We review the Toyota Auris from price to economy and all its features
AS the recriminations over 8.5million recalls continued in the US, Toyota finally had something to celebrate this week — the new British-built Auris hatchback.
It seems to have all the virtues that had previously made Toyota a byword for reliability and quality.
Auris not lost ... model is a big step forward
The new Auris is a crucial car for Toyota and their thousands of British workers. They are looking to sell more than 117,000 in Europe this year and they badly need it to be a success.
In less than a month Toyota have found that years of exemplary performance and a worldwide reputation for outstanding quality is suddenly being questioned because of a series of recalls.
The reality is that millions of cars from just about every manufacturer are recalled globally every year. In the majority of cases, including the latest Toyota situation, there are only a handful of incidents and the majority of cars are running normally. The re-call is just a sensible and necessary precaution.
Toyota know that the only way to regain their reputation is to fix the problem as quickly as possible.
In the UK by Friday — just over a week since starting rectification work — they’ll have sorted 50,000 cars.
Toyota have also taken major steps to improve quality control and the new Auris is the first to benefit from changes that include a final 50-point check list on every vehicle.
Toyota’s shakedown test track for finished cars at Burnaston in Derbyshire has had extra bumps added to replicate the poor road conditions of British roads.
So have all the changes worked?
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THE first thing to report is that the Auris test drive was problem free.
It was faultless mechanically and the car was also a step forward in several other key areas.
Ironically one of Toyota’s aims was to make the Auris sexier and sportier, a criticism of the model it replaces and of the brand in general.
But right now conservative, sensible and reliable are all qualities they desperately want to be associated with again.
However it does look more dynamic. It has had a major face-lift at the front, with an edgier new bonnet, swept-back headlights, a more aggressive grille and a lower spoiler. The rear has also been enhanced with sharper curves to the bumper and a new tail-light cluster.
Inside, the cabin has racier main dials and a smart new centre console finished in metallic trim. Toyota have also upgraded all trim and plastics with soft-touch materials.
Toyota say they have reacted to customer feedback and changed a number of things, including the design of the handbrake to make it easier to use.
They have improved the driving package by re-tuning the suspension and steering, making high speeds and cornering more stable and agile.
The engine range will remain the same with a 1.3 and 1.6- litre petrol and a 1.4 diesel, but a new hybrid version, with a 1.8-litre petrol and electric motor, will join the line-up later this year.
Which you choose depends on your driving style, the 1.3 petrol fits into the adequate category, but gets stop/start technology that boosts economy to nearly 49 mpg, the 1.6 is the sportier engine with 42.8 mpg and the diesel is for maximum economy at just over 60 mpg.
It’s on sale this month, with prices from £14,463 for the 1.3 petrol up to £16,495 for the hot SR and £17,745 for the range-topping 1.4 diesel TR.