Toyota Aurion Presara 2012 review

Since the Toyota Aurion was launched in Australia in 2006 large car sales have slumped, dropping from 138,000 per annum to 80,000 in 2011.

Even so, it is hardly a niche segment and Toyota believes it will sell more, not less, Aurions with the launch of this virtually all-new model.

VALUE

Explore the 2012 Toyota Aurion range

• Toyota Aurion Presara 2012 review
• Toyota Aurion Sportivo 2012 review: road test

Toyota Aurion pricing is razor sharp with a price advantage of $745 to $3500 over entry-level Falcon and Commodore while the Aurion AT-X is almost $6000 under the Commodore Omega 3.6-litre V6.

Toyota is also offering five routine services at a fixed price of $130 each for the first four years or 75,000 kilometres.

TECHNOLOGY

Aurion is up to it with new technology and is USB and iPod ready, has Bluetooth and audio streaming with the Presara and Sportivo ZR6 having premium digital radios.

Under the bonnet things have changed little with Aurion retaining the 200 kW twin-cam V6 that also powers Kluger, RAV4 and Lexus RX350.

Toyota Australia engineer Greg Gardner said the performance of the V6 is more than adequate for the Aurion, adding consumption has been improved from 9.9 litres per 100 km in the Gen 1 Aurion to 9.3 L/100 km in the new model

DESIGN

The new Aurion has dropped 55 kilos on a diet of high-tensile steel with essentially the same dimensions as the outgoing model. Aurion is rated for braked towing at 1600 kg.

Chrome is back and the Presara and Prodigy gain a chrome grille with horizontal bars that will gladden the heart of any classic car buff. There's also plenty of shiny stuff adorning the boot.

Toyota Aurion now has a 60/40 split rear seat that increases the handiness of the 515-litre boot, giving it the ability take carry long objects as well as configure alternative seating arrangements.

Buttons in the boot release the seats which can then be pushed down almost flat. The boot also houses a full-size matching alloy spare wheel. The Sportivo models get a different, slightly smaller, grille done in a variation on the egg crate style - and all in black and in keeping with the sporty image.

These differences are also reflected inside the cabin where stitched leather seats and upholstery and wood grain finishes adorn the Presara and Prodigy, while the Sportivo gets contrasting colour sports seats with additional support.

The interior feels lighter, brighter and larger with Toyota using narrower A and B pillars. Large car owners like their cars to feel big on the inside and Aurion achieves that goal. Noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) have been improved through a raft of design improvements as well as the use of sound-proofing materials.

Like the recently launched Camry Hybrid, Aurion gains what is essentially a double glazed windscreen. Wind flow under the bonnet and up under the front mudguards has been deflected to reduce noise and new sound-deadening carpets have been added. Double seals have been added to the door glass.

The result is a cabin that is whisper quiet even on some of the harsh road surfaces we found on the launch of the vehicle organised by Toyota in and around the Adelaide Hills and McLaren Vale.

Toyota has gone to great lengths to differentiate between the five Aurion model variants: luxury Presara and Prodigy, sporty Sportivo SX6 and ZR6 and entry-level AT-X. The end result is that the front end of the Aurion Presara and Prodigy is all luxury and the Aurion Sportivo is aggressive and purposeful.

SAFETY

Toyota conducted extensive testing in Australia and the suspension has been tuned to local conditions.

With the addition of a driver's knee airbag there are now seven airbags for peace of mind. Toyota chief engineer Yukihiro Oaken, in Australia for the launch of his machine, announced that the Aurion had achieved a five-star ANCAP safety rating.

DRIVING

At launch we were able to drive two models, Presara and Prodigy. The interior does have a luxury feel with stitched leather seats and trim, power seats, and the space and openness you associate with large European marques. 

The V6 is a willing powerplant and well mated to the automatic. Aurion has a six-speed automatic transmission with a sequential shift alternative while Presara and Sportivo also have paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

Aurion's external dimensions have grown a fraction in width and length and there's now more rear seat knee and leg room. The accelerator pedal and the front seats have been moved slightly forward. The back seat is not quite limousine size, but passengers will not complain about legroom.

We found the ride and handling to be comfortable with little body roll and just a hint of understeer on sharp corners at enthusiastic speeds. The car points well with a new, stiffer suspension and more rigid body. There's also a new electric power steering unit similar to that in the Lexus RX series.

VERDICT

The variety of models on offer and the competitive price packages make the 2012 Toyota Aurion well worth a look.