2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid Driving Practices

By: Susan Harris
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 6, 2009

Tips For Increasing Toyota Camry Hybrid Fuel Economy

A lot of good things can be said about the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid from reliability to fuel economy. The 2010 Camry receives a remarkable fuel economy with 33 MPG (miles per gallon) in the city and 34 MPG on the highway. Toyota Camry is one of the best eco-friendly cars on the planet. Moreover, this vehicle holds its trade-in value over time.

The Toyota Hybrid is priced at around $26,000. Camry earned Perfect 5-star safety ratings for all frontal and side-based crash tests from the NHTSA, and the IIHS. The automobile is also equipped with front-side and head airbags. Some of the standard safety features include Electronic Stability Control, 4-Wheel ABS, Child Seat Lower Anchorage and Adjustable Upper Belt for the front.

The 2010 Camry comes with a specially tuned suspension and a lower center of gravity for enhanced handling. We were very pleased with the suspension during our road test. The car handled well around corners and had plenty of pick-up speed.

If driven properly, the Toyota Camry Hybrid can deliver greater mileage than the EPA estimates. It has been proven that driving practices such as slow acceleration and coasting to stops instead of braking will increase fuel economy. It also depends on road conditions as these polytechnics do not always warrant on all roads.

Since the Camry includes several aerodynamic technologies, drivers should always close the windows when cruising on the highway. Other good practices for saving on fuel include: making sure that your tires are always properly inflated, according to the recommended pressure. It is also unsafe to drive on tires that are not properly inflated.

Apply the recommended grade of motor oil. Keep the engine properly tuned. Remember to inspect and replace air filters as needed. Observe speed limits as speeding tickets are never good.

One thing that most people wouldn't even think to remove is excess weight. Excess weight will definitely hurt your fuel economy. For example, I was moving some items for my parents that included a set of athletic weights. Well, to make a long story short, I forgot that I left them in the trunk. I finally learned why my gas mileage was so high.

The Toyota Camry engine can deliver 147 horsepower and has 138 lb.-ft. torque. It is a 2.4-liter DOHC 16-valve VVT-i-4-cylinder. Of course this hybrid vehicle meets the Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT-PZEV) classification.

The electric motor type is called a Permanent Magnet AC Synchronous motor. It can deliver up to 199 lb.-ft of torque. We were impressed with how smooth the car made the switch from its gasoline engine to electric motor, and vice versa.

The Camry 4-cylinder models are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV). This means that all emissions and related components are covered for 15 years or 150,000 miles, whichever occurs first. The Toyota Camry Hybrid battery is a Sealed NiMH (nickel-metal hydride which converts chemical energy into electrical energy.