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With the recent coronation of the 2012 Toyota Camry Hybrid as Consumer Report's Top Pick for a family sedan, some have wondered if this is a sign that the automaker's mojo is back. Looking deeper at the Top Picks this year reveals that a full 50 percent are Toyotas, making this a natural question indeed.
Four of the five Top Pick Toyotas are carryover vehicles for 2012, but what was it that brought the Camry Hybrid to such an impressive score? It wasn't just fuel economy—although 38 mpg overall in our testing blows away anything not called "Prius." Handling got better and the steering, while still somewhat vague, has more feedback than the previous model. We also thought the ride was comfortable without feeling like you're dozing in a La-Z-Boy.
Our tested $29,052 Camry Hybrid XLE version comes pretty loaded; we only added the Convenience Package (which included a backup camera) and floor mats.
Our detailed road test and ratings reveal the details behind the high score, but below you'll find a candid a look at the nitty-gritty of what this Top Pick is like to live with:
"The engine has impressive electric-only capacity in stop-and-go traffic."
"'Eco' mode blunts throttle response, but it's still tolerable."
"Expect good mid-range power - more performance than the Prius."
"The CVT is smooth."
"The Hybrid's steering feels heavier than the normal Camry."
"Ride is comfortable and compliant."
"Very quiet when driving, but the engine sounds gruff as it starts up."
"The brakes feel grabby."
"The front seats give decent support, even over a long drive."
"No seat heaters on an XLE trim line?"
It's a fair argument that Toyota took some pains to make the Camry a more interesting and engaging car to drive. And the Hybrid version isn't the only one that did well in our fuel economy tests: the four-cylinder and V6 models (which we also tested) returned a respectable 27 and 26 mpg overall, respectively. We're not ready to proclaim that the Camry is as fun to drive as an Infiniti G37 or Volkswagen Jetta GLI (entertaining cars that likely won't show up on a Camry buyer's shopping list). That said, the Hybrid is an impressive effort by Toyota and worthy of its Top Pick status.
—Mike Quincy
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