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Toyota Camry Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers

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What is this discussion about? Toyota Camry Hybrid, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)

Messages Page 88 of 99

#869 of 988 100K Miles & Still Delighted by orbiter

Jan 23, 2011 (10:51 pm)

I'm posting this because Ford is advertising their 2011 Fusion Hybrid gets 10 more MPG in city driving than the Camry Hybrid. I'm astonished! It makes no sense. I have a 2007 Camry Hybrid that just turned 100,000 miles. I've kept track of every drop of gas into the tank. Last mpg calculation was just under 37MPG; that's city and highway, winter and summer. Of course, winter weather kills mpg, (it was -15F this morning here in northern Wisconsin). However, I have no trouble seeing 34MPG this time of year, and 40MPG in the summer. Admittedly, my driving environment is pretty favorable. Town is three miles of rolling hills away, and my trips average ten miles or less. Our highways discourage much over 65 mph. However, we've taken numerous long trips across the country at interstate speeds and manage to still achieve very satisfactory mpg. On top of that, after almost five years, there isn't a squeak or a rattle to be heard. The car is as quiet as a church. I've just installed my third set of tires, (Yokohama Avid TRZ), and they're the icing on the cake and really terrific tires. (The original Bridgestones were a joke). Finally, for what it's worth my Camry Hybrid was one of the earliest off the production line. It was built in Japan, and I'm sure that Toyota was watching every turn of the wrench. I'm sure the Ford Fusion Hybrid is a fine car, but I'm still mystified why the Camry has taken such a hit.

#870 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [orbiter] by acdii

Jan 24, 2011 (6:35 am)

Replying to: orbiter (Jan 23, 2011 10:51 pm)
Simple answer, the Fusion is a better car. I had a Camry Hybrid, and I saw similar results in MPG, but overall the car was just plain boring. Material wise, it was below par, the seat cloth was thin and showed signs of wear within 30k miles, the sunroof stuck, it had wind noise, and the dash squeaked. Mechanically the car was superb, but creature comfort wise, handling, and quality wise, it was not up to the standards I would expect of such a highly rated car. Before that I had a Prius, I got up to 64 MPG, but the car scared me, cross winds were nasty, they blew the car around, and the traction control was over sensitive, cutting power to the wheels if a tire slipped a bit. Not good when you are trying to merge into 55 MPH traffic for a dead stop.
 
I traded the Camry in for a 2010 Fusion Sport, and although I don't get 34 MPG, I enjoy driving once again, and the quality of the car is right where I would expect it to be, far better than what Toyota has. The car also handles quite well, and once I get rid of the lousy OEM tires, the car will be even better to drive.
 
The Hybrid Fusion, is rated at 40, the Toyota 34, Considering just about everyone can meet or exceed EPA on a Hybrid, the Fusion will still be getting better MPG than the Camry. 1445 Miles on a single tank of fuel is nothing to joke about.

#871 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [acdii] by stalnaker

Jan 24, 2011 (6:53 am)

Replying to: acdii (Jan 24, 2011 6:35 am)
The Fusion is definitely a nice car, but if you think you can get 1,445 miles on a single tank, I'm not sure what you're smoking
 
I also used to have a Camry hybrid. I had the same issue with the dash rattling and some noise from the sunroof. Other than that the car was rock solid. I have a Prius now (The improved 2010 model). With my Prius I consistently get over 50 mpg in warm weather and in the 40's in the winter. I have even driven on the highway when the wind was blowing really hard and had no problems. The new Prius has a "power" mode that allows you to accelerate pretty fast. I have no trouble passing most cars when I want to. So whatever problems existed in the older-model Priuses have been solved, in my opinion. It's one of the best cars you can buy period, hybrid or not.
 
I have test-driven a Fusion hybrid and it is also a very nice car, although a tad smaller on the inside than the Camry. The Fusion has a similar but slightly different hybrid system than the Camry hybrid. You can actually drive it on just the battery up to 47 mph, instead of the maximum 41 mph that the Camry allows. From what I have read and what people have told me, I think you can expect a real-world average of about 3-4 mpg better in city driving compared to the Camry, and about the same on the highway. So it's not as huge of a difference as what they try to say in the commercials.

#872 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [stalnaker] by acdii

Jan 24, 2011 (8:14 am)

Replying to: stalnaker (Jan 24, 2011 6:53 am)
Road Trip on 1 tank of gas
 
No joke, 2009 road trip, 1445 miles on a single tank of gas.
 
DEARBORN, Mich., Oct. 8, 2009 – The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid made news in April when it set a world record traveling 1,445 miles on a single tank of gas.
 
Accelerating wasn't a problem I had with the Prius, it was when a wheel slipped a bit from sand or gravel when you are going from a dead stop. It cut power 100% to the wheels, so you basically went no where except a few feet, in spurts until you had 100% traction. One time in a light snow, it took me 25 minutes to go 100 feet up a hill. After that, I said goodbye to the car, When I have my 2 little ones and my wife in the car and it could potentially get us into a bind, no thanks.

#873 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [acdii] by larsb

Jan 24, 2011 (8:29 am)

Replying to: acdii (Jan 24, 2011 8:14 am)
They cheated on that test.
 
They used the World's Greatest Hypermiler, Wayne Gerdes.
 
“When you don’t need acceleration power while driving around town, the gas engine shuts down seamlessly. There’s not another hybrid drivetrain in the world that does that as effectively. The Fusion engineering team really knocked it out of the park.”

#874 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [acdii] by troylikesbikes

Jan 29, 2011 (8:18 am)

Replying to: acdii (Jan 24, 2011 8:14 am)
I had a choice of mounting studded snows on my Camry, or another FWD car in the family. I choose the other car. Hybrid control systems suck when it comes to spinning the tires in wintry/snow conditions. They just don't allow the type of slippage necessary sometimes to continue forward motion, they cut power, you drift to a halt, then they won't turn the wheels to protect whatever component they think might get hurt by wheel spinning.

#875 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [troylikesbikes] by acco20

Jan 30, 2011 (7:23 am)

Replying to: troylikesbikes (Jan 29, 2011 8:18 am)
Under those conditions you can turn off traction control. Some cars have a button to do this, the camry does not....but it can be done. I hear the newest camry hybrid models actually have this button.

#876 of 988 Re: 100K Miles & Still Delighted [acco20] by troylikesbikes

Jan 30, 2011 (4:55 pm)

Replying to: acco20 (Jan 30, 2011 7:23 am)
If mine had one, I would reconsider, but it doesn't. I've had a couple cars which had the button, like a CX7 and a Sienna minivan, but not my Camry hybrid.

#877 of 988 13 months and 17,630 miles by shadetree03

Feb 26, 2011 (2:58 pm)

We traded the wifes Audi TT which would get 32 MPG but was starting to cost us in maintenance for a used 2007 TCH last January. After 13 months I am happy with our low cost but comfortable transportation (heated leather seats, the works) and with only 3 oil changes so far and just replaced the original Michelin Energy Saver MXV4 tires at 60,370 miles. Our total gas usage for those 17,630 miles has been 443 gallons for an average of 39.8 MPG. Most of those miles are commutes 5 days a week 76 miles RT with 40 miles of that interstate at 70 MPH and the rest at 45 MPH on rural connector. Yes our mileage has been lower thru the winters at around 38 MPG but the spring, fall and summer revives it with 42 MPG averages. We are learning to drive differently and our roads allow others to pass as needed. We are well pleased with the comfort and especially the low operating cost of our TCH! Excluding the initial used price our out of pocket for those 17 K miles $1,154 for gas plus $225 for oil changes and about $250 prorated cost for tire wear; 9.2 cents a mile is about as good as it gets.

#878 of 988 After 1 year by h_sam

Mar 06, 2011 (9:51 pm)

Live in the Philly suburbs, and commute about 50 miles of mixed roads (highway/city). I have now had the Camry hybrid for about a year, (&13K miles). A few comments:
 
-The mileage has been great - 37-38 miles in summer/fall, and 34-35 in winter. I drive mindfully, but am not a hyper-miler. I also own a Sienna, and used to own a Corolla, and with the same style of driving (and similar commute), I get about 18-19 mpg on the Sienna, and used to get 28-30 mg on the 2003 Corolla.
-Upgrading from the Corolla to the Camry has allowed us to take more family trips in the Camry, and ditch the minivan, except for very long vacation type commutes. It is quite comfortable for a family of 4, for day and weekend trips. The upgraded JBL sound system is great - no complaints there.
That said, a few minor issues:
 
- Mileage is still dependent on driving skill, an keeping one eye on the consumption guage. My wife typically gets 2-3 mpg less than I do, for the same commute.
 
The leather seats could have been better. Internal build quality is OK, but I expected more for a top of the line hybrid (I had all picked all upgrade options). It seems to exude a very 'plasticy' feel.
 
-Cup holders are badly designed,and at an odd location - I twice had coffee spill all over the center console and carpet, when the cup fell out of the holder during a sharp turn.
 
- Passenger seat has no lumbar support controls.
 
iPhone/ipod controller does not let you control from the i-phone - you are forced to control music from the touchscreen, which is slooow and a pain to use. (if you happen to have 2000 songs on your phone).
- AC controls are kludgy, and although they allow you to set cabin temperature, they do not show you actual cabin temperature. I suspect they don't work too well.
 
- Toyota GPS is a pain to 'figure' out. I have been using a portable Garmin for the last 7 years, which has great user interface - Why couldn't Toyota create something like Garmin?
 
-Tires are OK - but after about 13K miles, they seem to have not more than 7-8 K miles left in them.

Messages Page 88 of 99

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