If you’d like a brand new Toyota Camry Hybrid in Australia, sorry, you’re out of luck.
Toyota has paused orders of its well-liked electrified sedan in Australia, leaving simply the bottom Ascent Sport petrol that accounts for less than round 20 per cent of Camry gross sales.
Suffice it to say, in order for you a brand new Camry Hybrid you’ll be ready till the corporate re-opens orders – every time that’s – or the brand new mannequin arrives within the second half of 2024.
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Toyota Camry -
Mazda 6
So, what do you do in case you’re after a mid-sized sedan? Effectively, you may look to the section’s second best-selling car and – oh wait, that’s the Mazda 6, which our information says is going through wait instances of over six months.
There are treasured few direct rivals for the spacious, easy and cozy Camry Hybrid, whereas the Mazda 6 – regardless of its superior age – nonetheless represents a compelling proposition at this value level.
There are simply six autos within the mainstream mid-sized section, and by yr’s finish there’ll simply be 5. Do you simply surrender on the thought of a brand new sedan and embrace SUVs as so many Australians do, do you spend extra to get a extra premium expertise, or do you avoid wasting {dollars} and get a small sedan?
The world, or reasonably the Australian new automobile market, is your oyster. Listed below are some options from the CarExpert workforce, nevertheless, that will help you.
William Stopford: Hyundai i30 Sedan or Sonata
What are you able to get as an alternative of a Camry or Mazda 6? Extra like what can’t you get!
Even when passenger automobiles (and sedans particularly) are a lot much less well-liked than they was, there are nonetheless loads of choices.
You could possibly make the swap to electrical and get a Tesla Mannequin 3 or BYD Seal.
You could possibly drop down a section and get a surprisingly roomy Kia Cerato, or deal with your self and get a costlier mannequin like a Lexus ES, Skoda Excellent or Volvo S60.
The pricier Honda Accord hybrid is probably the most direct rival to the Camry, whereas the Skoda Octavia comes as a liftback or wagon and shapes up as a strong Mazda 6 various.
You could possibly even resign your self to a crossover and get one thing like a Nissan X-Path e-Energy, as a result of lord is aware of you’ll be ready endlessly and a day for a brand new RAV4 Hybrid.
What would I do, although? I’d most likely head to a Hyundai showroom.
An i30 Sedan Hybrid is a smaller but equally thrifty various to the cozy Camry, whereas the Sonata N Line gives turbo energy and an opulent cabin with loads of devices like an up-spec Mazda 6.
MORE: Purchase a Hyundai i30 Sedan
MORE: Purchase a Hyundai Sonata
Paul Maric: BYD Seal
I do know that is tremendous left of subject, however relying on what you’re utilizing it for and the way a lot you have been planning on spending on the Camry Hybrid initially, one thing like the brand new BYD Seal might be a great choice.
It’s a sedan, it’s loaded with know-how and there are nonetheless rebates out there in elements of Australia for electrical car purchases.
MORE: Every thing BYD Seal
Scott Collie: Honda Civic e:HEV
It’s not fairly as huge because the Camry, however the Honda Civic Hybrid is a reasonably tidy various.
Honda’s hybrid system is superb, with a driving really feel that’s much more pure than Toyota’s setup, and the Civic is far more enjoyable to drive than it has any proper to be.
It’s additionally spacious inside, with a monstrous boot and strong again seat. It’s not fairly the sensible various to the Camry, but it surely’s a way more interesting automobile.
MORE: Purchase a Honda Civic
Jack Fast: Skoda Octavia
When you’re not prepared to attend over six months for the Mazda 6 and are one of many few folks nonetheless wanting a passenger automobile, I’d say it is best to contemplate the Skoda Octavia.
The Czech-made liftback and wagon is at the moment solely out there in two completely different trim ranges domestically – 110TSI Fashion and RS. The latter is simply a contact costlier than the Mazda 6 twentieth Anniversary particular version.
Choosing the Skoda Octavia RS not solely provides you a sportier-looking bundle that doesn’t compromise on any space for storing, it additionally provides you the zesty powertrain from the Volkswagen Golf GTI.
When you’re not after the glitz and glam of the Octavia RS, you possibly can as an alternative go for the entry-level Fashion mannequin that’s much more conservative-looking. It’s additionally powered by the tried-and-tested Volkswagen Group 110TSI engine that’s an absolute pearler.
MORE: Purchase a Skoda Octavia
James Wong: Hyundai Sonata
Having just lately stepped out of the Hyundai Sonata, there’s a stage of new-age design and tech that the Camry, not to mention the Mazda, can’t match.
With a beefy 2.5-litre turbo petrol engine underneath the bonnet and quad pipes out again, the Sonata is an image of understated athleticism and one thing of a sleeper.
It doesn’t deal with with almost as a lot verve because the now retired Kia Stinger, but it surely has distinctive appears to be like and a spacious, feature-laden cabin that may make you assume twice about shopping for a base Audi A4 or BMW 3 Sequence.
MORE: Purchase a Hyundai Sonata
Anthony Crawford: Honda Civic e:HEV
My affable colleague, Scollie will need to have learn my Honda Civic overview and are available to the exact same conclusion as myself in regards to the current-generation Honda Civic, significantly the hybrid variant.
I’ve at all times classed the Toyota Camry because the proverbial, ‘white items on wheels’ – dependable and environment friendly transport however completely soulless on the subject of providing any semblence of driving pleasure. It’s not overly sensible both when put next with Civic’s hatchback physique with a implausible aperture to an enormous flat boot ground.
The Honda additionally feels demonstrably extra premium inside and gives rock-solid construct high quality and engineering. Its handing and experience consolation are peerless within the section. It’s genuinely a fantastic automobile to drive.
The Honda Civic Hybrid proves household automobiles don’t should be boring.
MORE: Purchase a Honda Civic
Jade Credentino: Hyundai Sonata
There aren’t many direct rivals that compete on measurement, engine specs, and pricing.
I might contemplate a Sonata N Line, nevertheless, which gives a sportier drive and a plusher inside compared to the Camry. For the dimensions and engine, it’s going to be as shut as you may get to the Toyota Camry and Mazda 6.
It’s a disgrace the Mazda 6 has a protracted wait time as a result of the wagon model ticks quite a lot of containers for me.
MORE: Purchase a Hyundai Sonata
