2018 Toyota Camry debuts in Australia – from RM86k

2018 Toyota Camry debuts in Australia – from RM86k

After Japan, Australia becomes the latest recipient of the eighth-generation Toyota Camry. There, the reworked Camry will be available in three powertrain versions (four-cylinder and V6 petrol as well as hybrid) and in four trim levels (Ascent, Ascent Sport, SX and SL), with prices starting from AUD27,690 (RM86k) from the entry-level Ascent to AUD43,990 (RM137k) for the range-topping V6 SL. Prices exclude on-road costs, of course.

The Australian line-up mirrors the United States’ in terms of powertrain choices, beginning with the base 2AR-FE 2.5 litre engine. The naturally-aspirated four-cylinder lump produces 178 hp and 235 Nm of torque and is paired to an improved six-speed automatic transmission. This engine can be had in all four trims, but interestingly, the same engine equipping the Ascent Sport, SX and SL trims make two horsepower and four Nm more.

Next in line is the mid-level Camry Hybrid, which is powered by a new A25A-FXS 2.5 litre four-cylinder petrol mill with D-4S direct-injection. The engine alone makes 176 hp at 5,700 rpm and 221 Nm from 3,600 to 5,200 rpm, and is paired to an electric motor that makes a maximum of 118 hp at 4,500 rpm and 202 Nm from zero to 1,500 rpm. The combined system output is 214 hp, and its combined fuel consumption is 4.2 litres per 100 km. The Camry Hybrid is available in Ascent, Ascent Sport and SL trims.

2018 Toyota Camry debuts in Australia – from RM86k

Toyota Camry SX

The 2GR-FKS 3.5 litre V6 on the other hand, can only be had in SX and SL trims. The direct-injection engine with VVT-iW makes 300 hp at 6,600 rpm and 362 Nm of torque at 4,700 rpm, and is paired with an eight-speed direct-shift auto. The 3.5L V6 effectively replaces the Aurion.

All three engines feature a variable cooling system (with electric pump for the Hybrid), full variable oil pump and cooled exhaust-gas recirculation. In fact, all engine variations will get Toyota’s Drive Mode Select (Normal, Eco and Sport; Camry Hybrid adds EV mode), but only the 2.5 and 3.6 V6 petrol lumps get downshift blipping control. Yup, you read that right.

To recap, the new Camry Hybrid is a complete rework and rides on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform. The company says the platform enables greater design freedom, gives better driving position and improved dynamics due to its lower centre of gravity and greater torsional rigidity (up by 30% compared to its predecessor).

Toyota Camry Ascent (top left), Ascent Sport hybrid (top right) and SL hybrid.

Highlights include improved driving dynamics, courtesy of a new suspension setup – the front gets MacPherson struts and the rear benefits from independent double wishbone suspension. The wheelbase is now 50 mm longer than the old model, and ride height is down by 25 mm. Toyota says all these make the car drive better and look better (thanks to the lower stance and wider tracks) as well. The Camry SX is the sole trim that comes with a stiffer stabiliser bar.

As for equipment, the entire Camry range in Australia gets bi-LED headlamps and LED daytime running lights, although the SX and SL feature more premium graphics for the DRLs. These two also get full-LED tail lamps, while the Ascent and Ascent Sport settle for LED combination lamps. All SL trims get powered sunroof (an additional cost option for the SX), but only the Hybrid SL gets full glass moonroof.

The Camry SX gets a set of 19-inch alloys, the largest factory-fitted wheels to ever grace the sedan. It also wears an aggressive bodykit and smoked tail lamps on the outside, while the cabin dons powered sports seats for the driver and front passenger. The Ascent and Ascent Sport get 17-inch wheels, while the top SL trim sits on 18-inch alloys.

It’s not short on safety either, with pre-collision system, Lane Departure Alert, Active Cruise Control, Automatic High Beam, Blind-spot Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, Hill-start Assist Control, Trailer Sway Control and Brake Hold fitted onboard. Availability is of course subject to the variant of choice, but Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) is standard for all.

Meanwhile, the Australian-bound Camry has just been awarded the five-star crash safety rating by ANCAP, and it’s standard for all variants. It scored top points in the destructive pole and side impact crash tests, and notched 15.16 points out of a possible 16 points in the frontal offset test, which replicates a head-on crash.

All Camry models sold in the Land Down Under now come from Japan, ever since the automaker ended its production in Australia.

GALLERY: 2018 Toyota Camry Ascent


GALLERY: 2018 Toyota Camry Ascent Sport

GALLERY: 2018 Toyota Camry SX

GALLERY: 2018 Toyota Camry SL

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Matthew H Tong

An ardent believer that fun cars need not be fast and fast cars may not always be fun. Matt advocates the purity and simplicity of manually swapping cogs while coping in silence of its impending doom. Matt's not hot. Never hot.

 

Comments

  • Whats with Accord look & Teana rear?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 9
    • Abdul Kadir Latiff on Nov 21, 2017 at 4:30 pm

      Can we Malaysians also have Camry at RM86k? Why are we spending RM175k for a Camry?

      Malaysia has the highest car prices in the world and one of the lowest GDP per capita in the world ie our pay packet is very small.

      Where is the Government’s promise to reduce car prices by 30%? We have been waiting 4 years already

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 53 Thumb down 9
      • Elaborate please? on Nov 21, 2017 at 10:26 pm

        Idk how paultan got at aud27k @ rm86k, a quick check the cheapest Camry is aud31k @ rm100k..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
        • 27k = RRP
          31k = Drive away price (With road tax…etc)

          It is normal to nego and pay around 25-31k drive away for the base model in AU. That depends on how desperate the dealer is and how good you are at negotiating.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
      • Tak paham on Nov 21, 2017 at 11:45 pm

        Why idiot always compare lowest spec model from somewhere else with highest spec or extragranza the selling price of a car here? Will this making you feel more happy as you self-victimized yourself?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 3
      • Kenneth on May 08, 2018 at 8:17 am

        Disagree. Malaysia car price is high but not the highest. Malaysia car price similar with Philippines car price. The most expensive car price is in Singapore.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • Rozario on Nov 21, 2017 at 3:28 pm

    (Like) 2018 Camry.
    (Dislike) 2018 Accord

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 61 Thumb down 27
    • AddSaltAddPepper on Nov 21, 2017 at 3:49 pm

      The 2018 Accord looks weird. Would stick to the cleaner and simpler 2017 Accord with Obsidian Blue Pearl colour.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 20 Thumb down 5
      • Perghhh Camry, junior Lexus. Merecikkk..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 2
      • I have a 2017 Accord and the only thing Honda forgot to equip the car with was basic quality. Honda Malaysia has no proper quality control department I guess…

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 2
        • DRB production failures i guess…

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
        • I own a 2015 Honda accord and I was wondering if I was the only one dissatisfied with the build quality.

          Disappointed to be honest.

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • This is the right price… With Australia cost of living and average income.

    What happen to Malaysia? Why we need to pay double?
    When can we have the right level of living standard?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 25 Thumb down 7
    • When we reached aussies level of discrimination.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 26 Thumb down 7
      • Tok koh on Nov 21, 2017 at 10:33 pm

        If you don’t mind paying 20% of income tax and 10% gst, Aussie is a great place to migrate..

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
    • Hmm, here I am driving an Accord but if I chose the ‘right’ country to migrate to I could be driving a Porsche Panamera. Luckily I didn’t choose to live in Singapore because over there I could only afford the MRT.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 13 Thumb down 1
    • No wonder one by one car factory closed shop over there.. they just pay half price only.. hee hee

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Jaafar on Nov 21, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Camry CHR Myvi 》all

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 2
  • Toyota Hilux 2.8 and Ford Ranger 3.2 around AUD60,000 in top spec…how? Nearly RM200k

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
    • Australia taxes pick-up trucks the same as normal cars. In Malaysia, they are taxed as work vehicles so are much cheaper.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • at this price, cant even buy you the corrolla.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Springbok on Nov 21, 2017 at 9:42 pm

    What?! 86k? can only afford a VIos in Bolehland. Pathetic.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • TreeHugger on Nov 21, 2017 at 10:03 pm

    Design wise..

    Body sculpting has too many unnecessarily busy lines crisscrossing each other, this car is trying too hard to be too many things. This seems to be Toyota’s design philosophy of late but wonder where is the limit?

    Overall design tries to show this is a fast car but those large, deep fake air scoops on both ends of the front bumpers are horrible aerodynamically leading to high drag coefficient which surely will affect fuel efficiency at high speed.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • Bernard on Nov 21, 2017 at 11:33 pm

    Buy once, live happy.

    Meaning buy a Camry and keep it for 30 years. Still got value, no problem, peace of mind:)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
    • According to basher logic, that means toyota owners r poor pipu cuz got no money to change cars like change underwear.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • potato on Nov 22, 2017 at 11:09 pm

    anyone else feels the rear looks like a Nissan Sylphy?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • stasta on Nov 23, 2017 at 10:54 am

    “The Australian line-up mirrors the United States’ in terms of powertrain choices, beginning with the base 2AR-FE 2.5 litre engine. The naturally-aspirated four-cylinder lump produces 178 hp and 235 Nm of torque and is paired to an improved six-speed automatic transmission.”

    why doesnt it get the latest power force 2.5 engine which produces 200 bhp ?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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