Uber popular? 2024 Toyota Camry sedan revealed, but when is the Mazda 6-rivalling hybrid car coming to Australia?

Toyota has ripped the covers from the ninth-generation version of its Camry mid-sized sedan, ahead of an Australian on-sale date in the second half of 2024.

And in news that is not super surprising given the high take-up of hybrids in the current version, the new Camry will be offered exclusively as a petrol-electric hybrid for its next generation.

So far this year, about 90 per cent of all Camry sales in Australia have been for hybrid models. Only the entry-level grade was offered with the petrol engine after the last update, while the remaining four grades were hybrid.

The hybrid has been so popular that last month, Toyota Australia put a sales halt on the hybrid Camry due to overwhelming demand.

Toyota has not revealed too many details of the new Camry yet, but expect it to ride on a revised version of the 'TNGA-K' architecture of the outgoing model. With that in mind it sounds like it could be more of a major facelift than a whole new-generation model change.

Toyota says the new Camry will be the first model to sport the brand’s 2.5-litre, four-cylinder engine and the fifth-generation 'Toyota Hybrid System'. The motors are lighter and more compact, which Toyota says helps “produce more power and enhanced performance compared with the previous hybrid system”.

Looking at the US specs of 225 horsepower, it appears the Camry’s power is up by 8.0kW over the outgoing version. Fuel figures are yet to be revealed, but the current Camry sips between 4.2 litres and 4.7L, depending on the grade.

The hybrid system uses two motors, but some versions for the US market have a third motor on the rear wheels, making it an all-wheel drive model. However, a Toyota Australia spokesperson said there are no local plans to offer for the AWD Camry here.

Toyota has also tweaked the suspension to improve handling and responsiveness, while maintaining the Camry’s famed comfy ride quality.

The design is an evolution of the outgoing model but it adopts some styling cues found on other recent Toyota models. Notably, the new front end with its 'hammerhead' grille and LED headlights and daytime running lights are reminiscent of the new-gen Prius and the Crown - both of which are not offered in Australia.

Inside, it’s also an evolution of the existing car, but Toyota highlights new materials used throughout. It’s unclear if the cabin is any bigger than the outgoing version.

Equipment has not yet been detailed, but Toyota Australia highlighted some standard features, including a smart key with push-button start, dual-zone automatic climate control, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Higher grades will come with a head-up display, premium audio, leather-accented interior, paddle shifters, wireless charging, panoramic view monitor, and front and rear parking assist.

The new Camry will also adopt a voice command system - similar to the ‘Hey BMW’ and ‘Hey Mercedes’ systems - that allows users to dictate actions like changing cabin temperature or adjusting the audio controls or finding navigation guidance, by saying - you guessed it - ‘Hey Toyota’.

Safety-wise, it will come with a pre-collision safety system with pedestrian detection, full-speed dynamic radar cruise control, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-trace assist, road-sign assist, as well as a blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert.

Depending on the grade, the Camry will feature 17- or 18-inch alloy wheels, and 7.0-inch or 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch or 12.3-inch multimedia touchscreen.

Keep an eye on CarsGuide.com.au for more details including the 2024 Toyota Camry pricing and features.