Review: Toyota XV50 Aurion (2012-17)

Review: Toyota XV50.I Aurion (2012-15)

Overview

Released in April 2012, the Toyota XV50 Aurion was a large, front-wheel drive sedan. Manufactured in Altona, Victoria, the Toyota XV50 Aurion was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine that was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. As per the table below, the XV50 Aurion range consisted of five variants: AT-X, Prodigy, Sportivo SX-6, Sportivo ZR-6 and Presara.

2GR-FE V6 engine

The 3.5-litre 2GR-FE V6 engine had an aluminium block and cylinder head, double overhead camshafts per cylinder bank (chain-driven), roller rockers, four valves per cylinder, variable inlet and exhaust valve timing (Toyota’s ‘dual VVT-i’), an Acoustic Control Induction System (ACIS) which increased the length of the induction tract for low-rev torque and shortened the tract for top-end power and a compression ratio of 10.8:1.

Over the combined ADR 81/02 test cycle, the XV50 Aurion achieved fuel economy of 9.3 litres per 100 km.

Dimensions and body

Compared to the Toyota XV40 Aurion , the XV50 Aurion was 10 mm longer (at 4835 mm) and 5 mm wider (1825 mm), though its wheelbase and height were unchanged (2775 mm and 1470 mm, respectively); kerb mass was also reduced by at least 55 kg for each variant. Toyota also claimed that the XV50 Aurion was more refined than its predecessor due to its increased body rigidity, acoustic glass windscreen, three-layer construction of the firewall insulation, reduced panel gaps (down from 5 mm to 3.5 mm) and new dampers with reduced internal friction and increased high-speed rebound damping.

Steering and suspension

The XV50 Aurion had electric power-assisted steering, coil-over suspension with MacPherson struts front and rear, with L-shaped lower arms at the front and dual transverse links at the rear.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Toyota XV50 Aurion included dual front airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, front side airbags, full-length curtain airbags, ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.

The Aurion Presara and Sportivo ZR6 variants were further equipped with a blind spot monitoring system which activated when the vehicle exceeded 40 km/h and could detect a maximum relative speed difference of 28 km/h. These variants were also fitted with directional, high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights with automatically controlled high- and low-beam.

Brakes

The Toyota XV50 Aurion had 296 mm by 28 mm ventilated front brake discs and 286 mm by 10 mm solid rear discs.

ANCAP crash testing

In ANCAP crash testing , the Toyota XV50 Aurion received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 36.59 out of 37. In the offset crash test, there was only a slight risk of serious lower leg injury for the front occupants. In the side impact and pole tests, however, maximum points were awarded.

Features: Aurion AT-X, Prodigy and Presara

Standard features for the Toyota Aurion AT-X included 16-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels with 215/60 R16 Michelin tyres, a six speaker sound system with a CD player, MP3-compatibility, auxiliary inputs (3.5mm/USB/iPod), 6.1-inch touch-screen and Bluetooth audio streaming, dual-zone climate control air conditioning, a power adjustable driver’s seat, cruise control with speed alert, automatic headlights, a reversing camera, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity, 60/40 split and folding rear seats, remote central locking, a tilt and reach adjustable steering wheel, courtesy lamps, trip computer, 12 volt power outlet, an alarm and immobiliser.

The Aurion Prodigy was further equipped with 17-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels with 215/55 R17 Bridgestone tyres, a power adjustable front passenger seat, front fog lights, leather seat trim, front and rear parking sensors, a proximity key, leather-wrapped steering wheel, driver’s seat and mirror memory settings, automatically dipping door mirrors when reversing, a powered rear sunshade and an electrochromatic rear view mirror.

The range-topping Aurion Presara was distinguished by its ten speaker JBL sound system with a seven-inch display, digital radio (DAB+), satellite navigation with live traffic updates, park assist display, power-operated moonroof and woodgrain interior trim (for the instrument panel, door trims and gear shifter area).

Features: Aurion Sportivo SX6 and Sportivo ZR6

Compared to AT-X, the Aurion Sportivo SX6 was further equipped with 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with sports suspension and 215/55 R17 Bridgestone tyres, contoured front sports seats, a power adjustable front passenger seat, front fog lights, a proximity key and steering wheel gearshift paddles.

Visually, the Sportivo variants could be identified by their front and rear spoilers and rear diffuser; inside, there was a three-spoke steering wheel. The Sportivo variants also had ‘Drive’ and ‘Sport’ modes for the automatic transmission – in ‘Sport’ mode, the transmission provided faster upshifts and rev-matched throttle-blipping for downshifts.

The Aurion Sportivo ZR6 was further equipped with a ten speaker JBL sound system with a seven-inch display, digital radio (DAB+), satellite navigation with live traffic updates, a power adjustable front passenger seat, two-tone leather seats, rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, a park assist display, automatically dipping door mirrors when reversing, driver’s seat and mirror memory settings and an electrochromatic rear view mirror.

2012 Aurion Touring Edition

In September 2012, 1500 limited-run Touring Editions were released. Compared to the AT-X variants, the Touring Editions could be identified by their 17-inch sports alloy wheels, front fog lights, sports grilles, rear spoilers and ‘SE’ badges. Inside, the Aurion Touring featured a premium steering wheel (with audio controls) and sports pedals.

Brochures

• Brochure: Toyota XV50 Aurion Touring (November 2012)
• Brochure: Toyota XV50 Aurion (May 2014)

Related links

• Press Kit: Toyota XV50 Aurion (April 2012)

Review: Toyota XV50.II Aurion (2015-17)

Overview

Released in May 2015, the Toyota XV50 Series II (XV50.II) Aurion introduced a revised range as the Prodigy variant was discontinued and the Sportivo SX-6 and ZR-6 were replaced by a single Sportivo variant.

The XV50.II Aurion could be identified by its new headlights, grille and alloy wheel designs; the Aurion Sportivo was fitted with a revised bodykit which included a lower chin spoiler and blacked-out fog lamp bezels. Beyond this,

• The Aurion AT-X had a black mesh-type grille, body-coloured head board and body coloured rear garnish (previously chrome); and,
• The Aurion Presara had a premium grille that was flanked by LED headlamps, LED fog lamps and a body-coloured lip spoiler.

As standard, the XV50.II Aurion had a dual-dial Optitron instrument clusters with 4.2-inch colour thin-film transistor (TFT) multi-information display (MID). Chrome-plated rings surrounded the dials which featured blue and white illumination.

Like the XV50.II Camry, the XV50.II Aurion was fitted with a ‘preload’ differential which had a conical spring between the differential case and the side gear. The conical spring applied ‘preload’ in the differential case during light loads and at low differential revolutions, providing torque to limit the speed difference between the driven wheels. According to Toyota, the differential provided smoother acceleration from rest, enhanced steering feel and greater straight-line stability on rough surfaces.

Safety equipment

Compared to its XV50.I predecessor, standard safety equipment was unchanged. For the XV50.II Aurion Presara, however, standard safety equipment was extended to include:

• Lane departure alert: used a windscreen mounted camera to monitor lane markings and detect if the vehicle was about to deviate from its lane without prior activation of the indicators. If so, a warning tone would sound and a message would appear on the multi-information display screen; and,
• Rear cross traffic alert: used the rear radar sensors to detect approaching traffic that may cross the vehicle’s path as it reversed out of a parking space.

From June 2016, the Toyota Aurion Sportivo was also fitted with lane departure alert and rear cross traffic alert.

Features: Aurion AT-X, Sportivo and Presara

Standard features for the XV50.II Aurion were extended to include a 4.2-inch colour multi-information display, Toyota connected mobility system, front and rear parking sensors, a proximity key for keyless entry and push-button start, Optitron instrumentation,

Relative to the XV50.I Sportivo SX6, the XV50.II Aurion Sportivo was fitted 18-inch five-spoke alloy wheels with a gloss black finish, sports suspension, voice recognition and a rear sunshade. For the XV50.II Aurion Sportivo, the electric power-steering map and front shock absorbers were tuned by Toyota Australia’s local engineers.

Standard features for the Aurion Presara were extended to include 17-inch 15-spoke alloy wheels, LED headlights with auto high-beam and LED fog lights and front seat memory settings. The XV50.II Aurion Presara was available with black or ivory leather-accented trim.

June 2016 update

In June 2016, standard features for the Toyota Aurion AT-X were extended to include 17-inch ten-spoke alloy wheels with 215/55 R17 tyres, and a premium steering wheel (four-spoke) and gear shift lever. Furthermore, all Toyota Aurion vehicles were fitted with rear-seat ISOFIX attachment points for child safety seats.

Standard features for the Toyota Aurion Sportivo were also extended to include a JBL sound system with ten speakers, digital radio tuner (DAB+), satellite navigation with seven-inch touch screen and real-time traffic updates, Toyota Link connected mobility, leather-accented seats, a power adjustable driver’s seat with two memory positions, LED headlights, LED fog lights, power-operated rear window sunshade. Visually, the post-June 2016 Toyota Aurion Sportivo could be identified by its black 18-inch alloy wheels, while a new exterior paint colour, Cherry, was also introduced.

Brochure

• Brochure: Toyota XV50.II Aurion (May 2015)

Related links

• Press Kit: Toyota XV50.II Aurion (May 2015)
• Toyota Australia: Toyota Aurion
• Wikipedia.org: Toyota XV50 Aurion