- Farewell to lower-level Camry GX and SX grades.
- Top ZR remains as NZ's best-selling Camry.
- 'Strategic move reflects evolving customer preferences' says Toyota.
New Zealand's love for all things SUV is responsible for a dramatic rationalisation of the very best medium-sized sedan Toyota sells here: the long-running Camry.
While emphasising that Camry has a "loyal following", Toyota NZ has decided to drop the lower GX and SX grade from its lineup this month, leaving just the flagship $57,990 ZR on sale.
"This strategic move reflects evolving customer preferences and ensures Toyota continues to deliver
vehicles that meet the needs of today’s drivers," says the company.
You might be thinking that's the wrong end of the range to focus on, giving Camry's long history as a tax/fleet-favourite. But times have changed there, too. ZR is now the most popular Camry in the lineup.
Toyota NZ chief strategy officer, Andrew Davis says Camry has served Toyota and Kiwi customers well for three decades, taking a key role in its "no customer left behind" approach: “Camry is the only remaining model in our medium sedan sales segment, a segment that has declined steadily as customers shift to SUVs.
Camry has clocked up just 180 registrations year-to-date August. The similar-sized RAV4 SUV hit 6221 sales in the same period.
"The ZR grade remains the most popular," says David. "We’ve listened to our customers and will be keeping the ZR in our portfolio – it’s a way of streamlining our efforts into providing cars that Kiwis want to drive."