Sedans like Toyota’s 2018 Camry are getting shellacked sales-wise, as everyone from boomers to millennials to the heads of new families are choosing crossovers or SUVs when purchasing a new vehicle.
That said, if you’re going to spring for a sedan, the Camry Hybrid is a favorite so far this year, burying its competition by selling a reported 90,767 units as compared to Honda’s Accord (24,171) and Nissan’s Altima (23,518.) But the most startling news is that the mileage in its LE option puts you in the 50 MPG range. It also delivers power, style, convenience and efficiency and you’ll be better able to chuckle at the Prius’ “better mileage than thou” flavor some of those owners annoy everyone else with.
But let’s put the 2018 Prius up against the 2018 Camry Hybrid, and see who’s king of the road.
PRICE: Prius
Prius base price: $20,630
Camry Hybrid base price $27,800
The above numbers represent the lowest you can possibly pay for each base model, barring dealer negotiation/rebates/discounts. The Camry comes in three trims; LE, SE and the de-luxe XLE starting at $32,250. The Prius comes in four trims; the base model, the c, the v and the most expensive, the Prime, starting at $27,100.
LOOKS: Camry
The Camry is stylish, stealthy, and (almost) a sports car. We’ve never especially cottoned to the Prius’ looks, no offense to the 1,643,000 people who bought one in the last 18 years.
INTERIOR: Prius
While the Camry’s interior wins high marks for its comfort, layout and ease of control reach, the Prius has a high-end, mod feeling to it and we like its dinky shift and large tablet-sized screen on the Prime trim.
HANDLING: Camry
While this was a close call, one can’t call the Prius any kind of sportster with corresponding handling; the Camry’s handling is sharper and more dialed-in. The Prius’s handling did see some improvement with its redesign last year due to a new rear suspension.
STORAGE: Prius
While the Prius’ hatchback mechanism is marred by a somewhat odd layout, making it less roomy back there than some in this segment, the Camry’s trunk space is average, which is the one of the main reasons buyers have given for abandoning sedans – space.
SAFETY: Camry
Though both vehicles scored high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the Prius only got an “acceptable” rating for its headlights while the Camry achieved a “Good” – the highest rating available.
POWER: Camry
The Camry’s got 208 horses under its hood; the Prius’ engine has a far less powerful 121 HP, and achieves zero-60 in an incredibly tepid 10 seconds. However, when buzzing around town on errands, the Prius has the required zip needed.
WINNER: Camry
