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FAMILY VALUES

Models Covered: (3/4/5dr hatchback/ 1.4, 1.6 petrol, 1.4, 2.0, 2.2 diesel [T2, T3, T Spirit, TR, SR, T180, SR180])

By Steve Walker

There are jobs, there are difficult jobs and there are impossible jobs. The one handed to Toyota’s Auris upon its launch slotted squarely into the latter category. The Toyota Corolla had carved out an automotive dynasty the like of which we may never see again. Through its ten generations, the car had taken the world automotive industry by storm - fuelling Toyota’s rise to the top and claiming the title of the world’s best selling car in the process. All the Auris needed to do was replace the Corolla. Actually, that wasn’t all; it also needed to replicate the Corolla’s unyielding reliability and build quality while injecting a spark of flair in to proceedings. The Corolla, you see, was always thought a little bit dull by UK buyers. Nobody gave the Auris much of a prayer but if you put the car’s huge weight of expectation to one side, it’s actually a very accomplished product.

At launch, the Auris range was a little more compact than the gargantuan model line-up that the Corolla used to campaign with. There were no saloons or estates and the Corolla Verso compact MPV had split away to become a model in its own right called simply Verso. So it was that the Auris arrived in three or five-door form with an engine range running from 1.4-litre petrols and diesels to the 2.2-litre diesel powering the T180 which was the Auris’ offering in the hot hatchback sector. The trim levels used familiar Toyota designations of T2, T3 and T-Spirit with the range-topping diesel known as the T180. It didn’t take Toyota long to come up with some special editions and both the TR and the SR proved popular with their tempting blend of additional equipment and lower prices. The SR took a sportier approach than the straight-laced TR.

In creating the Auris, Toyota’s engineers started with the passengers and then worked outwards, maximising occupant space with elements such as a flat passenger floor and high window surfaces. The platform has an overall length of 4,220mm incorporating a 2,600mm wheelbase. This means that the wheelbase represents 61.6 per cent of the car’s total length. The higher the percentage, the more space is afforded to people rather than oily bits. By contrast, the Ford Focus, has a 58.5 per cent wheelbase to length and even something like the SEAT Leon manages a mere 59.7 per cent figure. With an overall height of 1,515 and a width of 1,760mm, the Auris is one of the biggest family hatches around, although the shape does much to disguise this bulk. Rather than anything extreme, the Auris’ exterior shape is ‘evolutionary.’ A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesn’t look broadly similar in dimension to that car. Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. While Toyota senior suits talked about J-factor (‘vibrant clarity’ and ‘emotional identity’), the consensus was that it represents a missed opportunity. The interior is predictably robust and the prominent centre console that cascades down between the front seats and has storage space behind is a novel touch but there still isn’t much to get excited about. The materials are of a decent quality and there’s good passenger space, so the Auris does the basics very well but fails to go the extra mile and inject some desirability.

Toyota played hardball with Auris buyers from new and proved unwilling to offer discounts. They made up for this with attractive list prices and generous equipment levels, although the Auris was priced at similar levels to its family hatch rivals. It’s all helped to prop up residual values reasonably well and the Auris is quite a solid prospect on the used market. The three-door cars will be harder to come by with 80% of Auris models being sold in five-door form. The mix is split 50/50 between petrol and diesels too so there should be no shortage of oil-burners about.

This is the point at which the Auris begins to stand out as a used buy. It was the reliability that formed the bedrock of the Corolla’s success and the Auris appears to have the same qualities. Toyota really knows how to manufacturer cars to a high standard and the Auris is a prime example. The car’s superbly finished and mechanical problems are rare. Make the usual checks for accident damage and other niggles but otherwise you should be on safe ground with the Auris.

(approx based on a 1.6 five-door T3) Parts are pitched a little above what you’d expect to fork out for Vauxhall or Ford spares but Toyota would counter that you’ll need to buy them less often. A clutch assembly will cost in the region of £150, whilst an exhaust is around £350. Repair costs have been kept down with a consequent effect on insurance premiums.

A range of five engines is available in the Auris. The two petrol powerplants comprise a 96bhp 1.4 VVT-i unit and a 122bhp 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i. Both use variable valve timing technology to improve fuel efficiency and power output. Diesel buyers get to choose from three engines. The entry-level lump is the 1.4-litre D-4D, good for 89bhp. Customers then step up to a 2.0-litre D-4D 130 engine which despite its name has a power output of 124bhp and was originally seen in the larger Avensis. Given that it drove this hefty car around with ease, it makes an Auris respectably brisk. At the top of the range is the 2.2-litre D-4D 180 which churns out 175bhp and is a very capable engine. None of the powerplants, even the 2.2 D-4D, are particularly exciting but they are highly efficient and capable in typical Toyota style. The car rides and handles adeptly too, even if it could do with an extra sparkle to provoke joy rather than respect in its driver. Six speed manual transmissions are standard on the two more powerful diesels but a MultiMode system with paddle shifters was offered as an option for the 1.4-litre D-4D 90 and the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i engines. The engines in the Auris perform well on grounds of economy and emissions with the 1.4-litre D-4D being the top performer thanks to its 56mpg combined fuel economy and 132g/km CO2 output. The 1.6-litre petrol engine’s 40mpg makes it only 1mpg thirstier than the smaller 1.4-litre option and is a good bet if you can afford to upgrade. Even the powerful D-4D 180 engine can return 45mpg and 164g/km emissions, making it a more affordable alternative to a hardcore hot hatchback.

In designing the Auris, Toyota wanted to create a family hatch with the enduring qualities of the Corolla and a touch more attitude. What they came up with was basically an eleventh generation Corolla. Yes, the Auris tries to inject some design flair and style into proceedings but it never really succeeds. The question is, should that matter to used car buyers? The Auris has the quality and reliability that made the Corolla the success is was, it’s good to drive, well-equipped and its looks are far from offensive. This is a thoroughly competent family car and that’s got to count for a lot.

TOYOTA GO FOR GOLD
Toyota openly admits it has underachieved in the money-spinning family hatch market in the UK. It’s banking on the latest Auris diesels to start rectifying matters. Dave King gets behind the wheel.

It’s impossible to consider these Toyota Auris diesel models without at least a brief mention of the Corolla. The world’s best selling car, it never really achieved much affection in this country, being generally seen as a functional but unexciting ‘white good’ of a car. The Auris aims to change that and project a more dynamic image for Toyota family hatches.

So why are we looking at diesels? The simple reason is because this is where the big sales will come and also because Toyota has boldly plumbed a 180bhp oil-burner into the snub nose of the Auris, making it a real closet rocket. While it seems vaguely churlish to mull over where the 30+ million-selling Corolla went wrong, the Auris marks a fresh start, in this country at least. The name (pronounced OW-riss) is claimed to follow the theme started by Yaris and Avensis and has its roots in Aurum, the Latin word for gold. Three diesel engines are offered, the entry level powerplant being the 1.4-litre D-4D 90, which produces 89bhp and 190Nm of torque. A more popular option looks set to be the car I covered most miles in, the 2.0-litre D-4D 130. This packs 124bhp and a maximum torque figure of 300Nm, translating into a sprint to 60mph of ten seconds flat and a top speed of 121mph. The technical highlight of the range is the SR180 version which is good for 175bhp and a whopping 400Nm of torque, making it as muscular in the mid-range as a Porsche 911 Carrera S. It’ll get off the line to the 60mph benchmark in 7.9 seconds but it’s when the turbocharger gets spooled up that this engine does its best work, jetting from 50 to 75mph in 8.4 seconds.

"As you’d expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent."

The electrically-assisted power steering is accurate and compared to the petrol models, it’s easy to feel the weight of the D4-D engine on turn-in. The six-speed manual transmission features some closely-stacked ratios that you’ll need to keep on top of to maintain decent torque which, in the D4-D 130, is found in a narrowish seam between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. Fortunately, the ‘box is a joy to use. Less delightful is the simple torsion beam rear suspension which feels a little dead. It’s illuminating that the range-topping SR180 gets a fully independent rear suspension setup. Perhaps the kindest way of describing the Auris’ exterior shape is ‘evolutionary.’ A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesn’t look broadly similar in dimension to that car. Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. While Toyota senior suits talk about J-factor, vibrant clarity and emotional identity, most of us think it represents a missed opportunity. The interior has been smartened up with a clearer dash design and OPTITRON instruments but materials quality is slightly hit and miss. There’s also a significant lack of oddments stowage space. For a car that namechecks the Volkswagen Golf amongst its key rivals, the Auris is more than a little behind the curve here. On the plus side, longer overhangs offer significantly better luggage capacity (354 litres) than the old Corolla and despite the wheelbase being the same, some clever packaging sees rear legroom increase. Compared to the Corolla, the Auris is 40mm longer and 50mm wider. One particularly neat design detail is the low door profiles which help to reduce the visual effect of tallness. The Auris diesel line-up isn’t entirely straightforward in the way it’s sold through dealers. At the entry level there’s the 1.4 D-4D 90, available in T2 or T3 trims, and three or five-door bodystyles. The T3 model is also offered with the option of a MultiMode automatic gearbox. The D4-D 130 comes in the value TR, T3 or sporty SR guises in three of five door form, with the ritzier T Spirit trim only offered with the five-door body. Finally, the SR180 is offered in both three and five-door bodystyles, the latter topping the range at £18,495. As you’d expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent. The TR looks an especially good buy, the £15,095 Auris D4-D 130 TR three-door gets 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and extra chrome detailing at the back of the car. Toyota also offers three option packs for the Auris, Style, Protection and Tech. If the Auris plays a mixed hand in terms of design, it comes storming back with a fistful of aces when it comes to running costs, although there is one joker in the pack in the shape of the T180, a model which we’ll consider separately. Both the 90 and 130 D4-D models are not only good value from new but also turn in sparkling running cost figures. If you’re going to buy a car with your head rather than heart, these models are right in the mix. Granted, that might not have been Toyota’s intention, but it’s a reasonably desirable outcome. Expect 56.5mpg from the D4-D 90 model and a very respectable 52.3mpg from the punchy D4-D 130. Emissions for these two cars are rated at 132 and 151g/km respectively. Likewise, insurance is extremely cheap, the D4-D 90 attracting a 4E rating, the D4-D 130 a 6E banding. The SR180 isn’t in the same boat, the 175bhp diesel engine being seen as more of a temptation to speedy drivers although the 13A insurance grouping is still reasonable for a car with this amount of poke. The 45.6mpg quoted figure sounds good but when you feel the addictive acceleration this thing can deliver, you’ll be mashing the throttle pedal at every opportunity. Anything over 30mpg will then be seen as a bonus. The Toyota Auris diesel range has a lot going for it. Spacious, well-built, good value, well-equipped and with a welcome element of dynamism injected in the form of the T180 model, it is, on most objective scorecards, a strong performance. As the Corolla proved, objective scorecards work for a good deal of the world but we Brits are curiously immune to them. We want more. We want personality, some fire in the car’s belly, possibly a few appealing flaws that we can call character. This is where the Auris falls a little flat. Perhaps that appears harsh but it’s reality. The Ford Focus will continue to sell more because it’s more fun and the Golf because it says more about you as a person. The Auris diesel is that cagoule in the bottom of your chest of drawers. Sensible, but you wouldn’t want an ex to see you in it.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris D-4D range PRICES: £13,455-£18,545 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-13A CO2 EMISSIONS: 132-164g/km PERFORMANCE: [SR180] 0-60mph 8.1s / Max Speed 146mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [SR180] (urban) 35.8mpg / (extra urban) 54.3mpg / (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

CHALLENGED TO A DUAL
Toyota is looking to the Auris to reinvigorate its mid-market momentum. We take a look at the volume seller in the range, the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i version. Dave King reports

Toyota has always played a strong hand worldwide in the family hatchback sector but has never been amongst the leading volume sellers in the UK. They’re aiming for that to change with the Auris, something which depends largely on the appeal of big selling variants like the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i petrol model we’re looking at here. The idea with this engine is to offer a reasonable turn of speed and surprising economy. It’s a combination that makes more sense than the diesel alternative if more modest mileages are covered.

The Auris’ 1.6-litre engine features Dual VVT-i, a system that utilises computerised timing control of both inlet and exhaust valves. In theory, this promotes torque at low revs and power at high engine speeds. So what’s it like in practice? Let’s just say that this system does better in terms of power than torque. Pull away from a junction in the Auris and it feels a little lethargic. It’s only when you get the engine singing that it really comes alive. It’s a little perplexing because the peak torque figure of 157Nm is better than an equivalent 1.6-litre Ford Focus, Volkswagen Golf, Renault Megane, or Vauxhall Astra. Consult the handbook and you’ll realise that while these cars make their peak torque figure around 4,000rpm, the Auris achieves it a 5,200rpm. You really need to rev this engine hard to make progress. et a little brutal with the loud pedal and the 122bhp Auris can move though, notching off the sprint to 60mph in 10.2 seconds and it’ll keep going to 116mph. Ride, handling and road-holding are all above class average, but the steering, while accurate, doesn’t impart much in the way of feedback, robbing you of confidence when you’re really pushing on. Rather than anything extreme, the Auris’ exterior shape is ‘evolutionary’. A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesn’t look broadly similar in dimension to that car. Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. While Toyota senior suits talk about J-factor, vibrant clarity and emotional identity, most of us think it represents a missed opportunity.

"Ride, handling and road-holding are all above class average"

The cabin has been smartened up with a clearer dash design and OPTITRON instruments but materials quality is slightly hit and miss. There’s also a significant lack of oddments stowage space. For a car that namechecks the Volkswagen Golf amongst its key rivals, the Auris is more than a little behind the curve here. On the plus side, longer overhangs offer significantly better luggage capacity (354 litres) than the old Corolla and despite the wheelbase being the same, some clever packaging sees rear legroom increase. Compared to the Corolla, the Auris is 40mm longer and 50mm wider. One particularly neat design detail is the low door profiles which help to reduce the visual effect of tallness. The 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i engine is slotted into five different mainstream trim grades, T2, TR, T3, SR and T Spirit – and is available with either a three or five door body style. As you’d expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent. The TR looks an especially good buy, with the £13,545 Auris 1.6 TR three-door getting 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and chrome detailing. Toyota also offers three option packs for the Auris; Style, Protection and Tech. The range-topping T Spirit model is particularly well-appointed, with dusk-sensing headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, cruise control (with a handy speed limiter function for when the route is festooned with GATSOs), dual zone air-conditioning, 16-inch alloy wheels and a Smart Entry and Start system. Coming in at just over £15,000, this model is a cut above the class average in terms of a proper big-car feel. The way that the Dual VVT-i 1.6-litre engine requires a conscious effort and a big dose of revs to drive it hard may please or annoy buyers in equal measure. To be fair, at all other times, it defaults into a relaxed mode that’s reasonably fuel efficient, helping it to a combined fuel economy figure of 39.8mpg. While some rivals will better this, the margins aren’t great. The engine is again in the midfield in terms of emissions, the 166g/km figure being better than a Golf but worse than a Focus. Again, not much in it. There’s no doubt that the Toyota Auris 1.6-litre VVT-i covers a lot of bases very well. Not only is it spacious, but it’s also well-built, good value, well-equipped and inexpensive to run. Where it falls down is in not offering any sort of sense of occasion. If Toyota has set out to endow the Auris with the personality the Corolla always lacked, it’s a singular failure. Whilst there is much to admire, the Auris isn’t easy to get excited about. But perhaps that’s the point. The formula that worked so well around the world is being repeated. A reliable jack of all trades may be what the Auris boils down to, but in many markets that’s just the ticket. One suspects British buyers will want more. Toyota can’t be castigated for not wanting to tamper with a winning formula but on these shores at least, this Auris will be playing to a tough crowd.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris 1.6 Dual VVT-i range PRICES: £13,545-£15,305 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-6E CO2 EMISSIONS: 166g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.2s / Max Speed 116mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 31.4 (extra urban) 47.9 (combined) 39.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

PRIVATE DANCER
Toyota is kickstarting the Auris’ push for retail sales with the value TR edition. Jonathan Crouch reports

If Toyota’s latest Auris is to be the kind of success it needs to be, private customers must be fully convinced of the value proposition on offer. Typically, the world’s most profitable car maker is taking no chances in this regard. For evidence, check out the version we’re looking at here, the value-packed TR.

The premise behind the TR models is to offer equipment upgrades over the T3 models in the standard range but feature sticker prices pitched a good deal below them. It’s an aggressive strategy – but then it’s a tough market. If the TR can convince retail customers that the Auris is a desirable proposition over a Volkswagen Golf or a SEAT Leon, it will have done very well indeed. Three engines are offered in TR trim. The first is the 1.4-litre VVT-i unit and then comes the 1.6-litre unit followed by a 2.0-litre D-4D diesel. Both of the petrol engines feature Dual VVT-i, a system that utilises computerised timing control of both inlet and exhaust valves. In theory, this promotes torque at low revs and power at high engine speeds. The theory only partially translates to fact, the 157Nm in the 1.6-litre coming at a nosebleed 5,200rpm. You really need to rev this engine hard to make progress. Get a little brutal with the loud pedal and the 122bhp Auris can move though, notching off the sprint to 60mph in 10.2 seconds and it’ll keep going to 116mph. A more satisfying powerplant is the 2.0-litre D4-D 130 engine. Torque is most certainly not an issue here. This unit packs 124bhp and a maximum torque figure of 300Nm, translating into a sprint to 60mph of ten seconds flat and a top speed of 121mph. The electrically-assisted power steering is accurate and compared to the petrol models, it’s easy to feel the weight of the D4-D engine on turn-in. The six-speed manual transmission features some closely-stacked ratios that you’ll need to keep on top of to maintain decent torque which, in the D4-D 130, is found in a narrowish seam between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. Fortunately, the ‘box is a joy to use. The Auris’ ride, handling and road-holding are all above class average, but the steering, while accurate, doesn’t impart much in the way of feedback, robbing you of confidence when you’re really pushing on.

"Residual values look second only to the Golf in this class…"

Rather than anything extreme, the Auris’ exterior shape is ‘evolutionary.’ A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesn’t look broadly similar in dimension to that car. Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. You can see why of course: the brand certainly doesn’t want to alienate all those old Corolla customers. And yet… The cabin has been smartened up with a clearer dash design and OPTITRON instruments but materials quality could be a little better in places and there could be more oddments stowage space. On the plus side, longer overhangs offer significantly better luggage capacity (354 litres) than the old Corolla and despite the wheelbase being the same, some clever packaging sees rear legroom increase. Compared to the Corolla, the Auris is 40mm longer and 50mm wider. One particularly neat design detail is the low door profiles which help to reduce the visual effect of tallness. As you’d expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent. The TR looks an especially good buy. The £13,545 Auris 1.6 TR three-door gets 16-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control and extra chrome detailing at the back of the car. Both three and five-door body styles are offered and paint finishes extend to Super Red, Silver Steel and Decuma Grey. Toyota also offers three option packs for the Auris; Style, Protection and Tech. The big plus of the Dual VVT-i 1.6-litre engine (or its biggest drawback, depending on your perspective) is that it requires a conscious effort a big dose of revs to drive it hard. At all other times it defaults into a relaxed mode that’s reasonably fuel efficient, helping it to a combined fuel economy figure of 39.8mpg. While some rivals will better this, the margins aren’t great. The engine is again in the midfield in terms of emissions, the 166g/km figure being better than a Golf but worse than a Focus. Again, not much in it. The 1.4-litre engine is only slightly better with 163g/km emissions and 41mpg. For those covering higher mileages the diesel will be a better bet. If you’re going to buy a car with your head rather than heart, the D4-D 130 may well be right in the mix. Expect 52.3mpg from this punchy oil burner. Emissions for this model are rated at 151g/km respectively. Likewise, insurance is extremely cheap, the D4-D 130 attracting a 6E banding. This low insurance rating is helped by the fact that the Auris is unlikely to attract boy racers and that features like a bolt-on structure for the front bumper reinforcement make the consequences of a front end nudge that much less costly to your insurer. Likewise, the radiator support retracts in the event of an accident to protect the cooling units from damage. In so many small cars, a light tap to the front end will split the radiator and leave the vehicle stranded. Discounts may be hard to obtain, but residual values look second only to the Golf in this class and at 43 per cent after three years for the 1.6-litre petrol model are leagues better than a typical Focus or Astra hatch. In some ways, no car in Toyota’s Auris range faces a tougher task than the TR model. The needs of a private buyer are often drastically different to those of a corporate customer. Whereas the former wants style, equipment and the ability to engender deep envy in their neighbours, the latter wants a tiny pence per mile running cost and a shape that’s not going to attract vandals or the boys in blue. The suspicion is that the Auris remains better suited to the demands of gimlet-eyed fleet managers than thrusting twenty and thirty somethings who might normally buy a Volkswagen Golf or a Honda Civic. The TR variants must take on cynics of this persuasion and convince them otherwise. Compare what the Auris objectively offers and there’s very little wrong with the value proposition but retail customers often buy with their hearts as much as their heads and in this area, the Toyota has to really make an impact. If you’re prudent you’ll buy this car. No question. Wider sales success amongst less sensibly-inclined private users however, may be more challenging for dealers to achieve.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris TR range PRICES: £13,045-£15,645 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5E-6E CO2 EMISSIONS: 132-166g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60mph 10.2s / Max Speed 116mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.6] (urban) 31.4mpg / (extra urban) 47.9mpg / (combined) 39.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

SPORT FOR ALL
Toyota offers the SR trim level for 1.6-litre petrol and D-4D 130 diesel customers of its Auris family hatchback who are looking for something a little more sporting. Jonathan Crouch reports

More than 30% of family hatchback buyers opt for so-called ‘sporty’ trim levels on their cars: it’s a fact. So is the realisation for every car maker that they ignore this at their peril. Some responses to this market trend however, are more effective than others.

In many cases, manufacturers do little more than add a sporty badge and a boot spoiler to their cars but buyers are rarely fooled. Others, like Toyota, do the job properly. If you want out-and-out performance, there’s an SR180 variant at the top of the range that features a potent 2.2-litre 175bhp D-D4 diesel engine, capable of rest to sixty in just 8.1s on the way to 146mph. Most people however, won’t require that kind of pace and for them, Toyota have introduced the 1.6-litre petrol and 2.0-litre D-4D 130 diesel SR variants that we’re looking at here. Like the SR180, these are properly engineered sporting derivatives, the key to this being the standard fitment of lowered suspension as a standard feature, along with a Toyota Motorsport spoiler. There are also handsome 17-inch alloy wheels, plus privacy glass, automatic air conditioning and a unique interior that features cool blue stitching around the dash, rather than the paler white stitching normally found on the Auris T3 models upon which these SR variants are based. As you’d expect from Toyota, prices are affordable, only a little above the standard T3 variants despite all the extra equipment included. The five-door 1.6-litre petrol model will set you back £15,045, while the five-door 2.0-litre D-4D 130 variant is only £1,600 more at £16,645. On the road? Well, the Dual VVT-i 1.6-litre petrol engine makes sixty from rest in 10.2s on the way to 116mph and is reasonably fuel efficient, helping it to a combined fuel economy figure of 39.8mpg. I’d stretch to the D-4D 130 variant though. This packs 124bhp and offers a maximum torque figure of 300Nm, translating into a sprint to 60mph of ten seconds flat and a top speed of 121mph.

"These are properly engineered sporting derivatives…"

On both cars, the electrically-assisted power steering is accurate and compared to the petrol models, it’s easy to feel the weight of the D4-D engine on turn-in. The six-speed manual transmission features some closely-stacked ratios that you’ll need to keep on top of to maintain decent torque which, in the D4-D 130, is found in a narrowish seam between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. Fortunately, the gearbox is a joy to use. The big plus of the Dual VVT-i 1.6-litre petrol engine (or its biggest drawback, depending on your perspective) is that it requires a conscious effort a big dose of revs to drive it hard. At all other times, it defaults into a relaxed mode that’s reasonably fuel efficient, helping it to a combined fuel economy figure of 39.8mpg. While some rivals will better this, the margins aren’t great. The engine is again in the midfield in terms of emissions, the 166g/km figure being better than a Golf but worse than a Focus. Again, not much in it. For those covering higher mileages the diesel will be a better bet as you can expect 52.3mpg from it. Emissions for this model are rated at 151g/km. Likewise, insurance is extremely cheap, the D4-D 130 attracting a 6E banding. This low insurance rating is helped by the fact that the Auris is unlikely to attract boy racers and that features like a bolt-on structure for the front bumper reinforcement make the consequences of a front end nudge that much less costly to your insurer. Likewise, the radiator support retracts in the event of an accident to protect the cooling units from damage. In so many small cars, a light tap to the front end will split the radiator and leave the vehicle stranded. Discounts may be hard to obtain, but residual values look second only to the Golf in this class and at 43 per cent after three years for the 1.6-litre petrol model are leagues better than a typical Focus or Astra hatch. With the Auris, you’re buying into one of the largest cars in the class. In creating this model, Toyota’s engineers started with the passengers and then worked outwards, maximising occupant space with elements such as a flat passenger floor and high window surfaces. If you haven’t yet tried an Auris, you’ll find a smart interior with a clear dash design and clever OPTITRON instruments. Long overhangs offer better luggage capacity (354 litres) than you might expect for a family hatch in the Focus/Astra class and some clever packaging sees the same being true when it comes to rear legroom. One particularly neat design detail is the low door profiles which help to reduce the visual effect of tallness. Which leaves that issue of safety, a vital one for any car seeking success in this sector to crack. Look at the facts and it’s soon clear that the Auris didn’t achieve its Five Star Euro NCAP safety rating by accident. The combination of a driver knee airbag and a collapsible steering column were key factors in the 35 point, 5-star result for adult occupant protection. A ‘Minimal Intrusion’ cabin design and up to nine airbags boost its safety rating from the start and contribute to the 4-star performance this car also achieved for child occupant protection. Another key benefit in this respect is the way that ISOFIX anchorage points have been included on the outer rear seats. Euro NCAP also awarded Toyota a class-leading three out of four-star rating for pedestrian protection. A safe choice then – in every sense. But then, that’s just what you’d expect an Auris to be….

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris SR 1.6 & D-4D 130 PRICES: £14,545-£16,645 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 5-6 CO2 EMISSIONS: 144-166g/km PERFORMANCE: [2.0 D-4D 130] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 121mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0 D-4D 130] (urban) 40.4mpg / (extra urban) 61.4mpg / (combined) 52.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

DON’T MESS WITH MISTER T
It’s the flagship of the Auris range but the T180 doesn’t make much of a fuss. Beneath the sober exterior, though, there’s a fast and highly advanced family hatchback bursting to get out. Steve Walker reports…

More than just another Toyota Auris, the T180 version offers a 175bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 400Nm of torque and multilink rear suspension for a sportier driving experience. It’s comfortable, well-built and understated compared to rivals with similar performance but it can still entertain when the need arises.

A central part of the remit given to the development team behind Toyota’s Auris was to inject some fire into its belly and some panache into its public image. More than any other Auris model, the onus of achieving this falls on the T180. The old Toyota Corolla this Auris range replaces had the hot T Sport derivative topping off its model line-up throughout a good chunk of its lifecycle but that car never really had the core verve to make its transformation into performance hatchback guise convincing. By the time the Auris emerged with its mission to cultivate a more dynamic image, the T Sport brand (which also took in versions of the Yaris and Celica) had been fazed out. In its place, and already in residence at the top of the Verso MPV and Avensis saloon line-ups, were the diesel powered T180 models. An Auris T180 seemed the logical progression. It would be wrong to think of the Auris T180 as a hot hatch, despite the fact that it isn’t lacking in raw pace. Toyota have, perhaps wisely, made a marked move away from offering focused performance versions of their mainstream models. Instead, the T180 capitalises on the impressive quality and comfort of the Auris platform by plumbing in a 175bhp 2.2-litre D-4D diesel engine. With this kind of power on tap, it was never going to be slow and the 8.1s 0-60mph acceleration is conformation that it isn’t. This is some way off Focus ST or Golf GTI pace but the diesel unit’s powerful 400Nm torque output means the Auris T180 can match the fieriest hatchbacks on in-gear acceleration and mid-range urge. In real world driving conditions when you’re accelerating on to a motorway or overtaking lorry on a B-road, the T180’s surging power delivery is ideal.

"It would be wrong to think of the Auris T180 as a hot hatch, despite the fact that it isn’t lacking in raw pace…."

The Auris is certainly a more vibrant driver’s car than the Corolla it replaced but it still comes some distance short of replicating the handling sharpness of the best steers in the family hatch class. The T180 closes the gap to an extent because Toyota took the significant step of swapping the torsion beam rear suspension on the standard models with a more advanced double wishbone multilink setup. Multilink suspension is bulkier and more expensive but it offers greater handling finesse and feel to the driver. In combination with tauter springs, larger brakes and retuned steering, the suspension brings a new level of driving enjoyment to the Auris but it’s still more of a cruiser than a bruiser. The T180 is distinguishable from standard Toyota models by its 17" alloy wheels and smoked glass headlamps. When you consider the extrovert bodykits, stripes and spoilers that many quick hatchbacks bolt on to underline their potency, you realise the Auris is a very different type of vehicle. Elsewhere, the grown-up theme continues with the sober but solidly built interior giving off a genuine air of quality. Passenger accommodation is extremely generous with good leg and headroom all-round. The rear seat backs recline for extra comfort and a flat floor means that the middle berth in the back isn’t the short straw it is in some rivals. On hearing that the Corolla name was to be pensioned off in favour of Auris, many people imagined a violent break with Toyota’s rather staid traditions in the family hatch sector. Just how adventurous was this new Auris going to be? Then the car was unveiled looking for all the world like a next generation Corolla. There was some disappointment from enthusiast observers but it’s a brave person who second guesses the mighty Toyota. After all, it hasn’t done too badly for itself of late. The Auris styling is neat and attractive on the eye with that bulging rear and sharp angular lines around the nose but not particularly groundbreaking. Well, it works for Volkswagen’s Golf. The Auris T180’s appeal is that of an understated but quick car for people who enjoy their driving but prioritise comfort, reliability and reasonable running costs. It goes up against the upper echelon of diesel family hatchbacks and, perhaps, the second strata of warm hatch performance models. It feels a quality product and at £18,395 for the three-door bodystyle or £500 more for the five-door, it’s priced as such. Equipment levels are the same as the plush T-Spirit Auris trim level with the addition of an electric sunroof. That means keyless entry and start, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, dark-sensing headlamps and cruise control. Factor-in that impressive engine as well as the addition of multilink rear suspension and it looks a desirable package. Diesel engines in family hatchbacks don’t come any more powerful than the 180bhp 2.2-litre D4-D in the T180 but it’s a modern common-rail diesel engine with Toyota’s D-CAT clean diesel technology so running costs are more than manageable. CO2 emissions are pegged at 164g/km which helps with the old tax burden but the D-CAT system and its DPNR four-way catalyst also works to incinerate nitrogen oxides and soot particles before they are released into the atmosphere. This is one of the cleanest diesels on the market with the potential to help change your carbon footprint out of its hobnail boots and into some nice sandals. The official combined fuel economy figure for the T180 is 45.6mpg, hardly a disgrace when this kind of performance is available. Then there’s the legendary Toyota reliability. This manufacturer’s products have one of the best reputations around when it comes to staying the course and there’s no reason to suspect that the Auris will be any different. The standard Auris is more exciting than its Corolla predecessor but not by much. The T180 range-topping model narrows the desirability gap to the top family hatch contenders with a powerful diesel engine and a completely different multilink rear suspension system but the core Auris strengths remain its build quality, comfort and reliability. The T180 looks very good value for money when you consider the technology you’re getting. There’s that 2.2-litre D4-D common-rail engine married to the D-CAT clean diesel system and the revised suspension set-up. It’s a fast hatchback that can certainly entertain but remains composed and refined on everyday trips. The styling doesn’t draw too much attention to the car’s impressive underlying capabilities with the T180 favouring a low key, sophisticated approach that will appeal to buyers turned off by hot hatchback excesses.

FACTS AT A GLANCE CAR: Toyota Auris T180 PRICES: £18,395-£18,895 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13A CO2 EMISSIONS: 164g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.1s / Max Speed 146mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

TOY STORY
Short on excitement but big on competence. Toyota’s Auris makes an ideal candidate for a long term test

Every family hatchback seems to have an angle these days. Ford’s Focus is positioned as the keen driver’s choice, the Honda Civic and Citroen C4 go for the high-tech approach and the Volkswagen Golf makes great play of its classless image. The Vauxhall Astra’s trump card is its sharp styling and Renault’s Megane plays it all very chic but where does all this leave the Toyota Auris? Toyota don’t appear to put as much faith in marketing spin as some, the Japanese giant usually content to manufacture a well-built, reliable product and let the market make of it what it will. It’s a state of affairs that makes the Auris an ideal candidate for a long term test.

We run a lot of cars on long term test but when we collect the keys to a Toyota, we always expect, and tend to get, a trouble free time. Toyota haven’t risen to become the world’s largest car manufacturer in waiting by accident and it’s this exemplary reliability record that has done more than anything else to propel them to greatness. All the elaborate styling, entertaining handling and advanced technology in the world is useless if the car won’t start or is plagued by niggling electrical faults. The Auris, thus far, has a pristine copybook from a reliability standpoint. So we’ve established, as far as a couple of thousand miles in a brand new car can, that the Auris is a dependable vehicle which isn’t a big surprise. It’s the other areas that go to constitute a top end family hatchback which we’re more interested in putting to the test. Drop inside the car and it’s the dramatic waterfall-effect dash instantly grabs the attention. All the major controls are mounted on the raised centre section which cascades down between the seats and also plays host to the handbrake and the gear lever. There’s nothing but fresh air and a storage bin underneath this bridge and it effectively divides the front part of the cabin in two, negating the possibility of a quick shuffle across to exit by the passenger door when you’ve parked too close to a pillar in the multi-storey. This centrepiece aside, the cabin is typically Toyota which means tough materials, sturdy-feeling controls and little trace of individuality. The build quality is out of the top draw but with higher class materials and some extra design flare applied to areas other than the dashboard centre section, it could easily be raised a notch or two.

"The Auris, thus far, has a pristine copybook from a reliability standpoint."

At the wheel, the seating is pleasantly firm and a comfortable driving position is easily achieved. The angled centre console leaves the handbrake jutting up at an unusual angle but the gearlever and other controls are within easy reach of the driver. The Auris lacks the firm suspension found on sportier feeling family hatches but for many drivers most of the time, this will be preferable. The controls are light and the springs soak up bumps with little drama but the chassis is still taut enough to brake and corner without too much pitch and roll. So long as you’re not the sort who yearns for really focused handling, the Auris is pleasantly at home in the town, the country or on the motorway. The six-speed manual transmission features some closely-stacked ratios that you’ll need to keep on top of to maintain decent torque which, with the D-4D 130 engine fitted to our model, is found in a narrowish seam between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. Fortunately, the ‘box is a joy to use. The engine isn’t the smoothest of diesel units but the punchy performance at low revs and the strong economy figure are much more satisfying. We’ve been averaging around 45mpg on out test, which has taken in a lot of fuel-sapping urban driving. In creating the Auris, Toyota’s engineers started with the passengers and then worked outwards, maximising occupant space with elements such as a flat passenger floor and high window surfaces. The all-new platform has an overall length of 4,220mm incorporating a 2,600mm wheelbase. This means that the wheelbase represents 61.6 per cent of the car’s total length. The higher the percentage, the more space is afforded to people rather than oily bits. By contrast, the current Ford Focus, a model which is generally seen as an exemplar of smart packaging in this class, has a 58.5 per cent wheelbase to length and even something like the latest SEAT Leon manages a mere 59.7 per cent figure. With an overall height of 1,515 and a width of 1,760mm, the Auris is one of the biggest family hatches around, although the shape does much to disguise this bulk. Perhaps the kindest way of describing the Auris’ exterior shape is ‘evolutionary.’ A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesn’t look broadly similar in dimension to that car. Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. While Toyota senior suits talk about J-factor, vibrant clarity and emotional identity, most of us think it represents a missed opportunity. There’s nothing ugly or off-putting about the shape or the detailing but it would have been nice for Toyota to exhibit a little more flare. The Auris may lack some of the surface sparkle that’s layered onto rival products by their respective marketing departments but those who take time out to look a little deeper will find a product that demands respect. It’s a highly inoffensive and competent vehicle that’s going to appeal to a broad section of the populace. Maybe it is unadventurous but you can forgive Toyota’s reluctance to depart too drastically from the basics that made the Corolla the world’s best selling car. The more you get to know the Auris, the more the little unexciting things that it does so well come to the fore and this rather than any grand fashion statement or technological innovation is what makes it appealing.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris D-4D 130 PRICES: £15,145-£16,905 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 144g/km PERFORMANCE: [D-4D 130] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 121mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [D-4D 130] (combined) 52mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

CAUSE AND COROLLARY
Toyota hopes that the Auris can kickstart its assault on the family hatch market. Andy Enright takes a look at the entry-level 1.4-litre VVTi petrol model

If you buy cars on a criteria purely based around sensible virtues, here’s one that should feature high up on your list. Toyota’s Auris in entry-level 1.4-litre petrol form forsakes excitement for screwed down design excellence.

Toyota has cleverly catered to their biggest audiences and gamely keeps plugging away with small cars. The Yaris range has found some favour and the Aygo is making respectable numbers but the replacement for the Corolla, the Auris, is up against some tough contenders. The 1.4-litre petrol model is the entry-level model and offers a big car feel for not a lot of money. The first impression you get when dropping into the Auris 1.4 VVTi is that this is a lot of car for not a lot of engine to send up the Queen’s highway. And so it proves. With 96bhp on tap, performance isn’t what you’d describe as vivd, but the engine is certainly game and doesn’t leave you with bleeding eardrums when you rev it hard. In fact the powerplant is rather tuneful which is just as well as you’ll need a heavy right boot to make respectable progress. Leather the Auris off the line and it’ll get to 60mph in 12.7 seconds on the way to a maximum of 106mph. The Auris’ 1.4-litre engine features VVT-i, a system that utilises computerised timing control of the inlet valves. In theory, this promotes torque at low revs and power at high engine speeds. Ride, handling and road-holding are all marginally above class average, but the steering, while accurate, doesn’t impart much in the way of feedback, robbing you of confidence when you’re really pushing on. The plus side is that it makes the Auris incredibly easy to park, helped by good all round visibility. Rather than anything extreme, the Auris’ exterior shape is ‘evolutionary.’ A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesn’t look broadly similar in dimension to that car. Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. While Toyota senior suits talk about J-factor, vibrant clarity and emotional identity, most of us think it represents a missed opportunity.

"You buy this car for its reliability and its sheer commonsense…"

The cabin has been smartened up with a clearer dash design and OPTITRON instruments but materials quality is slightly hit and miss. There’s also a significant lack of oddments stowage space. For a car that namechecks the Volkswagen Golf amongst its key rivals, the Auris is more than a little behind the curve here. On the plus side, longer overhangs offer significantly better luggage capacity (354 litres) than the old Corolla and despite the wheelbase being the same, some clever packaging sees rear legroom increase. Compared to the Corolla, the Auris is 40mm longer and 50mm wider. One particularly neat design detail is the low door profiles which help to reduce the visual effect of tallness. The 1.4-litre VVT-i engine is available with either the three or five-door body style and T2, TR or T3 trim levels. As you’d expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent. The T2 trim in three-door guise opens at £12,355 which is more than an equivalent Ford Focus but less than a similarly-engined Honda Civic. Equipment at this level includes air conditioning, front electric windows, an MP3 compatible CD stereo, anti lock brakes and 15-inch steel wheels. Trade up to the T3, which starts at £13,355 and you’ll also get rear electric windows, colour keyed mirrors and door handles, more speakers for your stereo, leather trim for the gearshift and steering wheel, audio controls on said wheel and 16-inch alloy rims. Toyota also offers three option packs for the Auris; Style, Protection and Tech. Buying the Auris is made simple by an innovative internet-based approach. Prospective customers can visit www.toyota.co.uk and use a vehicle configurator to build a new Auris to their own specification. A finance calculator then allows customers to create bespoke finance quotations based on their preferred deposit or monthly payment amount, and customers can apply for finance with Toyota Financial Services at the same time. At the same time the chosen Toyota Centre is automatically emailed to arrange a demonstration of the new Toyota Auris for the customer. Rest assured, you’re not going to lose sleep at night fretting about the running costs of an Auris 1.4 VVTi. Fuel economy is extremely reasonable as long as you’re not ragging the 1398cc four within an inch of its life. Driven sensibly, you’ll manage a combined figure of 40.9mpg with town driving dropping it to 32.5mpg and open roads seeing a 47.9mpg return. Emissions of 163g/km might not be quite as low as you were expecting but it’s still not too bad for a petrol unit, with only the diesels in the Auris range doing better in this regard. An insurance rating of Group 4 is typically one group lower than many rivals. This low insurance rating is helped by the fact that the Auris is unlikely to attract boy racers and that features like a bolt-on structure for the front bumper reinforcement makes the consequences of a front end nudge that much less costly to your insurer. Likewise, the radiator support retracts in the event of an accident to protect the cooling units from damage. In so many small cars, a light tap to the front end will split the radiator and leave the vehicle stranded. On paper, Toyota has created a very complete car in the Auris 1.4 VVTi. It reprises a formula which sold bazillions of Corollas with a little more style, safety, space and build quality. It’s not the most exciting fashion statement you can make but this design makes no apologies for that. The 1.4-litre model looks one of the best choices in the range. It’s another £1,500-odd to trade up to the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-I car which goes a little faster but why would you want to? The Auris isn’t about speed but sensibility. You buy this car for its reliability, its sheer commonsense and its excellent dealer support. Which is presumably what most family hatchback buyers on a £12,000 budget want. Isn’t it?

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris 1.4 VVT-i range PRICES: £12,355-£13,355 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 4E CO2 EMISSIONS: 163g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 12.7s / Max Speed 106mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 32.5 (extra urban) 47.9 (combined) 40.9mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

A WEEK WITH THE KEYS
A mundane week at the wheel can tell you more about a car than a million racetrack laps or Alpine excursions - as we found with our long term Toyota Auris. Steve Walker reports

The things that make you buy a car and the things that make you keep it can be quite different. Dazzled by the showroom lights, we’ll all fawn over some pretty styling or the latest piece of technological gimmickry as demonstrated by a sharply-suited sales exec. Eventually, though, the novelty of these kinds of things tends to wear off. The mark of a good car for most people is how well it fits with their lifestyle and how little it annoys in daily use. Toyota’s Auris failed to set the office alight upon its arrival but its slow burning appeal is coming to fruition nicely.

As usual, the week kicks off in inauspicious fashion with a Monday morning. The short drive into work through the thronging hordes of other road users is the one our Auris 2.0D-4D faces most regularly. You notice the engine’s gruff rumblings at idle before it’s warmed-up properly but a little heat helps as has a few thousand miles of running-in. Cold starts never seem a problem and the interminable process of clearing a field of vision through a foggy, iced-up windscreen is helped by the punchy heater. On Tuesday, it’s more of the same. The Auris performs well in urban traffic. The engine has a gutsy character bestowed upon it by its 300Nm torque output. It allows to access acceleration quickly for nipping though gaps in the traffic flow. You have to be on top of the gears because as quickly as it comes, the surge of propulsion tails off again. Then it’s time to grab the next cog and experience the whole thing again. Fortunately, the gearbox is one of the finest aspects of the Auris driving experience. Its short accurate action means you almost welcome the engine’s peak and trough power delivery. A cross-country jaunt to meet some friends in the gathering gloom of a Wednesday evening gives the Auris a chance to stretch its legs. It isn’t the most involving car to peddle along a B-road as the steering and suspension tend keep themselves to themselves and don’t really let on much about the road below. Grip is in plentiful supply though and the car corners securely, never giving you the heebie-jeebies. The driving position is comfortable for this kind of driving. Even at 6ft, you’re able to sit low down in the car and stretch out your legs, although you’d have to mark the Auris down as a competent rather than exhilarating driver’s car.

"…the Auris is confirmed as a pleasantly affordable car to run"

Back to the daily grind on Thursday and sitting at a red light, a scan of the interior underlines the core strengths of the Auris. It’s really well put together in there. No gimmicky features, incongruous trim materials or gaudy colour schemes: it’s simply well-built and sensible. The cascading centre console is an attempt to inject a little character into the Auris but the jury’s out. It positions the gear lever at a nice height, close to the wheel but the air-con and stereo controls aren’t really any more conveniently located than on a conventional dashboard. The storage space beneath does come in handy but the design divides the front of the cabin and makes the driver feel boxed in. The door pulls are a far better attempt at creativity on Toyota’s part. They’re really slick pieces of penmanship but it’s the general resilience of the Auris’s interior that stands out above any detail. As is its reputation, Toyota has built the car to last. The rear seating doesn’t tend to get over used in our Auris. A bag of shopping or a carelessly chucked jacket are the extent of its regular exertions but the boot is another matter. The rear of the car has played host to all manner of stuff and rather too much of it is still in there somewhere. A trip to the council dump before work on Friday saw the luggage area lumbered with a load of empty bottles and a box of old door handles amongst other salubrious bric-a-brac. The space is quite deep so you have to lower items in and lift them in but there’s a lot of capacity to play with and the space is uniform in shape which is handy for stacking boxes. More passengers usually come into the equation on weekends and interior space is arguably the area where the Auris excels itself most. The cabin has a flat floor, so foot room for three football team members in the back is plentiful. Even the size 12s of our 6’4" goal keeper were crammed in and that was after he drew the short straw and got the middle berth. The rear seats actually recline for a more laid-back seating position and our experience suggests that if you plan on carrying large persons in the rear seat regularly, the Auris is one of the best family hatchback choices. We reach the service station forecourt on Sunday night with another Monday looming and the Auris presents another reason to be cheerful. Its fuel economy has been excellent over the course of our long term test and there are hints that it may even be improving as the engine loosens up. We’ve been managing well over 45mpg despite the mainly urban driving that the car has been put through. The 144g/km emissions aren’t bad either for a car with this sort of performance, so the Auris is confirmed as a pleasantly affordable car to run. A week in the life of Toyota’s Auris confirms the opinion we’d formed over months and miles of driving. The car is a solid and practical package that gets the basics overwhelmingly right. There’s no question that a generous injection of design flair, both internally and externally, would be of benefit when it comes to the car’s initial courtship of potential buyers but that has never been Toyota’s style. The Auris delivers the family hatchback essentials in an unfussy manner and the more you use it, the more they are appreciated.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris D-4D 130 PRICES: £15,145-£16,905 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 6-7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 144g/km PERFORMANCE: [D-4D 130] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 121mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [D-4D 130] (combined) 52mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515

THE BUSINESS?
If Toyota’s impeccable engineered Auris is to be a success, then it must appeal to business users. Sales Manager Mark Nagel has been clocking up thousands of miles in his….

The first time I laid eyes on my new company car, Toyota’s latest Auris, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Visually, it didn’t look that different to its predecessor. But appearances can be deceptive – as I was about the find out over the next six months on the road.

The first thing I discovered about the car in general use was that it was deceptively spacious, even if at first, it’s a design that appears to be relatively compact. Quite the reverse. In fact, there’s acres of space (compared at least to other cars in the Focus/Astra-sized class) in the front, the rear & the boot. It also didn’t take long for me to appreciate how Toyota’s build quality shines through, even on small points like instrument presentation, fit of mats, the feel of the driver’s handbook and so on. The designers have really thought about the little touches too – for example, the way that the vanity lights only operate when the sun visor is angled towards driver or passenger. The marketing material that came with the car made much of its ‘floating’ instrument console set-up but I couldn’t see much practical benefit to it, or to the dash top box. Having said that, some of my colleagues rather liked the arrangement. I suppose it does at least show some design originality. On the road? Well, like most business users, I’ve been clocking up the miles in the D4-D diesel model, complete with a 2.0-litre engine which, though not able to deliver urgent performance, is certainly quite brisk as well as being relaxing and easy to drive. The handling too, is relaxed, yet capable. I was impressed also by the way that the engine is generally very quiet. The 6-speed gearbox helps here, providing very low revs at cruising speeds.

"The first thing I discovered about the car in general use was that it was deceptively spacious…."

I’ve been trying a five-door hatch but three-door versions are also on offer. Other engines in the range include a 96bhp 1.4 VVT-i unit and a 122bhp 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i powerplant that raises fuel efficiency and power output compared to the old Corolla’s 1.6-litre lump. Business users like me will ignore all of that and turn the page to see what diesels are on offer. Apart from the 130bhp 2.0-litre D4-D unit I’ve been trying, I could have opted for either a 1.4-litre D4-D, good for 89bhp or, at the top of the range, a 2.2-litre D4-D 180 which churns out 175bhp and is one of the best compact diesel engines around, offering fully 36bhp more than its 2.2-litre diesel rival, the Honda Civic. You’ll need a lot more detail than this of course, so if you’re considering this car as part of a small fleet of up to 25 vehicles in your business, it’s well worth contacting your local Toyota dealership’s Business Centre. In creating the Auris, Toyota say that their engineers started with the passengers and then worked outwards, maximising occupant space with elements such as a flat passenger floor and high window surfaces. It’s worked. My notes tell me that this car’s all-new platform has an overall length of 4,220mm incorporating a 2,600mm wheelbase. This means that the wheelbase represents 61.6 per cent of the car’s total length. The higher the percentage, the more space is afforded to people rather than oily bits. By contrast, the current Ford Focus, a model which is generally seen as an exemplar of smart packaging in this class, has a 58.5 per cent wheelbase to length and even something like the latest SEAT Leon manages a mere 59.7 per cent figure. With an overall height of 1,515 and a width of 1,760mm, the Auris is one of the biggest family hatches around, although the shape does much to disguise this bulk. Which leaves that issue of safety, a vital one for any car seeking success in this sector to crack. Look at the facts and it’s soon clear that the Auris didn’t achieve its Five Star Euro NCAP safety rating by accident. The combination of a driver knee airbag and a collapsible steering column were key factors in the 35 point, 5-star result for adult occupant protection. A ‘Minimal Intrusion’ cabin design and up to nine airbags boost its safety rating from the start and contribute to the 4-star performance this car also achieved for child occupant protection. Another key benefit in this respect is the way that ISOFIX anchorage points have been included on the outer rear seats. Euro NCAP also awarded Toyota a class-leading three out of four-star rating for pedestrian protection. Gripes? Well, at first, the gear change indicator annoyed me, but it does demonstrate the engine’s flexibility. If you learn to adapt to it, the fuel economy does improve, though not to the level of Toyota’s claims. Overall? Well, I’m not due to hand the keys back just yet and I have to say that I’m quite glad about the fact. No, this isn’t by any stretch of the imagination the most charismatic Family Hatch you can buy but it may just be the most sensible choice for business users like me when all-round ease of use and running costs are taken into account. I think, once word gets round, the Auris will sell to fleets in numbers that will be a lot greater than many rivals are reckoning on….

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris range PRICES: £12,305-£18,495 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-13A CO2 EMISSIONS: 131-166g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60mph 10.4s / Max Speed 118mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.6] (urban) 31.4mpg / (extra urban) 47.9mpg / (combined) 39.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD and BA / MICS Minimal Intrusion Cabin System WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/heightmm 4220/1760/1515

WHAT’S IN A NAME?
Quite a lot actually, as Toyota recognise with their Auris. Jonathan Crouch reports

This is where Toyota gets serious. The Auris is the marque’s family hatchback and if you’re shopping amongst Focus and Astra models, it’s a car you can’t ignore.

This was a car set out to be a class leader in every respect. Take safety. It’s the safest car in its class, having been awarded a best possible 5-star crash safety rating from Euro NCAP. More of that later. First however, you need to know that the Auris is very different to anything Toyota has offered in this sector before, running on a completely new platform designed with European markets in mind. Designed and built in Europe, this model follows on from the success enjoyed by the marque’s Verso model, a car built specifically to European tastes. It forms the vanguard of a three-pronged assault, backed up by the Avensis and Yaris, that spearheads Toyota’s quest to achieve 1.2 million sales annually across Europe by 2008. So how does the Auris stack up? Well, we know going in that it’s going to be as reliable as an atomic clock, supremely well built, ruthlessly practical and cost effective to run. But it’s also much, much more. Toyota claims a whole series of clever design features and if these can really be backed up by the usual virtues of reliability, strong residual values and exemplary safety provision, then this car could make real inroads in the Ford Focus-dominated Family Hatchback sector. In creating the Auris, Toyota’s engineers started with the passengers and then worked outwards, maximising occupant space with elements such as a flat passenger floor and high window surfaces. The all-new platform has an overall length of 4,220mm incorporating a 2,600mm wheelbase. This means that the wheelbase represents 61.6 per cent of the car’s total length. The higher the percentage, the more space is afforded to people rather than oily bits. By contrast, the current Ford Focus, a model which is generally seen as an exemplar of smart packaging in this class, has a 58.5 per cent wheelbase to length and even something like the latest SEAT Leon manages a mere 59.7 per cent figure. With an overall height of 1,515 and a width of 1,760mm, the Auris is one of the biggest family hatches around, although the shape does much to disguise this bulk.

"This needs to be a car that the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturer can be proud of…"

Credit for the design work goes to Toyota’s ED2 studio in France and claims to follow the principles of Toyota’s ‘Vibrant Clarity’ design philosophy. A decent job has been done, based on the Auris Space Concept that was shown at the Paris Auto Salon in 2006. Both three and five door bodystyles are offered along with a range of five engines. The two petrol engines comprise a 96bhp 1.4 VVT-i unit and a 122bhp 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i powerplant that raises fuel efficiency and power output compared to the Corolla’s 1.6-litre mill. Diesel buyers get to choose from three engines. The entry-level lump is the 1.4-litre D4-D, good for 89bhp. Customers then step up to a 2.0-litre D4-D 130 engine which despite its name has a power output of 124bhp and was first seen in the 2007 Avensis. Given that it drove this hefty car around with ease, it should make an Auris respectably brisk. At the top of the range is the 2.2-litre D4-D 180 which churns out 175bhp and is one of the best compact diesel engines around, offering fully 36bhp more than its 2.2-litre diesel rival, the Honda Civic. Six speed manual transmissions are fitted as standard to the two more powerful diesels but a MultiMode system with paddle shifters is offered as an option for the 1.4-litre D4-D 90 and the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i engines. Which leaves that issue of safety, a vital one for any car seeking success in this sector to crack. Look at the facts and it’s soon clear that the Auris didn’t achieve its Five Star Euro NCAP safety rating by accident. The combination of a driver knee airbag and a collapsible steering column were key factors in the 35 point, 5-star result for adult occupant protection. A ‘Minimal Intrusion’ cabin design and up to nine airbags boost its safety rating from the start and contribute to the 4-star performance this car also achieved for child occupant protection. Another key benefit in this respect is the way that ISOFIX anchorage points have been included on the outer rear seats. Euro NCAP also awarded Toyota a class-leading three out of four-star rating for pedestrian protection. Overall? Well, the Toyota Auris faces a very tough task if it’s to fulfil Toyota’s demanding expectations but don’t bet against it. This needs to be a car that the world’s biggest vehicle manufacturer can be proud of – and asks don’t come much bigger than that.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris range PRICES: £12,355-£18,545 – on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-13A CO2 EMISSIONS: 131-166g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.6] 0-60mph 10.4s / Max Speed 118mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.6] (urban) 31.4mpg / (extra urban) 47.9mpg / (combined) 39.8mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD and BA / MICS Minimal Intrusion Cabin System WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/heightmm 4220/1760/1515

TRAVELLING MERCIES
Over 3,000 miles in three weeks offered a stern test for of long term Toyota Auris. Mark Nagel reports

If you’re going to travel over 3,000 miles in three weeks, you don’t normally want to consider doing it in a humble family hatchback. So it was with some trepidation that I approached the first three weeks in August at the wheel of our long term Toyota Auris.

The first seven days involved a family trip to Oakhampton in the West Country. The following week, I had to pay for my pleasure with a daunting series of appointments around the North of England. And the final week rounded things off with the other half of my family holiday – to Bude in Cornwall. I’d asked the boss for something larger but no dice. So my 2.0-litre D4-D diesel-powered Auris it was. I shouldn’t have doubted the car but I did. It doesn’t, after all, look like a motorway-minded car. Actually though, it is. In my line of work, I get to drive a variety of models but from a driving comfort point of view, none has bettered this Toyota. I can remember particularly a string of expensive Audis that left me with back ache after a relatively short time at the wheel. Using the Auris, in contrast, was a pleasure. I was able to get out after a 500 mile stint and walk completely upright to the Burger King in the motorway service area. Brilliant. Lest this sound too much like a Toyota ad, I should point out that I wasn’t the Auris’ biggest fan when it arrived. I wasn’t completely convinced by design details like the ‘floating’ fascia panel behind the gearstick and the gearchange shift light on the dash frankly irritated me. It just shows how you can learn to live with things and end up liking them. The ‘floating’ panel is now something I point out to passengers, while in recent days, I’ve found myself almost unconsciously timing my gearchanges in line with the dash panel’s upshift lights.

"When I brim the car full of diesel, it’s at least 100 miles before the needle starts to move at all from the ‘full’ point…."

In the third week of my trek, up and down the steep roads down to the Cornish coast around Bude, I had the opportunity to further appreciate the pulling power of the Auris’ D4-D 2.0-litre diesel engine. It needed all of its 124 braked horses to make decent progress up the snaking little backroads but I noticed that it left me pulling away from virtually all following traffic every time. This would be a surprisingly good towcar. The electrically-assisted power steering is accurate and compared to the petrol models, it’s easy to feel the weight of the D4-D engine on turn-in. The six-speed manual transmission features some closely-stacked ratios that you’ll need to keep on top of to maintain decent torque which, in the D4-D 130, is found in a narrowish seam between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. Fortunately, the ‘box is a joy to use. Less delightful is the simple torsion beam rear suspension which feels a little dead. It’s illuminating that the range-topping T180 gets a fully independent rear suspension setup. Toyota quote a very respectable 52.3mpg for this punchy ‘D4-D 130’ unit and on the basis of my experience, that seems like a fair figure. When I brim the car full of diesel, it’s at least 100 miles before the needle starts to move at all from the ‘full’ point. Emissions for this car is rated at 151g/km, only 19g/km worse than the entry-level 1.4-litre D4-D unit which frankly, I’m glad I didn’t have to have. Likewise, insurance is extremely cheap, the D4-D 130 attracting a 6E banding. In creating the Auris, Toyota say that their engineers started with the passengers and then worked outwards, maximising occupant space with elements such as a flat passenger floor and high window surfaces. It’s worked. My notes tell me that this car’s all-new platform has an overall length of 4,220mm incorporating a 2,600mm wheelbase. This means that the wheelbase represents 61.6 per cent of the car’s total length. The higher the percentage, the more space is afforded to people rather than oily bits. What it all meant in family terms was that we could take slightly more stuff than the Focus we used for our holiday last year. As my wife reminded me when I tried to point out that we hadn’t got room for all the souvenirs she was buying in the Cornish antique shops. As with most potential buyers in this sector, safety’s a key consideration for me, given the necessity of long journeys with two children. Look at the facts and it’s soon clear that the Auris didn’t achieve its Five Star Euro NCAP safety rating by accident. The combination of a driver knee airbag and a collapsible steering column were key factors in the 35 point, 5-star result for adult occupant protection. A ‘Minimal Intrusion’ cabin design and up to nine airbags boost its safety rating from the start and contribute to the 4-star performance this car also achieved for child occupant protection. Another key benefit in this respect is the way that ISOFIX anchorage points have been included on the outer rear seats. Euro NCAP also awarded Toyota a class-leading three out of four-star rating for pedestrian protection. Overall? Well I’m a lot more loth these days to surrender the keys of my Toyota, even when something more prestigious rolls up in the carpark. My national meanderings have left me with a healthy respect for the Auris. No, it’s not cutting edge to drive or particularly charismatic. But it does what it’s supposed to do better than any other car in its sector I’ve tried. And I’ll take that combination of virtues any day. So, by the way, will my passengers….

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris 2.0 D4-D 130 PRICES: £15,145-£16,905 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 6 CO2 EMISSIONS: 144g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 121mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 52.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS with EBD and BA / MICS Minimal Intrusion Cabin System WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/heightmm 4220/1760/1515

REPORTIN’ FOR DUTY SR
It’s the flagship of the Auris range but the SR180 doesn’t make much of a fuss. Beneath the sober exterior, though, there’s a fast and highly advanced family hatchback bursting to get out. Steve Walker reports….

More than just another Toyota Auris, the SR180 version offers a 175bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 400Nm of torque and multilink rear suspension for a sportier driving experience. It’s comfortable, well-built and understated compared to rivals with similar performance but it can still entertain when the need arises.

A central part of the remit given to the development team behind Toyota’s Auris was to inject some fire into its belly and some panache into its public image. More than any other Auris model, the onus of achieving this falls on the SR180. This is a rather spicier development of the original Auris T180 featuring Toyota Motorsport lowered suspension springs giving the car a ground-hugging stance. Buyers also get a neat rear spoiler positioned atop the tailgate and dark-tinted rear privacy glass. There’s also five-spoke 17-inch alloys and a choice of body colours including an über-cool Pure White. Despite all of this, it would still be wrong to think of the Auris SR180 as a hot hatch, despite the fact that it isn’t lacking in raw pace. Toyota have, perhaps wisely, made a marked move away from offering focused performance versions of their mainstream models. Instead, the SR180 capitalises on the impressive quality and comfort of the Auris platform by plumbing in a 175bhp 2.2-litre D-4D diesel engine. With this kind of power on tap, it was never going to be slow and the 8.1s 0-60mph acceleration is conformation that it isn’t. This is some way off Focus ST or Golf GTI pace but the diesel unit’s powerful 400Nm torque output means the Auris SR180 can match the fieriest hatchbacks on in-gear acceleration and mid-range urge. In real world driving conditions when you’re accelerating on to a motorway or overtaking lorry on a B-road, the SR180’s surging power delivery is ideal.

"It would be wrong to think of the Auris SR180 as a hot hatch, despite the fact that it isn’t lacking in raw pace…."

This Auris is certainly a more vibrant driver’s car than you might expect, mainly because Toyota have taken the significant step of swapping the torsion beam rear suspension on the standard models with a more advanced double wishbone multilink setup. Multilink suspension is bulkier and more expensive but it offers greater handling finesse and feel to the driver. In combination with tauter springs, larger brakes and retuned steering, the suspension brings a new level of driving enjoyment to the Auris but it’s still more of a cruiser than a bruiser. Elsewhere, the grown-up theme continues with the sober but solidly built interior giving off a genuine air of quality. Passenger accommodation is extremely generous with good leg and headroom all-round. The rear seat backs recline for extra comfort and a flat floor means that the middle berth in the back isn’t the short straw it is in some rivals. The Auris SR180’s appeal is that of an understated but quick car for people who enjoy their driving but prioritise comfort, reliability and reasonable running costs. It goes up against the upper echelon of diesel family hatchbacks and, perhaps, the second strata of warm hatch performance models. It feels a quality product and at £18,045 for the three-door bodystyle or £500 more for the five-door, it’s priced as such. Equipment levels are the same as the plush T-Spirit Auris trim level with the addition of an electric sunroof. That means keyless entry and start, dual zone climate control, rain-sensing wipers, dark-sensing headlamps and cruise control. Factor-in that impressive engine as well as the addition of multilink rear suspension and it looks a desirable package. Diesel engines in family hatchbacks don’t come any more powerful than the 175bhp 2.2-litre D4-D in the SR180 but it’s a modern common-rail diesel engine with Toyota’s D-CAT clean diesel technology so running costs are more than manageable. CO2 emissions are pegged at 164g/km which helps with the old tax burden but the D-CAT system and its DPNR four-way catalyst also works to incinerate nitrogen oxides and soot particles before they are released into the atmosphere. This is one of the cleanest diesels on the market with the potential to help change your carbon footprint out of its hobnail boots and into some nice sandals. The official combined fuel economy figure for the SR180 is 45.6mpg, hardly a disgrace when this kind of performance is available. Then there’s the legendary Toyota reliability. This manufacturer’s products have one of the best reputations around when it comes to staying the course and there’s no reason to suspect that the Auris will be any different. The standard Auris is more exciting than its Corolla predecessor but not by much. The SR180 range-topping model narrows the desirability gap to the top family hatch contenders with a powerful diesel engine and a completely different multilink rear suspension system but the core Auris strengths remain its build quality, comfort and reliability. The SR180 looks very good value for money when you consider the technology you’re getting. There’s that 2.2-litre D4-D common-rail engine married to the D-CAT clean diesel system and the revised suspension set-up. It’s a fast hatchback that can certainly entertain but remains composed and refined on everyday trips. The styling doesn’t draw too much attention to the car’s impressive underlying capabilities with the SR180 favouring a low key, sophisticated approach that will appeal to buyers turned off by hot hatchback excesses.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Auris SR180 PRICES: £18,045-£18,545 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 13A CO2 EMISSIONS: 164g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.1s / Max Speed 146mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 45.6mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515