First drive: Toyota Aurion

The changes are subtle, but the Japanese car maker's new Commodore rival does little wrong.

Toyota isn't backing away from a fight.

Not only has it launched its updated Aurion large car despite a decline in demand for big sedans, it's launched the car on the challenging roads around Adelaide. The same roads used for the Classic Adelaide rally.

These roads are the kind that are best reserved for something agile, dynamic and sporty; three words not usually associated with the Aurion.

Guiding the Aurion up and down the snaking black top that criss-crosses the Adelaide Hills and wine region reveals a few surprises.

None of them relate to sporting prowess, but that's not what the Aurion is about. Toyota has focused on improving the comfort and luxury feeling in the Aurion and that does hit home.

The first change to the Aurion since it was originally launched in 2006 it is hardly a major redesign. Instead, the bulk of the changes are small ones that add up to a bigger end product.

Yes, there is a new look thanks to restyled front and rear bumpers, but the devil is in the detail with the Aurion.

Details like new carpets that reduce cabin noise, a repositioned sun shade for better forward visibility and a reshaped front bumper to cut wind noise.

The most substantial mechanical changes are the switch from hydraulic to electric steering and new shock absorbers. Those changes not only help differentiate it from the old Aurion but also from the new Camry; which is effectively the same car but with a four-cylinder engine.

The electric steering has allowed Toyota to give it a different feel for the luxury biased models (Prodigy and Presara) compared to the Sportivo models.

It's part of a big push by Toyota to try and lure more private buyers to the Aurion by giving it more "emotional appeal."

The Sportivo models in particular aren't aimed at fleets with what look like HSV-style bodykits making it one of the most aggressive looking Toyotas; even if the design is a love-it-or-hate-it proposition.

The engine and transmission are directly carried over from the old model, with only some minor tweaking to reduce fuel consumption from 9.9-litre per 100km to 9.3L/100km. Power and torque remain unchanged at 200kW and 336Nm; Toyota claims it doesn't see the need for any more grunt, and based on our drive around Adelaide it's hard to disagree.

The changes to the suspension don't feel significant, which again, is no bad thing. It may lack the dynamic ability of the other locally-made six-cylinder sedans when the going gets twisty, but the Aurion is a comfortable car around town and in the country; in other words well suited to Australian conditions.

The interior is slightly different from the new Camry, but thanks to carryover of the same buttons and controls, it takes direct comparison to notice the changes.

It remains a comfortable place to be and thanks to changes to the position of the accelerator, there is now more adjustment for the driver to get comfortable.

Just like the Camry there is more room in the back thanks to a redesigned roofline for better headroom and reshaped seats to create more space for legs.

There is also a 60/40 split-fold rear seat to give the Aurion more scope for carrying bigger loads.

The standard equipment list is now more generous with the addition of a reversing camera across the range. Also included as standard are alloy wheels, including a full-sized spare alloy in the 515-litre boot, dual-zone airconditioning, iPod integrated display sound system and dual exhaust tips.

On the safety front the Aurion becomes the first locally-made large car to offer a driver's knee airbag as standard across the range; one of seven airbags.

The entry-level AT-X, which is primarily aimed at fleet buyers, has had a $500 price increase; but Toyota is quick to point out that a reversing camera and display audio were a $500 option on the old model.

Stepping up from the AT-X to the Prodigy adds a "premium" four-spoke steering wheel, leather trim accents, 17-inch alloys, rain-sensing wipers, exterior mirrors that dip when reversing, front and rear parking sensors and free metallic paint.

The range-topping Presara adds adaptive headlights, automatic high beam dip, JBL stereo system, seven-inch colour touchscreen, digital radio and satellite navigation with live traffic updates.

The first Sportivo model, the SX6, adds sports-tuned suspension, 17-inch alloys, a bodykit including a rear wing, fog lights and metallic paint over the AT-X. It also gains steering wheel-mounted paddle gear shifts, a three-spoke steering wheel and sports seats inside. As with the AT-X it has also copped a $500 price increase.

The Sportivo ZR6 gains adaptive headlights with auto beam hip, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, JBL premium audio systems, seven-inch touchscreen, digital radio, satellite navigation with live traffic updates and leather accented trim.

Overall the new Aurion is an improvement - but not a drastic one - over the old model. It may not win any rallies but it is remains a comfortable, practical family car at home on Australian roads.

Whether or not that is enough to woo new buyers to not only the large car segment but away from the Ford and Holden competition remains to be seen.

Toyota Aurion
On sale: April 2012
Model line-up
AT-X: $36,490 ($500 increase)
Sportivo SX6: $40,990 ($500 increase)
Prodigy: $41,490
Sportivo ZR6: $47,990
Presara: $49,990

Power and Torque
3.5-litre V6 petrol:
200kW/336Nm (unchanged)

Fuel consumption/emissions:
All models: Down by 6 per cent (9.3L/100km)/Down 8 per cent (215g/km CO2)

What's new:

Engine: The engine is carried over from the previous model with no change to the power and torque. But it is 6 per cent more fuel efficient, dropping from 9.9L/100km to 9.3, and produces fewer CO2 emissions, cut by eight per cent to 215g/km.

Transmission: Carried over from the old model but the Sportivo models get paddle-shifters on the steering wheel.

Inside: Toyota is pitching the Aurion as an "affordable luxury car" so has focused on improving the ride comfort. Although it is new for the Aurion model, the cabin is shared with the recently updated Camry. The cabin is reportedly 10 per cent quieter; this is thanks to lots of little details including new carpet and reshaping the bumpers and side mirrors. There is also more adjustment for the driver to get comfortable. The rear passengers also get more space with a redesigned roof and seats for better head and legroom.

Outside: Arguably the biggest change for the new Aurion. Again, much is carried over from the re-designed Camry, but the Aurion gets new front and rear bumpers to help it look different from its four-cylinder sibling. The Sportivo models get a much more aggressive bumper treatment designed to make it more competitive with the Holden and Ford performance models. By the tape it measures 5mm wider, the luxury models are 10mm longer and the Sportivo models are 30mm longer.

Underneath: New Aurion is at least 55kg lighter thanks to more use of high-strength steel. There is a new electric steering and new brake system that Toyota claims gives better driving feel. The Sportivo models get a unique steering set-up for even more driver feedback. The suspension has new shock absorbers that have been tuned for Australian conditions.

What's missing: No diesel engine or manual transmission. No wagon variant.