Toyota will tell you that the 2007 Camry Hybrid’s new sheet metal makes it one of the sexiest sedans on the road, one that will elicit oohs and aahhs from just about anyone who casts an eye upon it.

They lie – kinda. The sexiest thing about the Camry Hybrid is under the hood, but like all 2007 Camrys, it is better-looking – though just how much is a hotly debated issue among automotive journalists. Some say that it’s just a little less boring than the old version; others say it’s a nice restyle that sheds the Camry’s blah reputation. Here’s the lowdown: decide for yourself. Don’t let some jaded, narcissistic scribe tell you what looks good. Go to a dealership and decide for yourself. If you do that, you’re sure to notice a sharper snout, a bigger Toyota emblem on the grille, a tall beltline and a back end that looks as if BMW’s Chris Bangle has been moonlighting. You’ll also notice enlarged taillights that angle sharply down. Somehow, it works enough to give the Camry a more sporting, aggressive look – enough to pull it out of the Little House on the Prairie doldrums, and give it a little I Love Lucy spice.

Not much of that newfound spice comes through on the inside. Instead, the Camry’s interior is all about function and space, usefulness in the day-to-day. Significant changes made to the interior of all Camrys, including the hybrid model, include larger graphics, easier-to-read gauges and more room in strategic areas, such as foot wells.

Throughout the cabin, design is intelligently done from the cupholders in the center console to the large junk bin located on the front console. Control layout is superb, with audio and environmental buttons within easy reach. For the Camry Hybrid, those environmental controls are the key to a new and advanced system called Plasmacluster. That’s not a superhero, but a filter that Toyota claims will eliminate airborne germs and bacteria.

Don’t be surprised when it works.
Such execution makes sense, after all, as the Camry made its name as a thoughtfully-designed car. The 2007 model follows up with the same attention to detail, and adds a more comfortable environment, front to back. It’s a strange thing: the tale of the tape reads that the Camry is actually mid-pack when it comes to headroom, legroom and other common measurements. Sitting in the car, however, it feels larger and more comfortable. This may have to do with a dash that was moved out, and an expanded front seat track. Perhaps Toyota has built more usable space inside the Camry, a benefit not necessarily recorded with a tape measure.

Excellent interior fit and finish also adds to that feeling of comfort, and the Camry has that in spades – though materials could be improved in some cases. The fake wood grain, for one – please stop selling that. The brushed aluminum trim for the hybrid model is a much more pleasing design. The fuzzy headliner, for another, and the hard plastic backing on the front seats, while clearly designed to be durable, looks and feels very unattractive. The back seat offers occupants plenty of legroom, and for convenience cupholders are located in the fold-down center armrest. For the hybrid model, the Camry offers the typical 60/40-split folding back seats rather than the XLE’s new reclining seat feature which means your friends can’t kick back in your Camry Hybrid.