What's the news?
Toyota Ireland will be launching a hybrid model blitz in 2019 and we now have prices for the key new models. The new Corolla, RAV4 and Camry will all be going on sale in January and you can now start getting your orders in.
The new Corolla will arrive in both five-door hatchback and estate forms (a four-door saloon will follow on in due course) and will be available with both conventional petrol power and hybrid powetrains. The 1.2-litre 116hp petrol turbo D4-T version will start from €25,995 for the hatchback and €28,420 for the Touring Sports estate.
A hybrid Corolla hatch will start from €26,370. PCP finance deals on the new Corolla start from €203 per month for the hatch and €234 for the estate.
The RAV4 range will now be entirely hybrid, which means there's a price jump for the entry level model. The outgoing RAV4 diesel started at just over €31,000, but the new entry hybrid model will cost €35,900, or €278 per month on a PCP deal. That's actually some €2,000 cheaper than the most affordable outgoing RAV4 hybrid though, and this model is actually bigger, with a large 580-litre boot.
Finally, there's the new Camry, a 'traditional' four-door saloon that we've already driven in US market trim and really rather like. It'll come with a 218hp hybrid powertrain (shared with the Lexus ES 300h) and is priced from €39,750, or €300 per month on a PCP plan.
Toyota will also be offering PCP finance rates of 2.9 per cent interest for its passenger car ranges for the 191-registration period (and just 1.9 per cent for commercials) and says that its hybrid models are actually cheaper to buy overall, in spite of higher list prices, because their residuals are so good.
There's also the carrot of as much as €3,000 trade-in bonuses, and a new three-year inclusive servicing package.
Commenting on the pricing announcement, Steve Tormey, CEO of Toyota Ireland, said: "We're delighted to announce four dynamic next generation Toyota models at such competitive prices. The recent budget announcement that the government's €1,500 VRT rebate on hybrids is remaining for 2019 is welcome news and means that more people can afford to take the progressive step out of diesel into hybrid which represents a much cleaner and more cost-effective driving solution.
Given the level of enquiries on the new models that we've had so far there are early indications that we may be facing a situation of demand outstripping supply in Q1 2019, so we are encouraging interested parties not to delay and talk to their local Toyota dealer now to avoid disappointment."