The 2018-2023 Toyota Camry Hybrid features the latest generation of the brand’s venerable Hybrid Synergy Drive system well proven. Here there is a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine with D4-S fuel-injection which features both direct and port fuel-injection.
The engine features a relatively high 14.1:1 compression ratio and variable valve timing and can run on regular unleaded fuel or higher. It’s mated to an electric continuously variable transmission with two-motors, one as a main traction motor the other primarily as a starter generator.
It produces a total 208 system horsepower and is rated at 51 mpg city, 53 mpg highway and 52 mpg combined for the LE trim. In all other trim grades such as the SE we tested here it is rated at 44 mpg city, 47 mpg highway, and 46 mpg combined – primarily due to up-sized tires and wheels.
Following the airflow, the air-intake charge comes through a snorkel at the top of the radiator to a small air-filter box mounted low on the drive side. From there it flows through a mass airflow sensor and a drive-by wire throttle body into a composite plastic intake manifold.
At the top of the manifold you can see the fuel-injection components for its port fuel-injection but the majority of its direct fuel-injection components are hidden below its composite plastic valve cover. At the top of the engine you can see all four of its spark plug coil packs.
Once the combustion process takes place exhaust exits at the rear of the engine through a tubular exhaust manifold and directly into the catalyst system.
Doing your own routine maintenance on the Camry Hybrid is as straight forward as any conventional gasoline model. Stay clear of the bright orange high-voltage wiring as handling it incorrectly can be very dangerous as it has 650-volts of electricity. It’s generally not users to me servicing anyway.
Checking oil is done at the front center of the engine, the bright yellow dipstick well visible. The oil filler cap is located at the top of the engine valve cover. Both are accessible with the plastic engine sound cover on or off.
Coolant reservoirs for both the engine and hybrid drive system can be found at the passenger side of the engine compartment. The engine coolant reservoir is the one to the left, the hybrid drive system coolant to the right. They both use the same type of coolant. The windshield washer fluid reservoir is just adjacent to them as well.
The brake fluid reservoir can be found at the driver side firewall atop its ectronically controlled brake motor unit. Just ahead of it is the main engine ECU. The main fuse panel is located just over the driver-side wheel wheel, a large box which can be easily accessed with a and extra set of fuses and a fuse removal tool inside.
The main engine air filter box is located at the front driver side of the engine compartment and changing the filter can be done easily without tools.
Looking around the engine compartment you will notice there is no 12V battery located here, you will find it under an snap-in-place access panel on the passenger side of the trunk floor.
