Toyota Aurion

It’s basically just a pumped-up Camry, um, it’s smooth, um, it won’t let you down, and, um, it’s a Toyota, or maybe a microwave.

• Comfort

  The ride's as comfortable and isolating as a pair of Massuer sandals, with socks on, of course.

  

• Performance

  Choose from either a 3.5-litre V6, or a, um, no, that's it actually. But with 200kW, the Aurion's no slouch.

  

• Cool

  About as cool as pulling your socks all the way up to your knees.

  

• Quality

  Rock-solid build quality that will last several lifetimes, but while the fit-and-finish of the interior is excellent, the materials are a little ho-hum.

   

  

• Handling

  It's a tail-dragger in a market that loves rear-drive, and while the driving experience is slightly more exciting than watching paint dry, it's still fairly isolating.

  

• Practicality

  Plenty of room for mum, dad, the kids and a couple of pillows on the parcel shelf, although its front-drive layout limits towing ability.

  

• Running costs

  With a handful of cars in the range, there's an Aurion to suit all tastes and budgets, and Toyota dealers are generally good for a deal - I mean, it's not the best-selling brand in the country for nothing.