexa compatible and came with SiriusXM satellite radio and several connected service plans. The test car had the basic 7-inch touchscreen, which performed adequately but had limitations in voice recognition. Physical knobs and buttons surrounded the screen, providing easy control. Additional tech options included a 7-inch driver information center and a 10-inch head-up display, though the test car lacked these features.

The 2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, Lane Tracing Assist, automatic high beams, and traffic-sign recognition. The Star safety system added stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Camry Hybrid featured 10 airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, and available blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The 2022 model received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and was expected to maintain its Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.

The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid also came with 10 airbags and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5), which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. Additional features included automatic high-beam headlights and Intersection Support. However, the TSS 2.5 system demonstrated some issues during testing, with overly dramatic braking and difficulty handling lane changes. Despite these drawbacks, the 2023 Camry Hybrid received five-star ratings from NHTSA and maintained its Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS, though it received a Poor rating in the updated IIHS side-impact crash test.