What you see here is the all-new Toyota Camry. And it has arrived in India carrying an introductory price of Rs 36.95 lakh (ex-showroom India). As of now, it is available in only one trim level with just one powertrain option – a hybrid. Why only the hybrid? That’s because its predecessor received a decent amount of traction in India for the dual-engine model only, especially from the hospitality industry.

Into its eighth generation, the Toyota Camry is now undoubtedly a head-turner. It finally shrugs off that safe styling mantra that Toyotas are known for and adopts a more in-your-face look. And that’s not where the newness stops. The new Camry is underpinned by Toyota’s TNGA-K platform which also does duty in the more expensive Lexus ES. But that’s not where the similarities between the Camry and ES end. More on that later.

Thanks to a new skeleton, the newer Camry is longer and wider than its predecessor. And we all know what that means – a bigger room inside for living and non-living things. That said, the seventh-gen Camry was by no means pokey inside. Speaking of which, Toyota has done an equally good job inside the cabin of the new-gen Camry. It looks modern and up-to-date and still carries a whiff of Toyota’s sensibleness here and there.

The Camry has never been shy on creature comforts and the new one is no exception. The list of features includes three-zone climate control, cruise control, a head-up display, wireless smartphone charger, automatic headlamps and wipers and ventilated front seats. If all that is a bit poor for your liking, the hybrid sedan also gets 10-way electrically adjustable front seats with memory function, automatic IVRM, 9 airbags, tyre pressure monitoring system, LED-powered projector headlamps and fog lamps, tilt and slide moonroof and a 9-speaker JBL sound system mated to an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.

Coming back to what else the new Camry hybrid shares with its more expensive Lexus cousin. It is the powertrain. The hybrid setup comprises of a 2.5-litre, 4-cylinder petrol engine which produces 178PS of power and 221Nm of torque. Mated to it is an electric motor which, all on its own, has 120PS/202Nm on tap. Toyota claims that the total system output is 218PS and is harnessed by a CVT (continuously variable transmission), which is exactly the same as the Lexus ES 300h.

For what its worth, we applaud Toyota for bringing the new Camry Hybrid at a price which is lower than its predecessor, albeit temporarily. It renews its arch rivalry with the Honda Accord Hybrid and also gives the Skoda Superb and the Volkswagen Passat something to think about. What exactly? The Toyota will appeal to environmentalists.

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Rachit Shad Trehan
A car nutter by heart. A hopeless engineer by education. Gunning for one goal - simplify cars.

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