The Pre-Owned Japanese Hybrid That Still Feels New

Nabbing a vehicle with an efficient hybrid powertrain is kind of a no-brainer. When an internal combustion engine is married to a small battery pack and at least one electric motor, huge fuel savings can be realized, and some of the downsides inherent to pure EVs are sidestepped. Hybrids typically provide eye-opening efficiency, especially around town where regenerative braking recuperates energy that would normally be wasted, though these vehicles also refuel in as little as 5 minutes, so you waste almost no time when you’re on a long-distance road trip – a major issue with electric vehicles.

In today’s landscape, there’s one brand that is synonymous with hybrids: Toyota. Currently, the automaker and its Lexus luxury division offer a whopping 30 electrified vehicles in the U.S., more than any other company, which should be no surprise, since Toyota invented the modern hybrid about 30 years ago with its revolutionary Prius. Now, if you’re looking to save big money, both at the gas pump and by purchasing a used vehicle instead of a new one, here’s our recommendation for a pre-owned Japanese hybrid that’s just a few years old but still feels modern.

2019-2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid: A Used Hybrid That Feels Like New

Few automakers have the reputation for quality and dependability that Toyota does. The gigantic Japanese manufacturer has spent decades designing, engineering, and building vehicles that just don’t quit, even in the toughest conditions. This laser focus on quality is probably why Toyota is the largest automaker in the world.

Mirroring the company’s overall success is the Camry sedan, which is one of the most important cars ever built. Last year this four-door family hauler celebrated its 23rd consecutive year as the top-selling sedan in America, though the nameplate has been in production for much, much longer than that.

A Reliable And Refined Hybrid Sedan With Modern Features

Motorists who are looking for an efficient and affordable second-hand hybrid should absolutely consider a Camry, specifically a model from the 2019 to 2022 model years. These cars not only sip fuel, but they’re safe, comfortable, and still modern enough to feel practically new. If you purchase a Toyota Camry hybrid of this generation that’s been well-maintained, it should reward you with years and years of faithful service, many hundreds of thousands of miles of driving, likely with minimal breakdowns and few pricey repairs, if any at all.

They are a few years old at this point, but when it comes to amenities, these cars do not disappoint, either. Adaptive cruise control, forward collision mitigation braking, and lane-keeping assist should all be standard fare. Additionally, this car should have comfortable front seats and plenty of room for adult-sized passengers in the back.

Beyond all that, in 2019, Apple CarPlay was included, a welcome feature that makes it super easy to access many iPhone features, but if you own a Google-based handset you’ll have to use Toyota’s native infotainment system as Android Auto was not offered until 2020. Unfortunately, this multimedia array is not the most attractive or intuitive, though it will still get the job done.

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Efficient Performance and Smooth Hybrid Power

Making the most of every drop of gasoline, the powertrain here is centered around a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine. Instead of a conventional stepped-ratio gearbox many motorists are familiar with, this Camry – like practically all Toyota hybrids – features an efficient electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission. Unexpectedly, this eCVT comprises a special planetary gear set and two motor generators, an assembly that seamlessly blends output from the gasoline engine and electric motors.

2019-2022 Toyota Camry Hybrid Specifications

This setup also enables seamless regenerative braking, which dramatically improves fuel economy. Overall, this powertrain delivers 208 system horsepower, enough to motivate the Camry hybrid from a standstill to 60 mph in around 7.5 seconds, a brisk performance for any family sedan, let alone one that’s this economical.

A Balance Of Fuel Economy And Responsive Driving

When it comes to fuel efficiency, this car posts some huge numbers, so big you might not even believe them. Whether it’s model year 2019, ’20, ’21, or ’22, you can expect up to 51 miles per gallon city, 53 highway, and 52 miles per gallon combined for the entry-level LE model. Fancier SE, XLE, and XSE trims are slightly less economical. They’re rated at 44 miles per gallon in the city, 47 on the highway, and 46 miles per gallon combined – still stellar figures.

According to the U.S. EPA, the Camry hybrid LE is estimated to save drivers $4,000 in fuel costs over five years compared to the average new vehicle, a considerable amount. The slightly less-economical trims are still projected to save motorists around $3,250 over the same half-decade period.

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A Premium Cabin That Stands The Test of Time

Toyota is not a luxury brand, but its vehicle interiors are still of high quality. Yes, some mass-market automakers like Honda and Hyundai tend to do an even better job, but this Camry’s cabin does not disappoint. The interior has lots of low-sheen, soft plastics, and the build quality is as good as you’ll find in any vehicle. As for the dashboard, it’s swoopy and kind of busy the way the trim flows down toward the center console as well as across the dash itself, but the controls should be intuitive and within easy reach.

High-Quality Materials And Tech Keep It Feeling Modern

Toyota’s attention to detail with the Camry Hybrid’s interior ensures that even a pre-owned model that is several years old still feels modern and surprisingly upscale. A 7-inch touchscreen should be standard equipment in this car, with a larger 8-inch panel offered at higher trim levels. These displays are far smaller than what is fitted to some new vehicles these days, but they still look good and should get the job done.

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Advanced Safety And Toyota’s Long-Lasting Durability

Protecting the driver and any passengers well should the unthinkable happen, this generation of Camry hybrid is a safety all-star. Not only has this family four-door earned five-star crash test ratings right across the board from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA for short (this Camry has a five-star overall rating, the highest accolade NHTSA hands out, as well as five-star scores in the frontal, side impact, and rollover tests), but the car also earned a Top Safety Pick Plus score from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the highest rating available. This independent organization does additional, more rigorous crash evaluations than NHTSA, so it’s a phenomenal resource for drivers who are shopping for a new – or in this case, used – vehicle, and want to make sure they’re getting something safe.

That’s all well and good, but if possible, avoiding a crash entirely is much preferred to walking away from one unscathed. To help prevent any mishaps, this generation of Camry hybrid should come standard with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS), the automaker’s suite of advanced driver assistance technologies. This includes goodies like forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, steering assist, and even automatic high beams. And that last amenity is always surprisingly helpful, particularly on dark, rural roads.

Reliability Is Baked Right In

When it comes to reliability, the Camry hybrid should have absolutely zero issues, making it to 200,000 miles as long as owners follow proper basic maintenance, though the car is likely good for many, many more miles than that. Again, Toyota has built its sterling reputation on unimpeachable quality, and even its most basic offerings are engineered to last far longer than other cars.

On Edmunds.com, for instance, owners have given the 2019 Toyota Camry hybrid a 4.4-star rating out of five, an excellent score. The car has also been given a five-star reliability rating by owners, though it also has the same score in the safety, performance, value, and interior categories. When it comes to comfort, the Camry hybrid earned four stars, and the car’s technology – probably its only real weak point – received a three-star rating.

It Shouldn’t Cost A Fortune

Of course, myriad variables impact the price of a used vehicle, from the trim level and overall condition to location, time of year, features, and, yes, especially the mileage. But the good news is, a Toyota Camry hybrid of this generation should not break the bank.

Given their sterling reputation for quality and dependability, Toyotas tend to hold their value better than many other vehicles. This is both good news and bad; it’s great if you’re looking to sell because you’ll get more money, but it’s bad for people who need a new ride because prices are often higher.

Doing a nationwide search on a major online car shopping website reveals that 2019 to 2022 Toyota Camry hybrid pricing is all over the map. This ranges from around $10,000 for a car with nearly 220,000 miles on the clock, to pristine examples with just around 10,000 miles going for $35,000. Splitting the difference between these two extremes, good examples with around 75,000 miles seem to be going for around $23,000, an excellent price for the safety, features, comfort, and stellar fuel economy the Camry Hybrid provides.