Toyota is hoping to lure new customers into their lair with a huge emphasis on low cost of ownership. Starting with obscenely low initial price tags, £11,994 for entry T2 three doors mated to the 1.4 petrol engines, rising to £18, 795 for the flagship T180 five doors. Further savings are made in low insurance groups - all falling between 4E and 7E apart from the T 180’s that leap into the 13A bracket, plus top residual values predicted by CAP monitor. OK that’s fine but what do you get for your money?
Well, all Auris’s come with nine airbags, remote central locking, air conditioning, audio system with CD player, folding and reclining seats, electric front windows and electric adjustable door mirrors. Shelve out another grand for the T3 and the Auris develops 16 inch alloy wheels, leather trim surrounds, heated door mirrors, remote audio controls on the steering wheel, colour coded door handles and mirrors, front fog lamps and electric rear windows on the five door models. The T Spirit is more technically advanced, equipped with dusk sensing headlights, rain sensing wipers, cruise control with speed limiter, drivers Smart Entry and Start System, auto dimming rear view mirror, dual zone automatic air conditioning and different design on the 16 inch alloy wheels. That’s an impressive list of equipment for just £900 over the T3 and my money is on this trim to be the most popular.
This could well see the giant VW mob scuttling back to the drawing board. Maybe on price but not so much in exterior looks as the Auris lacks the “wow” factor one would expect on a brand new model. Nothing really sets the Auris out from the crowd and is certainly no head turning, show-stopping kind of car. But where the Auris will claw back and positively woo, so far possible unimpressed customers, is the innovative and simply wonderful interior. This is thanks to a stunning new design of the central console aimed for drivers ease and sees the gear lever plus handbrake positioned in such a way, they appear to be suspended from the central console. This not only aids the driver but also frees up a whole load of space for extra storage solutions all busy family’s need, which I hasten to add, is in abundance on the Auris. The seats are height adjustable and with a high entry point as seen on the Yaris, all drivers will achieve an ideal driving position in addition to a great command of the road ahead.
Drive wise, we were privy to the 1.6 litre petrol mated to a five speed manual gearbox that really could have done with another gear, and the 2.0 litre 130 diesel on a six speed manual gearbox and this was my favourite. It drove well than the petrol variant, with excellent suspension giving a smooth and comfortable ride. Add on the electric power steering that only needs 2.9 turns lock to lock, I was in my element knowing those parking bays back home will pose no problems.
The Auris is the fifth Toyota model to gain the top five star award for adult occupant protection plus four stars for child occupant protection and three stars for pedestrian safety. This is an incredible achievement for a brand new model and Toyota must be gleaming with delight. The airbags mentioned earlier also include, for the first time, a driver’s knee airbag, and other measures for occupant safety include Whiplash Injury Lessening on the front seats, a minimum Intrusion Cabin Structure as well as side impact beams on all doors, plus head impact protection structure in the roof, side and pillar. All seats have height adjustable head restraints while securing the children are Isofix child seat mountings, three point seatbelts with pretensioners, load limiters, emergency locking retractors and child proof locks on the rear doors. Keeping the Auris safely on the road is ABS, EBD, in addition to Brake Assist, while Vehicle Stability Control and Retraction Control is standard on the T180, but an optional extra on the other models.
Securing the Auris is remote double central locking, transponder key engine, Immobiliser and VIN markings, with a remote alarm on T3 upward and the Smart Entry and Start System on T Spirit upwards.
To replace a hugely successful best selling car such as the Corolla is a challenge to any manufacturer. But Toyota has pulled an ingot out of stone with the new Auris, quite possibly a 24 caret one at that. Competing is such a hugely competitive market and meeting the standards of these every increasing demanding families, the Auris, despite its non-committal looks, will sell by the droves. Why? Because families will fall in love with the interior design, the copious amounts of clever storage solutions, the practicality this family hatchback has along with the drive. But cementing their decision will be low cost of ownership. From a very liberal price tag, to savings at the pumps; lower insurance quotes and high re-sale predictions. This is exactly what a family needs in its family car.
Jackie Violet