What sub-$60,000 family sedan or wagon should you buy?

What sub-,000 family sedan or wagon should you buy?


Nation with households desire a automotive that may reliably and cost effectively proceed a couple of community in sympathy, however some aren’t prepared at the pattern against SUVs and clear of conventional passenger vehicles.

SUVs are by way of a ways probably the most standard fresh car sort in Australia at the moment they usually’re ruled by way of midsizers just like the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson.

However what in the event you are a kind of community who doesn’t need an SUV and would in lieu favor a extra typical sedan or wagon? Fortunately, some manufacturers nonetheless have you ever coated.

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As such vehicles (and households) will also be dear, we’ve made up our minds to backup information your purchasing procedure by way of narrowing i’m sick the sedan and wagon choices nonetheless to be had, with the cheap of $60,000 in thoughts.

The rationale we’ve decided on the $60,000 worth cap is since the average new car price in 2023 used to be round this quantity.

Some vehicles have indexed costs that exclude on-road prices, so one of the most costlier choices would possibly finally end up sneaking over the restrict after they’re parked on your driveway.

Listed here are the sedans and wagons the CarExpert crew would purchase for not up to $60,000.

One of the crucial extra regular choices are indexed beneath:

Paul Maric: Toyota Camry

The fresh Toyota Camry is an absolute ripper. We drove the mid-spec Ascent Game variant lately and I used to be inspired with the gas financial system and the dimension throughout the cabin.

The tech is in the end trendy and it feels each section the succesful public automotive. Toyota is on the height of its hybrid recreation on the year and the original iteration of its 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain is sensational.

Plus, according to the government, it’s greener than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range with regards to lifecycle CO2 emissions – 98g/km vs 113g/km for the Fashion 3 – so it’s greener too in the event you’re charging from the typical Australian grid provide.

Fascinated by purchasing a Toyota Camry? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Toyota Camry

James Wong: Skoda Octavia RS Wagon

Wagons are now not the standard public selection they as soon as have been, however I’ll be damned if I make a selection an SUV over an an identical sporty wagon.

The Skoda Octavia RS Wagon has skilled enduring reputation because of its alike best recipe – scorching hatch energy, sensible wagon frame and Eu options and era.

In its original iteration, the sporty Octavia is much more tech-laden and sensible than ever, evolving into one thing of a top class public GT with a abundance boot. What’s to not love?

Should you’re available in the market now I’d counsel you stock off till the facelift lobs within the fresh era, which pace no longer as good-looking will convey a bunch of enhancements and developments to the Octavia’s property and tech suite.

There’s additionally a nice-looking Royal Inexperienced external paint choice in the United Kingdom marketplace, which I might fortuitously form a different series for…

Fascinated by purchasing a Skoda Octavia? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Skoda Octavia

Jack Fast: Honda Civic e:HEV

I would like to mention both a Volkswagen Golf Wagon or a Passat Alltrack, however sadly you’ll’t series a emblem fresh this sort of in Australia to any extent further. Rather there’s best restricted broker book too much.

With this in thoughts I discovered it truly dry to select my then pick out. There are fewer and less choices to be had on this branch as extra community gravitate against high-riding crossovers and SUVs.

Should you’re later a automotive that has a comfy trip, easy riding dynamics and ultra-efficient gas intake, the observable selection could also be the fresh Toyota Camry, however there’s additionally the not-so-boring-looking Honda Civic Hybrid.

This hybrid liftback is best presented in Australia in a novel range-topping e:HEV LX decrease and it’s complete to the brim with tech and property touches. My favourites come with the living room chair-like seats and punchy Bose pitch gadget.

One catch past the $55k drive-away price ticket is the insufficiency of a additional wheel. It’s significance noting, alternatively, that that is lovely regular in hybrid automobiles because the dimension the place the additional most often is going is continuously impinged upon by way of the high-voltage battery collect.

Fascinated by purchasing a Honda Civic? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Honda Civic

Jordan Mulach: Skoda Octavia RS Wagon

Smartly that used to be predictable wasn’t it?

After all the one who owns each an Octavia RS and Superb Sportline goes to pick out a Skoda.

There’s just right explanation why for it, even though no longer up to there impaired to be. Generation they nonetheless do in Europe, Skodas now not deal a unclouded merit over an identical Volkswagen fashions when it comes to each worth and kit.

Generation the original Octavia RS is sadly weighted down with the haptic keep an eye on fat inner from the Golf, it’s nonetheless were given to be the all-rounder of selection on this section.

There’s enough of energy and torque, an effective seven-speed computerized transmission, a comfy and spacious inner, and a chassis that’s not best just right out of the field however receptive to changes.

Like James, I believe the collection of colors here’s a contact at the bland aspect, even though each my vehicles are silver so what would I do know?

Fascinated by purchasing a Skoda Octavia? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Skoda Octavia

Max Davies: Toyota Camry

This branch isn’t as packed because it as soon as used to be, however I’m happy some mainstream producers are nonetheless promoting sedans.

I would like with the intention to suggest one thing from {the catalogue} of my liked Subaru, however I don’t suppose any person might be shocked to listen to the logo’s sole style eligible for this checklist – the WRX – isn’t the only to move for.

Possibly if the WRX STI nonetheless existed it will be a special tale – actually, even a guide model of the WRX Sportswagon would do. One can dream.

Alas, rationality prevails, so I’m getting to have to stick in Japan however slide throughout to Toyota and the fresh Camry. It’s the ‘safe’ choice and you need to argue it’s a little bland, however this original presen truly is an amazing automotive.

Now that we’ve had moment to tug it in, it truly does appear to be Toyota has taken an already cast components and advanced at the issues that subject.

It appears superb, it’s comfy at the avenue, it’s full of trendy tech and it’s extremely proficient because of that up to date hybrid powertrain.

The highest-spec SL is not any uncertainty the Camry variant best-geared against non-public consumers, given it appears classier and has a extra top class air of mystery than the alternative two variants.

At just below $54,000 earlier than on-roads it’s by no means reasonable, however at that time it’s in higher-spec WRX area anyway – even supposing it lacks the facility and a guide gearbox.

Fascinated by purchasing a Toyota Camry? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Toyota Camry

Marton Pettendy: Mazda 6

It’s deny confidential that inexpensive public vehicles are a death breed – in the event you exclude SUVs, that have turn into the de facto replacements for once-popular mainstream fashions just like the long-lamented Camry wagon that’s now successfully morphed into the RAV4 and Kluger.

That’s a embarassment since passenger sedans and wagon are typically less expensive to shop for and run than their SUV equivalents, in addition to extra amusing to pressure, higher to take a look at and, no less than in five-door mode, simply as sensible.

And pace the original Skoda Octavia wagon and fresh Toyota Camry sedan additionally nominated listed here are superb alternatives, my pick out is the Mazda 6, which would possibly now be getting lengthy within the teeth (the flow, 3rd presen dates again to 2012), however nonetheless trade in one of the most supreme trip/dealing with applications at the avenue and packs enough of complicated protection programs, plus intuitive multimedia tech and top-notch create and subject matter property.

To be had in each sedan and wagon modes, the Mazda 6 line-up is priced between simply $36,290 and $56,685, trade in cast retained price, appears superb and – now that plans for a rear/all-wheel-drive straight-six powered successor had been shelved – would be the latter purely petrol-powered mid-sized Mazda passenger automotive earlier than it’s in the end changed by way of the battery-electric and plug-in hybrid EZ-6.

Fascinated by purchasing a Mazda 6? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Mazda 6

Josh Nevett: Skoda Octavia RS Wagon

Glad to move with the people in this one.

The Octavia RS is the latter all-rounder and the fruits of a recipe honed over just about twenty years.

It’s spacious and comfy, boasts finest tech and packs enough quantity efficiency to deal thrills on a twisty again avenue. 

You’ll need to move on any choices to retain the sticky label worth underneath $60k, however even in bottom mode Skoda’s fanatic hero is a subtle purchase and way more attention-grabbing than any in a similar way priced SUV.

Fascinated by purchasing a Skoda Octavia? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Skoda Octavia

William Stopford: Hyundai i30 Sedan

I would possibly like better vehicles – I personal a Hyundai Genesis, which is frankly a little decadent for a one-person family – however I additionally respect mini vehicles.

I grew up at the back of a Holden Astra and a (groan) Daewoo Nubira, and our public controlled simply fantastic in those mini sedans.

Now not that the Hyundai i30 Sedan is truly all that mini. 

SUVs are continuously blamed for the alike extinction of mid-sized passenger vehicles in markets like Australia, however avoid wasting nails for mini vehicles too. ‘Small’ vehicles just like the i30 and Cerato have grown ever better and extra comfy, making mid-sized vehicles appear nearly superfluous. 

Severely, sit down in an i30 Sedan and a Sonata back-to-back and inform me the ultimate feels a complete branch up in measurement.

The i30 Sedan’s swoopy roofline does devour into headroom a little, even though its again seat is extra comfy than that of a Toyota Corolla.

Hyundai’s moaning 2.0-litre is now a lot, a lot more palatable because of a regularly variable transmission and, general, the i30 Sedan is slightly a just right steer for the branch. 

It’s irksome that – no less than for now – it’s a must to go for the so-so 1.6T/seven-speed dual-clutch combo to get the very best degree of specification. If you’ll forgo some candies like a sunroof and ventilated entrance seats, even though, you’ll get the mid-spec Elite with both the slightly worthy 2.0-litre or the even higher and impressively thrifty 1.6-litre hybrid.

Stepping as much as a Toyota Camry Hybrid, Skoda Octavia or Hyundai’s personal Sonata is tempting, but when you wish to have most steel for minimal cash, the i30 Sedan is a completely interesting choice.

Fascinated by purchasing a Hyundai i30? Get involved with certainly one of CarExpert’s relied on sellers here.

MORE: Everything Hyundai i30



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