The Toyota Camry Atara was the sportier end of the Australian Camry range during the 2010s, and the Atara R was one of its grades. The name was used on the seventh-generation Camry, the XV50, which Toyota sold in Australia between 2012 and 2017. When the eighth-generation XV70 Camry arrived in late 2017, Toyota dropped the Atara name entirely and renamed the line-up Ascent, Ascent Sport, SX, and SL. That is why there was no 2019 Camry Atara R.
What “Atara” Meant in Toyota’s Australian Range
For the XV50 Camry, Toyota Australia split the range into mainstream Altise models and sportier Atara models. The Atara grades added firmer suspension tuning, larger wheels, more aggressive styling, and extra equipment. The Atara name itself was borrowed from the word for a Maori cloak, reflecting the model’s positioning as something that wrapped around the buyer. The Atara R was one of several Atara variants offered across the model’s life.
The Camry Atara R (XV50)
The Camry Atara R was released to the Australian market on 4 August 2013. It used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, the 2AR-FE, producing 135 kW, or about 184 hp, at 6,000 rpm and 231 Nm of torque at 4,100 rpm. Power went to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission, and Toyota quoted combined fuel use of 7.8 L/100km with CO2 emissions of 183 g/km. It started at $31,820 before on-road costs.
| Specification | 2013 Camry Atara R (XV50) |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5 L 2AR-FE inline-4 |
| Power | 135 kW (approx. 184 hp) |
| Torque | 231 Nm |
| Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| Fuel use | 7.8 L/100km combined |
| Length | 4,815 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,775 mm |
| Starting price | $31,820 (plus on-road costs) |
Dimensions and Interior
The XV50 Camry Atara R measured 4,815 mm long, 1,825 mm wide, and 1,470 mm high, on a 2,775 mm wheelbase, and it weighed about 1,465 kg. It came with 215/55 R17 tires on alloy wheels and a 70-liter fuel tank. Inside, it offered a six-way adjustable driver’s seat, cloth or leather trim depending on grade, and a 6.1-inch display screen, with USB connectivity for phones and audio players through the USB standard.
The Name Change for 2018 and 2019
When Toyota launched the all-new, eighth-generation Camry in Australia in late 2017, it also changed the way it named its cars. The 2018 Camry range moved to a four-tier structure of Ascent, Ascent Sport, SX, and SL, with nine individual specifications. The Atara name was retired along with the previous generation. The new line-up offered a 2.5-liter four-cylinder, a 2.5-liter hybrid, and a 3.5-liter V6, and it arrived from $27,690 plus on-road costs.
The XV70 Camry That Replaced It
The XV70 Camry that took over from the Atara-era cars was built in Japan rather than Australia, because Toyota ended local manufacturing in 2017. It sits on Toyota’s TNGA GA-K platform, measures about 4,880 to 4,910 mm long on a 2,820 mm wheelbase, and reintroduced a V6 to the local range to fill the gap left by the discontinued 2019 Toyota Aurion Release Date and Price. Buyers wanting the sportier Camry after 2017 had to choose the SX grade instead of an Atara.
Why There Was No 2019 Camry Atara R
There was no 2019 Camry Atara R because the Atara badge had not been used since the XV70 replaced the XV50 in 2017. Anyone searching for a 2019 Camry Atara R is looking for a grade that had ceased to exist two model years earlier. The equivalent position in the 2019 range was the SX, which carried the sportier styling and chassis tune that had once been the Atara’s role.
Buying a Camry Atara Today
Camry Atara models are now used cars, with the newest XV50 examples dating from 2017. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and six-speed automatic are well proven, and parts are widely available because the mechanicals are shared with the broader Camry range. Buyers should check service history and inspect the suspension, which was tuned more firmly than the standard car. For more on the newer model, see our 2019 Toyota Camry Redesign, Review and Specs, and for the wider Toyota line-up visit the Car Review hub.
Fuel Economy and Running Costs
Toyota quoted combined fuel use of 7.8 L/100km for the Camry Atara R, with 10.9 L/100km around town and 6.0 L/100km on the highway. With a 70-liter tank, the calculated driving range was about 897 km between fills. The car ran on 91-octane unleaded and came with a 36-month, 100,000 km warranty. Those figures were competitive for a mid-size family sedan of the period.
Safety and Equipment
The XV50 Camry range was rated five stars by ANCAP, the Australasian New Car Assessment Program, in testing dated January 2012. Standard safety equipment included electronic stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, and a set of airbags covering the front occupants and side curtains. The Atara R added alloy wheels, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a manual air-conditioning system.
Sporty Camry Grades Across the Range
Over the life of the XV50, Toyota Australia offered several sportier badges above the entry Altise, including the Atara S, Atara SL, and Atara SX, as well as the Atara R. They differed in equipment, wheel size, and trim rather than in engine, since all used the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder at the time. That structure is why the Atara R sat in the middle of the sport range rather than at the top.
