2007 Toyota Aurion Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 1999, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2015 Toyota Camry & Aurion as a used buy.

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the used 1999-2014 Toyota Camry and Aurion.

The Toyota’s Camry and Aurion are built in Melbourne and have many changes from the original Japanese design to suit them to our local driving conditions and Australian drivers’ tastes.

TOYOTA threatened to enter the big-six market for many years before it took the plunge with the Aurion.  There was the Lexcen-badged Commodore and when that failed they launched the bland Avalon, and when that did nothing to excite the masses they launched the Aurion.The Aurion presented something a little different in the segment that had been dominated by Holden and Ford for many years and enough buyers signed up for Toyota to claim it as a success.MODEL WATCHTHE pitch for the Aurion was good; it had class-leading power and economy, and better value for money.  The Aurion shared its mechanical package with the Camry, but Toyota's engineers worked hard to differentiate it from its sibling.It was given a more aggressive look, while the cabin got new seats, a revised dash and dials, and a large centre console.  The 3.5-litre V6 boasted 204kW at 6200 revs and 336Nm at 4700 revs, which was more than the Falcon or Commodore could muster at the time. There was a six-speed auto transmission with touch-change manual shifting and intelligent auto operation.The final drive was through the front wheels, something Aussies had spurned in their big cars in the past, but Toyota was confident those fears had long since faded.  There were five models in total, split into two groups. On one side were the sporty models, including the Sportivo, while on the other were the luxury variants, including the Presara.ON THE ROADWITH 200kW-plus on tap there was no shortage of zip with the Aurion. It jumped out of the blocks and delivered through the rev range. The comfortable ride was matched by supportive seats and responsive handling. There was a lot to like about the Aurion.IN THE SHOPOVERALL the Aurion lives up to Toyota's reputation for quality and reliability, it is a generally sound car that gives little trouble. There have been some reports of piston slap and complaints of the intermediate steering shaft coming loose have been heard.IN A CRUNCHTHE Aurion had a comprehensive active and passive safety package. It had anti-skid braking, electronic brakeforce distribution, traction and stability control. On the passive side it had front airbags for the driver and passenger, as well as side and head airbags.ANCAP rated the Aurion four stars.AT THE PUMPTOYOTA claimed an impressive 9.9 litres/100km for its new big car, which is being borne out in service. Owners report 8.5-9.9 litres/100km around town. To get the best out of it the Aurion should be run on 95-octane premium unleaded.THE BOTTOM LINEGOOD all-round family car with good performance and economy, comprehensive safety package, and Toyota build quality.80/100LOOK FORBig-car roominessClass-leading performanceGood fuel economyGenerally reliableFor ANCAP vehicle safetyratings, visit howsafeisyourcar.com.au

When you are driving one of only six cars of its kind on Australian roads there is a fair chance you are going to get noticed.It starts with the occasional turn of a head, other drivers pulling up alongside at the lights for a double take and people winding down their windows for a closer inspection. It tops out with people taking photos.None of them seemed to be quite sure what the car was.That's how it was with our 10-day test drive of the Toyota TRD Aurion, the first high-spec hot-performance version of the Toyota family sedan.The car sits astride 19-inch alloys that give it a mean and eager stance.So much so that once road grime and brake dust hide their gleam you feel obliged to wash them to restore the appeal. The TRD's uniqueness was heightened days after our test finished when every car (all six of them) was recalled because of engine problems in one.Toyota has restarted sales after testing showed there was a problem with that one car being over-revved.For all Toyota Australia's desires to match Holden and Ford's high-performance vehicle divisions in producing a top-end performance car they have created a stylish, sporty, safe and comfortable sedan.It borders on saloon more than sedan with a feel, particularly the interior, being more Statesman than HSV Clubsport.It comes in two levels of trim. The 3500S for sport is priced at $56,990, below the luxury car tax threshold.It has a special TRD brake package and sports suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, special bumpers and side skirts, sports seats and alloy pedals among its standard features.I tested the 3500SL, for sports luxury, which is priced at $61,500.It adds a computerised start button and car entry, a full leather interior, parking sensors, dual-zone airconditioning, a six-way front passenger seat to complement the driver's seat plus branded floor mats. Both models share the 241kW Eaton supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine and both have an automatic six-speed box.Engine power is up some 41kW from the top-spec Aurion; a 20 per cent increase which is noticeable and enjoyable. Acceleration response is impressive, the low-down torque derived through the supercharger gets things moving swiftly.Toyota says it referenced its research into Australian driving habits when designing the car. It makes for interesting reading. It found Australian drivers want to accelerate briskly to the speed limit like Americans. But they also want to brake late into corners and maintain corner speed like European drivers.Toyota quotes 6.1 seconds for rushing from standing to 100km/h. When the pedal is down you certainly notice the effect.As well as having plenty of go, our test model stood out in black (Toyota calls it Ink) setting off its large, shiny metal wheels. Well, until it rained, that is. The black got very dirty and road grime and brake dust discoloured the large wheels.Nothing a wash can't fix but the lesson is learned; black cars need more maintenance.The car also comes in a far-easier-to-keep-clean silver.The interior controls were well laid out and easy to read. Pressing a simple display button shows fuel economy average (which averaged 9.5 litres per 100km on test), how many kilometres were left to empty and the regular trip meter.The mauve (Toyota calls it plum) and black seats are comfortable enough with the driver's seat being fully power-operated.Missing inside though was something that should be mandatory in a $60,000 car; satellite navigation. Portable GPS units and maps are OK, but the price tag demands it should be a fixture rather than an optional extra.Behind the grumbling driver there was plenty of room for the two rear seat passengers.We packed the boot with enough luggage for a weekend away for four and there was plenty of room to do it.Toyota has only given mild badge treatment to differentiate the car from your common garden-variety Aurion. If anything, the badge looks ordinary.Holden and Fords of this ilk boast a V8 rumble but instead the V6 TRD has more of a surging sound.It suggests something good is happening, at a different aural level.One pleasing aspect was being able to control the harping and beeping reverse-parking sound. It seems particularly loud but the annoyance was overcome when I found the switch to turn it off.Rear visibility is quite reasonable so the sensors are not an essential requirement. However, at least they are available for parking in tight or dark spots.One problem with the car came during a weekend trip when a sensor came on indicating there was a drama with the electronic vehicle stability control. While the light was annoying, it did not affect the car's performance.And so the obvious question is: Who will buy this car? Can Toyota create a new niche of buyer for what is undoubtedly a good car that some see as a luxury, sporty six-cylinder Camry costing $60,000?Will Ford and Holden V8 fans be persuaded to move into a high-spec V6 boasting Toyota's noted reliability (despite the initial engine hiccup) or will buyers of hot-performance fours and sixes, such as the VW Golf R32, Subaru WRX STi or even the Mitsubishi Evo, try a Toyota?Or will they gain people who were already planning to buy the top-end spec Aurion or Camry Sportivo?It's a difficult question as the TRD Aurion doesn't sit in either camp.The TRD Aurion isn't a rear-wheel-drive V8, but it does have their solid, luxury saloon feel. It isn't a screaming hot four but it does have good fuel economy and looks good.Toyota's marketing say the buyers will be performance enthusiasts.They are likely to be family men aged between 35 and 50 with average yearly incomes of $105,000, a quarter will earn more than $125,000. The bottom lineToyota earns praise for a performance car that delivers fuel economy with good looks and street cred. If you're in the market for a high-performance car would you purchase the TRD Aurion or would you stick with HSV or FPV?Snapshot Toyota TRD Aurionprice: $56,990 (3500S), $61,500 (3500SL tested)engine: 3.5L/V6 supercharged, 235kW/400Nmtransmission: 6-speed automatic, front-wheel-driveThe rivalsSubaru Liberty STiPrice: $56,990Engine: 2.5L/4-cyl turbo 206kW/392NmTransmission: 6-speed manual0-100km/h: 5.8secs VW Golf R32 V6Price: from $54,990Engine: 3.2L/V6 184kW/320NmTransmission: 6-speed manual or DSG0-100km/h: 6.2secs (m), 6.5secs (DSG) HSV Clubsport R8Price: from $62,890Engine: 6.0L/V8 307kW/550NmTransmission: 6-speed automatic, 6-speed manual0-100km/h: 4.9secs (man), 5.0secs (a) 

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.

Strip off the cardigan, take the bowls hats off the rear parcel shelf and strap yourself in. The Aurion is about to lose the rep-mobile tag and grow a whole new horde of sub-40-year-old fans or so Toyota hopes, with the supercharged TRD Aurion the fastest Toyota ever sold here.There's a chunk of the car-buying public who won't buy anything else except a Toyota - about 13 per cent, according to the company's market research.Without alienating that lot and acknowledging there are plenty who will never buy one, Toyota wants to have a crack at the 40-odd per cent who might, but aren't, laying down dollars for the Toyota badge.The TRD brand, now heavily linked with the company's motorsport activity, is what it hopes will bring some more into the fold.The TRD flagship is the Aurion, packing a supercharged V6 wallop and taut underpinnings for drivers looking for useful ability from A to B and for the long way home.The venture will make money as nothing at Toyota gets a green light now unless it has black numbers with it.But the TRD folks say they're happy to provide a 'halo' car for the mainstream range at 26 (soon to be 41) dealers around Australia. CMI Toyota in Adelaide is your only port of call for the TRD range, which will include the TRD Hilux in November.The SX6-based 3500S will come in well under $60,000 and the ZR6-based SL should be sub-$65,000.Without the aid of AWD, it was deemed too expensive and a difficult engineering task, the 20kg-heavier TRD version of the Aurion sprints to 100km/h in 6.1 seconds, with a 14.2 second claim for a 400m dash. Toyota says that's faster than both the Subaru Liberty GT and Mazda6 MPS.Toyota says it hasn't tried to make a HSV beater with the new TRD Aurion. Rather, it wanted a more sophisticated vehicle. It has, to a large extent, succeeded the TRD looks purposeful without screaming for attention.Our first drive came as the Australian Rally Championship prepared to hit the forests of Mt Crawford earlier this month.We were privvy to a pre-launch drive of the more powerful Aurion and chose to wind our way up through the Adelaide Hills, taking a scenic route to the service park.The suspension is much firmer, tauter and more direct, with a reduction in ride comfort that is still liveable. Body control is good, with little roll during fast cornering the wide, grippy, 35-profile rubber only scrubbing and running wide under duress.The 241kW and 400Nm from the supercharged V6 can easily break traction and wake the stability control system up, but torque steer is not something of great concern on dry surfaces. There's tugging at the wheel but it's less than expected given the outputs.There's none of the lane-change torque steer that was found in some older front-wheel-drive performance machinery, which had less power and torque than the Aurion.The stability control is not yet switchable but seems to do a reasonable job without being overly intrusive.The TRD boffins say the upgraded suspension has given the car more ability and it is less likely to resort to electronic interference to keep things tidy.The cabin gets sporty-looking leather/alcantara pews (full leather in the up-spec SL) and a re-trimmed sports steering wheel.There's a bit of feel in the helm and the overall impression is one of thorough engineering and solid build quality, not a surprise given the brand.It's quiet, too, with the supercharger making low-key noises despite propelling the large sedan in a deceptively quick manner.The TRD Aurion's exhaust system is designed by Tenneco in South Australia, which makes some of the right noises with droning at speed.The claimed ADR figure is 10.9l/100km and by the end of the day's run through the Hills and back down the highway from Gawler, the trip computer had risen to the mid-teens but on the base-model at the end of the day was showing 11l/100km.The TRD Aurion looks a little angry, no mean feat given the donor car's conservative exterior and can certainly supply pace and even poise on a favourite back road, but at a decent price hike over the standard car.It's a shame Mitsubishi has knocked the hot Ralliart version of the 380 on the head because it would have been an interesting duel.

After the embarrassing history of its Avalon, Toyota's previous attempt at being taken seriously by family-car buyers in Australia, the Toyota Aurion is finally making a name for itself.