Toyota Aurion tops large car survey
July 18, 2008 by George Skentzos
The Toyota Aurion AT-X has bested its rivals to be named the least expensive Australian-built large car to run, according to a recent survey performed by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV).
The survey took into account factors such as cost of finance, depreciation, scheduled services, registration, insurance, fuel and tyres in order to evaluate each vehicle.
It was found that the Toyota Aurion AT-X equipped with a six-speed automatic transmission costs an average of $226.20 per week to run – $13.24 less per week than its main rival, the VE Commodore Omega.
This figure equates to a cost difference of $688.47 per annum, with the AT-X already priced $1,635 below its main rival.
“Motorists are looking at running costs more closely than ever, so the RACV study underlines another dimension to Aurion AT-X ’s overall affordability as the least expensive vehicle to run in its class,” said Toyota Australia’s senior executive director sales and marketing, David Buttner.
From a field of five which took part in the same category – including an LPG-equipped Falcon and Dual Fuel Commodore – the Aurion AT-X also boasted the least depreciation, interest charges and total registration costs of any car in the survey.
Print it: 
Golfswein, whats there to know?? They wouldn’t be selling it there, if they weren’t making any profit on it?!!
Maybe Thomas, but how much are they making? Point is for GM it takes the market away from some one else and has great exposure for their products because its popular! Its called marketing .
Bavarian Missile,
Obviously they make enough, to warrant the effort.
Since the Falcon XT has an out of the factory build cost of 12K. I estimate the Pontiac G8 cost price of about 22k.
Okay, so they make a profit. That’ll enable them to develop new ones, then.
Tomas,
for starters you are confusing the name plate Commodore with HSV. the price difference isnt like 80K versus 40K (for what its worth)
but having said that, maybe it does seem like a kick in the pants to the aussie buyers, but what the hell do you care? honestly? you constantly remind us you wouldnt touch one with a ten foot pole let alone fork out the US list price for one.
now i ask you, whats your point?
why are you getting so hung up on the discounted list price on a vehicle you wish to be dead???
and also, from what i understand, holden are making SFA out of their export program.
they are not sending them there to turn big bucks but rather test the waters and create a recognition of their product amongst the consumers in a few different markets.
mark my words that the export program will stop once the next gen commodore (possibly Torana) comes online.
it is totally normal for manufacturers to offer abnormally low prices on a product they are trying to break into the market with.
whether it be food, clothing, tools, or motor vehicles, the basic practices of business still apply.
I use to manage a supermarket (going back a few years), and when we had coke on a ripper special, we would lose 1-2cents per bottle. do you know why that was no drama and why it ended up being beneficial??
if you had one little bit of business knowledge you would clearly understand the basics as to why cheaper commodores in the US actually carries with it good reason.
but if you dont understand, pick your lip up and soldier on. You were never going to buy one at full or discounted price anyway
THE MORE CARS THEY MAKE THE CHEAPER THEY GET, BUT THE RESALE ALSO GOES DOWN IN PRICE FAST. TOYOTA BUILD TO 0RDER NOT MASS PRODUCTION, THAT IS A MAIN FACTER FOR THE GOOD RESALE ON TOYOTA.
FOOT HAND BRAKE AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!