Toyota Aurion AT-X and Presara 2012 review

Sales of large car are headed south at a rapid rate but Toyota says its still too big a chunk of the market to ignore, so welcome a renewed Aurion to the Australian large car market.

The clear overall market leader, Toyota is aiming to take a 15 per cent chunk of the shrinking segment this year, with sales targets ranging from around 600 a month, rising towards (but unlikely to exceed) 1000 units a month in 2013.

But the big six-cylinder will be competing in a segment that has fallen from 136,280 in 2006 (when Aurion returned Toyota to the large car market after the Avalon flopped) to 78,077 in 2011.

Toyota's executive director of sales and marketing Matthew Callachor says demand for nearly 80,000 vehicles is substantial and vital to the Australian market.

"Even if the large car market was to diminish further it is a long way from becoming a niche segment and it deserves to be supported with models purpose-built for changing needs,'' he says.

VALUE

The Aurion range kicks of at $36,490 for the AT-X (up from $35,990) but stops short of breaching the $50,000 mark for the top-spec Presara - by $10. 

The Prodigy and Presara flagship remain unchanged at $41,490 and $49,990 respectively; the Aurion range has retained the two-pronged "sports'' model line-up - the Sportivo SX6 has risen $500 to $40,990 and the ZR6 has jumped $4500 to $47,990 Among the standard fare is seven airbags (including a driver's knee air bag), 16in alloy wheels (17in for the rest of the range), dual zone climate control, a reversing camera, a splitfold rear seat and a full-sized spare tyre.Toyota is claiming a price advantage of as much as $3500 over the Blue Oval and the Red Lion models.

Leather trim can be added to the AT-X for $1500 and 17in alloy wheels are on offer for an extra $500. The Prodigy, Sportivo SX and ZR6 can be optioned up with a sun roof for $1950

TECHNOLOGY

The variable-valve quad-cam V6 has unchanged outputs of 200kW and 336Nm (on 91RON fuel), but fuel consumption has been reduced by six per cent to 9.3 litres/100km and emissions have dropped by almost eight per cent to 215g/km.

That's thanks in part to shedding 55kg in weight but more so thanks to the smarter six-speed automatic and changes to the engine internals for reduced friction and the intake system. The Aurion also utilises a new column-mounted electric power steering system that - along with the suspension and several of the car's electronic systems - have been tuned by local Toyota engineering staff to better suit local tastes.

DESIGN

Not the most adventurous part of Toyota's regime, but the new Aurion is not unattractive - but it's no pin-up. That said, it's not offensive either, and it hides its dimensions - the car doesn't take up a great deal more roadspace but interior room has been improved by better design features, scrimping a few millimetres more head and knee room in the rear.

The driving position (electrically-adjustable range-wide) has also been improved and the instruments have also been upgraded along the Lexus Optitron lines. The front occupants benefit from the extra length in base and backrest, with the Sportivo models benefitting from extra lateral support that befits the handling bias of the two Sportivo variants.

In contrast to many nerw models, Toyota has managed to slim down the A and B pillars, the former being of great value in terms of driver vision. The boot - which can be expanded by splitfold rear seat backrests - can swallow 515 litres of cargo, according to Toyota, which pips the two main large sedans from Ford and Holden.

SAFETY

The Aurion has only recently been bestowed a five-star ranking from ANCAP, thanks to the safety features list of seven airbags, stability control, a reversing camera, auto-dipping high-beam (on the upper models), anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist.

There's also a brake-override function that will give priority to the stopping system if the brake and accelerator pedals are pressed at the same time. The Prodigy, Presara and both Sportivo models also have front and rear parking sensors.

DRIVING

There's much to like about the enthusiasm from those who work for Toyota, pushing the line about emotional aspects of the product. It's a tough sell, as the styling is inoffensive and uninspiring, but it's not going to bother the "experienced" drivers who end up shelling out for the new large V6 sedan.

What the asking price gets is a well-equipped, comfortable and capable sedan - while the V6 is unchanged, the clever automatic makes good use of the outputs. The power delivery is smooth and linear, but above all else is very quiet - Lexus-like in its level of noise suppression - with only wind noise prevalent at cruising speeds.

There's punch on offer for overtaking as well but the new Aurion has a better feel for the road, sitting solidly on the road with ruining the ride quality. What will also impress is improved composure when driving more enthusiastically, with the electric power steering offering reasonable weight and assistance.

The Australian Toyota engineering team's influence in the steering and suspension is apparent and the work completed by the local team should be viewed as valuable. That said, it's not the best helm for supplying a stack of feel, but we'll reserve judgement for the Sportivo models, havnig only sampled the AT-X entry-level and Presara flagship.

Cabin and cargo space for four adults is ample and the features list - which includes blind-spot monitoring, high-beam assist and JBL digital sound on the top-spec model - will score points with buyers. The woodgrain look trim bits detract from what is otherwise a quality cabin.

It's a quality car, with a solid feel to its interior and more-than-respectable road manners - time will tell of the styling (and the driven front wheels) find favour with Australian large car buyers.