2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid Review 

How many KMs did you get on a full tank of gas? and how many L's did it have?

@@0505070410 The gas tank is 65L, but when showing empty it takes 55L, never put in more than that. I would often get 750-850KM per tank (best tank was over 900km) depending on the season, mostly city and low speed driving. Highway driving got similar range. Average fuel economy was between 6-6.5L/100km.

@@Combatpzman I have never owned a hybrid vehicle, but it doesn’t seem too impressive for a hybrid car. I was expecting upward to at least a 1000kms. I currently drive a 2007 Lexus IS250(2.5L V6 Engine) with a 64L tank same as yours, which gives me around 600kms at best. I was thinking of downgrading to one of these hybrid camrys thinking it would be a huge boost on the milage, but the numbers you’ve stated don’t seem like they differ too much to consider the downgrade.. keeping in mind I drive a more powerful and luxurious vehicle at the moment. Any other hybrid vehicle you would recommend in similar price range that would allow me to reach that 1000+ kms range ?

@@0505070410 You have to remember this is an older model, 2008-2011 tech. The newer vehicles are much better 4.5-5L/100km, and likely would get 1000km+ per tank. Haven't driven them, so I cannot say for sure. If you want Lexus build and styling, look for a Lexus Hybrid. The only hybrids from the era that got 1000+km per tank, sorry to say but it is the Prius. I wouldn't buy a hybrid that old (2007-2010 era) now though, batteries are getting old enough that replacement during the time of ownership is almost going to be a must.

@@Combatpzman this will be my next car found a decent 2008, I currently have a 2002 V6 with 372,000 kms 👌🏼🤘🏼💪🏼

Yes, they are nice cars.

Bob Newhart I'm averaging 33-34 mpg. all downtown Toronto.

@@stalag14 how long does it take to heat up in the winter?

Combatpzman ui I like it

Hi, would you recmmend this car after using for years? (179,000 km, 2008)

Evelin Kiss If the car is checked out by a trusted mechanic or a Toyota Hybrid tech, who can test the battery and everything else, if it’s in overall good shape, and you can afford a possible battery replacement, sure.

@@Combatpzman Thank you!

Nice, enjoy!

how its going so far?

That's one hell of a deal

July 2020. The hybrid battery is dead now and the car still works, getting 25mpg now. Still driving it everyday. 176k miles. Needs work

@@darthphaser2991 how much was the replacement?

I'm glad the video was helpful

Hi, I purchased the car in January 2016, so I was driving the car just over 3 months when I made the review. I'm still using the Camry as my daily driver today. Overall my thoughts on the car haven't changed much, if at all, from when I posted the review. It's been dependable, with very little maintenance just like my Corolla before it. You might be interested in the followup video I posted a short time ago, ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-76PfiBAvm5I.html

@@Combatpzman Thank you for taking the time to reply. There are a lot of reviews out there for this car that I simply couldn't finish watching. I found your review to be concise and easy to follow with all the bullet points I hoped you would touch on (with the added bonus of having you convert kilometers to miles for your American friends, appreciate that!). This is my first venture into owning a Toyota. I needed a small commuter car to travel to my new job and a 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid owned by a family member that just passed away came up for sale. I suppose I was looking for validation that this purchase was the right decision as much as to learn about the car and its potential issues that I should be aware of. The Camry I bought has 79,000 miles (127138.18 kilometers) and was meticulously maintained by the local dealer only. I'm looking forward to getting to know and appreciate my Camry and wish you good luck with your Camry. Again, I appreciate the videos and thank you for taking the time to post them. Take care......Ken

Ken Brough Glad to help.

There are some third party OBDII scanners that can supposedly read the information, but I've never seriously looked into it myself. If you cannot find that, you would need a Toyota technician with Toyota Techstream software to check the traction (electric motor) battery.

I think a dealer would have to load different software. My car was sold and operates in Canada, so it’s in kilometres by law.

Depends on where you are. Here in Canada I was quoted $5000 (Cdn) installed by Toyota. Some third party batteries are cheaper, but it’s hard to find anyone overly satisfied with third party batteries long term.

So can i askin u about the hayperd battrey how much maybe cost if u have any idea?

how its going so far?

@@SuperMiM0 sorry for the late reply I never had any hybrid problems. I heard its easily over 1000$ dollars

@@j.ka1ros392 because I actually take care of my car. I take care all of my car like I do for my r34. I take care of them like babies

Thinojan Sriranjan R34 good for you man

Depends on where you are. Here in Canada Toyota installs them for around $5000 Cdn, not sure about third party sources or prices elsewhere around the world. I believe it's closer to $4000 USD, in the states IIRC.

Simple answer, driving a hybrid isn't any different than any other vehicle, from an operational standpoint, unless you really want to stretch the fuel economy. All the real work is done by the vehicles computer. For older models (pre-2012) there are no additional buttons to press or modes, everything is automatic. New models have ECO, Normal, and sometimes a sports mode, which affect how the car will operate to some degree. As for battery life, think of the battery pack as a gas tank, how you drive and the type of roads you drive on, will affect how long the charge will last. In depth answers. When will the vehicle switch between the gas motor and the electric motor? For non-plug in Toyota hybrids (Camry, Prius, Highlander, RAV4 and Avalon) the vehicle automatically switches back and forth between gas and electric operation depending on a few factors. 1) Battery Charge level. Below 20% charge it will turn on the gas motor to recharge. Any time you use the brakes will also generates power for the battery (regenerative braking). That is as long as you don't hit them hard, which forces the vehicle to use traditional friction brakes. 2) Is the gas motor warmed up (hybrids don't do any better than gas power cars for 5 minute runs in most cases). Once the oil temperature reaches the required level the computer will switch between power sources as it sees fit. Some newer model hybrids have lower temperature threshold (Eco Mode) that allows them to run on electric power sooner. 3) Speed. At speeds over 60km/h (42MPH) the vehicle will always run on gas, but the electric motor can give additional power in conjunction with the gas motor for freeway speed overtaking and short hills. At speeds of 60km/h and under the vehicle can switch back and forth as needed. How long does the battery last on a full charge? There are a wide range of factors, like the age and operational use of the battery, and how much power the electric motor needs to achieve the desired speed for the given road. At maximum electric motor speed, 60km/42MPH, on a flat road, or in creeping traffic, you could get at least a mile per charge. Downhill, almost unlimited, since the battery can recharge as you go down. It really depends on the road, can you coast, are there a lot of little hills? Any terrain that requires more power than the 40HP of the electric motor will force the car to switch to gas.

Thanks man

I hate to cuss but this is f***ing amazing literally a lot of tech while you just driving. Imppressive

Bluetooth for phone calls only, not for streaming audio.

Marie Thomas Replacing the battery is not cheap ($4-5k), but the failure rate seems to be low from what I've read. My cars battery is 9 years old, and is still working well. If that's any indication, there isn't much to worry about. The newer models (after 2012?) supposedly have better batteries than these older models, so that's something to consider as well. No unusual mechanical issues, that you would expect. In some ways there are less issues, due to the way some parts work. Considering that I've cut my monthly gas bill in half, compared to the smaller and lighter 2004 Corolla, it's more than worth it, IMO.

Thank you. Also can the car still run without the electrical part, just gas.

Marie Thomas The gas motor is used as a generator for the electric systems (the wheels are always powered by the electric motors on the front axel) so if the hybrid (traction battery) battery dies the car will not run.

That $5000 price tag is from the Dealer only...which ISN'T even relevant anymore! There is So much aftermarket support for hybrid batteries today, and Individual Cells or entire Packs can be had for DIRT cheap...You can also have the batteries tested and restored for a couple hundred bucks or less. They share the same batteries as the Prius in most cases, so just search on ebay.

Never seen a good long term review of third party cells for hybrids. I typically see reviews saying things like, "got the replacement xx months ago, and it's dead now. Replaced twice under warranty in that time, then they just cut us off." Replacing cells is something doable, but unless you know what you are doing messing with a battery yourself is a dangerous game to play. As for third party installers, they seem plentiful in the US, elsewhere not so much.

What makes you think the transmission is bad? Acceleration problems? Transmission fluid only needs to be changed every 100k miles. You won't feel shift points like an normal automatic transmission, it's completely fluid feeling due to the use of a set of gearing (known as an eCVT) and the electric motors on the front axle. Depending on what you are experiencing the problem could be symptoms that one of electric drive motors (MG1 or MG2) failing (power problem), or even an issue with the hybrid battery itself. Make sure you drive another one from the same generation that is known to be in good condition to see if what you are feeling is an issue or not. See this video on Toyota eCVT, it is not an actual CVT: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dLNDGUISTYM.html Not a mechanic, so no idea how hard it is to change the transmission, and I have no idea what they cost. It is not interchangeable with the transmission non-hybrid cars! I know it is far more complex than a normal automatic transmission since it is fully integrated with the electronic drive system. The 2007-2011 all use the same engine and transmission.

@@Combatpzman Thank you . I appreciate all that info. Also. If the trans is bad on this camry Hybrid , would the engine start and idle ? Like a non Hybrid car . Now he is saying that the car does not start and idle due to transmission being bad. I said to him , what does the trans have anything to do with the notor being able to start and idle. He said that on Hybrids is different (?) And that if the trans goes out the xar wont turn over and idle. . Could this be true. ? I dont see how one is related to the other but then again its a Hybrid so i dont know. I cant seem to find this info on the blogs or online. The dealership seems like they are clueless . Thank u .

@@InJesusNameAmen143 Sounds a little odd. I never heard about one of these cars having a transmission problem. The most likely reason for the car not starting like that would be the traction battery being dead; which is main battery, not 12v which is only used for the radio, interior lights, radio and so on. A dead 12v battery could also cause the car to throw codes as well. When the car is turned on, does the READY light not come on in the dashboard (seen the 13 minute mark the video for reference)? A problem with the hybrid system would show error codes like, check hybrid system, check VSC on the screen on the dashboard.

Depends on the overall condition of the vehicle, the biggest danger would be if the car was not well maintained during the first 156k miles. If it is mechanically sound at this point, there is no reason why it cannot do another 150k miles.

The car has a standard headphone jack for aux, no USB with the stock stereo.

65L or 14 American gallons. Never put in more than 55L /12 gallons on a fuel up though, doesn’t need a full tank to get through 800-900km (over 500 miles) per fill.

I have not gone on any long road trips since getting this car, so I have not. They aren't any different than the gas models for freeway driving.

As with any used car it depends on the shape it’s in, I’d still take the car in for a mechanical inspection before buying (a good Toyota tech who can check the battery condition). As I’ve said to others, if you cannot afford the possibility of replacing the battery at some point during the time period you see yourself owning the car, it might not be the right car for you. All things considered I would buy the newest, lowest mileage car I could afford, since the older the battery is, the greater the chance it will fail.

ok, thanks. And electro engine is working only until speed 40 km/h ?

Zalia/Balta It can run purely on the electric engine up to 60-62km/h.

My 2007 camry hybrid runs until exactly 67 km before the gas motor kicks in.

صنعت ليكسيس وتويوتا بعض سيارات الهجين v6. نأمل أن يترجم هذا بشكل جيد بما فيه الكفاية.

Depends on where you are. Here in Canada prices ranges between $8,000-12,000 depending on if it is a personal sale or through a dealer, the condition and how many km/miles are on the car. Typically it sells for about the same or slightly higher price than a conventional Camry from the time period.

That’s a hell of a deal! I’m looking to purchase an ‘09 with just under 340,000 km. The owner states the engine and hybrid battery are in good working order, apart from the usual 1qt of oil it consumes between changes. Anything I should look out for which would signal an imminent demise of critical components?

@@shift2rockz858 tbh my experience hasn't been the greatest with my 07 camry hybrid. A week after purchasing the screen went out, and then a few months I had to have the hybrid battery replaced which cost me 1.4k . The place I went to ended up being a scam sort of, and the battery only lasted 10 months and currently needs to be replaced once again. It's in the mechanic now with someone more trustworthy. If you really plan on getting a used hybrid car be ready to pay for high cost fixes, and go get it diagnosed at a shop that specializes in hybrid cars. When it was working, the gas mileage was great, I used it for work which was a 30 minute commute to and another 30 back. A full tank would last me 2 weeks in a 4 day work week. It is a great car, runs smoothly and is silent . In total I have invested about 7k with the repairs and maintenance, for that price I think I could have found something newer or with fewer miles at least. As soon as it is fixed, I plan on selling it for 5k-7k. I might lose money, but I won't have to deal with the hefty price of owning it. If I went back in time I wouldn't have purchased this car, it was a red flag knowing that the ac didn't work which is why I didn't want it, but I let my parents convince me it was a good deal and I am now paying for it.

Especially in today's economy, if you have money laying around, I say go for it, but if not owning a hybrid car will make your pockets hurt. I'm personally going to look into buying a regular car, a few extra bucks on gas is better than the replacement of that hybrid battery.

@@shift2rockz858 I wouldn't trust what the owner has to say, the guy I bought it from was near tears when he handed over the keys, people will say anything to sell their car. I just wouldn't want for the same thing that happened to me happen to you.

@@kuj106 hey, appreciate the lengthy response. I’m sorry to hear your experience hasn’t been ideal. Considering you bought one of the most reliable vehicles on the road today. Took your advice along with a few others and decided to pass on it as the hybrid battery was the biggest concern. There’s no doubt that they are great vehicles when they’re working, and the owner may have very well been a genuinely honest person, but having a limited budget to play with gave me no other choice. Hope you recoup most of your money and wish you all the best on your next vehicle purchase!

It’s a little smaller than the gas only model, no doubt. Still no trouble with full sized luggage bags, and plenty of gear. The pass through is still good for skis and other longer items.

I would not buy it without getting it checked by the Toyota Hybrid tech to ensure everything is working correctly. Does the seller have service records of any kind? If they do check over them closely. With that kind of mileage I would be cautious, at the very least.

@@Combatpzman it going to be being purchased from a Toyota dealership.

Nick Leffler With that kind of mileage combined with the age, it’s a tough call. If you do go for it, just be prepared for a possible battery replacement in the future. To me that’s the stress test for buying these vehicles as they get to be 9-10+ years old. If you cannot handle the $2-5k to possiblely replace the battery in a year or two, it might not be the best choice. Then again it might not be an issue at all, just something to keep in mind. I wasn’t too concerned about the battery in mine, but it only had 110k miles when I got it. I read posts from some people over at Toyota Nation who has one with over 200k miles and it’s okay. Seems hit and miss once the mileage and age go up.

That depends on what you consider high fuel consumption. Depending on driving style, fuel consumption of the hybrid model can easily be much lower than the average sedan from the time period. The standard gas model, was about average for the time period.

@@Combatpzman 2008.. 2.4v. Not hybrid sir.

Thanks for the reply sir. I'm blessed with your vids. 2008. 2.4v not hybrid is same with fuel consumption with hybrid or more higher? Thank you

@@obiegardner5659 The non-hybrid has higher city driving fuel consumption than the hybrid, freeway driving is the same.

@@Combatpzman thank you very much sir. God bless

Depends on where you are, how much mileage they have on them and various other factors, like supply and demand. The 2007-2009 modes are similarly priced, since they are the same feature wise.. I've seen ones with under 90,000km (55,000 miles) for as little as $9000 Cdn, while others were $16,000 Cdn (70,000km/43,000 miles). As far as I can tell the price for these used is about the same as the non-hybrid Camry's of the same time period, with a slight premium depending on features.

Combatpzman thx man

How is the car so far?

At the end of the video? Yes the deck of the bridge is wooden, the rest is steel/concrete.

Combatpzman Wow that’s so interesting, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that. It looks scary.

@@elizabethtudor9552 It's not a new bridge, it was built over 100 years ago,. It gets regular maintenance and is rated for vehicles up to 10 metric tons.

Combatpzman interesting lol