Toyota’s latest Camry has officially arrived in Australia, and it’s gone all-in on hybrid power. With a complete redesign inside and out, a hybrid-electric powertrain, and bucket loads of tech and safety features, this updated Camry is the best seller in its dying segment.
As passenger cars become the ever-lesser choice, making up only 15% of the market, hybrids have boomed in popularity, up by 44.9% for the month and PHEV up a massive 119.8%.
Japan is stubbornly resisting the move to BEV (battery electric vehicle) by making HEV (hybrid electric vehicle) powertrains available in more models. Of the 1504 cars sold in the medium Passenger cars under $60,000, Carmy accounts for 933 cars and BYD Seal next at 371. No other contenders break triple digits in a sector that once accounted for 90% of the market.
Hybrid Power
In a predictable move, Toyota has made the entire Camry range hybrid-only, reflecting its ongoing taste for fossil fuels. Enter the fifth-generation 2.5-litre hybrid-electric powertrain, making its debut in the Australian market. The new powertrain is little beefier, delivering 170kW of combined system power, 10kW more than the outgoing model. The petrol engine dishes out 138kW, while the electric motor adds 100kW (and no, you can’t simple add the figures for a total output). Together, they make the Camry quicker and more efficient, all while sipping 4.0L/100km.
But Toyota didn’t stop at just more power and better fuel economy. The hybrid system has been completely revamped with a lighter, more compact transaxle and an improved electric motor. The result? A smoother, more responsive drive with less noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH). NO doubt Camry will remain a favourite with ride-share and taxi drivers.
Camry features three drive modes: Normal, Eco, and Sport. There’s also an EV mode that allows the car to run purely on electric power for short distances, like cruising through quiet neighbourhoods or parking garages.
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ABOVE: 2024 Toyota Camry range – hybrid-only
A Sleeker Look
On the outside, Toyota has given the Camry a serious facelift. The front end adopts the brand’s “Hammer Head” design language, which not only adds a modern edge but also enhances aerodynamics. The result is a sleeker, streamlined look that improves on the outgoing car without deviating too much. The body has grown slightly, with an extra 35mm in overall length thanks to a longer front overhang.
The rear design has character lines converging towards the back, creating a tapered silhouette that clearly shows the roof and front doors are carried over from the old Camry. It’s a sedan, yes, so as SUVs continue to dominate, and EVs still marching on, Toyota will get the last possible dollar out of the Camry’s 6-year-old body.
Interior and Tech
Camry’s interior upgrades are more obvious. Toyota has gone for a “premium feel” so they say. The dashboard and door trims flow together, and are less jarring than the previous attempt. High-quality materials are used throughout, giving the cabin an increased sense of value. Camry still feels built to a price, but it is an awful lot of car for the money.
Drivers have a 7-inch or 12.3-inch digital instrument display, depending on the trim, which is fully customisable and provides all the vital driving info in place of old-fashioned dials. In the centre, an 8-inch or 12.3-inch touchscreen hosts Toyota’s latest multimedia system, featuring cloud-based navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The look lacks the continuous flow panels other brands now favour, and there is still that distinct air of familiarity that older Camry drivers will recognise.
The flagship SL adds leather-accented upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. There’s even a heated steering wheel and nine-speaker JBL audio system to add that final touch.
Safety Features
Toyota has gifted new Camry with a full suite of its Safety Sense active safety technologies such as lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and road user detection.
New additions include a Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Safe Exit Assist, which helps prevent accidents by alerting drivers or passengers to oncoming vehicles when opening doors. Active cruise control has also been fine-tuned for smoother operation in varying traffic conditions, making highway driving less of a chore.
The Camry’s braking system has received some love too, with an electronic control brake system that uses an active hydraulic booster. This upgrade not only enhances brake feel but also optimises kinetic energy recovery during regenerative braking, making the car more efficient.
Three Grades, Eight Colours
The new Camry offers the entry-level Ascent at $39,990 (plus on-road costs). It comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps and daytime running lights, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen multimedia system.
Next up is the Ascent Sport, priced from $42,990. It adds some nice extras like high-grade LED lighting, LED fog lamps, an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a wireless smartphone charger, and a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen.
The range-topping SL model starts at $53,990. This flagship version has 18-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers, rear privacy glass, and heated side mirrors with memory function. The cabin includes leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, an eight-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and that sweet JBL sound system. The panoramic sunroof is the inevitable addition that I love to hate. Leave it out and charge 2 grand less, I say.
Camry’s colour ranges to eight shades, including classic Glacier White, and Saturn Blue, though have you seen a car park lately? What ever happened to buyers truly colourful tastes?
Affordable Servicing and Warranty
Toyota’s Warranty Advantage includes five years with unlimited kilometres. Plus, with Toyota’s Service Advantage, owners can get five years of capped-price servicing, with each service costing just $255, spread over 12-month or 15,000km intervals. EV owners would be laughing right about now.
Final Thoughts: Does the Hybrid Sedan Still Shine?
While SUVs may be all the rage, the new updated Camry hybrid is here to remind us that the humble sedan still has plenty of fight left in it. Hybrids continue to be widely available, and as RAV4 is the number 1 car for the month, proof that buyers have finally accepted something Toyota has been pushing for 2 decades at least.
Toyota’s hybrid technology was a game-changer, and with the new hybrid-only Camry range, it’s clear that the brand isn’t slowing down when it comes to wringing the most out of the investment. Despite the aging design, the mid-sized sedan still ticks all the right boxes. It is a decent drive, has bags of paces, but most importantly, is NOT and SUV!
2024 Toyota Camry pricing
| Ascent | $39,990 |
|---|---|
| Ascent Sport | $42,990 |
| SL | $53,990 |
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Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.
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