Does anyone know if/when a Toyota Tundra hybrid will be available? I use my compact plickup to haul stuff (I'm not a poseur), and I drive it to work when the weather isn't motorcycle-friendly -- but I'd like to do those things more efficiently.

Any thoughts?

Well, depending on what you need to haul you could always consider the Ford Escape hybrid.

I really hope Toyota comes out with a hybrid truck, but I figure it'll be the Tacoma long before it is the Tundra. But if you have the current Tundra model the new Tacoma isn't too much smaller.

I'm really disappointed about the price tag. Expensive hybrids (from my relative standpoint) are starting to become a cliché. Seeing as the Camry is the best selling car at the moment, I was REALLY hoping that it was going to be under $20k to make it's draw and impact even greater.

What a great opportunity it would have been to make a car, already so popular with the masses, environmentally superior AND affordable to those same masses. I guess I'll probably hold out and wait for http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/02/will_honda_prod_1.php (if we get so lucky).

25 thousand is a lot of money, but it is considerably less than the average price of a new car, which was 28,000 in 2003

http://www.motortrend.com/features/auto_news/112_news030430_ave/.

Yes, it is more than the prius (which I own), but noone on this board is considering camry vs prius. =)

The price of hybrids should start coming down as more are built each year. The economies of scale should reduce component prices so the unit price of a hybrids should drop. I think Toyota has hit a good price point on the Camary hybrid. It falls between the high end conventional 4cyl and 6cyl models in, power and price and meets them in features.

Zverg is correct that you will probably see smaller hybrid trucks first. The problem with a full size truck is finding a hybrid system that will improve the fuel economy while preserving all of the hauling ablilty. If you downsize the engine too much it'll end up being underpowered once the batterys are depleated when trying to tow a trailer up a long grade. I criticized GM for their "hybrid" pickup for being mearly a start/stop system but now realize it was to boost fuel economy and not reduce towing/hauling ability which is very important to many truck owners. Adding a few MPG by having start/stop, cylinder cutoff and perhaps a hybrid "lauch assist" that doesn't have a high weight penalty might be the way to go for a work truck. I welcome any serious comments on how to hybridize a pickup and perserve the towing/hauling ability.

Despite of its price, there are still lots of car buyers who buy hybrid cars.. We can't deny the fact that Camry is a nice car..Lets just hope that Toyota will reduce its price in the future. More info on Toyota Camry Hyrid

I have had my 2007 Canry Hybrid for a few weeks. When driving around localy it indicates that I am getting 30MPG, sometimes less. When I get on the hyway it seems to increase in MPG. Just the opposite of what I had expected. I have over 1000 miles on it so don't know why I am not getting better mileage in stop and go traffic. Traded a 2000 Avalon in on this car and now wish that I had bought a 2006 Avalon.

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editor note: Is it possible that most of your city driving is very short trips? If the engine doesn't have time to warm up, fuel efficiency takes a big hit. That's a problem for all cars, not just hybrids. It's just that in regular cars, you don't notice it because you don't have the LCD showing you MPG.

Bought one in June. Milage about 42 while in rural Maine...39.88 on a Maine to Florida trip. A lovely car and very comfortable. Best way to make good highway mileage is to set the cruise where you want it and let it churn out the miles. It will slack a bit on grades and speed on the downhills. Good luck!

Late to this thread, but I purchased one and, at 1,100 miles on the car at this point, my Average is 29.3mpg. I have found the same phenomenon at the poster above -- better highway, less efficient city.

My primary commute is 35 miles to work, then the same home. About 70% of the trip is highway, so I don't think the engine has not heated up. I'm pleased with more fuel economy than my prior car, but it's nowhere near what the sticker sells on the lot (40/38).

I have a Camry Hybrid. It replaced a '05 Camry SE V-6 totalled in an accident. It now has 3,500 miles on it (in four weeks time) of all types of driving. The first two tanks of gas we averaged 34.5 and 36.3 mpg. Since then we have been averaged between 37.3 and 40.3 mpg between fill-ups. Our mileage does go up when city driving, but highway driving can be very good as well. The 40.3 mpg was attained going 72 mph on an Interstate. However, cold weather and cold starts do decrease the average. Our average is higher when it does not get stopped for long. A near luxury car ride and feel for a family car price.

I have about 3300 miles on my Camry Hybrid. I too get better on the highway. I average 40mpg over all. On highway trips I set my cruise on 65 and average just under 44.

Wouldn't every contracting jobsite love to have a Prius type vehicle parked there with 110/220 electrical outlet coming out of it. pehaps the car could fire up when it senses a need for battery charge (when the solar panels can't keep up).

If you're not getting the fuel economy rating, keep taking it back to the shop and you can turn it back in under lemon laws. I see them at the auction infrequently. Don't let them blow smoke up your @##, take it back.