Toyota Camry Reviews

Honda Accord VTi-L and Toyota Camry Hybrid HL go head-to-head in this comparative review. .star {width:135px;}#article-corpus {width:100%; padding-right: 0;}

It's easy to criticise the Camry, it doesn't do anything very special, but it's also easy to like it, as many Australian families appear to do if you go by its continuing strong sales. The bottom line is that it's an easy car for a family to live with. Sure, it's not exciting, it doesn't challenge the senses, and it's not in the least sporty, but it drives with ease, it's practical and it's reliable. What's not to like when it's got all of that going for it. NEW Toyota launched the sixth generation Camry in 2006 and at the same time realigned it within its overall model range. Gone was the V6 engine and its associated models, the sixth generation Camry was an all-four model and you had to buy an Aurion if you wanted the pep of a V6 engine. The Camry has never been regarded as particularly stylish, but it has evolved into a more eye-appealing car with each new model and there's nothing about the sixth generation model that warrants criticism. Four main models made up the range, beginning with the Altise and climbing through the Atevo, Sportivo and Grande, which topped the tree. There were upgrades in 207 and 2009, and a Touring model appeared in 2009. There was also a hybrid, but that's a specialised model and deserves its own treatment. The Camry is perfect for a family; it seats four adults in comfort, will take five at a squeeze, and has a decent boot. Inside, the cabin is roomy, the seats are quite comfortable, but if there's a criticism to be made it's that it's a little bland. With the V6 gone the only engine choice was the 2.4-litre four-cylinder unit. It wasn't a neck-snapper, but it didn't need to be in the family car class. It performed perfectly satisfactorily and delivered acceptable fuel economy. The transmission choices were a five-speed manual and a five-speed auto, but most left the factory with the self-shifter under the bonnet. On the road the Camry was a rather benign device, it did everything that was called for without in any sense being sporty. The steering was light, but still accurate enough, and the lightness made it a comfortable drive around town. NOW Despite setbacks in recent times when it has had to recall some cars Toyota still has a reputation for building sound, reliable cars. It's well justified as the Camry has few faults, and nothing that are of a major concern. There has been only one recall in Australia involving the sixth generation Camry, and that was for a faulty electric window switch in 2012. The switch could feel sticky, and in the worst case could overheat and melt. Check the owner's manual on any car you're considering buying second-hand and make sure the recall repair has been carried out. While you're at it check the car's service record to make sure all servicing has been done according to the book. You might also like to check if your potential choice has been a renter or a fleet car in an earlier life. Camrys were a popular choice as company hacks and rental cars, and while that shouldn't exclude them from your consideration it's best to be wise when buying one of these cars. They sometimes have a hard life and can at times be driven by people who don't care about their welfare. SMITHY SAYS It's hard to dislike the Camry, it does everything well enough to be your first choice family car. Toyota Camry 2006-2011 Price new: $33,000 to $39,900 Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder, 117 kW/218 Nm Transmission: 5-speed manual, 5-speed auto, FWD Economy: 8.9 - 9.9 L/100 km Body: 4-door sedan Variants: Altise, Ateva, Sportivo, Grande Safety: 4-star ANCAP COMING UP Do you own a Mercedes-Benz C-Class? If so tell us what you think of it by sending your comments to Graham Smith at grah.smith@bigpond.com or Carsguide, PO Box 4245, Sydney, NSW, 2010.  

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl. But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels. CITROEN The new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty. FORD The death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away. The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle. HOLDEN As the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi. HONDA Clipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off. KIA Free on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card.  All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch. MITSUBISHI The manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto. Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000. The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices. NISSAN A 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive. OPEL There are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed. PEUGEOT Free on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here. RENAULT A Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance. Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight. SUBARU Drive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding. SUZUKI The front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece. TOYOTA There's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry. VOLKSWAGEN Drive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY. VOLVO Fuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40. Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTS You must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise. But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price. The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today. If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it. Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties. No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead. The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot. And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs. Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already.  

Ignore the middle child at your peril when it comes to buying the family car.
 The large-car segment is in the doldrums and everyone has skipped to SUVs or small cars, but one area overlooked to the detriment of many car buyers
is the medium segment.
 The word is getting out. Last year, medium-car sales grew 15 per cent to just over 87,000 24,000 more than in the large-car segment.
 The numbers went close to overtaking the larger-vehicle segment last year, falling short by just over 2000 units. 
The middle-sized segment has shown steady growth in the past decade, finishing 2002 with just under 39,000 vehicles. Camry ruled the roost then too, with the Mazda6 and Subaru Liberty the best of the rest.
 But size matters don't let anyone tell you otherwise and the reps in the medium segment now are well sized for family transport.
 Camry has been the dominant force in the medium segment, with plenty of fleet interest in the petrol and hybrid versions, but the most recent incarnations are a long way from the bland brigade that went before.
 The hybrid version carried a more reasonable price tag than the Prius trailblazer and it's more than big enough for family duties.
 Toyota's Camry Hybrid is 110mm longer, 98mm wider, 107mm longer in wheelbase and 109mm taller than the original VB Commodore, although the VB weighed in at 1220kg 400kg lighter than the petrol-electric Camry Hybrid, but batteries, airbags and other equipment quickly add to the number on the weighbridge. 
As Toyota was slowly bringing its Camry out of a narcoleptic haze, Honda and Mazda were well on the way to applying defibrillators.
The 6 and Accord Euro both offered willing powerplants, decent chassis balance, acceptable ride quality and an enthusiastic edge to the car's demeanour when required.
 Mazda kicked off the 21st century with a change to the 6 and has not looked back since. In August 2002 it arrived in Australia, bringing a pulse back to the segment.
The Accord Euro lobbed on Australian showrooms the following year, leaner and more nimble than the larger V6 Accord, giving open-minded buyers some real food for thought.
 (Search for hundreds more choices) 2011 Mazda6 Luxury Sports hatch 
Engine: 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol
 Transmission: 5-speed automatic
 Thirst: 8.8L/100km
   CARSGUIDE SAYS  
"The car that marked the beginning of the Zoom Zoom Mazda renaissance shed the cardigan image with a great handling chassis and looks that didn't start a snoozefest. With the new model now on sale sans hatchback, this is the only way to get a 6 with the liftback boot. Features include dual airbags, anti-lock brakes and stability control, rain sensing wipers, parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, satnav and leather trim."   2007 Honda Accord Euro Luxury 
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol
 Transmission: 5-speed automatic 
Thirst: 9.4L/100km
 CARSGUIDE SAYS 
"Another Japanese mid-sizer with road manners to amuse the driver. With sharp looks, a reasonable list of safety features and bells and whistles, the Accord Euro found favour and awards in the medium segment. The Euro cosseted a family with its dual-zone climate control, 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, dual front, side and curtain airbags and leather trim." 2011 Toyota Camry Hybrid sedan 
Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder petrol-electric hybrid
 Transmission: CVT 
Thirst: 6L/100km
   CARSGUIDE SAYS
  "Better value than the Prius trailblazer, the Camry has space for a family, the fuel economy of a shopping trolley hatchback and driving manners that are surprisingly good. At its best in the city and suburbs, when braking can charge the battery, the green Camry is a surprisingly pleasant machine."

The Toyota’s Camry and Aurion are built in Melbourne and have many changes from the original Japanese design to suit them to our local driving conditions and Australian drivers’ tastes.

Boring, bland, cardigan-car - once upon a time, these were commonplace phrases when talking about a Camry. Reliable but uninspiring is no longer the catchcry, thanks to a sharp new suit and some serious work on the chassis, the new Camry has made solid progress in the appeal stakes and the hybrid has the added greeny factor without being weird enough to only draw an early-adopter crowd. VALUE The hybrid Camry range starts at $34,990 but we've been thrown the keys to the HL top-spec model, which pushes the price up to $41,990 - Toyota says there's $4500 of extra gear for a $1500 price rise. Both front occupants in the HL get power-adjustable seats (the driver's is equipped with a two-position memory), dual-zone climate control, keyless entry and ignition, a reversing camera and rear parking sensors, 17-in alloy wheels, fog lights, a rear bootlid spoiler, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and phone controls, an electric rear-window shade and auto-dipping rearvision mirror. The HL hybrid also gets an exceptional 10-speaker JBL digital radio and iPod integrated sound system and the satnav (with SUNA real-time traffic info) are all controlled by the touchscreen, which also displays the rearvision camera. TECHNOLOGY The most obvious technology is the petrol-electric drivetrain - a 2.5-litre petrol four-cylinder engine, a tricky set of gears and two electric motors. It all adds up to a smooth and efficient system that seamlessly goes from electric only to petrol-electric drive, as well as driving and generating charge for the battery, with little in the way of disturbance as the petrol motor starts and stops as required. The result is a 118kW/213Nm petrol four-cylinder engine combining the electric motor producing 105kW/270Nm 650v electric motor, which gives the driver plenty of pep when required. The HL's JBL 10-speaker surround sound system has iPod integration via Bluetooth or USB cable and uses lightweight speaker and amplifier components. It's one of the first mainstream cars to feature full digital radio compatibility - Toyota says digital radio produces significantly clearer sound from mainstream radio stations as well as exclusive digital-only stations. DESIGN This is where the current car can leave its old image behind - the look is sharp and it almost has character. It's not grown a great deal over the outgoing car but the "bracket creep" of medium cars is obvious when you consider the first Camry of several decades ago. The new car is 375mm longer, 135mm wider, 75mm taller and its wheelbase is 175mm longer, plus  - in hybrid form at least - it weighs 565kg more. The hybrid model gets a different grille, a blue-tinged badge and headlight trim. The cabin has ample space and hits the quality mark when it comes to fit and finish - it will easily accommodate a family of four and has rear vents and a rear window shade, all of which are handy for keeping kids comfy and quiet. The test car had light coloured upholstery which shows wear quickly - again, the rugrat factor would warrant a darker colour - but there's good in-cabin storage. The bootspace has improved, with relocated electrical systems improving bootspace by 8 per cent to 421 litres. Where the engineering and design falls down is with a miniscule 300kg towing capacity, but more on that later. SAFETY The new Camry range carries a five star ANCAP crash rating - the old one did too but the 2012 model went very close to full marks. The top-spec model's safety features list includes seven airbags (dual front, side, full-length curtain and a driver's knee), a seatbelt use warning system for all seats, stability and traction control and ABS brakes. The flagship hybrid also gets the blind spot monitor system (which detects vehicles dwelling in the next lane) and auto-dipping high beam system. DRIVING This is no longer bland and mundane transport. First impressions of cabin quality continue when the start button is pushed and silence often follows. Resist the temptation to hit the button again and look for the READY light - while noise is often absent the hybrid wafts away on battery power alone until the right foot heads further into the accelerator pedal. The ride is firmer than you might expect but it deals with road bumps nicely and manages to corner with reasonable aplomb as well. The local Toyota engineers have had a hand in tuning it for Australian driving tastes as well as taking into account the battery weight over the rear wheels. It's not going to frighten an SS-V V8 Commodore on a bendy back road, but it's not going to disgrace itself either, with steering and handling properties that border on enthusiastic. Where the hybrid is going to score is in the fuel economy stakes - the outgoing car was not thirsty but the new drivetrain has improved its appetite by more than 13 per cent to 5.2 litres per 100km, with our stint in the car in mainly suburban running returning numbers in the six range. The improvements in the boot have given near-normal levels of luggage space but the Camry hybrid has been engineered with a towing capacity of only 300kg (braked or unbraked) - the car goes electric-only when reversing, hence the low number. Toyota says is sufficient to tow a small trailer - given the average 6x4 can weigh 250kg that doesn't leave much for cargo. A normal Camry has a braked towing capacity of 1200kg, or 500kg for an unbraked trailer; even a base-model Yaris three door has a braked towing capacity of 900kg, or 550kg unbraked. VERDICT Workhorse issues aside the petrol-electric Camry provides smooth, quiet and frugal family motoring that is good value-for-money, particularly when you consider the Camry's size and the Prius pricetag. Toyota Camry Hybrid HL Price: from $41,490 Warranty: 3 years/100,000km (hybrid battery 8 years/160,000km) Resale:  46 per cent (Source: Glass's Guide) Service interval: 15,000km/9 months Safety rating: five stars Spare: Full-size alloy Engine: 2.5-litre 118kW/213Nm petrol four-cylinder, 105kW/270Nm 650v electric motor Transmission: CVT; FWD Body: 4.8m (L); 1.8m (w); 1.5m (h) Weight: 1610kg Thirst: 5.21/100km, on test 6.2; tank 65 litres, 91RON; 121g/km CO2

Canny motorists are facing a shopping bonanza as car makers start slashing prices to make way for new models. But it's not only outgoing models going cheap - look out for end-of-year sales as well. Any time a carmaker trumpets a new model, these shoppers are there ready to make a financial killing by buying up the old model. Look for sales at particular times of the year. June is traditionally a strong month for squeezing extra savings out of a dealer though, with a buoyant car market and fierce competition, anytime towards the end of any month can deliver a bonus. End of year sales are popular. Dealers always want to sell but the months of November and December provide a chance to discount cars built in the current year. Fighting this are car buyers who want a car built in the new year to preserve resale value. Here's some deals but be prepared for more as the calendar year draws to a close. HOLDEN Deep Purple is no longer a rock band - it's Holden's new colour that is available on a range of cut-price “Z-Series” Commodore sedans, utes and wagons. The new colour is the same as Holden's iconic show car, the Efijy. Different models in the Z-Series line-up get different equipment levels but, as an example, the base Omega automatic is $41,990 but the Z-Series edition costs $39,990. The bonus is that the Z includes a heap of extras within that price, including leather upholstery, 18-inch wheels, rear camera and sensors, leather steering wheel and chrome door frames. The SV6 ute adds 19-inch alloys, carpet mats and leather seats for $38,490, down $1000 on the plane-Jane SV6. The discounts on the VE Holden Commodore range precede the launch early next year of the VF Commodore models. Holden is also running out the Barina five-door manual hatch at $16,490, a saving of $500. TOYOTA You'll have to do some legwork here. The new Corolla is on sale and some dealers still have stocks of the old model. Officially, there's no discount on the outgoing model though some dealers - predominantly NSW and Victoria - have extra stock and have advertised a $18,990 price, $1000 off the list price. Note that the cheapest 2013 Corolla is also $19,990. Toyota WA says customers should discuss pricing direct with their dealer. It's not only the Corolla that may offer savings. The RAV4 gets updated early next year and though there's no official price, dealers will consider offers. On top of that, Toyota has zero per cent finance on Camry, Camry Hybrid and Aurion until the end of the year. HYUNDAI There's a lot of previous-model stock available from Hyundai and buyers can make big savings if they're not chasing the latest car. These include old-stock i30 hatchbacks with $2000 off the normal price and previous Santa Fe SUVs for up to $3000 off. But there are also current models. The big one is the $13,990 drive-away price on the i20 three door which saves $2500. A similar discount is on the five-door i20. The i40 wagon is now from $29,990 driveaway, a saving of about $3000, and the sedan model with automatic transmission is also from $29,990, saving about $2500. Hyundai's popular baby SUV, the ix35, is now from $27,990 driveaway for the Active version, a saving of $1120, while other ix35 variants have been reduced by $500. MITSUBISHI The new Outlander SUV arrives November 18 so Mitsubishi is sweeping out current stock. The "Enhancement Pack" model is an LS version with leather seats, heated front seats and an electric-adjust driver's seat. It has Bluetooth, 18-inch alloys with a full-size alloy spare, six airbags for the front-wheel drive version (up from two) and a cabin styling pack with bright trim to the door handles, console panel and rear door trim. Prices start at $28,990 drive away for the LS front-wheel drive model with five-speed manual transmission. The normal price is $29,340 plus on-road costs so the saving is about $4500. But for buyers who want the new model, register on Mitsubishi's website and there's the chance to win a $1000 Westfield shopping voucher and 15 per cent off accessories for the new Outlander. If that's not tempting, Mitsubishi also has 0.9 per cent finance until the end of this month. SUBARU The 2012 run out has just started for Subaru which has chopped up to $5000 off three models. It replaces its Liberty and Outback in early 2013 as a mid-life makeover that includes upgrades to trim specifications. There is an all-new Forester also due about February. So the deals are now on the table. The Outback 2.5i manual is usually $37,490 plus on-road costs (say, $5000) but is being rolled out the showroom door for $35,990 including all on-road costs. The same axe has lobbed on the Forester X which is now $32,990 drive-away including leather-faced seats, alloy wheels and fog lights. The normal retail price is $30,990 without the extras and without on-road costs. Subaru is selling the Liberty 2.5i sedan manual for $31,990 drive away with leather seats, electric driver's seat and reverse camera. The car normally sells for $32,990 plus on-road costs. FORD Kuga Trend $35,490 drive away (normally $38,990 plus on-road costs) and the upmarket Titanium is now $41,490 drive away, previously $44,990 plus all on the road charges. The Kuga is to be replaced with a new model in early 2013. Focus Ambiente hatch now $19,990 drive away (normally $20,290 plus costs). The Mondeo Zetec hatch is $33,990 with all costs (usually $37,740 plus on-road fees) and Falcon's XR6 Turbo is down from $46,235 plus costs, to $43,490 drive away. KIA There's a new Sorento SUV so the outgoing model has a $2000 gift voucher attached to its normal retail price. VOLKSWAGEN Is running out stocks of the current Golf VI to make way for the Golf VII due early next year. Volkswagen Australia has set the price of the current Golf 77TSI manual at $20,990 including metallic paint and all drive-away costs. This is a saving of about $5000. The Golf Wagon 90TSI with DSG auto, metallic paint and all drive-away costs is now $29,990, saving about $3500. Note that for small-car wagon buyers, Volkswagen has not confirmed a wagon version of the new Golf. If you want this shape, this could be your last chance. VOLVO The Swede is clearing out its 2012 stock by adding value rather than chopping the price tag. The S60 and V60 entry-level models now come with the upmarket Teknik pack valued at about $4500. But if you specify the Teknik model, Volvo will automatically give you the R-Design pack (valued at $3000) for free. The same deal applies to the XC60 SUV. There's also a deal on S60 or V60 from the dealer's existing stock. Volvo will include free scheduled servicing for three years or 100,000km.

Toyota Camry Atara SX and Kia Optima Platinum go head-to-head in this comparative review.

Camry Sportivo was a popular choice in the previous lineup. It had a bit of sporty sass about it (for a Camry) and the mandatory boot spoiler, alloys and mild body kit. The Sportivo name itself has a certain ring to it. That's why we find it perplexing that the name has been summarily dropped, replaced by the  Atara SX nameplate. VALUE But it's the new Sportivo complete with alloys, boot lid spoiler and mild body kit. It's the penultimate Camry in the new lineup selling for $35,990 which is sharp pricing when you look at what you get. Paddle shift for one, a full size spare, fixed price servicing at $130 a pop, reverse camera and plenty more. Atara SX has sports seats to go with its sports flavour and partial leather upholstery along with a sports multi-function steering wheel, even the pedals have been given the treatment. Then there's that new dash — looks like it came from a car costing twice as much — looks like a Lexus dash in this case with a large 6.1-inch touch screen controller and a host of electronic and multi-media connections and systems. DRIVING Changes have been made under the skin with sports suspension and other local input to make Atara SX a satisfying drive. It doesn't feel like Camrys of old, that's for sure. Even the 135kW/231Nm four cylinder petrol engine feels lively while drinking a scant 7.1-litres of regular unleaded per 100km. On the road it offers up sharper responses than other models in the range and it even feels like the six speed auto has been recalibrated to sporty. All Camrys are “Australianised" in terms of dust sealing, noise and vibration reduction, suspension setting, steering, brakes and other stuff. And Toyota does an excellent job of it — so good we wonder why our spec' cars aren't the standard international specification. But the yanks still like them mushy. Pity. We appreciated the ECO warning light in the dash that lets you know when you are driving most economically. It's all you really need rather than systems that deaden the car's response. That's going too far. VERDICT Five star crash safety, bluetooth, electric power steering and it's Aussie made — gotta like that.

No matter how schmick the car looks, though, at this sort of money there are probably one or two expensive time bombs lurking within it.