2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review
2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review
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The Camry Hybrid offers excellent fuel economy, comfortable seating, a roomy interior, and a wealth of standard driver safety aids. Toyota's reputation for reliability and build quality are factors here too. The recent additions of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa have made this hybrid sedan even more compelling.
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2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review
byChristian Wardlaw
Correspondent
Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at Edmunds and was the first editor-in-chief of Edmunds.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.
Pros
- High fuel efficiency
- Comfortable driving position
- Impressive safety tech and ratings
Cons
- Grabby brakes can sometimes make it difficult to stop smoothly
- Ride can get a little too floaty on the highway (LE and XLE)
- Trunk isn't as big as those on other hybrid sedans
What's new
- Updated exterior and interior styling
- Sporty XSE Hybrid trim added to lineup
- Bigger optional infotainment touchscreen
- Enhanced standard driving assistance technologies
- Part of the eighth Camry generation introduced for 2018
Overview
A midsize sedan with an efficient gasoline-hybrid powertrain, the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid offers greater power and fuel economy than a standard Camry in exchange for a modest price premium. Not long ago, the Camry Hybrid battled numerous competitors. But with consumers migrating to SUVs and the discontinuations of the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Kia Optima Hybrid for the 2021 model year, the Camry Hybrid's remaining rivals include the Honda Accord Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, each of which gives the Toyota a run for its money.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.50 per gallon for regular unleaded in Ohio.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Ohio
$84/mo for Camry Hybrid LE
Camry Hybrid LE
vs
$181/mo
Avg. Midsize Car
For 2021, Toyota expands the Camry Hybrid lineup with the new XSE trim. Similar to the regular Camry's XSE trim, it has a sportier-looking front end, bigger wheels and a sport-tuned suspension for slightly more responsive handling. All Camrys this year further benefit from freshened exterior styling, a larger infotainment touchscreen option, and more advanced driving assistance systems. Be sure to review our full Expert Rating to learn more about the Camry Hybrid.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our VerdictThe Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Good
7.9
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The Camry Hybrid offers excellent fuel economy, comfortable seating, a roomy interior, and a wealth of standard driver safety aids. Toyota's reputation for reliability and build quality are factors here too. The recent additions of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa have made this hybrid sedan even more compelling.
Rated for you by America's best test team.Performance
7.0/10
How does the Camry Hybrid drive? There's goodness in broad swaths with the Camry Hybrid. The sedan's power is decent in day-to-day use. In our testing, we measured a 0-60 mph time of about 8 seconds, which is slightly better than average for a midsize hybrid sedan.
Hybrid performance is smooth and care-free. Braking is predictable and very usable in everyday applications, and the low-rolling-resistance tires, which are common in this class, also provide average braking distances. Steering and handling are decent for the class. Overall, it's acceptable from a performance standpoint, but day-to-day commuting is its main strength.
Hybrid performance is smooth and care-free. Braking is predictable and very usable in everyday applications, and the low-rolling-resistance tires, which are common in this class, also provide average braking distances. Steering and handling are decent for the class. Overall, it's acceptable from a performance standpoint, but day-to-day commuting is its main strength.
Comfort
8.0/10
How comfortable is the Camry Hybrid? Comfort is where any midsize sedan should shine and the Camry Hybrid does just that. The climate control creates a welcome environment, and the seating comfortably accommodates a range of body types. The optional ventilated seats are a boon in warmer climates, and there's very little noise in the cabin coming from wind or the road at highway speeds.
Our only nitpick is the XLE hybrid's ride comfort. While great around town, it can sometimes feel overly buoyant at highway speeds. The extra weight of the hybrid system is evident.
Our only nitpick is the XLE hybrid's ride comfort. While great around town, it can sometimes feel overly buoyant at highway speeds. The extra weight of the hybrid system is evident.
Interior
8.5/10
How’s the interior? Inviting, roomy and easy to live with are good hallmarks to have in such a competitive class, and the Camry has them all. The interior is easy to use, and all controls are readily within reach. The driving position is largely adaptable, and most people should easily find a comfortable position behind the wheel. Getting in and out of the vehicle is a cinch due to generous door openings, and there's a good amount of interior room for both front and rear occupants and excellent visibility for the driver.
Technology
8.0/10
How’s the tech? The Camry Hybrid's smartphone integration includes standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Amazon Alexa. Both the standard 7-inch and optional 9-inch infotainment touchscreens are easy to read and operate. Built-in navigation is offered on higher trims if you want it. Three USB ports and the option to add a wireless charger should provide plenty of charge for all occupants on the road.
All 2021 Camrys come with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+. It's an impressive suite of standard driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist. Previously, some of these systems have been too sensitive for our liking, but they've been refined for 2021 and work much better.
All 2021 Camrys come with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5+. It's an impressive suite of standard driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and lane keeping assist. Previously, some of these systems have been too sensitive for our liking, but they've been refined for 2021 and work much better.
Storage
8.0/10
How’s the storage? The Camry Hybrid retains a full-size trunk with no intrusion from a battery pack whatsoever. With the trunk open, you can't tell it apart from a standard Camry. Hybrid sedans usually force you to give up some practicality, but not this one. The 15.1-cubic-foot trunk area is smaller than the Accord Hybrid's (16.7 cubic feet) but the wide opening with a low liftover height helps you make the most of it.
The cabin offers a good amount of storage, from the sliding compartment underneath the wireless charger to a nicely sized center armrest bin, plus a small bonus storage cubby on the far left-hand side of the dash. There's also ample room for car seat access, along with easily accessible anchors for speedy installation.
The cabin offers a good amount of storage, from the sliding compartment underneath the wireless charger to a nicely sized center armrest bin, plus a small bonus storage cubby on the far left-hand side of the dash. There's also ample room for car seat access, along with easily accessible anchors for speedy installation.
Fuel Economy
8.5/10
How’s the fuel economy? EPA-estimated fuel economy for an XLE Hybrid (which is what we tested) is 46 mpg. That's a solid number for a midsize hybrid sedan. The base LE car returns an even more impressive 52 mpg. By comparison, the Honda Accord Hybrid gets an estimated 43 or 48 mpg, depending on the trim level. We yielded about 42.4 mpg during our time with our XLE test car, which doesn't quite hit the mark but is decently efficient.
Value
8.0/10
Is the Camry Hybrid a good value? Long the strong point for Toyota, there's good value in the latest Camry Hybrid. Traditional strong Toyota build quality? Check. The interior materials are a nice quality, and the hybrid matches well against the competition in standard warranty and ownership experience.
While the base Camry Hybrid is a little more expensive than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata hybrids, the starting MSRP for the top-spec Camry Hybrid XLE is very cost-effective for this class. The raft of standard safety features and stellar fuel economy are double wins for your wallet.
While the base Camry Hybrid is a little more expensive than the Honda Accord and Hyundai Sonata hybrids, the starting MSRP for the top-spec Camry Hybrid XLE is very cost-effective for this class. The raft of standard safety features and stellar fuel economy are double wins for your wallet.
Wildcard
7.5/10
This is as normal and middle-of-the-road as a car can possibly get, yet you get such a huge boost in fuel economy without the usual hallmarks of dare-you-to-buy-it styling and buzzy ride common to extremely fuel-efficient cars. It isn't fun to drive in a traditional sense, but it is fulfilling in the sense that you're doing something for the environment (if that's something you care about) and doing it in comfort.
Which Camry Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?
If you're shopping for a 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid, chances are you want to save money on gas or drive a vehicle that emits fewer pollutants into the atmosphere. Either way, the most affordable and efficient version of the Camry Hybrid is the base LE trim level. If you're willing to pay a little more in terms of price and get a little less in terms of efficiency, the SE trim offers a sporty look and handling at the expense of outright efficiency.
2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid models
For the 2021 model year, the Camry Hybrid comes in base LE, upscale XLE, sporty SE and sportier XSE trim levels. See the highlights from each version's standard equipment list below.
LE
The base trim includes:
- Automatic LED headlights
- 16-inch steel wheels with styled wheel covers
- Dual-zone automatic climate control
- Power-adjustable driver's seat
- 60/40-split folding rear seat
- Keyless entry for front doors and trunk
- 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system display
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
Every Camry Hybrid also comes with:
- Forward collision warning (alerts you of a possible collision with the car in front)
- Automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and applies the brakes if you don't respond in time)
- Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
- Lane keeping system (makes minor steering corrections to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane)
- Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
Options for the Camry Hybrid LE include a sunroof and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while reversing).
Additionally, Toyota offers these option packages:
Audio Upgrade package
- 9-inch touchscreen display
- Backup camera with dynamic path lines
- Additional remote connected service plans
Cold Weather package
- Heated front seats
- Heated side mirrors
Convenience package
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror
- Universal garage door opener
SE
The Camry Hybrid SE is a sportier version of the LE trim. It features the LE's standard equipment plus:
- Sport-design styling
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Sport-tuned suspension
- Simulated leather seats with fabric inserts
Optional equipment mirrors offerings on the Camry LE.
XLE
This version of the Camry Hybrid builds on the LE trim with the contents of the Audio Upgrade, Cold Weather and Convenience packages, plus:
- Chrome exterior accents
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- Leather upholstery
- Power front passenger's seat
- Rear air-conditioning vents
- Ambient interior lighting
- Bigger driver information display
- Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert
Options for the XLE trim include a sunroof, a navigation system bundled with a JBL premium sound system, a heated steering wheel and adaptive headlights (swivel as you turn the steering wheel for better illumination in curves). Additionally, you can get:
Driver Assist package
- Ventilated front seats
- Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto the windshield)
- Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Camry Hybrid and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
- Rear automatic braking (brakes if sensors detect an imminent collision with an object behind the vehicle)
XSE
New for 2021, the Camry Hybrid XSE features the equipment from the SE and XLE, with these exceptions:
- 19-inch alloy wheels
- Lower-profile tires
- Gloss black grille trim
- Metal interior trim
It offers the same options as the Camry XLE with two exceptions. Adaptive headlights are not available for the XSE, but you can get a black-painted roof for this trim.
Toyota Camry vs. Honda Accord vs. Hyundai Sonata: Hybrid Sedan Head-to-Head
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid.
5 star(67%)
4 star(11%)
3 star(7%)
2 star(5%)
1 star(10%)
61 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Near perfect vehicle
Cotton, 12/17/2019
2020 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Bought a 2020 camry hybrid le. After driving for a while now my wife and decided this is near perfect car. How to make it better I have no idea as it is smooth, quiet, intuitive, comfortable, roomy a d dependable. Recently drove my daughter to college 2.5 hours each way. She drove there a d is a bit of a lead foot still averaged almost 47 mpg this includes city a d highway combined. … On drive home I drove and was very conscious of power usage and typically ran 4mph over speed limit. I averaged 53 8 mpg.
5 out of 5 stars
Great Car
Neal, 02/15/2021
2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
This is the second Camry Hybrid I have owned and I cannot say enough good about it. The ride is extremely soft and bumps are virtually nonexistent. The CVT transmission removes all the noise of the shifting gears of other models. The interior insulation (including the windows) remove almost all exterior noise from outside including traffic right next to you. The only negative on this XLE … is it has no remote start. When you buy a "top of the line" trim a remote starter should be a no-brainer. I will be buying an aftermarket product for that. I highly recommend this car and hope you have the same good luck I have had!
5 out of 5 stars
Awesome!
concordenerd, 04/23/2021
2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
I owned a Lexus ES350 and a Prius, but was looking for one of Toyota’s sedans in a hybrid. After getting the Prius I didn’t drive me ES very often as it took premium fuel and got way worse mpg’s. I test drove the Avalon Limited hybrid, Prius AWDe, Camry XLE hybrid and Lexus ES300h. The Lexus vehicles to me are just not the same as previous years. I did not like it and the Avalon was … too big. Prius was good, but the Camry felt just right and was more substantial than the Prius.
I bought a Camry XLE hybrid fully
Loaded and honestly the more I drive it, the more I love it! It truly is a wonderful car. Hybrid mpgs are great and I go 500 miles or more on tank. Usually squeezing 12 gal of gas into the 13.3 gal tank. Not bad for a family sedan.
I wish they made a Camry prime!
5 out of 5 stars
Very nice car!
Brian C., 05/31/2021
2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Just bought one and I love it getting right around 48-52 mpg very comfortable ride and surprisingly powerful in sport mode. Has enough space for a family of 4. I wish they offered the SE with the same mpg but the SE gets less. The SE looks better but I didn't buy it for looks I bought it for a commuter/family car and the LE fit the bill. If your looking for a really nice car for a small … family with great gas mileage this is the one. The hybrid system is covered for 100k miles and the battery is covered for 150k under warranty and I really like the radar cruise control and lane assist . The car is very roomy as well I'm a bigger guy 6' 215lbs and I do not feel cramped in this car at all plus the kids have plenty of room in the back seats. I test drove a Corolla hybrid first and there was just no comparison to the comfort and drivability of the camry.
We have a limited number of reviews for the 2021 Toyota Camry Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Camry Hybrid since its last redesign.
2021 Camry Hybrid Highlights
LE
Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee | $27,270 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Hybrid |
Combined MPG | 52 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $84/month |
Seating | 5 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 15.1 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 3 years / 36,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Camry Hybrid models:
- Pre-Collision System
- Warns if it detects a potential collision with an object ahead, including a pedestrian, and automatically applies the brakes if necessary.
- Lane Tracing Assist
- Helps to center the Camry Hybrid in its lane when the adaptive cruise control is turned on, easing highway travel.
- Intelligent Clearance Sonar
- Warns you if it detects obstacles to the front or rear while you're parking. Can also automatically apply the brakes while reversing.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover5 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover9.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestGood
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestGood
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintGood
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