The seats are quite comfortable and offer a good though uninspiring driving position. This Camry boasts an ultra-quiet interior due in large part to the hybrid powertrain. When running in full electric mode, you don't hear a peep from underneath the hood. Even when standing outside, you would never know the car is "ON".

The combined horsepower engines stood at 187 horses.

High-tech
No one can deny Toyota's accomplishments on the technological front. The company really must be commended for its advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which blends two sources of power: a 147-hp Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder engine and a high-efficiency electric motor. Together, they deliver the equivalent of 187 horsepower. The combustion engine remains inactive at idle and low cruising speeds.

While this is no racing machine, performance is pretty decent. With 199 pounds-feet of torque on top of that, accelerations are satisfying. Of course, the main goal of Camry Hybrid owners is not to record the fastest times. Rather, they aim to achieve optimum fuel economy -- and they won't be disappointed with a real-world average of 7.5 liters per 100 kilometers.

To maximize efficiency, Toyota engineers mated this hybrid powertrain to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Oftentimes, this type of transmission proves to be odd and noisy. However, with the 2008 Camry Hybrid, it's actually a great fit. Accelerations and decelerations are extremely smooth, with no power gaps whatsoever. The transition from fully-electric to hybrid mode is also totally seamless.

Toyotas are not known for offering real excitement to drivers and the Camry is no exception. The automaker does not seem to realize that human beings -- not robots -- sit behind the wheel and that they like to have some fun while driving.

Handling is nicely balanced despite the added weight in the back.