American automotive enthusiasts have a curse word they made up just for the Toyota, and especially its flagship Camry sedan: beige. It’s a color that denotes nothing more than an appliance-like efficiency without really doing much in the way of driving ability.

Like financial markets, a lot of TV shows and not liking soccer and rugby, it’s another thing they got pretty wrong when it comes to the newest generation Camry. The looks aren’t aggressive on the latest Toyota flagship, but it is capable.

Okay, maybe it helps that our Camry, especially in Hybrid trim, is actually better than the American version. We could be nationalist and say that it’s because it’s locally built, but that’s not quite true.

In fact, the Hybrid is also stiffer and offers a better road feel than its American cousin, along with some fairly strong exterior accents that let you know it means business. Plus, it’s made in Australia, so when you pay the couple thousand dollars in premiums, you’re putting money in your fellow countrymen’s pockets.

But there are some parts of the new hybrid that can seem very weird until you get used to them. One is the electric-only operation when you’re in stop-and-go traffic. If you’re used to hearing your car idle, the near silent Camry hybrid will be confusing at first. So too will the fact that it’s all electric in reverse as well.

That all contributes to a stated 6.0l/100km effiency rating, enough to pay off the premium in about six years. But the family that chooses a Camry hybrid isn’t necessarily choosing it after a cost-benefits analysis. They’re doing so because the Toyota is currently the only mid-size sedan available as a hybrid in Australia.

You’ll pay a few penalties for being green, though. Starting from the back, there’s less trunk space because of the space required by the engine and the two batteries. You can fit about 390 litres of gear in there, and you’ll notice a bit of cramping in the cabin as well.

But the hybrid does provide some useful features as well. One is the 110kW of power higher up on the tach, equivalent to the old V6. Since most people worry about the interior quality, we can add that having the air conditioner hooked up to an electric engine provides more rapid cooling, making hot days a lot more bearable.

The interior design is standard Toyota, and doesn’t really deserve much space here except that if you need a pretty cabin, you might do better to look elsewhere. Otherwise, passengers may be excited to know that the only thing keeping the Camry Hybrid from the five-star ANCAP rating is the lack of driver’s knee airbags and a seatbag warning light in the dash. At the expense of your joints, if you can make conversation with your passengers to make sure they’ve buckled up, you effectively have a top-rated car.

And really, the Camry Hybrid boils down to safety, reliability and relative economy. Even with the premium that the electric engine provides, there’s really not much in the class that matches it. If you’re the kind of person who would rather take care of most expenses up front, then give this sedan a look.

Specifications:
Engine: 2,362cc DOHC four-cylinder (16 valve)
Power: 110kW (Petrol)
Torque: 187Nm (Petrol)
Induction: Multi-point
Transmission: Continuously Variable
Driven Wheels: Front
Brakes: Discs with ABS, EBA & EBD
0-100km/h: 8.9 seconds
CO2 Emissions: 142g/km
Fuel Consumption: 6.0L/100km (ADR)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 65L
Fuel Type: 91RON Unleaded Petrol
ANCAP Rating: Four-star
Airbags: Front, Side & Curtain
Safety: ESC with Traction Control
Service Intervals: 12 month / 15,000 kilometre
Spare Wheel: Full-size
Suspension: Strut (F) / Independent (R)
Cargo Capacity: 389L
Tow Capacity: N/A
Turning Circle: 11.8m
Warranty: Three-year / 100,000km (Vehicle) | Eight-year / 160,000km (Battery)
Weight: 1,610kg (Tare)
Wheels: Alloy 16 x 6.5-inch