Toyota Auris
New hatchback aims to be better to drive
SINCE IT ARRIVED in 2007 as the replacement for the long-running Corolla, the Toyota Auris has been an also-ran in the family hatchback class – at least in the UK. Indeed, while it’s a popular choice in other parts of the world, last year on these shores the Auris was outsold by the rival Ford Focus at a rate of more than ve to one. But now the game is being reset because, like the Focus (see page 10), the Auris is being renewed.
Under the skin, the new Auris is closely related to Toyota’s small SUV, the C-HR, which is encouraging given that this is one of the better-handling cars of its kind.
What’s more, this third-generation Auris is longer and lower than its predecessor, in an effort to make it look more purposeful, and it features a distinctive front grille that was apparently inspired by a catamaran’s hull.
Much of the Auris’s increased length comes from the front and rear axles being pushed farther apart, so there should be more space inside for both people and luggage.and there will need to be, because the current car’s rear seats are decidedly cramped for taller adults.
Perhaps the biggest news, though, is that there will be no diesel option, with Toyota citing rapidly falling demand in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal and a general shift to hybrid cars; in fact, 41% of Toyota’s European sales in 2017 were hybrid models.
Fitting with this pattern, you can have the new Auris with the 121bhp hybrid powertrain from the Prius, combining a 1.8-litre petrol engine with an electric motor, or with a new 178bhp 2.0-litre hybrid set-up that will bring steering wheel-mounted gearshift paddles.
The only conventional engine will be the 114bhp turbocharged 1.2-litre petrol unit that’s the pick of the range in the current Auris, due to its attractive pricing, decent real-world fuel economy and exible performance.the 1.2 will also be the only version of the new Auris with a manual gearbox; the hybrids both feature a new CVT automatic.
Automatic emergency braking will be standard across the range. Plus, all versions of the new Auris are likely to get an interior that echoes the C-HR’S in featuring Toyota’s 7.0in Touch 2 infotainment and navigation system, set high up on the dashboard. We like the screen’s placement in the C-HR, because it means you don’t have to look down to see it, but we’ve found the interface clunky, with sluggish responses and some ddly icons that are tricky to select on the move.
Pricing for the new Auris is still to be con rmed, but we’d expect it to be similar to that of the current car, which costs from £20,155, simply because the Auris competes in an incredibly competitive sector. Indeed, even with no increase, the Auris would still be more expensive than the cheapest Vauxhall Astra or Volkswagen Golf. However, it will come with the reassurance of a ve-year, 100,000-mile warranty, whereas Vauxhall and VW offer only three years and 60,000 miles of cover.
There were fears that production of the Auris might be moved out of the UK, but Toyota has now con rmed that the new car will be built at its factory in Derbyshire.
A new Auris Touring Sports estate is expected to arrive soon after the hatchback goes on sale, while the Corolla name is set to be revived on an Auris-based saloon that will take up the baton from the outgoing Avensis.the current Auris Touring Sports is a practical choice, but rivals such as the Seat Leon ST and Skoda Octavia Estate offer considerably more space and are better to drive.
‘There won’t be a diesel option in the new Auris, due to falling demand’