Alternative review of Toyota Auris

More than any model before it, Toyota's latest Auris is on a mission to be all things to all people; well most things to a lot of people would be more accurate. This car had the unenviable job of replacing the company's Corolla, a world best seller in the tightly-fought family hatchback segment. Since its introduction in 1966, over 30 million Corollas found homes around the world. A staggering number. The Auris is unlikely to replicate those kinds of sales but it might well be an even more significant model for Toyota in the UK where the Corolla was never a huge seller. The Auris aims to lower this model's average ownership age with a more dynamic look and feel as well as a series of practical features designed to help Toyota poach sales from other marques in the Focus and Astra-dominated family hatchback sector. My first impression was that the car was a facelifted Corolla, but upon closer inspection, I found that the style and design changes were far-reaching. After a day or two, the shape began to really grow on me - to the point where I now regard the Auris as one of the best looking cars in this part of the market. In a sea of mundane-looking family hatches, that's a great selling point.

Toyota's family hatchbacks have always been eminently practical propositions. The old Corolla was probably the greatest exposition of the car as an example of white goods: unexciting, utterly reliable and representing the classic 'low involvement' buying decision. Basically, it was a vehicle bought by people who had no interest or affection for cars. The gentle curves are cleaner on the latest cars which have a deeper bumper that can house integrated fog lights, a more shapely bonnet and headlamps swept back into the wings. The cabin design is more striking, mainly thanks to the unusual dashboard design which raises the controls for the stereo and ventilation system up and within easier reach of the driver. The gearstick also falls more easily to hand thanks to the elevated centre console but you can forget about sliding across the cabin to exit via the passenger door when you've crammed the Auris into a parking space that's a bit too tight. Build quality is as good as anything in the sector and these facelifted models highlight this more effectively through the use of classier materials. There's soft touch plastic for the dash top and a nice silver finish for the eye-catching centre console. The floor of the Auris is flat so there's more foot room for back seat passengers than in most family hatchback models. In general, you wont want for head or legroom in any of the car's five seats and hatchback customers who regularly travel fully-loaded will appreciate this spacious design. The rear seat backrests even recline to make those in the back more comfortable and there's a healthy 354-litre boot behind. I thought the build quality to be impressive - easily up to the standard set by the class-leading Volkswagen Golf. The cabin features silicone-damped grab handles, soft-touch plastics on the fascia and doors that say thunk rather than ding when they close. Closer inspection showed little evidence of corner cutting. It's easy to obtain a comfortable driving position and the sheer ease and intuitiveness of all the minor controls is a testament to Toyota's understanding of how we interact with a car. There are no awkwardly located buttons that will have you fumbling around in the dark for or storage areas that will fling an apple Danish into your lap at the first twitch of the steering wheel.

There isn't a great deal in the engine range to spark the interest of the keen driver these days but if efficiency is your thing, the Auris has some tricks up its sleeve. Opening proceedings is the 1.33-litre petrol engine with VVT-i variable valve timing and Toyota's Stop & Start technology. It's got 100bhp and can take the Auris through the 0-60mph sprint in 13.1s. Next up is the 130bhp 1.6-litre V-Matic petrol model. It's the quickest Auris engine with a 0-60mph sprint of 10s and a 121mph top speed. It's also a very clever piece of engineering with the timing of both inlet and exhaust valves precisely controlled by computer along with the amount of valve lift. Finally, it's the model's 1.4-litre D-4D common-rail injection diesel, a 90bhp engine that still has more torque than both of the petrol units. Here the big sprint takes 11.9s. At the top of the range, there's even a frugal hybrid version.

Most definitely. The Auris has just the sort of practical attributes I like without being so bland that it extinguishes the will to live nor so racy my neighbours will think I've just divorced the old man. More of the same then from Toyota, but with an added - and very welcome - sparkle.

TOP 5 AURIS DEALS

The results below show the top AURIS deals on buyacar

Toyota Auris 1.6 V-Matic TR 5dr Hatchback
Price £9,040 Read Auris Reviews	Save £6,055
Toyota Auris 1.33 Dual VVTi TR 5dr Hatchback
Price £10,040 Read Auris Reviews	Save £6,685
Toyota Auris 1.4 D-4D TR 5dr MM Diesel Hatchback
Price £15,961 Read Auris Reviews	Save £2,824
Toyota Auris 1.6 V-Matic TR 5dr MM Hatchback
Price £10,340 Read Auris Reviews	Save £7,600
Toyota Auris 1.6 V-Matic SR 5dr Hatchback
Price £10,540 Read Auris Reviews	Save £5,560
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