I have driven a 4 cylinder Toyota Corolla for the past three years.


I test drove a loaded Camry Hybrid this evening.

I drove the Camry Hybrid on the freeway with the salesperson and asked him how well it cornered. He acted like I shouldn't be asking about that. I accelerated the car to see its power and tested the strength of the cars brakes.

Hence - a test drive.

When we were complete the saleperson suggested we go try another car in the Toyota lineup that was more of a performance car. He said the hybrid was not for me. He acted like the car was finicky and fragile and gave me the impression the car was mean for a geriatric driver.

Is the car really that fragile?

 

No. But apparently our salesperson is. The car handles extremely well and has plenty of acceleration for passing on the highway. Read some reviews from folks who test drive cars for a living:

http://www.paddocktalk.com/news/html/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid= 45495
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0607230251jul23,1,7145420.column?coll=chi-business-hed
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...607080303/1149
http://www.thestamfordtimes.com/stamford_templates/stamford_story/360027051455005.php
http://www.belleville.com/mld/bellev...g/15586067.htm

 

It corners like the XLE-V6, it brakes similar to the XLE-V6 (no regen in the XLE) but the TCH does NOT accelerate like an XLE-V6. If you reeeeely need a V-6 because of your driving habits looks elsewhere. The TCH beats the Camry's with a L4 engine but it is not in the same class as the V-6 in off the line acceleration, passing and hill climbing.
I own one of each so I know about which I speak.
I drive the TCH and the wife drives the XLE-V6. Both cars have their niches. The TCH for around town the XLE-V6 for trips.

 

It's a CAMRY, not a Porsche.

 

I think if you went on a test drive and was only interested in corning and accelleration then you might should look elsewhere. The Camry does a fine job, but it is no where near sporty. The V6 is impressive. My mom has one and I drove it last night. It handles the same as the TCH. You will loose out on MPG. If you want a Camry, but dont care about MPG get a SE V6.

 

Maybe I'm weird, but I believe that if you have to ask the car salesperson anything about the car you're test-driving, you haven't done enough research. I don't trust salespeople, clerks, etc., to know anything about what they're selling. I've been burned a few times by salespeople. Sometimes I even ask leading questions to get them to say what I already know.

If I'm taking a test-drive, it's because I want to know how the car feels and handles for me, and the salesperson might as well stay in the showroom.

 

I too drove a tastfully modified 9th generation Corolla for three years before buying the TCH, and although the car has body roll, I am satisfied with its abilities.

 

Advice: Perform another testdrive with a different salesperson who keeps their mouth shut. Get on a "quiet" freeway and make sudden, SAFE lane changes and passes -- all at legal speeds mind you. Aside from annoying body roll and tail swing, the TCH is stable and confident on the highway. It corners like a boat, however, but feels well-planted to the road. Sorry, I've driven Mazdas for 18 years... Camrys are a for a conservative driver... but I like driving both for different reasons. Have fun!

 

If all the performance you are used to is a Corolla, the TCH will be just fine!

 

My father has a jasper pearl hybrid,had it since june of 06.I have driven it on numerous occasions and it is a fun car to drive just get out on the highway and give her it just keeps pulling to well above the legal speed limits,it corners not bad, brakes decent.It is a very well rounded car that I don't mind driving when I can.I have a 2000 camaro SS and a 2000 gmc sierra z71 so fuel mileage is not my top priority.