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The Toyota Camry remains America's best-selling midsize car, in a segment that has been steadily gaining competitors. Camry is available in four-cylinder and V6 models, and as the Camry Hybrid (read more about the2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid), equipped with Toyota's industry-leading Hybrid Synergy Drive. For 2009 the CE grade is replaced by the Camry grade.

Performance and Efficiency

In tune with the needs of midsize car buyers, Camry provides excellent fuel economy. Four-cylinder manual and automatic Camry models have city/highway fuel economy ratings of 21/31 MPG, and V6 models have 19/28 MPG EPA-estimated ratings. The Camry Hybrid, which combines a four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric drive motor, returns an EPA-estimated 33 MPG city/34 MPG highway. The Camry's 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, standard on Camry grade, LE, SE and XLE, puts out 158 SAEhorsepower at 6,000 rpm and 161 lb.-ft. peak torque at 4,000 rpm and can be mated to a five-speed manual transmission or an electronically controlled five-speed automatic. (The PZEV-certified version offers 155 hp and 158 lb.- ft.)

The DOHC 3.5-liter V6, available in the LE, SE and XLE grades, delivers a substantial performance boost with 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb.-ft. peak torque at 4,700 rpm. The chain-driven camshafts employ Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (Dual VVT-i) which controls valve timing on both the intake and exhaust camshafts for optimal performance and efficiency at all engine speeds. The V6 Camry models come equipped exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission that offers a sequential mode for manual shifting when desired. Intelligent control adapts shifting strategy in response to driver input, with very fast kick-down and noticeable response.

The Camry Hybrid model owes its outstanding efficiency to Hybrid Synergy Drive, which produces a combined 187 horsepower and varies power between the gas engine and electric motor, or combines both, as needed. The first part of Hybrid Synergy Drive consists of a 147-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder Atkinson-cycle engine coupled with an electronically controlled planetary-gear continuously variable transmission.

The second part combines a small, high-torque 40-hp electric motor, an ultra- small inverter with a specially designed compact battery, and a transaxle to seamlessly combine power from the electric motor and gasoline engine. Because there are situations in which the gas engine in a Toyota hybrid completely shuts off, air conditioning and power steering systems are driven electrically.

In addition, an "ECO" button limits energy consumption by the climate control system, and under certain conditions can help improve fuel economy. Special attention paid to vehicle underbody aerodynamics, including the use of wheel spats and underbelly pans, helps yield a coefficient of drag of just 0.27, which can benefit fuel economy. The 2009 Camry Hybrid is certified as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV), just one of a handful of cars that meets this strict standard. It produces over 70 percent less smog-forming emissions than the average new car.