The Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord are two mid-sized family cars giving the Detroit giants fits. Built in the U.S. and Canada by American and Canadian workers they are to all intents and purposes, all-American cars and outsell anything offered in this category by Ford, GM or Chrysler.

The big Camry news is the new hybrid, which has gained Toyota an advantage on Honda. The Honda Accord hybrid has a 6-cyl engine with electric motor assist, and minimal fuel consumption improvement (25city/34highway) over the non hybrid 6-cyl models (20 city/29 highway), whereas the Camry hybrid with a smaller 4-cyl engine with electric motor assist delivers a significant fuel consumption advantage (43city/37highway) over any mid-sized vehicle in the United States. Admittedly, the Honda is quicker off the mark, but the purpose of a hybrid is surely to improve gas mileage as well as emissions.

Infiniti’s M35 is ideal for drivers and passengers longing for a feeling of isolation and safety on long journeys.

With a sleek all-new body, all versions of the Camry are prettier than previous models. The Camry is offered as the $18,270 CE, the $19,320 LE, the $20,790 SE, all with 5-speed manual transmissions and a 2.4 liter, 4-cyl, 158hp engine. The top of the line $24,425 XLE comes with a 3.5 liter 268 hp engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission. The $25,900 Camry hybrid is equipped with a 2.4 liter 4-cyl 187hp, Atkinson cycle engine and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The hybrid is equipped almost as well as the XLE, and for that reason is a bargain at $25,900, and is way below the Accord hybrid at $30,990.

On the road all Camrys were quiet and comfortable with decent handling and excellent braking. The 6-cyl has ample power, but the 4-cyl is no slouch and with fuel consumption figures of 24 city/34 highway this may the choice for many. The SE is a sportier version with a little harsher ride and excellent handling. Both the SE and the LE are available with the ultra smooth 6-cyl engine and all models are offered with automatic transmission.

The hybrid instrument display is interesting to watch as power is shared between the gas and electric motors, and electric motor braking charges the battery pack.

The Camry has a long and distinguished record as being well built, strong, reliable and good value. These new 2007 models look like they will carry on that reputation.

To better understand the reasons for Toyota using an ‘Atkinson cycle’ engine, and a CVT transmission in their hybrid, see the June 2005 issue Road Test article on the Ford Escape hybrid. With a CVT transmission there is no shifting by the transmission, the car just gets faster as you push down on the throttle without much change in engine speed – it does feel a bit weird the first time, but you soon get used to it.

The general feeling about hybrid and in particular battery reliability and longevity is good. The Toyota Prius hybrid which has been in service for many years has an enviable reliability record, in spite of the unfortunate spate of sudden power loss events on the highway which Toyota quickly recalled and fixed. Battery packs appear to be strong up to 100,000 miles. We don’t know if they will make 150,000 miles yet since the first Prius went into service in the U.S. only 6 years ago. Toyota claims however that their bench testing indicates a battery pack life of at least 150,000 miles.

Toyota has an eight year, 100,000 mile warranty on all ‘hybrid’ components, a drivetrain warranty of 5 years, 60,000 miles on all cars and an overall car warranty of 3 years or 30,000 miles on all cars.

The interior of all the Camrys is well done with the exception of the metallic looking central console on the SE and the hybrid which looks cold and uninviting. The hybrid trunk is smaller than the others due to the loss of space being used for the battery pack. A moonroof is available on the Camry hybrid, something Honda chose not to offer on their Accord hybrid.

There are too many options available on each Camry model to describe here but the 6-cyl models can be dressed up very nicely. Navigation system costs $1,200, moonroof for the SE and LE costs $940 and is included as standard equipment on the XLE, premium audio system is $1,000. All in all, the suppliers of luxury mid-sized sedans have to scratch their heads to find improvements and gimmicks to make their cars worth over twice the cost of a very nice Camry attractive to observant customers.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 55 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at austin@sandiegometro.com.