2018 Camry Hybrid: 52 MPG EPA combined - first midsize sedan over 50

[MetroMPG]

The new Camry hybrid has just made a huge jump in fuel economy:

The 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid LE now enjoys EPA ratings of 51 mpg in the city, 53 mpg highway, and 52 combined. In 2017, Camry Hybrids were rated as high as 42 mpg city, 38 highway. Source

That's for the highest MPG trim, and is on par with some Prius models.

Notable about the Camry hybrid:

• 52 MPG is for the lithium pack and LE trim. 2 other trims retain the NiMH packs, and their efficiency is a bit lower
• Hybrid battery is now beneath the rear seat, so you get a full size trunk, folding rear seatbacks, and lower center of gravity
• high-compression engine requires premium fuel
• much of the efficiency gain comes from redesigned electronics: physically smaller, lighter & more efficient Power Control Unit (PCU) & DC-DC converter
• There's a new "gliding mode" as part of the "ECO" drive setting that automates neutral gliding as a more efficient driving technique than automatically engaging regen and/or engine braking on releasing the throttle:

The Camry Hybrid also features the new Auto Glide Control (AGC), which helps to improve fuel efficiency by calculating an efficient coasting logic. When driving normally, engine braking will slow the vehicle down when the driver lifts off from the accelerator pedal. However, to avoid aggressive engine braking, AGC limits the loss of vehicle speed through an automatic drive setting that acts more like a neutral gear, allowing the vehicle to coast to the stoplight.


An AGC indicator light is illuminated on the Multi-Information Display (MID) when AGC is in operation to alert the driver that less deceleration torque than normal is currently being used. Of note, AGC can only be activated when the vehicle is being operated in the ECO drive mode setting. Source.

^ That would be interesting to experience. I wonder how it decides what an "efficient coasting logic" is.

Couple of reviews:

Desirable at last | 2018 Toyota Camry, Camry Hybrid First Drive - Autoblog

2018 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid first drive

[MetroMPG]

Also worth noting: the base Camry 4-cylinder EPA rating has improved impressively...

2018 Camry L: 29 city / 41 hwy / 34 combined.

The 2017 Camry was rated at 24 mpg city, 33 highway, 27 combined.

2018 Toyota Camry Prices and Fuel Economy

+8 MPG highway! That is seriously impressive!

[Daox]

Wow, that is huge jumps on both parts. Very nice Toyota. I'm really glad to hear they got rid of the stupid rear hump in the trunk. That always seemed ridiculous to me.

[vskid3]

Pretty impressive numbers for a "normal" looking car.

Is the Li-ion battery the only efficiency difference between the LE and the NiMH trims? For the gen4 Prii, the Li-ion battery is 0.75kwh compared to the NiMH at 1.2kwh (but a smaller charge range used). If the Camry uses similarly sized batteries, it would be strange if that alone would account for the mileage increase. Only the Eco trim Prius gets better mileage with the Li-ion, the 3 trim has Li-ion and gets the same as the NiMH-using 1 and 2 trims.

[MetroMPG]

I suspect the "base" Camry hybrid is also lighter overall, and probably has better aero in the wheels & tire width departments.

The hybrid pictured in post 1 is almost certainly the top spec one, with fancy air blender wheels.

[ME_Andy]

The non-hybrid version has almost caught the Cruze.

[MetroMPG]

Coincidentally, at lunch today I got a chance to drive my relatives' 2016 Camry hybrid.

It pulled 60 mpg US / 3.9 L/100 km (per the onboard display) on my local sub/urban ecodriving coaching route (hot drivetrain start, mild outside temperature). Very impressive for a big car. Amazing that the new one will be even better.

[MetroMPG]

Still, over our brief and fairly aggressive test drive of 58 miles, we logged an indicated 50.4 mpg on the Camry Hybrid's trip computer.

Source: 2018 Toyota Camry Hybrid first drive

[Galvatron1]

I didn't know premium fuel is required. That adds to the cost of ownership. Factoring ~$4k for a replacement battery, I now see how hybrids & electrics cost more money than they save in the long run, at present.

Battery replacement costs:
Prius: ~$3k
LEAF: ~$8.8k

Anyone know what the Prius Prime battery costs to replace out of warranty?

[redpoint5]

Let's say the car needs a new battery at 200,000 miles. At $4k, that adds $0.02 per mile to the operating cost.

At 52 MPG and $3 gallon gas, the cost in fuel per mile is 0.06 per mile

At the non-hybrid 34 MPG and $3 gas, the fuel cost per mile is $0.09 per mile.

So, you've got a $0.03 per mile spread between the hybrid and non-hybrid version, with a battery perhaps costing only an extra $0.02 per mile. It still pencils out in the favor of a hybrid.

This particular vehicle aside, hybrid technology makes more sense the larger the vehicle becomes. It would be an absolute no-brainer to go hybrid in an SUV or truck, but makes no sense at all in the Gen I Insight, for instance.

The other thing is that hybrid technology is as much about improving performance as it is improving fuel efficiency. The upcoming RAV4 Prime is going to have 300+ horsepower making it the most powerful in its class, while also being the most fuel efficient.