2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid Reviews, Pricing & Specs

I am the proud new owner of a 2008 Camry Hybrid and I could not be more thrilled. Coming from a college student that was driving a 1996 Honda Accord for quite awhile, this is quite the upgrade for me. First things first, in my opinion, Toyota is the staple of consistency within the American auto market. For 75 years, this company has been creating quality products that have served customers all over the world. The Camry in particular was the best selling car in the United States from 1997-2013, an incredible feat that proves that Toyota holds a significant share of the products on the road today. The inception of hybrid technology has revolutionized what people look for when they buy a car. As gas prices continue to rise, car buyers are increasingly conscious about how much money they want to spend when filling up their tank. A solution to this issue is investing in a vehicle equipped with hybrid technology. The 2008 Camry is a perfect example of a great car that is not only efficient with MPG's but also stylish, full of great features, and incredibly reliable. Now, as a new hybrid driver, I am still learning the tricks of the trade. It's a different style of driving if you are really trying to maximize your miles per gallon. For starters, Toyota provides the driver with multiple ways to monitor your "MPG performance" by showing you a consumption gauge, your average MPG, and even an interactive bar graph that charts how you are doing on your current trip. It is really pretty nifty, and has sparked my competitive side as I always push myself to get the best MPG possible. So, if you enjoy watching yourself save money, this might be the car for you. From a styling standpoint, the 2008 Camry is somewhat conservative, but with the right packages it pulls off a sporty look. 16-inch alloy wheels come standard, and are somewhere between plain and sharp. My vehicle in particular features a 'Super White' exterior with a rear spoiler and dual exhaust. I would recommend adding the spoiler despite the extra cost, as it really adds to the visual appeal of the car. The interior largely depends on which package the Camry is equipped with. Although you pay a decent amount more, the nicer package is worth every penny. Most of that expense lies in the navigation system, which makes the hybrid technology that much more interactive. Through the touch screen, you control maps, audio and bluetooth menus. These features add to the experience of owning and driving the car, as you have the ability to get hands-free navigation, telephone, and audio capability. One thing that this car lacks is a USB connection or way to connect smartphones to the audio interface. The easy solution is to get a simple aux cord and connect through the auxiliary port, no big deal. The leather seats are also great, making for a comfortable ride regardless of distance. Keyless ignition, a JBL sound system and heated seats are all other factors that bring the Camry Hybrid closer to being a luxury-type automobile. From a performance standpoint, the Camry Hybrid thrives. It carries a 2.4-liter four-cylinder gas engine, and a separate electric motor to optimize the MPG output. At full strength, the car can reach 187 horsepower, but most often drivers look to find balance between these two engines by implementing driving habits that allow the electric motor to kick in. The Camry Hybrid can be powered on the electric motor alone, but only under speeds less than 30 mph, and light gas applications. On the road, the car drives very smooth and quietly. Some people have noted that the cabin gets almost to quiet while the car is stopped, but I don't agree. Why would you want to hear the roar of your engine, especially if you knew it was costing you money at a red light? As I mentioned above, getting the feel for driving a hybrid takes time and practice. Mainly (and the biggest struggle for me) is that you have to learn to stay off the pedal and coast whenever you can. This is not necessarily a natural thing to do, but when you have meters showing you how much more effective it is to coast into a stop light rather than ride the break, the motivation is vast. On the highway, cruise control is like a best friend. Speed regulation keeps the car at a consistent level of high MPG output, but with your foot on the pedal it makes it hard to stay in the good graces of the 'eco drive level'. Overall, the 2008 Camry Hybrid is a terrific car. For someone exploring the used market of hybrid vehicles I would take this car into serious consideration. Since it is six years old, finding one on a Toyota dealer lot is highly unlikely. The best way to track one down is through websites such as this. I would recommend looking for one that has been well kept with less than 100,000 miles. I hope that you found this review helpful and consider purchasing the outstanding 2008 Camry Hybrid.Apr 22, 2014

I used this car for my daily commute as well as several long trips. I'd set the cruise control at 10 MPH above the speed limit, and relax. Traffic jams became a matter of pride as I knew that my engine would shut off when I wasn't moving. (Ironically, the Camry Hybrid gets BETTER fuel economy in stop and go driving that it does cruising the highway at 65 MPH. It's all in the way the Synergy Drive System works.) I enjoyed saving money on gas while remaining relatively anonymous in my normal looking car. As a nice bonus, Massachusetts allows you to travel in the HOV lane without passengers if you are driving a hybrid. Also, the Hybrid Only spaces at the Boston Common garage are usually available and in a primo location :-) The car has plenty of power (I used to jokingly say to my passengers "that's TWO engines" when I'd have to accelerate to merge in traffic or for some other reason. The handling is fine, once you get used to it. This car is not for a slalom course, it's for driving to work in comfort. The braking is different from a non-hybrid. The car is slowed by regenerative braking until you get down to 12 MPH, in regular situations. So the brakes get almost no wear if you brake slowly and smoothly. In a panic the regular brakes kick in immediately and stop you in plenty of time. This is a fantastic car. I'm replacing it with a newer hybrid and wanted to sell it while there is still plenty of miles left on it for the next owner.Feb 07, 2013

She likes it so far, although the seat is not as good as her old Lexus. We will see how it holds up, our previous hybrids have done well. This one is much more comfortable. Good power with the electric assist. We had an issue with the brakes recently. The lights came on and alarms screamed and scared her to death. When I took it to my mechanic the next day I could feel the brakes engaging although I wasn't doing it. When I got to the shop the left front wheel was warm. The mechanic said the code said "low pressure in the accumulator" in the brake actuator and maybe I should take it to the dealer. While he was backing out of the garage very slowly, the brakes engaged on their own, then the lights all went off and the alarm stopped and it's been fine ever since. The dealer said everything looked good, and they wouldn't advise do anything. A new actuator is $2800.00 for the part alone.So we are just driving it. Might have been a computer glich, no one seems to know. Update: They had a recall for a brake problem, it only messed up that one time. We have grown to like it very much, my Prius's seats are not as comfortable for a long trip, the mileage is under 40 MPG but still very good. I can see why Consumer Reports ranks it #1.Oct 20, 2012

The car is a great car but I feel we would have been just as happy with a non-hybrid car. Actually may have been more happy since a big portion of trunk is lost to battery cooling. The car is now running in mid 30's for fuel economy which could easily be done with a diesel car and not the extra cost upfront from the battery. If you are looking for best fuel economy, diesel is still king. If you want to save the earth, remember the nickel in the battery is mined in canada, transported to Europe to be made into the battery, then shipped to the US or Japan to be assembled. If you recycle the car when you are done you still have consumed more energy than you saved.Mar 12, 2012

Performane : ABS Brakes , Power Stearing , Very Fast Car , Accelerate Quickly . Appearance : The Car is rated as a High Class Car from Inside . From outside it has a fantastic , modern style . Cost of Ownership : It is very economical car in gas mileage , But the maintenance is very costy . Fun Factor : I think the car isnt too funny , It's somehow Stylish.Jun 12, 2011

Revolution in toyota industry up to standard of Honda and BMW by performence and styling. Cost effective, fuel effecient, ultimate exterior, impressive handling and stability with excellent braking system, power on the road, easy to maintain. Comfortable and stylish interior, excellent cooling system and sound system with plenty of space and a big back trunk with a lots of space. So in short plent of style, comfort,power and saftey with cost and fuel effectiveness. Its the car of the decade for family use.Sep 17, 2009