2012 Camry XLE Hybrid vs Gen III Prius

I'll leave the discussions of equivalent models, maintenance and depreciation to others.
In our case, the Prius had the advantage of being a tall vehicle. By that I mean it's easier to get in and out of than a conventional car and its interior space is remarkable while leaving the outside very compact and easy to park and maneuver. The turning circle is quite tight. If you add the super mileage on top of that, it was an easy decision for us.

- Chris

P.S. - Welcome aboard!

 

We actually "bought" a loaded Camry hybrid XLE with the premium NAV package last month. Long story short, the car never got out of our driveway again except to go back to the dealership for troubleshooting, and the contract was canceled. But all that means is that we've had recent experience shopping for one.

After that experience (nothing personal against the car), I'm now far more interested in a Prius four with solar package and premium NAV.

Is it the NAV that you are looking for, or the premium NAV?

If it's the regular NAV, then you're looking for a Prius three with NAV package.

If it's the premium NAV, then it'll be a four or a five. The five gets you the bigger wheels and LED headlamps. I don't care about those, so I'm selecting the four.

Reasons for the Prius four + solar + premium NAV over Camry XLE loaded + premium NAV?

1) gas mileage (I know this isn't a consideration for you, but I like playing with my car in seeing how high I can get the fuel economy. It's kind of like a video game while driving.)
2) I felt kind of "old" driving the Camry XLE, like it was such a distinguished-looking car that I had to drive all stodgy and responsible in it. Another person might feel fine about it.
3) I like the solar ventilation option in the Prius four
4) The loaded XLE came with a Blind-Spot Monitor (your side mirrors light up bright red if there's a car in your blind spot on that side). It wasn't distracting at all, but I'm concerned that if you learn to rely on that, then you may get into trouble if you drive a car without this feature.
5) You'll never feel like a full-fledged member of Priuschat unless you buy the Prius

Reasons that support the Camry XLE over any Prius

1) Peppy acceleration means it doesn't even feel like a hybrid!
2) It is one SWEET car, in the sophisticated look and feel of the displays, the ride, and the room.
3) The Camry XLE displayed tire pressure stats *by tire* on the vehicle stats page. Prius just has the standard Toyota "dummy light" and doesn't bother to tell you which tire has an issue.
4) The road condition information on the Premium NAV (and I think several other information feeds, like stock quotes) comes through the satellite, making the data faster and NOT consuming bandwidth on your cellular plan
5) Camry comes in Clearwater Blue Metallic
6) Price between the loaded Prius 4 and loaded Camry XLE is essentially the same.

Great. Now I've talked myself 70% of the way back to a loaded hybrid Camry XLE...

 

Leather AND the regular NAV package come standard in the Prius four and five, so start your comparisons there. The Prius four without premium NAV and solar roof runs about $29K MSRP before you start adding in floor mats and such.

 

Mileage.

Prius have the leather and the Nav in Prius3/4 and 3/5 level.

Only reason I could see for a Camry Hybrid would be styling, the person did not like the Prius look.

 

I bought a Prius for the milage and the liftback. My wife and I ride a tandem bicycle and with wheels off we can put the tandem in the back of or Prius. It would not fit in a Camry. On a recent trip to Florida we saved $265 in gas by driving the Prius rather than our van.

 

we have had a hycam since 07 and love it. we are cureently looking at the 12, as well as ford fusion hybrid. we find the camry much more comfortible than the prius. larger, smoother, quieter. and i love my prius, but for mpg's. if you want to save money, buy a regular camry, at $4./gal. you'll never make up the price difference. all the best!

 

I have both 2012 Camry Hybrid XLE and Prius 5. Wife drives the Prius as she drives more.

I hate both cars! Why? Because one has something the other doesn't have! We wish we could breed the 2 cars together and make a Priuscam!

What I mean is, she likes the blindspot warning on the mirrors with the camry, I like the cruise control thing that keeps you at a safe distance from the car ahead of you plus the assist thing that keeps you in the lane you are in. I love the cockpit feel of the prius and all the things that light up and go on around the dash of the prius, makes the camry feel like just another car. I love the electric seats in the camry for driver and passange but the prius is only has it for the driver. I like the avg mpg since start with the camry but the prius doesn't have that. Seriously, we want it all in one car.

I could go on I guess... I think you get the point.

The prius is fun to drive but not every day for me. I like the comfort of the seats in the camry.

I told the dealer I wish I got 2 Prius' when I bought them, the Prius came in a day before and when I got in the camry I was like, this is boring but it grew on me and I love my camry now.

 

BTW, people do say you'll never make up the money (Not picking on the post above mine) but for me, I'd rather drive something I like than worry about making up the money... Sure money is important but I want to be happy with what I am driving and not wish I would have got the next model above mine

 

exactly. i was just responding to the o.p.'s reason for buying a hybrid. if that's the only reason, don't buy one.

 

Kingetula,

What package was your XLE?

I noticed that the XLE with the regular NAV package was just "blah" on the inside, but with the premium NAV on the XLE, is looked space-agish and EXCITING.

On the seats, I'm weird in that I dislike electric seats and prefer the manual adjustments. But I *do* like the rump warmer feature for the winter, and heated side mirrors!

 

say 25 mpg in camry and 40 in hycam will save you 150 gal./year x $4. = $600. so four year breakeven, so that's pretty good. i am surprised they are only $2500. apart. if you think the trunk is bad now, you should have seen the last gen.

 

Are you certain about that sticker price? I've only driven one of the Vs, but I have the brochure here.

Pricing a Prius V with five trim (there's no four) comes to $30,900 with no options. That already gets you heated leather seats and the regular NAV package.

Adding on the advanced technology package gets you the premium NAV, radar cruise control, moonroof, pre-collision system, and advanced parking guidance system (is this just a fancy name for the backup camera?). That package adds $5580 and brings the total MSRP to $36,480.

Not a big difference, I guess, but is it something in the advanced package that you were aiming to get?

 

I took our Prius III on a 2000 mile trip to California & back. I drove straight through each way & I found the seats very comfortable. The car was plenty quiet to me too. I thought it made a great road trip car. I'm sure the Camry hybrid is nice too but it felt way too big to my wife & I when we bought our Prius last year.