Used 2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid

Two of Toyota’s greatest claims to fame are in the 2023 Camry Hybrid. The Camry midsize sedan has been a strong seller for decades, even in these SUV-obsessed times. That’s because it’s always been dependable, durable, spacious, and safe. These attributes apply to the Camry Hybrid just as much as the regular Camry.

The other big Toyota specialty is hybrid power. The company has been making gasoline/electric cars for mass production since before the turn of the millennium. It really has this stuff perfected.

This car is a winning combination of Camry goodness and hybrid efficiency, with the ability to achieve 53 mpg on the highway. The regular, non-hybrid 2023 Toyota Camry midsize sedan is reviewed separately.

The battery doesn’t need any recharging, so the 2023 Camry Hybrid sedan is as easy to live with on a day-to-day basis as a regular Camry — which is really, really easy. There are no special requirements, just the usual maintenance and the occasional visit to the gas station.

The driver can click through the modes, perhaps choosing the Eco setting for commutes and suburban errands. Select Sport when you want sharper throttle responses. This is no thrill-a-minute machine, but that’s not what buyers want from their hybrid cars anyway.

If there’s a more valid gripe, it’s that the brakes take some getting used to. Because of the regeneration system that captures brake energy (and stores it in the battery), the initial bite is quite strong. That’s not always the case in hybrids. Other companies have managed to make the action smoother.

Interestingly, or perhaps otherwise, Toyota doesn’t offer all-wheel drive in the 2023 Camry Hybrid, even though it’s available in the regular Camry counterpart. And in the Toyota Prius.

Most car interiors are becoming more simplified, but the 2023 Camry Hybrid still has a lot going on. There’s the curvy and asymmetrical center console, the protruding infotainment touchscreen, and a mix of textured plastics. The XLE trim emphasizes the luxury side with wood trim pieces, while the XSE stakes a sportier claim with metal highlights.

Large and comfortable front seats provide comfort even over longer drives, and outward vision is generally good. Rear passengers enjoy a generous 38 inches of legroom.

There’s the same 15.1 cubic feet of trunk space as the non-hybrid sedan — no compromise required, despite the extra apparatus.

Toyota decided to make its Prius hybrid different from everything else on the road, so owners could make their own special statement. With the 2023 Camry Hybrid, the company heads in the opposite direction. The casual observer would have no idea what was powering this midsize sedan with the conservative styling.

Only a Camry aficionado (if such a person existed) could tell the various trim levels apart. The LE has a dark gray grille, the SE goes for black, the XLE opts for a dark gray grille with chrome accents, and the XSE sports a gloss-black grille. The XSE is the only trim eligible for a metallic black contrasting roof.

Based on the SE trim, the Nightshade Edition now offers Reservoir Blue paintwork, in addition to white or black. Every Nightshade model also gains 19-inch bronze-finished alloy wheels.

INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM
Naturally, the version with the biggest touchscreen is preferable. That’s optional in the two lower trims and standard in the two highest. Either way, though, this system is user-friendly, compatible with Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant, and getting Apple CarPlay/Android Auto working is accomplished in moments.

JBL AUDIO
The XLE and XSE offer this upgrade, and it’s worth checking out. JBL makes great sound equipment. The same parent company includes Mark Levinson systems, which are such a big part of the Lexus experience.

Trim levels for the 2023 Camry Hybrid midsize sedan are LE, SE, SE Nightshade, XLE, and XSE. The LE starts out with plenty of standard safety features, helping the Camry earn a Top Safety Pick+ accolade from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

These include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, steering-assisted lane-departure warning, lane-tracing assistance, automatic high beams, and full-speed adaptive cruise control.

The rest of the LE is a little basic, with 16-inch steel wheels wearing plastic covers, plus cloth upholstery and a 7-inch infotainment touchscreen.

On the upside, though, there are also LED headlights/daytime running lights/taillights, keyless entry/start, dual-zone automatic climate control, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, two USB ports (one A, one C), satellite radio, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration.

The SE adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, simulated leather seating surfaces, sport-tuned suspension, rear spoiler, 18-inch alloy wheels, and the opportunity to go for the extra cosmetics of a Nightshade Edition.

The XLE reverts to the normal suspension setup while adding an 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats, real leather seating surfaces, ambient cabin lighting, self-dimming rearview mirror, Wi-Fi, blind-spot monitoring, and a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen.

The sport-tuned suspension makes a comeback in the top XSE version, which also fits 19-inch alloy wheels.

Most versions of the 2023 Camry Hybrid sedan (but not the Nightshade) are eligible for a powered moonroof and LED rear-seat reading lights. Toyota offers heated front seats, Wi-Fi, and the 9-inch touchscreen in the two lowest trims. The SE is also eligible for a heated steering wheel. And blind-spot monitoring is optional in the first three trims.

The XLE and XSE qualify for heated/ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, 360-degree camera system head-up display, rear parking sensors with automatic reverse braking, navigation, and a 9-speaker JBL audio system.

A naturally aspirated 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine provides the combustion component of the 2023 Camry Hybrid sedan’s drivetrain. It develops a relaxed 176 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque, and requires nothing more expensive than regular gasoline.

A motor and a lithium-ion battery handle the electric side. This setup generates 118 horsepower and 149 lb-ft of torque.

Calculating total output is not as straightforward as just adding up the various numbers. The engine and the motor achieve their peaks at different times. Toyota quotes combined horsepower at 208 and never supplies a combined torque figure for its hybrids.

An automatic transmission directs energy solely to the front wheels.

2.5-liter inline-4/permanent magnet synchronous electric motor
Combined system output: 208 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 51/53 mpg (LE), 44/47 mpg (SE, XLE, XSE)