Toyota: But weight, there's more

The Toyota Camry hybrid i-Tech. Photo / Supplied

Toyota's Camry hybrid i-Tech is functionally identical to the base model we tested in August, so what's it doing here again?

Back then, I drove as any normal driver would - over a restricted drive route which kept the car almost entirely out of its comfort zone. That meant minimal highway or city driving.

This time I drove it further, adding a higher proportion of highway and round-town into the mix as I was curious as to what that would do to fuel consumption - after all, I'll be driving a hybrid Camry in this month's EnergyWise rally.

Toyota's system lets the electric motor take over entirely at under 70km/h, even on mild uphill slopes. Given a few kilometres of straight road it'll soon run out of juice, but NZ cities include junctions, and every time you decelerate the battery recharges. The battery gauge rarely showed under half full, and my fuel average began to look quite good.

We used more petrol on the open road, where the conventional engine takes over while the battery has a rest except under hard acceleration.

This car is almost 160kg heavier than its non-hybrid sibling but it's reasonably frugal during highway driving, particularly if you anticipate trouble ahead, lifting off early for slower traffic or junctions and planning passing manoeuvres rather than being taken by surprise and using the brakes.

Back in the hills around home, the car swigged back the fuel again, but I ended smack-on with Toyota's claim of 6.1 without really trying.

Toyota's basic hybrid Camry sits at $48,990, just $2500 ahead of the Sportivo with its body kit and bigger wheels. But the i-Tech weighs in at $54,990*. The extra six grand gives you leather seats, satnav, a reversing camera, a solar-powered sunroof and an "energy flow meter" that shows when you're drawing (or making) power and keeps a track of economy in five-minute increments. Frankly, if you're that anal about economy you'll buy the standard, lighter, less complex car and live with the hybrid's reduced boot space in exchange for lower fuel bills and a righteous green glow.

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID i-TECH

We like
Hybrid tech in a real-world car; emissions-free around town; boasting rights of solar sunroof

We don't like
Ordinary driving dynamics, and Camry's lack of character

Powertrain
2.4-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol 110kW at 6000rpm, 187Nm at 4400rpm; plus 105kW/270Nm electric motor; CVT auto drives front wheels

Performance
0-100km/h in 8.9 seconds, 6.0l/100km (claim)

Safety
Six airbags, ABS brakes, stability control

What it's got
Reversing camera, satnav, solar sunroof, auto air con, leather seats, USB and iPod-capable, cruise control, Bluetooth

Vital stats
4815mm long, 389-litre boot, 65-litre tank

* Prices are pre October 1 2010