Though Toyota has yet to issue an official press release on the subject, Dale Jewett in an Automotive News piece has revealed that the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid will start at $26,480 when it reaches dealers in May. That price is around $5,000 less than a Honda Accord Hybrid sans a nav system, which has a sticker of $31,540.
While the Accord Hybrid is somewhat of a hot-rod in its own right with a V6/electric hybrid drivetrain that puts out a combined 253 hp, the Camry Hybrid goes all green with a high-tech 2.4L four-cylinder making 187 hp in concert with its electric aid. At the Camry Hybrid’s launch Toyota claimed the green machine would be capable of returning 43 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway.
The base price for the Camry Hybrid will include an uplevel stereo, cruise, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, power driver’s seat and automatic climate control. For a basis of comparison, the smaller yet more frugal Prius lists at $22,305 on Toyota’s website.
*All prices quotes include manufacturer’s charge for delivery, processing and handling.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Gunnar Heinrich @ Mar 28th 2006 8:49AM
Alright! Japanese price war. Every subscriber to CR will benefit.
http://www.automobilesdeluxe.blogspot.com
DarkKnight67 @ Mar 28th 2006 8:55AM
And the discount you get helps pay for your therapy to have bought such a fugly car.
Michael G @ Mar 28th 2006 9:04AM
To each their own. I personally think it's the best-looking Camry to date. Ugly or not they will sell a ton of these cars.
Chris @ Mar 28th 2006 9:16AM
#3: "Best looking Camry to date" isn't saying much :-p
Fazzster @ Mar 28th 2006 9:18AM
Honda is a V6. Toyota is an I4. Of course there is a price difference....
Carpenter @ Mar 28th 2006 9:28AM
The Prius is not actually that much smaller inside than the Camry. A couple of inches of rear seat width is about the sum of it, and about an inch of front shoulder room.
Performance - the Camry (hybrid) does 0-60 in about 9 seconds vs. 10.5 for Prius.
MPG difference of 15 MPG per EPA - pretty significant.
Michael Karesh @ Mar 28th 2006 9:30AM
There will also be an equipment difference. The Accord has leather and a sunroof as standard equipment. I developed TrueDelta (http://www.truedelta.com) to handle just this sort of issue. I'll try to input data on the Camry Hybrid today.
But compare an Accord Hybrid and a Prius and you'll find that they're about $3,736 apart after adjusting for equipment levels (adjustment is about $2,000 in the Honda's favor). Add in that you can buy the Accord near invoice but must pay sticker for the Prius, and actual transaction prices after the feature adjustment are only about a grand apart.
So if the Camry sells well and isn't discounted much it could actually end up more expensive than the Accord on an apples-to-apples basis.
Leo @ Mar 28th 2006 9:31AM
Then the new Nissan Altima comes along and blows it away... not in volume - the Camry has a lock on fleet sales and old farts. But it will blow it away in profitability and style and really have an impact on the marketplace.
Two more weeks. I can't wait.
Hank @ Mar 28th 2006 9:48AM
If people are trying to save money by saving fuel, offering a lesser equipped model makes good sense. I'm glad they went with the 4 cyl. Perfomance hybrids are neat and all, but don't quite jive with the hybrid's overall purpose at this point.
The Camry is an everyman's car (a 2000's Plymouth or Belair), it makes sense to make it an everyman's hybrid, too.
Steve C. @ Mar 28th 2006 9:56AM
Need I even say it -- the car will sell out its production run for the next couple of years while Accord Hybrids gather a bit of dust.
Joe @ Mar 28th 2006 10:16AM
Toyota did announce pricing, $25,900 to start... As far as I see it this car is supposed to combined cycle somewhere around 39 mpg. If thats right, who cares what engine it has, if it can hold its own with other vehicles on the road in terms of real-world acceleration, I think it will sell like hotcakes...
Michael Karesh @ Mar 28th 2006 11:02AM
I've entered the data into the database on my home computer, it should be uploaded to http://www.truedelta.com by noon.
Results:
Camry Hybrid vs. Camry XLE 4, equipped similarly (leather, sunroof) and adjusted for features: Camry Hybrid $1,750 more
This is very low--the hybrid actually makes financial sense given its superior performance and fuel economy, and government tax credits. Even the ability to buy the regular Camry at a significant discount might not alter this fact.
Camry Hybrid vs. Accord Hybrid, equipped similarly (leather, sunroof) and adjusted for features: Camry Hybrid $4,000 less (memo to self: don't always go with gut; Camry Hybrid has nearly XLE level of standard equipment)
Camry MSRP vw. Accord invoice: Camry Hybrid $1,000 less.
Camry Hybrid vs. Prius, minimal level of shared equipment, adjusted: Camry $100 more
Camry Hybrid vs. Prius, max level shared, adjusted: Camry Hybrid $750 LESS (nav is only $1,200 on the Camry)
Car-la @ Mar 28th 2006 11:06AM
I also think Toyota's approach makes more sense. After all, most hybrid-buyers are more likely to be concerned with economy. While the Accord is directed at sporty buyers, I don't believe many buyers in the market for a car worth almost 32k would look at an Accord. Especially most sporty buyers will rather look at a rear-drive Infiniti or at an Acura, rather than an Accord (at least I would). Especially, if the hybrid drivetrain doesn't help fuel-economy too much.
At 187hp, the Camry Hybrid has as much power as the V6 a couple of years ago, so it's no slouch either. I'm sure Toyota will sell a lot of these.
Ted K @ Mar 28th 2006 11:25AM
HAHAHAHAHA
This just in: Civic undercuts Lexus IS300 by $15K*!
The cars aren't even remotely comparable. In both comparisons, one is a pimped-out powerful near-luxo cruiser, while the other is an econo-cart. Why bother with the silly price comparison?
Oh, that's right, because this is Autoblog and Toyota is god.
Car-la @ Mar 28th 2006 11:27AM
I also think Toyota's approach makes more sense. After all, most hybrid-buyers are more likely to be concerned with economy. While the Accord is directed at sporty buyers, I don't believe many buyers in the market for a car worth almost 32k would look at an Accord. Especially most sporty buyers will rather look at a rear-drive Infiniti or at an Acura, rather than an Accord (at least I would). Especially, if the hybrid drivetrain doesn't help fuel-economy too much.
At 187hp, the Camry Hybrid has as much power as the V6 a couple of years ago, so it's no slouch either. I'm sure Toyota will sell a lot of these.
Dave @ Mar 28th 2006 11:33AM
Aside from the grill, its an attractive car. But the grill... dear lord thats ugly.
Car-la @ Mar 28th 2006 11:39AM
Sorry for the double-post...was not intended.
Ted K: The comparison makes a lot of sense, because in contrast to your example, the Accord and Camry compete in the same class, and are actually the two best-sold contenders in that class. So, unlike you say, the Camry is not an econo-cart (or did you mean the Accord ;), and the Accord is not a near-luxury cruiser. That would be Acura's TL if you want to stay within the Honda company. You mentioned Toyota's contender in this class yourself.
Joel A @ Mar 28th 2006 12:14PM
Michael,
Thanks for the cost breakdown. We're considering the Toyota hybrid as my spouse's next car. We like our Accord hybrid but, for my spouse's commute, the hybrid Camry makes more sense. I'll probably take the Accord since I like more power (who doesn't?) plus the better gas mileage.
T. @ Mar 28th 2006 12:35PM
ha, the anti-toyota comments on here are pretty funny. yes, they are two separate cars. yes, they sell for two separate price points, due not only to features but also due to target audience (Toyota is catering to people who want fuel economy but something larger and less obvious than a prius, and Honda is catering to... TL owners?).
if anything, this could show who has their finger on the american market more. personally, I think toyota is going to clean house and sell TONS of these, while the Accords sell for below MSRP or even close to invoice. Toyota, out of any of the car companies, is making cars that people actually want, and will buy. Few people I know would shell out $32k for an Accord hybrid, especially one that doesn't even get that much better mileage than an ordinary Accord. However, I *do* know people who would be looking for a mid-size family car that gets 40mpg combined, sells for 26k, has enough power to get out of its own way, and isn't hideously ugly like the prius.
just my opinion, though, i'm sure that the Toy haters will come out and claim that sales #s are meaningless and that the *real* determining factor is some internet blogger who thinks that it's boring.
Ted K @ Mar 28th 2006 1:03PM
Car-la:
Reality, in contrast to the world in which your statements are true, is a place where the Accord Hybrid and Camry Hybrid are not even remotely comparable. Look at the HP numbers and 1/4mile times. Look at the standard equipment. Look at the prices.
Yes, the base Accord and Camry are competitors. What does that have to do with anything? We're talking about the hybrids today, and they are very different from their respective base models as well as each other.
It sounds like you've missed the last two years worth of automotive press. I'll fill you in - the Accord Hybrid is not designed for MPG or economy. It is an ill-fated attempt at a "muscle hybrid", where performance is boosted relative to the base model car moreso than MPG. It is also a huge sales flop, much like the RX400h and GS Hybrid will be. You're having a good time swinging from Toyota's nuts, so let's make this clear - those dopes were too stupid to look at the results of Honda's industry-leading wayfinding, and now they'll pay the price of R&D, production, advertising, and wasted lot space on cars that no one wants, when they could have just looked at how the Accord Hybrid has done. Pretty stupid, huh?