Toyota Aurion 2007 review

The Presara is bigger, faster, better equipped than the base IS, it rides and handles nearly as well and looks as good. Presara sells for $49,990 while the IS starts at $56,990 quickly escalating to about $70,000.

The Aurion Presara is a delight to drive, smooth and silent with plenty of performance to get you where you want to go.

Built in Australia, Toyota can be proud of this vehicle because it's as good as anything from anywhere else at the same or more money.

The 3.5-litre twin cam V6 engine is good for 200kW, slightly more on premium unleaded and drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic with sequential change mode.

Extremely well equipped for the money, even base model Aurion has Stability Control and Traction Control, aircon, cruise control, six airbags and power assisted ancillaries.

The top of the range Presara adds plenty more leather, 17-inch alloys with Michelin rubber (and a full-size alloy spare), chrome body hardware, premium audio, keyless start and smart entry, reversing camera, xenon headlights and satnav. All help in making travel time more appealing to the point in Presara where you look forward to car time.

It starts as soon as you get near the car and it automatically unlocks. You don't even have to put the key in a slot to fire up the engine, just push the start button.

Reverse into the street with help from the folding mirror reversing camera, select your destination on the satnav, crank up the premium audio, slip it into Drive and away you go, luxury sporty motoring courtesy of Toyota Australia.

Aurion has been calibrated for Aussie conditions in many areas and the Presara is at the luxury end of the scale, with slightly more supple suspension, a quieter ride, and pampering interior.

It eats distances like a limousine and has great fallback performance if you choose to be keen behind the wheel.

The interior has a slick, modern look to it and is functional and well laid out. Presara's seats are comfy and the driving position is fully adjustable with electric assistance.

Pasengers are also well catered for in the four other seats. It's not quite as big inside as the Falcon or Commodore but has a more practical layout and has a near flat rear floor. The boot is large and easy to load.

As the range -opping Aurion, Presara has all the goodies and technology developed for the model. The interior modern and functional, airy and great to look at. Toyota sparingly uses woodgrain, favouring a metal look with textured surfaces.

The car looks good from all angles, not outlandish or brutish but poised and elegant in a modern sense. We could certainly find room in the garage for the new Aurion.