Large Car Comparison (Ford-Holden-Honda-Toyota)
July 25, 2008 by Paul Maric
Toyota Aurion Presara – David Twomey:
- Introduction
- Ford Falcon G6E
- Holden Commodore Calais V6
- Honda Accord V6 Luxury
- Toyota Aurion Presara
- She Says
- Performance Figures
- Conclusion
Toyota’s Aurion range certainly seeks to play with the big boys and it needs to be said from the start that while the Aurion Presara is the most expensive car in our foursome, it is also smaller than the others.
The feeling of compactness, this is after all a Camry bodyshell, is almost always noticeable and no amount of technology, equipment or refinement will ever make you think this is a trulylarge car.
That said the Toyota is a worthy competitor in this challenge, although one that falls short of the outright competence of the Falcon and the Accord, due in some part to the shortcomings already mentioned.
The Presara is a well-equipped luxury car, offering full-leather upholstery, electric adjustment for the seats, the usual wide range of Toyota luxury items inside, including a full-colour screen that provides a range of information about the car, plus Sat/Nav, a six-stacker CD and climate control air-conditioning.
There’s also front and rear parking sensors, Smart entry and push button start (same as Lexus – so you just need to have the key fob on your person and then hit the start button).
There’s also a host of safety features built into the car and these include; Vehicle Stability control, Traction Control, Anti-Lock Brake System, Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist along Dual front, side and curtain airbags.
Steering is reasonably well weighted although it does feel a little remote and disconnected.
Timber accents dress up the car along with a tasteful blend of reasonable quality plastics, and the switchgear has a quality and function that is flawless. We also liked the Optitron instrument dials which are super bright and legible even in bright sunlight.
With 200kW and a respectable 336Nm of torque in a good-sized five-seater car, the Presara does measure up in the power stakes, no matter which way you dress it up. Its 5kW more than the G6E and the Calais and 2kW less than the Accord but more importantly, it weighs in at 1630kg which is significantly lighter than its rivals.
We doubt it’s something many Toyota owners do but seriously prodding the accelerator pedal won’t push you back in the seat as you might have expected with this much power, but it will get you from 0-100km/h in 6.75 seconds with some degree of urgency.
The muted response is due in part to the fairly average torque figure and the fact the full 336Nm is not available until you hit 4700rpm.
The Aurion’s six-speed automatic gearbox, with sequential shifting available, is smooth and responsive, although it does tend to hunt around a bit when trying to maintain a certain speed under load.
It’s a characteristic common to quite a few multi ratio gearboxes these days, and again, usually due to not enough torque available at some throttle points.
Steering is reasonably well weighted and brake pedal pressure is quite good despite using single piston callipers front and rear and there is a feast of brake assistance acronyms to pull this car up in the shortest possible distance in most conditions.
The Aurion can accommodate five adults, although for comfort we think two in the rear would be the limit, and there’s a tonne of storage space throughout the car with the usual cup holders and hidden compartments front and back.
Toyota has an enviable reputation for reliability and resale value, which is what sells a lot of its cars – rather than that special spark, and the Presara is no different.
If you want the steady reliable solid contender then the Toyota will be your choice, it just won’t have that special spark of excitement that is found in our top two choices.
- Introduction
- Ford Falcon G6E
- Holden Commodore Calais V6
- Honda Accord V6 Luxury
- Toyota Aurion Presara
- She Says
- Performance Figures
- Conclusion
Its no secret TP that youre a wang eater and u get “up dates” from ur daddy. hehe :)
AC COBRA Says:
“Guess Who Aka Magoo, TP, Thomas – Toyoda have supplied among the most boring, bland, awful unreliable cars to have ever graced Australian roads and they still don’t rate highly in Quality / Customer Satisfaction Surveys today.”
J.D POWER Customer Satisfaction Survey 2008
Highest Ranking Nameplate: Lexus
Toyota’s Position = 4
Ford’s Position = 15 (Hard to believe they would continue counting after the first 5, let alone 10)
Highest Ranking Model : Toyota Prius
4th Highest Ranking Model : Toyota Yaris
9th Highest Ranking Model : Toyota Corolla
14th Highest Ranking Model: Toyota Aygo
19th Highest Ranking Model: Toyota Avensis
29th Highest Ranking Model: Ford Fusion (Ford’s Most Satisfying model!!)
Reputation Institue’s Top 1000 Companies on perceptions of trust, esteem, admiration and good feeling.
“More than 60,000 people in 27 countries have anonymously voted Toyota as the world’s most respected company. Scoring 86.53 out of 100 in a survey conducted by New York-based private research and consulting firm Reputation Institute, the Big T came out as number one amongst the world’s top 1,000 companies on perceptions of trust, esteem, admiration and good feeling.” – Caradvice (7/7/08)
Number 1 Respected Company: Toyota
Quterly Reports
Ford USA : 9 Billion Loss
Ford Australia : Loss
Toyota Australia : Record Breaking Profit
Jason,
the Falcon DOES HAVE head protecting side airbags. The airbags in the seats are head and throax airbags. so, according to what u stated:
“This is only performed where a head-protecting side airbag is fitted and gives a good result in the side impact test”
it is eligable for the extra testing.
As Eddy the Expert noted (and as your own photos of the interior display show!) the Calais does not have a ‘mono’ display screen. The general user interface uses two colours (blue and white) but you can set the logo to come on when you turn it on (which is silver and white) so that’s 3 colours to my count (and as Eddy also noted, it’s the same screen used for sat-nav when installed – meaning it is full colour).
I think you should correct your otherwise very interesting comparo.
FG Falcon is the best car ever made in Australia by a fair margine. Commodore, Camry\aurion dont come close to it because it does everything well and looks very stylish unlike the mish mash styling of the VE and Camry\aurion. The best part of it is the overall driving experience because of its wonderfull steering handling and overall refinement. The large car market will come back…….everything in life has ups and downs……Well done Ford on a great car………..I love my FG XR6 and unlike Camry\Aurion and VE drivers I get driving pleasure evry time I drive it !!!!
GUESS WHAT BITCHES… IM BACK, LOL fuk me china, i was just trying to scroll up to find my last comment to see what ur replies were, and seriously it must of took me half a decade to find it, Like fuk u guys seriously have no lives, LIKE FUKN seriously its Sunday, and u guys have been bitching, crying and arguing since 9 am. Give it a rest Some of u morons are complaining about cars that u dnt have, & will never probably own.
GUESS WHO AKA, & TOMAS79, dudes get off the fukn Internet, i mean seriously i would hate to meet u guys in real life, i look right their is a comment by GUESS WHO AKA, & tomas79 like every fukn 10 to 20 minutes, i mean even AC COBRA isnt that bad, sure he is still arguing with u guys but he only replies once every few hours.
In the End i dnt give a shit what u say, But FACT is FACT, and any Car-Enthusiast, or person who has the slightest knowledge about Cars will tell u sure Toyotas may be reliable Cars, but they are not good, Fun cars to Drive. They are just old Tree hugging cars that drive u from A to B, they do not Entertain u, or by anychance make the Journey a fun one.
Sure i might not have a Lamborghini, or a Ferrari, but at least i got a fun Car to drive, a car that i enjoy, a car that looks good, goes hard and does it well.
U see unlike Some of u ppl the Eat,Drink,Breath,& Sleep on this site, i have a life, i dnt sit at home all day arguing about cars, yeah sure i do got a passion for cars, yeah i know a good car from a bad car, i like sharing & expressing my point of view, but thats all i do. I dnt impose it amongst others, i dnt sit here spreading a load of shit, about a car i didnt build, or a car that i will never profit out of.
AC COBRA, dude if u wana continue arguing about this nonsense, good for u, but thats upto u.
& as for the rest of u, unlike some of u that live on this site, im old enough to drive, & ive owned & driven all different kinds of cars.
Now im gona finish off my saying this, and most of this isnt dribble that some of u ppl say, If a Car sells it doesn’t mean its a good car, (for instance take Lamborghini & Ferrari Best cars how come they dnt sell ai lol), & a Toyota isn’t a Car for a Car Enthusiast, nor are they good, fun, enjoyable sporty cars.
Now ill see u at the lights, so bringe ur RICER’s, ur tree hugging Corrollas, & Priuses & Ill SHOW U WHAT V8 Muscle Can do. LOL
Make dem japs look like SHIT ON A STICK, and make them move like a BOX with 4 WHEELS.
LATERS LADIES, ill cya soon, probably on another article where the Japs get their asses kicked again
Last comment from me too. Sheesh, I can’t believe the amount of comments in here. It was 253 last time I was in here!!!
I see some posts have been trying to push the loss at Ford. Doesn’t anyone realise they would have spent bigtime on getting the development of the FG in that tax year ? Basically you should look at what happens from 08/09 to gauge their profitability. I mean remember Holden spent $1 Billion on the VE and I am sure they didn’t return a profit in the year they released it either depending when the release date actually was. Ford released theirs towards the end of the tax year so you would expect big research and development costs causing that loss. Seems like simple economics to me.
Huge thread CarAdvice and who would have thought it would have stirred up so many hornets with your road test. Looking forward to the XR6T road test.
TP……have you read the Carpoint review of the TRD CAMRY\Aurion ? Says it all really…….not much good !!! Compared to the FG XR6 Turbo……….its not even close !! Performance ride, handling, price, fit and finish, boot space,looks, design, comfort all are miles behind……… and this isnt compared to the FPV F6 which TRD is supposed to be !!!!! TRD CAMRY\Aurion shares a cheap and nasty interior with the VE as well……..OUCH !!!!
The reason Holden is selling more Commodores than the others is thanks to there marketing department.
Holden really needs to update the V6/transmission,freshen the interior and front and rear styling NOW before the public/sheep wake up.
Goodfa……i agree but it wont happen because GM and Holden dont have the money for major updates to what is just a 2 year old car. Ford has taken them by surprise with the FG because it was supposed to be just an update to BF but because it is basically a total new car Holden have been left behind. If people drove FG and VE back to back their choice would be simple……..FG everytime.
Car-enthusiast.
Firstly do you have a life. You obviously have no life. A comment at 4:59am????? Secondly, a corolla or prius is not the only Japanese car on the road.If pulled up at the lights next to you in a WRX STi, or an RX7 I would absolutely flog you and your 2 tonne V8 ‘muscle’ which does 1km per litre. You are not a Car enthusiast because you do not appreciate any other car other than a piece of crap Holden. I bet you drive a VB Commodore, but think you are hard. Piss off, and let people voice their opinions without you hijacking the comments list. Get a life and get off Caradvice at 4:30am.
These Toyotaphiles must surely be from Toyota marketing. How else could you be so blindly and stubbornly pro for one make, let alone Toyota.
I used to believe their reputation until I experienced the IS200 and its knocking motor and oil refills between services. Rust around door sills was unexpected, as was the poor paint finish.
My neighbours Avalon smokes burning oil and he also needs to refill it more than expected – toyota have denied any fault.
A work friend also had engine knocking in his RX300, and after 2 years of complaining Toyota came to the party and replaced his 2 yr old RX300 with a new RX350! Engine fault was to blame and although they must be commended for replacing his car, he really had to push it to the nth degree.
Yet depsite all this, my parents (who are 60+) recently bought a new Corolla not due to any reliability or dynamic superiority, but because they got a better trade-in and the salesman showed excellent customer service – something tragically missing from both local Ford and Mitsubishi dealerships.
So to the Toyotaphiles on this site, please go away and let the adults speak and read in peace.
****
** NEWSFLASH ** SALES FIGURES FOR MAY **
Falcon outsells Aurion 2 to 1!
Aurion sales in freefall compared to April!
Oh Front Wheel Drive Is Rubbish!!
Good points Ezz.
All makes have issues, and Toyota is not immune it.
The rubbish from the TOYOTA FANBOYS here does sound like they are the work of Toyota marketing as the obsession shown requires help..
There is no way Toyota is a leader. They are a follower in many cases. EG: No ESP in Corolla, no ESP in Camry until well into its model cycle.
The only two cars here worth considering are the ford and holden.
Both the Toyota and Honda are potentially great cars
however they are both let down by being front wheel drives
Saving a few thousand dollars by making it front wheel drive instantly makes the car useless
Thomas 79 you said “Also I believe the Falcon would be just too wide for the fairly narrow roads in europe!! ”
You’re a t1t aren’t you old man. The Mondeo is actually wider than the Falcon 1886mm v 1868mm (wing mirrors excluded).
Large serving of humble pie with added clotted cream coming your way. Hows yer cred feel now…Old n wrinkly
Millatime and Mike – Ok you don’t like FWD eh,see you’d rather drift round Mels grid sideway. Just cos a car is FWD don’t mean its a duffun. The vast majority of people prefer the safer route for daily driving. IMO 4wd the way to go….a la Quattro.
No i’m not a Toyota or Hondaphile
TP…
One simple question for you…
Prove the current camry/aurion are 100% new???
They aren’t, no vehicle ever is 100% new when released.
Wake up and learn how the auto industry works, tired of the keyboard experts.
Oh god these blogs are insane…
This was meant to be comment on the review? lol, not a bash on whois the biggest, bestest whatever.
Toyota guys, seriously, you KNOW the figures are right, it’s out there for ANYONE to see. Toyota is the top automobile company in the world, and dominates Australia and has done for 13 of the past 17 years…
Aurion was released 2 years ago, already has 20% of its market and consistently outsells Falcon in QLD. (Surprising stats about last month Falcon outselling 2 to 1, will check that out.)
The only vehicles I have owned have been commodores, 4 of them. I no longer like holden and will not buy another, except maybe a good priced SLR5000….
No one saw Toyota coming up from behind and whalloping the big guns of Ford and GM… but they have done so..
Commodore still smashes everyhitng else in its market with solid 40-50% market share for large cars.
For whoever made a comment about Japanese made, the Aurion is made in Austrlia and due to Toyota’s Local Production Mandate is over 70% Australian content… This is the same for Camry also, which, as engine is made here also, is about 75% Australian…
Falcon and Commodore currently sit approx 65% Australian content… The Aurion and Camry are technically more australian than the Commie and Falcon… Don’t argue with me about it, I have no stake in this. lol, look it up! It surprised the bejesus out of me when I first heard it… :S
Loved my Commodores for years, had millions of problems with them, fuel use, fuel pumps, diffs, gearboxes, panel fit, clutch, brakes, coil packs, coil, wiring, etc etc etc… and never batted an eye… Literally would cost between 400 and 1000 extra each time got the VR, VX or VY serviced, and just expected it…
Now over the past 2 years have driven Prius, Kluger, Land Cruiser 200 and aurion, and no problems… Seriously, NONE.
Toyota is NOT a heart stopping company, their vehicles do not make you have unbelievable passion that a lot of buyers feel for Falcon and Commodore, I know I did, for many years… Nothing could get me to touch anything else… The basic V6 made you feel invincible, the V8’s would make you wet your pants, and you LOVED driving, provided you had RACQ coverage… ;)
Thing is, that now Toyota has disbanded so many loved models and good vehicles, they are only known for HiLux, Land Cruiser and Camry… :S pretty much…
Whereas, peope forget MR2, Celica, Supra, and beofre Lexus the Soarer etc…
I remember many many many friends modifying Commie and putting in Celica and Supra 5 speed boxes in. Anytime someone wanted the strongest diff available, what’d they use? Yes, some a ford 9 inch (i used a 10 bolt Salisbury, TOUGH!) but HEAPS would go the modified HiLux diff and tailshaft…
Good work on the new car to the guys at Falcon, hope it gives them the needed sales to bring thing back to a good pitch in Australia. No more jobs going begging would be good! Profitable companies are much better!
If you are going to baqg me out, please make sure you have read my entire post. ;) lol
Peace
Ooops, I get so distracted when I type big ones. lmao.
Where is was meaning to go with the comments about passion for the vehicle etc. A LOT of people start with the passionate car, that maybe mum or dad drive when they were kids. Love the Falcon or Commie, do it up (Mine had a sick stereo. lol) but then down the track people get smarter…
Toyota is a SMART purchase, a Reliable, Durable vehicle that holds value and is relatively easy to repair and usually does not break down.
This is stats, not opinion… Why do you think Toyota DO sell SOOOO many of them? It’s not for the go fast factor, not for the styling factor, not for the price factor (being most Toyota’s actually cost more than the competition.) its purely because people GET WHAT THEY PAY FOR! A vehicle that gets you where you need to go. Isn’t a complete slug, and usually pretty comfortable. and will continue to do so day in, day out for quite some time.
Look at the millions of HiLux sales… general rule HiLux costs 1,500 – 5000 more than its closest competitor depenign on grade level… Yet it does so… You think tradies are going to go and buy something that is essential to their working life, because it looks pretty, goes fast and they like it better? No, they buy what will last… lol, even though the HiLux has a lower tow rating? Yup! They sure do! ;) Because it will do so, again and again and again, pretty much forever!
Ok, I go on…
Ford wins again so lets all just buy Falcons and forget about the rest. But that will never happen. People want fuel efficient cars and there the ones that are selling.
Every photo and write up of the new Ford shows what a fantastic job ford has done. A 5-series or E-class would cost 2 -3 times more to buy, but would they do the job 2 – 3 times better? I don’t think so. My only gripe with the FG is the lack of rear seat adustable head restraints in any models. For tall folk like me with my head so close to the rear header rail, they are a vital safety feature.
Hey Ross how is ya? You tall too? Golfy has the same problem getting in the old BA/BF and from memory I think hes 6″5 .When we went to the Perth Motor Show together we had a test seat I think he said they had improved the front section ,but not sure if he sat in the back? How tall are you babe ?
Oh and I love the new Falcon add for the ANCAP test results,thats gold!They announce the Australian made cars that pass the 5 start ANCAP test,that would be 1 only,well done FORD!! Im wondering if Toyota wish they had spent that extra $100,000 to get that extra star now,or maybe they knew they wouldnt pass it?
Ok had my first ride in a Camry yesterday,impressed? hahaha yeah right,Wheelnut and I were picking the bag out of the interior let alone the lack of performance.
Plastic fantastic! Just as much as any of the Holden and Falcons,plus the center console comes out too far into the back cabin area and doesn’t allow the center passenger any room,Ive sat in the back of a BF,VE and new Camry now and can tell you profusely the Falcon kicks the Camry in quality and room in the back,I must confess I was surprised I thought it would have been better.I guess all that stirring the ex about the crap quality of the BA/BF GT was uncalled for when comparing it to what I sat in yesterday!
My best friend Tracey who drives a 2005 duel cab F250 said that her truck thats now done 160,000 is cheaper to service than hubbies new Prado,that shocked me and Wheelnut, and yep their both diesel.
\”\”If Commodores are so poor quality and unreliable, why did Toyota stick Lexcen badges on them for 6 years? \”\”
HAHAH!!
i guess putting holden badges on daewoos makes them a good car too…
did a lexcen outlast a commodore? i think not.
toyotas are dull cardigan mobiles….
ALL OF THE NEW RANGE
wheres the excitement??
Mate of mine is 6-6, He sat in the front and back of my old VP, Never had an issue, Also same day another mate who is 6-3 sat in the back without having leg issues, Something Toyota can’t match still.
So i don’t see them as a true large car, They are semi large.
Best was, 5 in the car. Heights go, 6-6, 6-4, 6-3, 5-11 5-7.
Weight in total was very light… 560kg+.. All in seatbelts.
I’m not trying to crap on Toyota, But they don’t offer the whole package in my opinion sorry to say.
Well if they had bothered to test the J31 Nissan Maxima with its legendary VQ35DE V6 engine there would be no arguement. The Maxima is almost a forgotten car, and would outperform all the abovementioned vehicles tested in this article, with the exception of the Accord V6..
The plastics and overall feel of Commodores are horrible, even in the Calais
hmm, no competition really…the Falcon and Accord (being 2008 models) cleaned up
having a 5-speed auto made the lack of flat torque curve less apparent (to the driver) in the Accord than the Aurion
look forward to updates/seriesII of Aurion and Commodore, hopefully soon
Holden Commodore. Why would you want to buy that piece of excrement. It is bad enough I have to drive one for work.
While ago I had a new one that had less than 200 km on the clock. The fuel hatch release cable snapped at first attempt to refuel, then the piece of manure stopped and would only go in reverse. Servce guy told me the plug on automatic gearbox was not secured properly and fell off.
Good to see that finally Ford is doing something right, I could not stand their styling, but like the XT.
Have not driven the XT for but love my Aurion. The engine/tranny is just sweet.
Is it just me or the Japenese cars becoming the fuel guzzlers of the market. Every review has the Maxima and Accord at using 20-30% more fuel than the heavier Falcon.
Every other site and mag that i have read has said that the Calais has one of the best steering set up’s in this country. and CA said that they hated it something must have been wrong with the car.
It really annoys me that they are testing the G6E vs the Calais , when it should be matched with the Calais V