Toyota adds value to Camry range

TOYOTA has upgraded its Camry Atara SX with extra safety and comfort features – a move which adds $1500 to the mid-series variant, now starting from $33,490 plus on-road costs.

The extra equipment includes satellite navigation, a larger 7.0-inch touchscreen with expanded Toyota Link connectivity features, a new JBL premium sound system and DAB+ digital radio.

The Atara SX also picks up new 18-inch alloy wheels, a rear bumper diffuser and red inserts on the lower edge of the grille.

More new features include a sunshade for the rear windscreen and front and rear corner sensors (now standard on all Atara models), while the reversing camera now includes guidelines.

The Atara SX comes with the familiar 133kW 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, matched with a six-speed automatic transmission as standard and delivering fuel consumption of 7.9 litres per 100km.

Upgrades to other Camry variants include the addition of a full-colour 4.2-inch thin-film transistor multi-information display in the petrol-powered Atara S, while the Atara SL gains a wireless mobile phone charger.

Atara petrol models also get paddle shifters, while all models from Atara S up gain a power-adjustable driver's seat and leather-accented steering wheel.

Base Altise variants now gain a folding key, a 6.1-inch display audio and guidelines on the reversing camera. Altise hybrid gains keyless entry/start and dual-zone air-conditioning.

According to Toyota, all Camrys now feature Isofix child safety attachment points, while all engines are certified Euro 5.

There are no changes to the pricing of other variants, with the entry-level Altise starting at $26,480, Atara S from $29,490 and Atara SL from $37,440. A hybrid powertrain, which is not available with Atara SX, adds $4000 on Altise and $3000 on Atara S and SL.

Toyota Australia executive director of sales and marketing Tony Cramb said the upgrades to the Camry will help ensure it remains the top pick in the busy mid-size segment.

“Toyota will continue to build on Camry's success with advances in technology, safety, comfort and convenience, value and driving enjoyment, ensuring it remains one of Australia’s favourite cars for many years to come,” he said.

“Families and business owners will appreciate the added appeal of the new features, while the introduction of the new-technology wireless phone charger will give Camry an edge in the competitive prestige segment above $35,000.” The final Australian-built Camry launched mid last year and the last examples will roll off the Altona production line sometime later in 2017.

The popular mid-sizer – the best-selling car in its class for the past 23 years – will be replaced by a new-generation model sourced from another factory, probably Thailand.

Despite a 15 per cent dip in sales so far this year compared with January-to-April last year, the Camry is still number one in the sub-$60,000 mid-size segment with 5410 sales, well ahead of the second-placed Mazda6 on 1494 units.

2016 Toyota Camry pricing*

Altise petrol (a)	$26,490
Altise hybrid (a)	$30,490
Atara S petrol (a)	$29,490
Atara S hybrid (a)	$32,490
Atara SX petrol (a)	$33,490
Atara SL petrol (a)	$37,440
Atara SL hybrid (a)	$40,440

*Excludes on-road costs