Will a keenly priced Toyota Camry hybrid taxi pack reappear? 2025 Toyota Camry Hybrid arrives to blitz the Mazda6 and Hyundai Sonata but will a cut-price Uber special join the range?

Should Toyota consider a taxi pack version of its new-generation Camry?

With the more-recent models now one of the most common choices amongst taxi and ride-share companies such as Uber, a specially-prepared – and more-keenly priced – grade below the base Ascent could work in the company's favour.

As demonstrated by the most famous taxi ever produced in Australia – the Ford Falcon made here from 1960 to 2016 – this would entail a somewhat stripped-back model with heavier-duty springs, harder-wearing seat material and flooring, a lower equipment specification and additional driver-security and comfort items.

Adding to the Ascent’s appeal is the outgoing entry-level Hybrid kicks off from $35,051 before on-road costs, making it by far the cheapest new full-sized electrified vehicle by some margin. Its main rival globally, the (albeit far-better equipped) Honda Accord hybrid, starts from $59,900 drive-away.

The Camry’s other big drawcard is the low running costs and high reliability of its long-lived series-parallel hybrid system, resulting in considerably better fuel economy compared to other larger five-seater alternatives.

Toyota doesn’t actually need to sell more Camrys in Australia right now, as demand for hybrids has been so strong and waiting lists so long that there was a stop-sale on the hybrid version late last year.

And then there is the ever-evolving taxi and rideshare market.

Underpinned by an even larger and more spacious interior, the current RAV4 hybrid mid-sized SUV is also an increasingly popular choice as a result of its similarly electrified powertrain, along with a slew of other hybrid and even full battery-electric models from rival manufacturers, including from Kia, Hyundai, Haval and MG.

This last fact, according to Toyota Motor Company Australia (TMCA) Vice President Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations, Sean Hanley, is the main reason why a Camry taxi pack is off the table for now.

“No, it’s never been considered, and for no apparent reason, because taxi (and some-such organisations) will probably buy this,” he told CarsGuide at the ninth-generation (XV80) Camry launch in Melbourne last week.

“They'll do their own conversion and dress up and lights and, you know, stickers and branding and whatever else. But no, because, quite frankly, rideshare is so broad now.”

It may come as a surprise to learn that, during the days of the Australian-manufactured Camry (1987-2017), its V6-powered Aurion twin (2006-2017) and earlier, closely-related Avalon large car (2000-2006), TMCA did compete against the Falcon and Holden Commodore for a share of the cab market.

It even exported a Camry wagon taxi pack to Dubai in the late 1990s.

“You know, we did used to do taxi packs,” Hanley added. “But today it is not as in high demand, as it might have been 15 years ago. Because, largely, that whole ride share, taxi segment is altered now… it's fragmented.

“You got to cater for a broader audience.”

Another factor that would dissuade TMCA going down the Camry taxi path is a historical issue that manufacturers have always faced, and that’s the used-car market.

Essentially, carmakers and dealers are competing against their own, second-hand examples that are often far-cheaper for taxi and rideshare operators to buy than going new. These even include 100,000km-plus examples of vehicles renowned for their reliability and durability.

That said, clean used Toyota hybrids are now so expensive that the time is right for TMCA to offer a modified Camry hybrid (or RAV4) cab that would not be that much more expensive, whilst offering all the benefits of buying new. So never say never.

Returning to the Falcon taxi pack, it proved to be a popular addition to the range, and at one time during the ‘80s and ‘90s accounted for the lion’s share of the cab market, primarily because of its unique combination of size, price and (relative) fuel economy due to Ford’s commitment and development of its dedicated LPG (liquid petroleum gasoline) fuel system.

The right set of features, in fact, that help make the Camry the rideshare superstar across the world.

Do you think Australia needs a Camry taxi pack?