Car testers for Australia’s Automotive Clubs (NRMA, RACQ, RACV etc) are tough nuts to crack, so in naming the Toyota Aurion as ‘Australia’s Best Large Car’ in the annual “Australia’s Best Cars Awards” three times (2006, 2007 and last year) they have given a real accolade to Toyota’s locally-manufactured V6 sedan.

Deservedly so as the Aurion is a star, built in both right and left-hand drive versions at Toyota’s Altona, Victoria plant and exported in large numbers.

What You Get

Car Showroom has just put the entry-level Aurion – the AT-X - though our test regime. Priced at $35,490, the AT-X undercuts rival Commodore and Falcon models in price, but in no way short-changes in standard equipment. 

The AT-X was a big winner from the mid-life styling changes introduced late last year, gaining 10-spoke 16-inch alloy wheels as well as the generic enhancements for the front and rear plus the cleaner-look side profile.

Powered by Toyota’s smooth 3.5-litre quad-cam V6 and boasting a five-star ANCAP crash rating, the Aurion is big on space – the 504 litre boot proved very handy when we loaded-up the family for a day trip.

Under The Hood

With 200kW of power at 6200rpm and 336Nm of torque at 4,700rpm, the Aurion is more than a match for the Holden and Ford sixes.

It’s a high-tech powerplant with dual variable valve timing (inlet across a range of 40 degrees exhaust over a range of 35 degrees) for better throttle response, reduced fuel consumption and the efficient combustion reduces exhaust emissions. 

Fuel economy is rated at 9.9l/100kms.

Drive is to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission with electronic artificial intelligence which monitors throttle opening, vehicle and engine speed, brake signal and accelerator pedal operation to adjust the shift pattern to suit conditions and driver behavior. Toyota says reduced ‘gear hunting’ when traveling uphill is one benefit of this advanced transmission.

The Interior

Toyota introduced some new interior colors and audio systems – including a standard Bluetooth hand-free telephone kit – as part Aurion’s recent mid-life facelift.

And while we tested the AT-X, it certainly didn’t look or feel ‘entry level’ when you climbed inside. The interior space was immediately noticeable when establishing your driving position – the front seat offer 255mm of fore/aft adjustment and the steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach.

Similar story in the rear where the doors have noticeably wide openings for easy installation of child seats and boosters. 

All seats felt generous in their space and nicely supportive.

AT-X comes with grey cloth trim and metallic highlights (up market models score wood grain).

Instrumentation is a conventional two-dial layout and the facelift provided new instrument lighting an extra interior storage boxes.

Audio systems were upgraded in the recent facelift – to include Bluetooth hands-free telephone and a 3.5mm auxiliary input (in the front center console box). AT-X model has a single CD, six-speaker system with ‘psychoacoustics technology’ (Toyota says this is the subjective effect of sound on people who hear it and is designed to simulate strong bass playback).

Exterior & Styling

Getting the Aurion’s looks just right is a balancing act. While we think of this Toyota as being ‘All-Aussie’, in fact Aurion export sales - primarily in the UAE – are crucial to Toyota Australia’s business plan and it is also manufactured by Toyota subsidiaries in China, Taiwan and Thailand. 

While cumulatively subtle, the styling changes included in Aurion’s mid-life facelift were quite pronounced and included a wider, trapezoid shaped lower grille, twin ‘C’-shaped headlight pockets and parallelogram diffused LED taillights.

Of course, the Aurion is a ‘no-risk’ design created to appeal to its known market demographics. A few years down the track, it still does not offend.

On The Road

A ‘World Car’ for Toyota, very much a product of Australia, carrying a ‘five star’ ANCAP safety rating and ‘four star’ green vehicle guide ranking…well it’s hard to not feel some local pride when driving an Aurion. This high tech Toyota ranks alongside the new Hybrid Camry in giving a strong endorsement to Australia’s capabilities as a vehicle manufacturing country. 

On the road Aurion is ridiculously refined and quiet – even at speed its levels of interior noise (NVH, engine, transmission and wind) are so low they match luxury European sedans.

Likewise, ride is compliant and luxurious in most circumstances.

It’s clear the spring and damper rates have been fine-tuned to Australian conditions as the Aurion was first rate over all of our test roads (including Melbourne’s tram/train track crossings).

Challenges

We did deduct some points from the Aurion for its performance over our high-speed test route. At the extreme limit, the large Toyota suffers from the weight of that V6 over the front end and the suspension rebound is a tad too soft to be called ‘sporty’. 

Verdict

Even if you’re the ‘12th Man’, just wearing the baggy green means you’re one of the world’s great cricketers. So it is with the AT-X…sure it’s the entry level, but being an Aurion it just has to be good, and it is.

Interior space, build quality and value for money all come into the picture in this market segment and the Aurion AT-X measures-up however you look at it.

Thumbs-up:

Smooth V6; lots of kit; great refinement; beautifully built

Thumbs-down:

Styling could be sharper; ride too ‘doughy’ at high speeds