2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review: A Fuel-Efficient and Aesthetically-Pleasing Sedan
2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review:
- 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid: ($28,355 – $33,795)
- IIHS Top Safety Pick +
- Pros: The 2023 Toyota Camry is super fuel-efficient, spacious, and safe as ever.
- Cons: No option for all-wheel drive and squishy brake feel
The Toyota Camry has been a staple in the midsize sedan segment for decades. Its reliable engine, comfortable seating for five, and plush driving dynamics have made it a household favorite. The Camry Hybrid adds to this equation by including a fuel-efficient gas-electric powertrain that sips fuel and provides plenty of power.
For the 2023 model year, the Camry Hybrid is now the most fuel-efficient version of the sedan that the Japanese automaker has ever produced. It also comes with a new trim-level package that gives it a more stylish look. As weird as it may sound, the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid is not only a gas-saving sedan, but it’s also aesthetically pleasing.
What’s new for 2023?
Not much has changed for the Toyota Camry since its last major update in 2018. However, the new Camry Hybrid adds a Nightshade package to the SE trim level. This appearance package adorns the car with a black rear spoiler, front grille, mirror caps, and badges for a more aggressive look. There are also bronze 19-inch wheels that match well with the three available color choices – Midnight Black, White, and Reservoir Blue.
The other Camry models get more driver-assistance technology in the form of automatic high beams and a forward-facing camera that can detect road signs.
Which 2023 Camry Hybrid trim level is best?
- Camry LE Hybrid: $28,355
- Camry SE Hybrid SE: $29,890
- Camry SE Hybrid Nightshade: $30,890
- Camry XLE Hybrid: $33,245
- Camry XSE Hybrid: $33,795
Although we enjoyed our Toyota Camry Hybrid SE Nightshade tester, we recommend picking the Hybrid XLE trim level for the most value. The XLE trim comes with a larger touchscreen, heated leather seats, and more safety equipment.
How does the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid drive?
The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid provides a plush and quiet driving experience while remaining worry-free. It’s not an electric car, so the battery doesn’t need to be charged up, which also means there’s no range anxiety – just put gasoline in and go. Speaking of the powertrain, the Camry Hybrid is powered by a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that’s mated to an electric motor.
The gas engine mainly kicks in to generate power for the battery, but it can also aid in acceleration when needed. We found it a little weird hearing the engine turn on while sitting at a stoplight. There’s a muted growl that comes on, but we got used to it after driving the car a few times. Otherwise, the hybrid setup provides plenty of power to get the car up to speed on the highway and when passing slower traffic.
As for ride quality, the Camry Hybrid’s suspension feels soft and competent over irregular road surfaces. Although our Hybrid SE Nightshade tester was equipped with a sport suspension, it didn’t feel as stiff as you might think. Also, the cabin is quiet, and we didn’t detect a lot of wind noise. Road noise was also surprisingly minimal, given the car’s large 19-inch wheels.
Overall, if you’re looking for a serene and trouble-free driving experience, the Toyota Camry Hybrid has you covered.
How fuel-efficient is the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid?
According to the EPA, the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid should achieve up to 44 mpg in the city and 47 mpg on the highway. Opting for the base Hybrid LE trim level bumps those figures up to 51 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway. In our week of testing, we managed an average of 38 mpg, which sounds low, but it could result from driving at a high elevation.
All Camry Hybrid trim levels are powered by the same drivetrain – the aforementioned 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor. The powerplant puts out a combined 208 hp.
Does the 2023 Camry Hybrid have a nice interior?
Yes. The 2023 Camry Hybrid’s interior is a comfortable place to spend time in. The base LE model comes with cloth upholstery, but stepping up to the higher trim levels unlocks simulated leather and real leather seating surfaces. Otherwise, the button layout on the center stack is easy to reach, as is the touchscreen infotainment system.
The visibility is excellent out of all four corners of the car, and it’s even easy to park and maneuver, given its light steering feel.
How is the Camry Hybrid’s tech?
The 2023 Camry Hybrid is filled with all the tech-savvy features most drivers need. The base LE trim comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, LED headlights, keyless entry/start, dual-zone climate control, an 8-way power adjustable driver’s seat, two USB ports, and Apple Carplay/Android Auto phone integration.
Stepping up to the SE trim adds a 9-inch infotainment screen, and the XLE model adds Wi-Fi, a self-dimming mirror, ambient lighting, and blind-spot monitoring.
The upper XLE and XSE trim levels add more tech via heated/ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a 360-degree camera, rear parking sensors, navigation, and a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system.
How safe is the Camry Hybrid sedan?
The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid is safe as can be. Toyota equipped every trim level with the Safety Sense 2.5+ suite of driver assist features. This suite includes:
- Forward collision warning with automatic braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Lane-departure warning with steering assistance
- Automatic high beams
- Lane-tracing assistance
- Adaptive cruise control with stop and go
The most interesting addition to the safety roster is the Smart Stop Technology, which allows the brakes to override the system to stop the car in the event that the brake and gas pedals are pressed at the same time.
In addition to having these safety features, the Camry Hybrid took home the coveted Top Safety Pick + award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Is the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid reliable?
The 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid is as reliable as it has ever been. J.D. Power rated the 2023 Camry Hybrid with a reliability score of 84 out of 100. Scores between 91 and 100 are the best, while ratings between 81 and 91 are considered “great.”
All things considered, we expect that the Camry Hybrid should easily last up to 200,000 miles and beyond with the proper care and maintenance.
MotorBiscuit awards the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid with an official rating of 8.2 out of 10
The editors at MotorBiscuit award the 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid with an overall rating of 8.2 out of 10. The Toyota Camry Hybrid offers a lot of value for the money in the form of a fuel-efficient drivetrain, a comfortable driving experience, and plenty of safety features.
Although it has some stiff competition with the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Honda Accord, we feel that the Toyota Camry holds its own in the category. It should also provide any new owners with many years of trouble-free motoring.
