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Featured 2025 Camry SE HEV is lower rated than 2024 Camry LE HEV by Consumer Reports

Discussion in 'Prius, Hybrid, EV and Alt-Fuel News' started by Gokhan, Nov 30, 2024 at 7:08 PM.

  1. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    Consumer Reports has released their ratings for the 2025 Camry HEV, and surprisingly, it is rated lower than the 2024 Camry HEV.

    When Toyota redesigned the Camry sedan for 2025, the automaker took on a challenge that has vexed companies from Coca-Cola to Facebook: How do you update a broadly beloved product? If you don’t keep up with the times, you’ll get eclipsed by more innovative competitors. But if you change too much, you’ll alienate existing customers.

    Highs
    • Excellent fuel economy
    • Smooth electric power at low speeds
    Lows
    • Gas engine gets noisy when revved
    • Low stance makes it difficult to get in and out
    Car Overall score/Road-test score

    2024 Camry LE HEV 93/94
    2025 Camry SE HEV 90/91
    2024 Accord Sport HEV 89/96
    2024 Camry LE 88/88
    2024 Prius XLE AWD HEV 80/76
    2024 Prius Prime XSE PHEV 76/78
     
    #1 Gokhan, Nov 30, 2024 at 7:08 PM
  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i would say the same about the 24 vs previous generation. better fuel economy, but noiser engine, lower stance, donut instead of full spare, but better trunk space with battery reconfiguring .
    it's always about tradeoffs
     
    #2 bisco, Nov 30, 2024 at 8:10 PM
  3. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    So an SUV is now necessary for a high rating? I know a couple who traded in a 4 month old SUV because they found it difficult to get in and out of. Honda Accord replaced it.

    What subjective BS.
     
    #3 mikefocke, Nov 30, 2024 at 8:18 PM
  4. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    No, 2025 Camry HEV is still the highest-rated vehicle in all cars and SUVs, except the 2024 BMW X5 with a score of 92/94. It is just lower rated than the 2024 Camry HEV, as the thread title says.
     
    #4 Gokhan, Nov 30, 2024 at 8:33 PM
  5. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    I wished I knew the difference between an SE and an LE. They seem the same to me.
     
    #5 Isaac Zachary, Nov 30, 2024 at 8:39 PM
  6. Gokhan

    Gokhan Senior Member

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    The 2025 LE has smaller tires with substantially better fuel economy (51 vs. 47 mpg) than the higher trims.

    However, Toyota has chosen to produce less of the lower trims, as in the Gen 5 Prius/Prius Prime, because they have found it more profitable to sell less of the more expensive higher trims with more margin than more of the cheaper lower trims with less margin. In the past, they were the opposite—they would produce and sell substantially more of the lowest trims (DX or LE) and make profit on the quantity instead of the margin. This business practice of limiting the supply to increase the profit discovered during the pandemic has been backfiring on the auto makers though—many of them on the brink of bankruptcy now.
     
    #6 Gokhan, Nov 30, 2024 at 9:02 PM
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  7. Isaac Zachary

    Isaac Zachary Senior Member

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    I really wish there were a Yaris hybrid in the USA, one for some $5,000 cheaper than the Corolla. The Corolla hybrid is just a tad too expensive, yet so are all used Toyotas that don't have a blown engine or bent frame or a quarter of a million miles on them or something similar.
     
    #7 Isaac Zachary, Nov 30, 2024 at 9:50 PM
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