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Toyota
Aurion
XV40 / XV50·
2006-2017
sedan
Value
Price (AUD)
$6k-$28k
Body styles
4-door sedan
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Origin
Australia
Built in
Australia (Altona, Victoria)
Overview
Australia's home-grown big-six sedan, designed and built at Toyota's Altona plant in Victoria as the V6 sibling to the locally-made Camry. The Aurion was deliberately simple: ONE engine - the 3.5L 2GR-FE quad-cam V6 - paired exclusively to a six-speed U660E automatic, driving the front wheels, across BOTH the XV40 (2006-2012, sold as AT-X, Prodigy, Touring SX6/ZR6, Presara) and the facelifted XV50 (2012-2017, AT-X, Sportivo, Presara). The only mechanical outlier is the Australia-only TRD Aurion 3500S/3500SL (2007-2009), which bolted an Eaton Twin Vortices supercharger onto the same V6 for 241kW/400Nm in a doomed front-drive V8-fighter that TRD Australia killed off in March 2009. The 2GR-FE is one of Toyota's most durable engines and the Aurion is a genuinely reliable, cheap-to-run used buy; the catches are the pre-2009 VVT-i oil hose that can dump all the oil in seconds, the U660E auto's cold-shift flare/lock-up shudder, torque steer (savage on the TRD), and Takata airbag recall compliance. Diesel was never offered.
Engines & variants
3.5L 2GR-FE V6 petrol
Engine
3.5L DOHC dual VVT-i V6 (ACIS, port injection)
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3456cc
Power
200kW @ 6200rpm (up to 204kW on 95 RON)
Torque
336Nm @ 4700rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Economy
9.3 L/100km combined (ADR), ~10-12 L/100km real world
Transmission
6AT (U660E)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- 2GR-FE is a proven, long-lived Toyota V6 - 300k+ km routinely
- Strong, smooth and quick for the money (0-100 ~7.4s)
- Cheap to buy, simple FWD layout, huge parts support
- Locally built and tuned for Australian roads
Cons
- Pre-2009 VVT-i oil hose can rupture and drain oil in seconds
- U660E auto prone to cold-start shift flare and lock-up shudder
- Noticeable torque steer under hard acceleration (FWD V6)
- Thirstier than a four; weak resale, depreciates hard
Known problems
high
VVT-i oil supply hose rupture (pre-2009 builds)
2GR-FE engines built up to around April 2008 use a rubber-section VVT-i oil supply hose that perishes and can split, draining engine oil in as little as 30 seconds and risking catastrophic engine damage. Toyota superseded it with a solid metal line on late-2008/2009-onward engines.
Fix: Replace preventively with the updated full-metal line; if it still has the original rubber-section hose, do it now regardless of km. Confirm the yellow-tag/updated part is fitted before purchase.
medium
U660E cold-start shift flare and torque-converter shudder
The six-speed U660E auto commonly flares (sharp RPM rise) on the 3-4 upshift in the first ~10 minutes after a cold start, and develops a lock-up shudder at light/moderate throttle around 60-90km/h. Usually caused by deteriorated/incorrect fluid and valve-body/lock-up solenoid wear; Toyota released a revised valve body to address it.
Fix: Fresh genuine Toyota WS fluid and a drain/fill; revised valve body or lock-up solenoid if it persists. Avoid examples that have never had a transmission service.
medium
Water pump seepage
The 2GR-FE water pump can weep coolant from the weep hole/seal with age and km, eventually dripping under the car.
Fix: Replace the water pump (and check thermostat/hoses while in there); not urgent until it leaks consistently.
low
Torque steer / front tyre wear
200kW through the front wheels produces pronounced torque steer under hard acceleration and accelerates front tyre wear, especially on the firmer-suspension Sportivo/SX6 grades. Not a fault.
Fix: Quality tyres, sensible throttle from standstill; regular rotation and alignment.
3.5L 2GR-FE TRD supercharged V6 (3500S/3500SL)
Engine
3.5L DOHC V6 with TRD Eaton Twin Vortices Series supercharger
Config
V6 supercharged
Displacement
3456cc
Power
241kW @ 6400rpm
Torque
400Nm @ 4000rpm
Drivetrain
Front-wheel drive (FWD)
Economy
10.9 L/100km combined (ADR), ~13-15 L/100km real world
Transmission
6AT (U660E, sequential)
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven
Pros
- Genuinely fast Australian-built sleeper - 241kW/400Nm
- Rare collectible: TRD Australia made very few before closing in 2009
- Same robust 2GR-FE bottom end under the blower
- World-first production Eaton TVS supercharger
Cons
- Savage torque steer - 400Nm through the front wheels is a handful
- Supercharger and ancillaries add cost and parts-availability risk
- Premium-fuel thirst and harder life on driveline/tyres
- Same pre-2009 VVT-i oil-hose and U660E auto caveats as the standard car
Known problems
medium
Supercharger and intercooler ancillaries
The Eaton TVS supercharger needs its own oil and a healthy supercharger/intercooler belt, pulley, idler and coupler; neglected examples can whine, leak or shed belts. TRD-specific parts are scarce now that TRD Australia is long gone.
Fix: Verify supercharger oil and belt service history; source TRD/Eaton parts through specialists. Avoid modified/over-boosted examples.
medium
Severe torque steer and front-end wear
400Nm through the front wheels produces strong torque steer and chews front tyres, CV joints and bushes faster than the standard Aurion, particularly if driven hard.
Fix: Quality tyres and alignment; inspect CVs, ball joints and bushes; sympathetic throttle use.
high
VVT-i oil supply hose rupture (early 2GR-FE)
Built within the affected 2007-2008 window, TRD Aurions can carry the same perishable rubber VVT-i oil hose that splits and drains oil in seconds.
Fix: Replace with the updated full-metal line preventively; confirm it has been done before buying.
Common problems (all variants)
high
Takata airbag recall compliance
Aurions of this era fall within the Takata airbag recall (defective inflators that can rupture and fire shrapnel). Some early examples were fitted with the higher-risk Alpha inflators. Replacement is free but uncompleted recalls are a genuine safety hazard.
Fix: Check the VIN against Toyota's recall portal and have any outstanding Takata airbag replaced free of charge before driving.
medium
Suspension bushes, links and ball joints
Front lower control-arm bushes, sway-bar links and ball joints wear with age and km, causing clunks over bumps and vague handling - common on high-km local cars and ex-fleet/taxi examples.
Fix: Replace worn bushes, links and ball joints; do a full front-end refresh and alignment together.
medium
Ex-fleet / ex-taxi high-km examples
Many Aurions served as taxis, hire and fleet cars and rack up huge mileage. The drivetrain copes, but interiors, brakes, suspension and the auto can be heavily worn, and service history may be patchy.
Fix: Favour a documented private/low-km car; budget for consumables and a transmission service if history is unclear.
low
Brake wear and rotor warping
A heavy, quick FWD V6 sedan goes through front pads and can warp rotors, giving brake shudder - more pronounced on the sportier/heavier grades.
Fix: Quality pads and rotors; machine or replace warped rotors.
low
Interior trim and dash UV ageing
Dash top, trim and seat surfaces can fade, crack or develop rattles under sustained Australian heat and UV on older examples.
Fix: Cosmetic repair, dash mat/cover; not structural.