1985 Toyota Bundera Reviews

CarsGuide’s mission is to provide in-market car buyers with the independent information they need to make an informed purchase decision.Keeping enthusiasts up to date with the latest new model and industry news is also a key focus, as is providing advice across everything from technical and mechanical issues to legal questions and maintenance tips.  And after providing all that info, we have cars listed for sale on the site. Getting up towards 100,000 of them, each appearing on carsguide.com.au, as well as Gumtree and Autotrader.Every conceivable configuration across a million different brands. New vehicles as well as used cars, the latter category often including ‘pre-loved’ classics.And if you’ve ever thought about getting into the collector car hobby there’s a smorgasbord of interesting options in there.You can go all out and spend eye-watering sums on a special vehicle but there’s plenty of fun to be had on a relatively modest budget.Here are our top five classic collector car options currently available across our three-site portfolio for less than $50K.The original owner of this imposing sedan strolled into H.R. Owen’s South Kensington dealership in West London and drove away in a 6.75-litre V8-powered gentleman’s club on wheels. Lustrous Brooklands Green finish, tan Connolly hide and “flawless” burr walnut veneer trim. Maybe best not to think about maintenance and potential repair costs.More infoAt just over 5.2 metres long Ford’s fourth-gen Thunderbird is a big beastie, but the standard 6.4-litre (390ci) V8 keeps it flying at a decent clip. This left-hand drive US import arrived here in 2020 and its Tropical Turquoise finish with two-tone green trim makes for a sure-fire stand-out. Those vast tail-lights are peak 1960s US automotive styling decoration.More infoAs its name implies this BF Falcon-based MK II Boss 290 GT is powered by a quad-cam, naturally aspirated 5.4-litre V8 producing 290kW/520Nm. Number 244 of close to 1800 BF GTs produced, it features the ZF six-speed auto transmission rather than the Tremec T56 manual gearbox. A lot of modern muscle car for the money.   More infoThe V2 Series 3 Monaro is propelled by the 5.7-litre Gen III LS1 V8 originally delivering 245kW/465Nm to the rear wheels, in this case via the four-speed auto option. The black (full) leather trim looks to be in good shape with the car in standard condition (which isn’t always the case) including the stock 18-inch five-spoke alloy rims. More infoNeed a bit of V12-powered Japanese limousine luxury in your life? How about an impeccable Toyota Century for less than $40K? This second-gen (GZG50) example is fit to ferry an Emperor with rear seat heating, recline and massage functions as well as soft-close doors and hectares of ultra-soft leather trim. So much indulgent bang for the buck!More info

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming much more popular and mainstream in Australia, however one EV category has seemingly faltered before it even properly started.The utility, or ute for short, is an incredibly popular body type in Australia and examples have been the best-selling vehicle for over a decade now, but there have only been a handful of electric utes on offer to date Down Under.The first was the LDV eT60 which launched in late 2022 and was priced from an obscene $92,990 before on-road costs, which was more than double the amount of the standard, turbo-diesel-powered T60 dual-cab ute at the time.The eT60 also only offered 330km of WLTP-claimed range, was rear-wheel drive and had a braked towing capacity of just 1000kg.For context, the most popular utes in Australia offer all-wheel drive, as well as a braked towing capacity around 3500kg.LDV admitted the eT60 was aimed primarily at government and business fleets, with only a minimal number of early adopters expected to fork out the cash for one.Since then only two other electric utes have launched in Australia.The KGM Musso EV launched locally in 2025 and unlike many utes, including the regular turbo-diesel-powered Musso, that have a body-on-frame architecture, it has a monocoque platform which is related to the Actyon and Torres SUVs.As a result the Musso EV is much more car-like to drive, but it still offers all-wheel drive and up to 420km of WLTP-claimed range.This monocoque platform does limit the braked towing capacity to 1800kg though, however payload is up to 905kg, depending on the variant.The Korean ute is limited in its potential as a towing rig and makes it better suited for lighter-duty or lifestyle applications.The most recent addition to the electric ute stable in Australia is arguably the most important yet.Toyota has now introduced an electric version of its popular HiLux ute, dubbed the HiLux BEV.In Australia there are three versions of the HiLux BEV, the SR dual-cab chassis, SR dual-cab pick-up and SR5 dual-cab pick-up.Pricing starts at $74,990 before on-road costs and goes up to $82,990 before on-road costs. Each variant is $17,000 more expensive than the turbo-diesel-powered equivalent.While the HiLux BEV has dual electric motors offering all-wheel drive, it only has a braked towing capacity of 2000kg and up to 345km of NEDC-claimed range, depending on the variant.Similar to how LDV positioned the eT60, Toyota has said the HiLux BEV is primarily aimed at government fleets and mining and construction sectors. Only a sliver of projected sales will be from private buyers.For now that’s all the electric ute options in Australia and none offer the same amount of braked towing capacity as its turbo-diesel-powered equivalent. However, that’s soon set to change.China’s MG is launching an electric version of its U9 dual-cab ute in Australia in the second half of 2026.According to approval documents, the MG U9 EV will offer a braked towing capacity of 3500kg.Power will come from a dual-motor all-wheel drive set-up with a total system output of 325kW.The full details haven’t been confirmed yet but overseas it's offered with a 102kWh lithium-ion battery pack with up to 430km of range, according to WLTP testing.LDV had previously confirmed that it would launch the eTerron 9, which is an equivalent to the MG U9 EV, in Australia however this has now seemingly fallen off the radar.Beyond this there are no other electric utes that are locked in for an Australian launch currently.Isuzu previously noted that it plans to introduce the D-Max EV in Australia, but it still hasn’t provided any timeline for when.It’s already offered in other markets, like the UK, and offers a 3500kg braked towing capacity and 1000kg payload, but only 263km of WLTP-claimed range.Additionally it’s unlikely that the full-size American electric pick-ups like the Tesla Cybertruck, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV and Rivian R1T will ever come to Australia as demand for these kinds of vehicles is declining in the US and they would need to be re-engineered for right-hand drive applications.This may change with Ford’s upcoming mid-size ute that’s based on its new universal EV platform, as well as the forthcoming Slate small electric ute, but neither are confirmed for right-hand drive production.While all the electric ute options in Australia currently are flawed in some way or another, the sales charts show that punters are still keen on reducing their fuel bills and CO2 footprint with plug-in hybrid (PHEV) utes.The biggest winner thus far is firmly the BYD Shark 6 which is now available in three variants - Dynamic dual-cab chassis, Premium dual-cab pickup and Performance dual-cab pickup.The latter variant offers a benchmark 3500kg braked towing capacity, whereas the others offer a 2500kg braked towing capacity.Depending on the trim, the Shark 6 offers up to 100km of NEDC-claimed electric range.Likely a key reason for its sales success is how much it costs. The line-up starts at $55,990 before on-road costs and extends to $62,990 before on-road costs. This puts it roughly at the same price as mid-spec diesel versions of the Toyota HiLux and Ford Ranger.We’ll have to wait and see whether Australians embrace electric utes, however they’ll likely remain a niche offering for fleets for the time being.

Fifty years ago, on July 1, 1976, the worst new Holden up to that point was released, the HX series. And everything changed.Not coincidentally, it was also the date that all new internal combustion engine vehicles except those under 850cc in capacity or with liquid petroleum gas had to comply with stricter emissions standards known as Australian Design Rule 27A (ADR27A).This law proved to be a nightmare for parent company General Motors-Holden’s (GMH) Ltd.With fuel consumption up, power down and prices jumping to cover the extra technology necessary to meet the new regulations over the preceding HJ series, Holden’s engineers struggled to make its 1960s-era engines cope with the required updates in what was the country’s best-selling car line since the early 1950s.Critics and road testers alike savaged the HX as a result, accusing Holden of being cynical and out of touch, though it managed to hang on to the top spot for 1976.“Perhaps we would be better off with dirty engines and improved driveability,” quipped Wheels magazine editor Peter Robinson.Unfortunately for GMH, three unexpected things also happened right around that time that led to fundamental shifts in consumer tastes.Firstly, Japan was ready to launch its next phase of world-beating passenger cars that could easily meet ADR27A, headed by the original Honda Accord that almost single-handedly elevated that country’s entire industry overnight.Others followed in its footsteps, including the Mazda 323 and Datsun Skyline.Yet it was the shock success of the Chrysler Sigma, supplied by Mitsubishi, that became GMH's second big setback, shooting up the charts to a podium finish soon after its 1977 launch, and stayed there for half a decade.The Sigma lured many former and would-be Holden owners away in droves, particularly from the brand's waning Torana and Sunbird models it competed directly against, and even cannibalised Chrysler’s own Valiant in the process. Sigma was an automotive phenomenon that led directly to the iconic Australian-developed Magna later on.And last but not least, arch-rival Ford, which had been nipping at the Holden’s heels with the Falcon since the XB Falcon snatched number one for just one month in late 1973, had pulled out all stops in making the succeeding XC series demonstrably superior. GMH certainly wasn't expecting that.While the change from HJ to HX was little more than a fussier grille, revised instrumentation and several other, mostly minor, alterations, Ford expensively reengineered its engines to make them better than before, not worse. And it also redesigned the Falcon's nose, tail, back doors and dashboard, for a far-fresher look and feel.Plus, the XC launched the Fairmont GXL sports/luxury flagship. In the spirit of the legendary Falcon GTs, contemporary reviewers declared it as one of the greatest Australian-made family cars to date.In stark contrast to the basting the HX endured, XC sales flourished, with the Falcon becoming Australia’s best-selling car in 1977, period – an achievement it managed again from 1981 through to 1989, signalling the start of Ford Australia’s halcyon days.Half a century after the HX’s painful birth, perspective shows us a company grappling to deal fast enough with rapid change – something that Holden would pay the ultimate price for by 2020.Yet, to GMH’s credit, the more-comprehensively changed HZ series that followed in October, 1977, addressed most of the HX’s issues, whilst leap-frogging the Falcon in both sales as well as a driver’s car, thanks to chassis tweaks marketed to great effect using a tagline borrowed from Pontiac in the US called Radial Tuned Suspension.A stunning turnaround, it restored the Holden to the top spot for 1978, in time for the smaller, Opel-based VB Commodore to turn the market on its ear leading into the 1980s.A brief hiccup then largely due to ADR27A, a total of 110,669 HXs were built. And though the series has long lived in the shadow of the massively popular HQ/HJ models before it and the beloved HZ afterwards, 50 years later, its appeal is palpable. Who wouldn't have one?As a colourful piece of Australian motoring history, recognition is deserved. If nothing else, the garish Monaro LE two-door coupe runout edition remains one of the most 1970s things ever to happen in local motoring folklore!And it was the first Holden that actively attempted to minimise its emissions impact. That’s got to be worth celebrating. Happy 50 birthday, Holden HX!

Toyota appears to have given us a peek behind the curtain at just how it would plug-in power its hybrid HiLux workhorse, with reports firming that the new mini HiLux will debut PHEV tech in the brand's ute space.Reportedly codenamed Project 150D, and designed to take on everything from the BYD Mako or Shark 5 to the Ford Maverick, the monocoque ute will reportedly adopt a version of the plug-in hybrid system from the brand's Prius.That would pair a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors for a total system output of 166kW, while the e-CVT is joined by a second electric motor to enable eFour all-wheel drive.Toyota is reportedly targeting the first half of 2027 for the launch of the mini HiLux.Toyota opening the door to its passenger range for its commercial plug-in options gives the brand some interesting choices for the long-expected plug-in hybrid HiLux, chief among them being the powertrain from the new RAV4 PHEV GR Sport.That model develops a total 227kW, with a 2.5-litre petrol engine joined by two electric motors, which also delivers AWD grip.Toyota has previously confirmed work is underway on PHEV technology that would suit the user case of HiLux, with the brand's former VP of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley saying "you'd never rule it out" when asked at the unveiling of the 2026 range.“Battery technology evolves, and it's evolving quickly. If we can get to a situation where a PHEV has the capability of doing 200-plus kilometres on BEV alone — so in other words, if I've got a HiLux I can just go around town, I can run that on BEV and be carbon-neutral pretty well, providing I'm using renewable energy to do it," Mr Hanley has also previously told CarsGuide.“Now the issue is of course can it tow? Can it take a heavy load? Well, to be able to flick a switch and say, well, for those moments where I'm going out off-road or for those moments where I need to tow a heavy load, I've got the convenience of going to a normal hybrid engine and I can get 500 or 600 kilometres and it's convenient, then I see a role for PHEV in that space.“I think that's some years away, to be honest, that battery technology. But when it comes, PHEVs will have a renewed engagement with the market because they'll go from what I call the ultimate inconvenience to the ultimate convenience.”

JD Power, the US-based industry analytics and consumer research specialist, has released its 2026 Initial Quality Study, a much-anticipated (and often feared) annual report looking at the way cars are built and how they operate.And despite a “sharp rise” in overall vehicle quality, this year’s study has highlighted connectivity as a significant stumbling block for manufacturers and consumers.As its name implies, the Initial Quality Study is based on responses from purchasers and lessees of new vehicles (this year 78,514 people) surveyed after 90 days of ownership.The quality audit is split into eight market segments and covers 10 categories - Multimedia, Features, controls & displays, Exterior, Interior, Driving assistance, Seats, Powertrain, Driving experience, Climate and Unspecified (unclassified gripes). Issues are rated according to Problems Per 100 vehicles (PP100).In 2026, fewer problems were cited across nine of the 10 categories, with Multimedia the exception, where “connectivity issues continue to strain customer experience with new-vehicle quality.”Introducing the report, JD Power Senior Director of Auto Benchmarking Frank Hanley said, “As more technology is introduced into vehicles, keeping the experience simple matters more than ever.“The biggest gains in quality come from features that are easy to use - simple controls, less-intrusive driver assistance and software that works the way customers expect.“When technology becomes too complicated, the likelihood of customers experiencing a problem rises considerably,” he said.The total number of reported problems with new vehicles improved to 175 PP100, down from 192 PP100 in 2025, which JD Power said is the best year-on-year improvement since 1997 and the fourth-best performance in the 40-year history of the survey.But Multimedia saw an increase of 1.4 PP100 in reported problems - typically issues with Android Auto/Apple CarPlay connectivity and touchscreen displays - for a total of 44.4 PP100 across mass market segments and 38.3 PP100 in the premium groupings.Porsche was the highest-ranking brand overall with an initial quality score of 138 PP100, ahead of Genesis (151 PP100) and Lexus (156 PP100).Toyota Motor Corporation’s Kyushu 1 plant in Japan, which manufactures the Lexus NX and Lexus UX, received the Platinum Plant Quality Award which is based on detected defects and malfunctions.

BYD wants to take its crown but Toyota isn’t going down without a fight.Toyota has flexed its muscles hot on the heels of BYD Chairman Wang Changfu stating the automaker will be the world’s largest in five years.The Chinese carmaker’s bold statement comes as it aggressively expands into international markets after Chinese sales struggle.Now Toyota has shown the jewel in its crown that BYD and other Chinese carmakers are not allowed to catch a glimpse of… the US market.Toyota has been swamped with orders for the new RAV4 Hybrid family SUV, according to US industry bible Auto News.According to reports Toyota has tapped out its Canadian and Japanese production of the RAV4 and is bringing more US production on line to feed the insatiable hunger for the RAV4 in the US.The new plant is expected to add 40,000 vehicles this year to the pipeline of new RAV4s.Wait lists in Toyota's biggest market are ballooning and nearly every RAV4 on the ground is getting gobbled up by buyers with dealers holding no stock. That’s an impressive feat considering the more than 1200 dealers nationwide, which shows it's a hit all over.This additional US production that helps free up global production is surely part of the reason Toyota Australia recently announced it had secured a greater supply of RAV4 this year, which are built in Japan.Toyota Australia said it had secured 10,000 additional vehicles, which includes the RAV4, HiLux ute and bZ4X electric SUV.The lion’s share of these will surely be RAV4s, as ute sales tail off and hybrid mid-size SUVs are all the rage.Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Franchise Operations John Pappas said there had been strong demand for these vehicles Down Under.“This increase in supply is great news for our customers and dealers. It reflects the strong partnership we have with Toyota globally to prioritise the Australian market,” said Pappas.“Vehicles like HiLux remain essential for many Australians, while RAV4 continues to lead the SUV segment thanks to its versatility, drivability and efficiency.“We will continue working closely with our global production teams to secure additional supply where possible and ensure we are meeting the needs of Australian customers today and into the future.”The popularity of the new RAV4 shows just how hard a job BYD has in toppling the Japanese giant.BYD and other Chinese carmakers are locked out of the US market, which will make it hard to get close to the Japanese maker that sells more than one million vehicles there annually.

Fuel prices in Australia are about to rise again. The federal government has announced the Fuel Excise cut will continue at a lower rate until the start of August.The original 50 per cent discount equated to 32 cents per litre off fuel prices, but this was due to end on the 30th of June.The government will now extend a smaller discount of 16 cents per litre until the 2nd of August. This announcement means fuel prices will increase across the board in addition to any other fluctuations from external factors. A 16 cent increase will see diesel fuel prices increase back above the $2 per litre mark across the country, having been more than $3 per litre at times over the past few months. The diesel-powered Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux utes remain two of the best-selling cars in Australia.E10 petrol will also creep up towards the $2 point as a result of this decreased discount. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not ruled out further extensions to the Fuel Excise discount in the future if circumstances require it. "Of course we do live in a volatile world. Were there to be a massive global shock, my government will always respond,” Mr Albanese told Sky News. The news comes as rumours of an end to the Iran war heat up, with the conflict being the key driver of high fuel prices. There is still no freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz - the key gateway for many ships carrying oil globally.It has seen electric vehicle uptake in Australia soar, with budget Chinese options like the Jaecoo J5 EV and Geely EX5 growing by more than 200 per cent between May and June 2026. Tesla experienced a record-breaking month in May, shifting 6433 units - its highest sales number since the Electric Vehicle Council started collecting data. The government will also increase the Heavy Vehicle Road User Charge to 16 cents per litre, with it being free since April. 

Toyota’s new CEO has only just stepped into power but is already looking to streamline the brand’s line-up of vehicles in a bid to reduce costs.As reported by Automotive News, Toyota CEO Kenta Kon officially joined the board on June 17 and has been touring facilities and looking for areas to improve efficiency.“We’ve become increasingly able to identify things that don’t seem quite right, areas where operations have become somewhat inefficient, or where the amount of work that doesn’t directly add value has increased,” said Mr Kon to Automotive News.“We’re now at the stage where we can really start addressing them – making corrections and implementing improvements.“If you go to a development division, you see issues such as an increasing number of different specifications and variants being created, which in turn is driving up costs.“If there are areas within those activities that aren’t truly value-adding work, or where work isn’t being done efficiently, then we need to take a closer look at them.“We need to start addressing those issues now and begin making improvements.“Some changes may be relatively straightforward, but honestly, there aren’t many that will be easy. Many of them may take time.”At this stage Mr Kon hasn’t identified any specific vehicles or variants that the brand is looking to cull to minimise costs and maximise efficiency.However, the Japanese carmaker recently scrapped the production version of the Lexus LF-ZC concept, which was an electric sedan. It reportedly did this due to a global slump of electric vehicle (EV) sales.This all follows Toyota losing the title of Japan’s most valuable company by market capitalisation, marking the end of a 22-year streak.Mr Kon was previously the CFO of Toyota Motor Corporation and has dealt with tariff burdens in the US and the threat of new and emerging Chinese carmakers on a global scale.Toyota is also reportedly expecting a 20 per cent drop in operating profit this fiscal year, which will mark the third year straight of declining earnings.In Australia, Toyota is still on top of the sales charts but experienced supply constraints on some of its top-selling models, including the RAV4 and HiLux.It has since locked in 10,000 more vehicles which will reduce wait times.The Japanese carmaker is now expecting to sell a total of 220,000 vehicles in Australia during 2026.

A new front in the ongoing ute wars has opened, with fresh reporting that Toyota and BYD will soon have plug-in hybrid ute options sitting beneath the HiLux and Shark 6.The monocoque, or car-based, ute offerings are taking shape in South America, where manufacturers clearly keen to expand beyond the saturated dual-cab market are plotting their next move.That begins with the Mako, expected to be called the BYD Shark 5 in international markets, which will reportedly nab a different plug-in hybrid powertrain to its Shark 6 older brother.In Brazil, the Mako is a plug-in hybrid producing an expected 175kW, and promising a circa-100km EV-only driving range, along with a choice of two- or all-wheel drive.But the Mako is the ocean's fastest shark, and it seems global markets will be sticking true to the name, upping the power to more like 200kW. The powertrain in question will reportedly be borrowed from the Sealion 6 SUV, pairing a 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine with an electric motor. Unconfirmed reports of Toyota's smaller ute offering are now emerging from the same region. The ute, based on the Corolla Cross and currently codenamed Project 150D, will reportedly score its own plug-in hybrid system.In huge news for the brand, reports out of Brazil point to the 150D adopting the powertrain from the Toyota Prius, which pairs a 2.0-litre petrol engine with two electric motors.Total system output would be around 166kW, while the e-CVT is joined by a second electric motor to enable eFour all-wheel drive.According to reports, the smaller Toyota ute will launch in South America in the first half of 2027, while the BYD Mako is expected to launch in the final quarter of 2026, giving the Chinese brand a headstart from a global sales perspective.Australian launch timing is at this point unclear, but both Toyota and BYD have said the door is open to ute models below the Shark 6 and HiLux, so watch this space.

The mini Toyota FJ LandCruiser has been toughened up by the Japanese maker’s aftermarket accessory brand.Modellista, which is part of Toyota, has turned its attention to the mini 4WD to beef up its image and capabilities.It has released a body kit and a range of accessories that make it look seriously mean.The kit includes a new front bumper guard and front and rear under body protection to guard against ruthless off-road tracks.New overfender details, fender garnishes and side mouldings give the FJ LandCruiser more street appeal. There is illumination for the front T-O-Y-O-T-A badging, a bonnet garnish, roof spoiler and Matt Olive 18-inch alloy wheels.Inside, you can kit out the FJ LandCruiser with LED lighting around the dashboard, in the footwells and throughout the cabin.Bad news is the FJ LandCruiser is still off the cards for Australia for now.Unfortunately, the FJ LandCruiser has been ruled out as it is fitted with a petrol engine that does not meet our emissions regulations, according to former Toyota Australia VP of Sales and Marketing Sean Hanley.“It’s just about regulations,” he said.“We’re moving to Euro 6 emissions standards. That’s the reality.”The door has been left ajar for the FJ to head our way in the future, though.Hybrid versions are to be built in India for domestic and export markets later this decade, according to reports.Petrol-electric power would put it back on the menu for Australia, and Indian production would likely keep the price below $50,000.