I have an 09 Camry Hybrid. I average about 33-34 mpg with the tires set at 35 lbs, and mostly suburban driving. (30-50 mph zones).

I really, really love the gas savings I've had with this car. But I really really don't enjoy driving it.

In fact, I'm completely frustrated. I feel like I've been taken out of the market for other cars I'm interested in, because I can't go back to the old days and spend twice as much money on Gas.

I've been thinking about a Volt (while what I want is a Tahoe.) Then I stumbled across the EPA 44 MPG estimate on the latest Camry's. I thought, hell, I could justify driving a new one for another 10 MPG.

Then I came to this site, and to me, it doesn't look like any of you 2012 owners are getting close to 44 MPG without significant effort.

So 2012 owners, what are you getting? Did any of you upgrade from and older Hybrid Model? Thoughts in general on this idea?

 

I think it is hard to translate individual mileage results to predict what you would get. We all drive very differently. At the ToyotaNation hybrid site you will see reported mileage for the 2012 varying from 36 to over 50 mpg. I think it all depends on how you drive, and what service it is in. So far I have averaged about 39 mpg with a 2012 XLE. According to EPA the LE gets a bit better mileage -- probably due to the smaller tires. From the Green Car Congress review, they say:

"The 2012 Camry Hybrid LE, with preliminary EPA-estimated fuel economy of 43 mpg city/39 mpg highway/41 mpg combined, yields about 39%, 11% and 24% boosts in fuel economy in the EPA city, highway and combined driving cycles respectively compared to the previous generation, due largely to the new hybrid powertrain, but also due to lighter vehicle weight and optimized aerodynamics (Cd=0.27). (The outgoing model carries a 31/35/33 mpg US EPA rating.)"

It seems the main improvement has been in the city mileage when you compare the older Camry hybrids to the 2012. So if you are mainly city, you could get a very significant increase in mileage.

My personal experience is that it can do about 40 mpg with no wind at 60 mph. And in this range you lose about 1 mpg for every 1 mph increase in speed. In city I get a little less than this, but not much. I think I could get up to 50 mpg if I did longer city trips. On longer trips at a constant 30 mph I can get an indicated 70 mpg. The vehicle seems quite sensitive to trip length, and you pay for frequent starts, so I get no where near this in my actual normal driving.

If I was forced to guess at what improvement you could get, I would suggest you could get around 44 mpg based on your "mostly suburban driving" description, unless it is short trips. Short trips reduce the potential.

 

My findings while driving my 2012 TCH. Driving at 40 with cruise I get my very best mpg. This was true for the '07 and '12 TCH. When the engine is running at any time it gets it's best (49/50 mpg) around 45 to 50 mph with cruise. The last statement is only if the traction battery is charged up to 80% and tires aired up 38 to 40 psi when cold.

I also did years of testing for best mpg speeds with 4/6-cyl '89, '91,'94, '03, '06 gas powered cars. That speed can be from 46 to 48 mph. Most are when driving at 48 mph with cruise. If your automatic includes overdrive that should kick in around 46 mph. You can tell by watching the tachometer drop around 400/500 rpm once you reach the overdrive speed.

You might be surprised at your increase in mpg with a gas only powered car. I owned a 2003 Corolla automatic. EPA sticker showed 28 city 30 highway. I got 40 mpg combined the few years I owned that car. Again I drove it 46 to 48 mph highway and 35 to 40 in the city, with genital acceleration.

 

rburto is by no means a golden standard for ones to look at. with no offense and respectfully.
what you need to do is to re-figure, why your mpg is so low. I have noticed, from multiple fuellies posted here and at toyotanation, that 2012s are not much better, or even worse, than say my 2007.
hence, what's the point in getting yourself into more debt, to chase elusive promised 2-3mpg improvement? then there will be another wonder car out there, and you will get yourself into even more debt? that's exactly what they want you to do. your call, buddy or sis.

 

According to Consumer Reports in real world driving tests they report:

"The (2012) Camry Hybrid gets amazing fuel economy for its size and roomy interior: 38 mpg in mixed driving, four mpg better than the previous version."

Interestingly I get very close to that reported 38 mpg in about a 1/3 city, 2/3 highway mode. I suspect you will get better than that if you are mostly urban and longer trips.

 

Here is some interesting figures..

2007 TCH EPA = 33/34, 33.5 mpg combined. I got 52 mpg or 18.5 over the EPA rating.

2012 TCH EPA = 40/38, 39.5 mpg combined. I'm now getting 61 mpg combined or 21.5 mpg over the EPA rating. (note this is the XLE '12 model)

ukrkoz says i'm only getting a few more mpg over the 2007 TCH for my money. With the new car i'm getting 61 - 52 = 9 mpg improvement. The EPA difference between the '07 and '12 XLE TCH is 6 mpg, see below.

'12 XLE hybrid, EPA 39.5 combined

'07 LE hybrid, EPA 33.5 combined.

A 6 mph improvement for the '12 TCH over the '07 using the EPA figures. If the '12 LE
TCH was used the mpg would be a few mpg higher.

I got these mpg numbers from the EPA gov site. My main reason for the new car was the roller rockers and electric water pump and many other small improvements. My wife wanted the backup camera for the both of us to use. I never had satellite radio so I ordered the better JBL system including the 7" HDD Navigation. Is why I saved for years and looked forward to buying this new model.

 

One of the interesting math quirks of miles per gallon is the law of diminishing returns. If you go through the math you save almost four times as much going from 30 to 31 mpg, as you save in going from 59 to 60 miles per gallon. At $4 a gallon you would save 43 cents per 100 miles going from 30 to 31 mpg. But, you would only save 11 cents per 100 miles going from 59 to 60 mpg.

 

Ron, your statement is correct. This reminds me of my (ham) amateur radio training. A 500 watt amplifier would put out a great signal which might show a S8 (signal) reading on the receiving radio. The transmitting end would have to increase his signal 3 times to 1500 watts to move the receiving end radio up to a S9 reading or very little difference.

I used to own a TV repair shop when I was young. I also installed fringe antenna's. Lets say a single outdoor TV antenna would give you a 10 db gain. Double stacking that same antenna would only give you a 2.5 db more signal or 12.5 db. Many thought by using 2 matching antennas would double the signal, but they were wrong according to the manufacturer spec sheet.

Little correction, one antenna web site said if you vertically stack the antennas, and receive a in phase signal you would get a 3 db gain over a single antenna.

 

38 miles to a gallon? you saw my signature, right? and climbing? And that's in very hybrid non friendly area? When do people grow up and stop listening to sales pitches?

 

Your Fuelly shows 40 mpg, the gov site says the '07 TCH shows EPA 34 mpg combined. Your getting 6 mpg more than the EPA ratings.

That compared to the '07 4-cyl gas model which shows 24 mpg combined. I see you are 14 mpg above that.

The Camry V6 model for '07 gets 23 mpg combined. The new 2012 4-cyl gets 27 combined.