2012 Toyota Aurion Reviews

Five years is a long time in the car industry long enough for an entire market sector to plummet from second to seventh in sales. That's what happened to the large car market. It was just below small cars in 2006, and is now second last.But with around 80,000 sales a year, it's still worth fighting for, and that's what Toyota has done with its just-refurbished Aurion.WHAT'S NEWThe 200kW/336 3.5litre V6 remains unchanged in output from last year, but has been tweaked for extra efficiency. Average consumption is 6per cent better at 9.3litres/100km, from 9.9. It's a bit cleaner too, its 215g/km CO2 emissions eight per cent down. The smooth six-speed transmission is also a carry-over, though the brace of Sportivo models gain steering wheel paddle shifts. Extensive local development, including the new electric steering, has resulted in better ride and handling.Externally, the second generation Aurion has had a mild style upgrade with new front and rear bumpers and the Sportivos look a little angrier with what Toyota calls "aggressive, startling and confronting" nose, tail and bumper treatment to attract sports-oriented folk. The cars are a tad longer, the AT-X, Prodigy and Presara by 10mm and the two Sportivos by 30mm. But despite the fractional increase in length, the premium Toyota sedans are 55kg lighter. Inside, the dash and trim have had a brush-up, the cabin is quieter and reshaped seats and roof lining have added passenger space. All models get seven airbags, seatbelt warnings, dual zone auto climate control, reversing camera, split-fold rear seats, an eco meter and a sound-absorbing layer in the windscreen. All the electronic driver aids are a given, likewise entertainment and communication doofies like Bluetooth, USB, iPod, touch-screen displays and multi-speaker audio systems. One of the best improvements is the thinner windscreen and B-pillars. Some rivals have gone the opposite way to attain five-star crash ratings, but at the expense of impaired visibility, which we reckon is plain stupid. Toyota's engineering has come up with strong, slimline pillars that make a world of difference. Bravo. VALUEThe five Aurions are all under the Luxury Car Tax, starting at $36,490 for the AT-X. The Prodigy and Presara models are $41,490 and $49,990 and Sportivo SX6 costs $40,990. The top-dog Sportivo ZR6 is $47,990.DRIVINGWe squirted an AT-X and a Prodigy (dreadful name) through some of the Classic Adelaide tarmac rally terrain in South Oz  and liked it. We imagine the firmer Sportivos would be even better. But our classy family sedans did a great job in a quiet, composed manner, and on one 100km stretch we saw 8.6litres/100km on our eco meter.When we switched off, we got an #aacexcellent' rating on the dash. What a chest-sweller that was. The V6's output is more than adequate and the power comes through smooth and strong. Great brakes too.VERDICTA quality car, close to Lexus in many respects, that should do a whole lot better in its shrinking category.

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.VALUEToyota 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.TECHNOLOGYAurion 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 modelDESIGNThe 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.SAFETYToyota 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.DRIVINGAt 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.VERDICTThe variety of models on offer and the competitive price packages make the 2012 Toyota Aurion well worth a look.

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.VALUEThe 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 $1950TECHNOLOGYThe 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.DESIGNNot 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.SAFETYThe 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.DRIVINGThere'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.