People with families need a car that can reliably and affordably transport multiple people in comfort, but some are not keen on the trend toward SUVs and away from traditional passenger cars.
SUVs are currently by far the most popular new vehicle type in Australia, dominated by mid-size models such as the Toyota RAV4, Mitsubishi Outlander, Mazda CX-5 and Hyundai Tucson.
But what if you Are one of those people who doesn’t want an SUV and instead prefers a more conventional sedan or station wagon? Luckily, some brands still have you covered.
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Because such cars (and families) can be expensive, we decided to help guide your purchasing process by narrowing down the sedan and wagon options still available, with a budget of $60,000 in mind.
The reason we chose the $60,000 price cap is because the average price for new cars in 2023 was around this amount.
Some cars have prices listed that don’t include on-road costs, so some of the more expensive options may end up exceeding the limit once they’re parked in your driveway.
Here are the sedans and wagons AutoExpert team would buy for less than $60,000.
Some of the most common options are listed below:
Paul Maric: Toyota Camry
The new Toyota Camry is an absolute ripper. We recently drove the mid-range Ascent Sport variant and I was impressed with its fuel economy and cabin space.
The technology is finally modern and every bit feels like a capable family car. Toyota is currently at the height of its hybrid offering and the latest version of its 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain is sensational.
Plus, according to the governmentit’s greener than a Tesla Model 3 Long Range in terms of lifecycle CO2 emissions – 98 g/km versus 113 g/km for the Model 3 – so it’s also greener when you charge from the average Australian grid.
Do you want to buy a Toyota Camry? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Toyota Camry
James Wong: Skoda Octavia RS Wagon
Station wagons are no longer the popular family choice they once were, but I’d be damned if I chose an SUV over an equivalent performance wagon.
The Skoda Octavia RS Wagon has enjoyed enduring popularity thanks to its near-perfect recipe: hot hatch power, practical estate design and European features and technology.
In its latest version, the sporty Octavia is even more technical and practical than ever and is evolving into a kind of premium family GT with a huge trunk. What’s not to love?
If you’re in the market now, I’d recommend waiting until the facelift in the new year, which, while not as nice, will bring a number of improvements and improvements to the Octavia’s features and technology.
There is also a lovely Royal Green exterior paint option on the UK market, which I would like to special order…
Do you want to buy a Skoda Octavia? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Skoda Octavia
Jack Quick: Honda Civic e:HEV
I’d like to say a Volkswagen Golf Wagon or a Passat Alltrack, but unfortunately you can’t order a brand new one in Australia anymore. Instead, there is only limited dealer stock left.
With this in mind I found it very difficult to choose my next choice. There are fewer and fewer options available in this segment as more and more people prefer high-riding crossovers and SUVs.
If you’re looking for a car that offers a comfortable ride, effortless driving dynamics and ultra-efficient fuel economy, then the obvious choice might be the new Toyota Camry, but there’s also the not-so-boring-looking Honda Civic Hybrid.
Offered only in Australia in a unique range-topping e:HEV LX trim, this hybrid liftback is packed with technical and quality touches. My favorites are the lounge chair-like seats and the punchy Bose sound system.
One catch that goes beyond the $55,000 price tag is the lack of a spare tire. However, it is worth noting that this is quite common in hybrid vehicles, as the space where the spare part usually goes is often obstructed by the high-voltage battery pack.
Interested in buying a Honda Civic? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Honda Civic
Jordan Mulach: Skoda Octavia RS Wagon
Well, that was predictable, wasn’t it?
Of course, the person who owns both an Octavia RS and a Superb Sportline will choose a Skoda.
There’s a good reason for that, but not as much as it used to be. Although they still do so in Europe, Skodas no longer offer a clear advantage over comparable Volkswagen models in terms of both price and equipment.
While the latest Octavia RS is unfortunately loaded with the Golf’s heavy, haptic-operated interior, it still has to be the quintessential all-rounder in this category.
There’s plenty of power and torque, an efficient seven-speed automatic transmission, a comfortable and roomy interior, and a chassis that’s not only good out of the box but also amenable to modifications.
Like James, I think the color choice here is a bit boring, although both my cars are silver, so what should I know?
Do you want to buy a Skoda Octavia? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Skoda Octavia
Max Davies: Toyota Camry
This segment isn’t as crowded as it once was, but I’m glad some mainstream manufacturers are still selling sedans.
I’d like to recommend something from my beloved Subaru’s catalog, but I don’t think anyone will be surprised to learn that the brand’s only model eligible for this list – the WRX – isn’t the right model.
Maybe it would be a different story if the WRX STI still existed; in fact, even a manual version of the WRX Sportswagon would suffice. One can dream.
Unfortunately, rationality prevails, so I will have to stay in Japan, but switch to Toyota and the new Camry. It’s the ‘safe’ option and you could say it’s a bit boring, but this latest generation really is a great car.
Now that we’ve had time to absorb it, it really seems like Toyota has taken an already solid formula and improved the things that matter.
It looks great, is comfortable on the road, is packed with modern technology and is very efficient thanks to that updated hybrid powertrain.
The top-spec SL is undoubtedly the Camry variant best suited to private buyers as it looks more stylish and has a more premium feel than the other two variants.
At just under $54,000 before on-roads it’s certainly not cheap, but at that point it’s in higher-spec WRX territory anyway – even if it misses out on the power and manual gearbox.
Do you want to buy a Toyota Camry? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Toyota Camry
Marton Pettendy: Mazda6
It’s no secret that affordable family cars are a dying breed – if you ignore SUVs, which have become the de facto replacements for once-popular mainstream models like the long-lamented Camry wagon that has now effectively morphed into the RAV4 and Kluger .
That’s a shame, as sedans and wagons are generally cheaper to buy and run than their SUV equivalents, but also more fun to drive, better to look at and, at least in five-door form, just as practical.
And while the latest Skoda Octavia wagon and the new Toyota Camry sedan also nominated here are great choices, my choice is the Mazda 6, which may now be getting a little long in the tooth (the current, third generation dates from 2012), but still offers one of the best ride and handling packages on the road and packed with advanced safety systems, plus intuitive multimedia technology and premium build and material quality.
The Mazda6 range is available in both sedan and estate guises, is priced between just €36,290 and €56,685, offers solid value retention, looks great and – now that plans for a rear-wheel drive inline six-cylinder successor have been completed. on the shelf – will be the last purely gasoline-powered Mazda midsize passenger car before it is eventually replaced by the battery-electric and plug-in hybrid EZ-6.
Interested in buying a Mazda6? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Mazda 6
Josh Nevett: Skoda Octavia RS Wagon
I’d happily go with the crowd on this one.
The Octavia RS is the ultimate all-rounder and the culmination of a recipe that has been honed over almost twenty years.
It’s spacious and comfortable, has excellent technology and offers enough performance to provide excitement on a winding back road.
You’ll have to pass on all the options to keep the sticker price below $60,000, but even in base form, Skoda’s enthusiast hero is a smart buy and far more interesting than any comparably priced SUV.
Do you want to buy a Skoda Octavia? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Skoda Octavia
William Stopford: Hyundai i30 Sedan
I may like bigger cars – I have a Hyundai Genesis, which is honestly a bit decadent for a single-person household – but I also appreciate small cars.
I grew up in the back of a Holden Astra and a (groan) Daewoo Nubira, and our family got by just fine in these small sedans.
Not that the Hyundai i30 Sedan is really that small.
SUVs are often blamed for the near-extinction of mid-size passenger cars in markets like Australia, but they also save some nails for small cars. ‘Small’ cars such as the i30 and Cerato have become increasingly larger and more comfortable, making middle-class cars almost redundant.
Seriously, sit back to back in an i30 Sedan and a Sonata and tell me the latter feels an entire segment larger.
The i30 Sedan’s sweeping roofline compromises headroom a bit, although the rear seat is more comfortable than that of a Toyota Corolla.
Hyundai’s groaning 2.0-litre is now much, much tastier thanks to a continuously variable transmission and overall the i30 Sedan is a pretty good driver for the segment.
It’s annoying that – at least for now – you have to opt for the mediocre 1.6T/seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to reach the highest specification level. However, if you can forego some extras like a sunroof and ventilated front seats, you can get the mid-range Elite with the decently decent 2.0-litre or the even better and impressively frugal 1.6-litre hybrid.
Making the move to a Toyota Camry Hybrid, Skoda Octavia or Hyundai’s own Sonata is tempting, but if you want maximum metal for minimum money, the i30 Sedan is a very attractive option.
Interested in buying a Hyundai i30? Contact one of CarExpert’s trusted dealers here.
MORE: Everything Hyundai i30
