IN THE history of Toyota in Australia there has always been a medium-sized sedan – from its first locally manufactured Tiara of 1963 to the final Camry to come off the Altona production line some 54 years later.

The latter’s replacement, then, has a world of expectation on its hefty shoulders, hailing from Japan (a first in about 30 years) to continue the legacy on which this country’s number-one car brand has based its foundations.

Here we take a closer look at the sub-$30,000 Ascent Sport 2.5 that’s likely to be the most popular among families and fleet owners alike.