Toyota lifts prices again

TOYOTA will increase prices for more than half of its model range from June 1, five months after it became the first of many brands to raise official prices this year.

The mid-year prices increases, which affect most Toyota commercial vehicles, SUVs and people-movers, are unrelated to the confusion caused this week by new ACCC legislation that requires car companies to advertise all-inclusive driveaway prices nationwide, including on websites.

Toyota was one of the few brands to continue to list recommended retail prices, to which its customers were advised to add a maximum dealer delivery fee plus the state government-imposed stamp duty, insurance and registration fees that apply to them.

But it has now joined other brands in removing all prices from its website until clarification on the new pricing legislation is received from the ACCC.

Unrelated to this is a wide-ranging price increase, which Toyota says is directly related to the value of the Australian currency against the Japanese yen. The Aussie dollar has climbed from a recent low of less than ¥60 in February to around ¥75 now, but remains down on the long-term average of about ¥79.

Toyota’s latest price increase this time affects the RAV4, Tarago, Avensis, HiAce, Coaster, LandCruiser 200 Series, LandCruiser 70 Series (which will soon receive a technical upgrade that is expected to finally bring ABS and airbags) and Prado, which will be replaced by an all-new model in November after its global debut at the Tokyo show a month earlier.

From top: Toyota Kluger, Toyota Prado, LandCruiser 70.

While Toyota’s January 1 price increase averaged 2.4 per cent or $900 for its imported vehicles, the latest price increases range between 1.6 per cent or $800 for the RAV4 to 3.2 per cent or $3000 for the Coaster bus.

Again, Toyota Australia has spared the Prius hybrid hatch, which will be replaced by a third-generation model in July, as well as the locally-built Camry and Aurion, special-edition ‘Touring’ versions of which were launched in May.

Facelifted versions of both Australian-made sedans will be released in the third quarter of this year, meaning both models are now effectively already in run-out. Toyota says neither model has had a price increase since launch in 2006.

The mid-sized Kluger SUV also escaped price increases this time round, and was released in special-edition ‘Altitude’ guise in March, to combat Ford’s facelifted Territory. The top-selling Yaris, Corolla and HiLux are also unaffected by the June 1 price hike.

According to the price list released yesterday (May 28), the RAV4 CV increases $1000, from $32,490 to $33,490 as a manual, while the RAV4 Cruiser and Cruiser L manual both rise $800, to $38,290 and $43,290 respectively. Auto-V6 versions in the CV6, SX6 and ZR6 increase correspondingly, to $41,490, $46,290 and $51,290.

All Prado variants will be $1500 more expensive, making the entry-level GX petrol manual $49,170, the GLX manual $57,040, VX auto $70,990 and Grande auto $78,590, with diesel versions ranging between the Standard manual ($48,600) and Grande auto, which breaks the $80K mark at $81,090.

LandCruiser 200 prices increase by $2250 across the board, bringing the cheapest GLX petrol auto price to $76,240, the VX petrol to $87,000 and the Grande to $103,240, while diesel variants are a respective $86,240, $97,000 and $113,240.

Similarly, every 70 Series price is up $1450, meaning the all-V8 diesel range will start with the entry-level (WorkMate) cab-chassis utility at $57,040, while the GX will be $59,040 and the GLX will top $60,000, while the Troop Carrier WorkMate is $63,940 (GLX: $65,440) and the five-door wagon a respective $57,940 and $61,440.

The Avensis people-mover moves upstream by $1000, to $39,990 (GLX) and $44,250 (Ultima), while all Taragos will be $1500 pricier at between $53,250 for the 2.4 GLi and $75,500 for the V6 Ultima.

Rounding out the price hikes are the HiAce van (up $850), which from June 1 will cost between $34,540 and $44,840, and the Coaster bus (up $3000), which will start at $97,500 for the Standard manual and end with the DLX auto at $121,600.

*Due to confusion over ACCC pricing policy introduced on May 25, 2009, car companies are taking the view that it is no longer legal to supply the media with recommended retail car prices. GoAuto will continue to supply indicative prices (when we can get them) to assist consumers in their buying decisions during this period of confusion. Meanwhile, buyers should be aware that additional fees and government charges on registration of the vehicle of some thousands of dollars can be charged on top of these prices. Until the industry can resolve this issue with the ACCC, car buyers are advised to contact their car dealer to confirm prices.

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