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Toyota Auris facelift: Test Drive Review

Date: 09 March 2010   |   Author: Rachel Burgess

Category: Lower medium
P11D price: £15,790
Key rival: Ford Focus

Toyota's lower medium Auris should be its strongest offering in the fleet market if competitor sales of the VW Golf and Ford Focus are anything to go by.

Yet last year, its upper medium Avensis sibling outsold the Auris by more than 700 units. With the introduction of its second-generation Auris, the Japanese carmaker hopes to make the car more appealing to corporate customers.

There are a host of improvements, including a better quality interior and a more dynamic exterior. The front end has a new bonnet, radiator grille, headlamps, bumper and spoiler while the rear bumper corners are extended outwards.

There are three engines on offer from the on-sale date: a 1.3 and 1.6 petrol and a 1.4 diesel. The real disappointment here is the car's emissions. Ranging from 125g/km in 1.4 diesel to 146g/km in 1.6 petrol, these figures do not compete with the Golf and Focus equivalents.

However, in July, Toyota will introduce a hybrid version called HSD (Hybrid Synergy Drive), emitting 89g/km CO2

The carmaker claims this will become its "flagship" model, appealing to user choosers, but, no doubt, it will also come at a yet-to-be-announced price premium.

In the meantime, prices range from £14,463-£16,495 with petrol models staying the same price as the car's predecessor.

The mid-range TR trim will be most popular with business car users while the step up, SR, has been brought in to appeal to a younger audience.

None of the engines offend - the 1.3 drives better than expected for an engine better suited to Auris' younger sibling the Yaris.

In terms of looks and drive, the Auris is an improvement on its predecessor and is more or less faultless. But it doesn't excite and many will still opt for a VW Golf or Ford Focus in this competitive sector.

Toyota Auris 1.6 TR V-Matic 5dr
P11D price£15,790
Model price range£14,473-£16,495
Fuel consumption42.8mpg
CO2 (tax) 153g/km (18%)
BIK 20/40% per month£47/£95
Service interval10,000mls
Insurancegroup 15 (new 1-50 ratings)
Warranty 3yrs/60,000mls
Boot space min/max 354/761 litres
Engine size/power1598cc/130hp
Top speed/0-62mph 121mph/10.0secs
On sale March 2010
Score7/10
VerdictGood, but not as good
as its key competitors


Verdict


Good, but not as good as its key competitors
7/10

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