ArcaMax

43 city/39 highway - best in class - and 8 MPG better than Hyundai Sonata hybrid in the city. Quick now (0-60 in about 7.5 seconds). Much quicker than a Prius (about 11 seconds, given' 'er all she's got, capn'!) Plush - seats, ride and room. About $2,900 less to start than Ford Fusion hybrid - and 3 MPG better on the highway.

WHAT'S NOT SO GOOD

Higher up-front costs vs. non-hybrid equivalent. Like all hybrids. Your payoff comes at the pump - and down the road.

Possibly higher down-the road maintenance/repair costs due to additional (and complex) hybrid components. As is true of all hybrids.

UNDER THE HOOD

The new Camry hybrid is stronger and faster than before - but even better, it's also more efficient. A lot more efficient. Relative to last year - and relative to the competition.

There's a larger, stronger 2.5 liter gas engine (vs. 2.4 liters previously) under the hood which, with the boost it gets on demand from the electric motor/battery pack, bumps the total output to 200 hp (vs. 187 in 2011). This'll get the '12 Camry hybrid to 60 in about 7.4-7.5 seconds, a full second quicker than the 2011 Camry hybrid and the current hybrid versions of the Sonata and Fusion. So, the Camry hybrid's the hot rod of the bunch.

But it's also the easiest on gas of the bunch: 43 city, 39 highway. This is a huge improvement over last year, when the hybrid Camry only managed 33 city, 34 highway.

It's also better than the Ford Fusion hybrid (41 city, 36 highway) and the Hyundai Sonata hybrid (35 city, 40 highway). Take note especially of the Camry's 8 MPG advantage over the Sonata in city driving. These two cars are priced very close to one another. But at $4 per gallon, an eight MPG difference is a big difference.

The 3 MPG advantage the Camry has over the Ford Fusion on the highway - and the 2 MPG lead it has around town - is only a bit above negligible. But the price difference to start between these two cars is not. The Ford starts about $2,900 higher than the Hyundai. And $2,900 will buy around 725 gallons of gas at the current $4 or so a gallon - enough fuel to take you about 26,000 miles at 35-36 MPG (about what these cars average). Looked at another way, if you buy the Camry hybrid over the Fusion hybrid, you get to drive for free for 26,000 or so miles - which for most people is about 2-3 years' worth of driving.

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