Toyota offers eco-friendly option with 2025 Camry hybrid

By Lee Min-hyung

Toyota Motor Korea aims to boost its sales growth with the 2025 Camry hybrid sedan, the local subsidiary of the Japanese carmaker announced on Monday.

The ninth-generation Camry launched at dealerships nationwide on Dec. 2. While the monthly sales figures have yet to be reported, Toyota is anticipating strong demand, having already received over 500 preorders for the hybrid model.

The new Camry boasts a more dynamic design, created with the "energetic beauty" concept in mind.

As the global electric vehicle market enters a downturn before its eventual mass adoption, Toyota aims to capitalize on the trend by aggressively expanding sales of its hybrid vehicles.

According to data from market tracker CarIsYou, more than 310,000 new hybrid vehicles were registered between January and October this year, up 24.8 percent from the previous year.

The Toyota Camry is one of the Japanese carmaker's most iconic sedans, beloved by drivers worldwide for the past four decades. The midsize sedan made its debut in Korea in 2009, and the hybrid version has also received positive reviews from local customers for its quality and lack of notable downsides.

The latest version boasts a luxurious interior and cutting-edge technologies, reinforcing its premium identity while providing a safer driving experience for customers, the carmaker said.

The hybrid vehicle is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor, delivering a combined output of up to 227 horsepower. It is equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System, which offers improved engine and motor performance compared to its predecessor while maintaining a fuel efficiency of 17.1 kilometers per liter.

The price for the Camry hybrid starts from 48 million won ($33,100) in Korea.

“The Toyota Camry has for many years been beloved as a symbolic midsize imported sedan here,” Toyota Motor Korea Vice President Kang Dae-hwan said. “The 2025 Camry hybrid vehicle will particularly become a fresh option for customers who seek eco-friendly cars with high-quality driving performance and diverse infotainment systems.”