Toyota has been busy updating its best-selling Camry for 2010, at least under the skin. The popular base four-cylinder

Toyota has updated the look of the 2010 Camry Hybrid, with a new grille and front fascia. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

model has been given a new engine, now 2.5 litres instead of 2.4, a much more refined mill with added power and better fuel economy, the latter partially thanks to the addition of a six-speed automatic. The hybrid carries forward with the 2.4-litre four, however, while its continuously variable transmission (CVT) is even thriftier than the new six-speed automatic in the other cars.

Canada is the only market in the world that sells more Camry Hybrids than dedicated Prius models, a reality that speaks miles about our priorities. It’s a car that does much of what the Prius does, but in a more traditional manner. It appears that while many of our green-minded citizens want to make an obvious environmental statement with the iconic Prius, in Canada, at least, there are more that would rather quietly go about their business in a car that, from the sheer sake of popularity, epitomizes the word ubiquitous.

Just

Subtly updated rear end is nice too. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

the same, Toyota has tried to update what is a very nice looking sedan. It gets a new front grille for 2010, along with revised bumpers, front headlamps and cool LED taillights, plus the wheels are redesigned for a fresher appearance. The Hybrid gets an augmented grille to set it apart from the regular Camry, along with some blue “Hybrid Synergy Drive” badging fixed at each side and back to make sure all passersby pay respect to your environmental stewardship.

I’ve driven so many hybrids over the years as part of my job that sometimes I forget that the majority of people probably haven’t experienced this modern-day phenomenon. Well, let me tell you that since I drove a Japanese-market version of the first generation Prius prior to it even coming to North America,

The nice roomy, comfortable interior should appeal to most everyone. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

they’ve come a long way. This new Camry Hybrid is a dream. It hardly feels any different than a regular Camry other than the shiftless CVT transmission and extra juice over the regular four-cylinder at takeoff. The combined four-cylinder gasoline engine and 105 kW permanent magnet motor makes 187 net horsepower and a maximum of 138 lb-ft of torque.

Smooth, smoother, smoothest, the Camry Hybrid is a sweet ride if you like being pampered by your suspension, but then again it handles corners quite well and is extremely stable on the highway.

Inside, the seats are large and comfortable and there’s a lot of available room front and back. Sit behind the wheel for a few minutes and you’ll quickly figure out why this

Centre stack is really upscale, more Lexus than Toyota. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

car garners so many fans. It’s really well organized inside, and materials are more than good enough for the class. Some upscale niceties include dual-zone automatic climate control, six-CD/MP3 audio system with a USB connector and Bluetooth connectivity, premium fabric seats with eight-way power adjustment for the driver, proximity sensing remote access with pushbutton start/stop, Optitron electronic gauges, a leather-wrapped tilt and telescopic steering wheel, cruise control, a garage door opener, driver's knee airbag to go along dual front, side-thorax and front and rear side curtain airbags, front and rear splash guards, heated mirrors, variable intermittent wipers, and automatic headlamps. The Hybrid also gets 16-inch alloy rims on 215/60R16 all-season tires, while another improvement for 2010 model is the instantaneous

Rear seat room is fabulous. (Photo: Canadian Auto Press)

fuel economy meter, plus all Camry models now come standard with traction and stability control and auto up and down for all windows.
 
If you haul a lot of gear in your trunk, the Hybrid might crimp your style with a cargo area 125 litres (4.4 cubic feet) smaller than the 425-litre (15.0 cu ft) regular Camry trunk at 300 litres (10.6 cu ft) thanks to the Nickel-Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack. Just the same a standard 60/40 split-folding rear seat will help open things up if you need to load something larger.

At the end of the day, however, hauling stuff isn’t why you might consider buying into the Camry Hybrid, but rather reduced emissions and/or fuel economy. The four-cylinder model is already thrifty at 9.0L/100km in the city and 6.1L/100km on the highway, but the Camry Hybrid is beyond brilliant with a government rating of 5.7L100km for both city and highway driving, plus thirst for only regular unleaded.

Yes, few cars deliver so much comfort and utility yet use so little fuel, putting the Camry Hybrid atop the HEV heap in Canada.

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