Toyota Auris 1.6XR tested in South Africa 2015
What is it?
Still Toyota’s flagship hatch model tasked with fulfilling as many roles as one can dream up. For the youth the Toyota Auris needs to be upbeat and something to aspire to but also frugal and practical for the more grown up and conservative. It must appeal to the emotional part of your brain and the other sensible half. Ostensibly, if you want to see what technology Toyota has in the pipeline, the Auris is where you’ll see it first.
What’s it like?
Visually the Toyota Auris exudes a sporty stance with less clutter involved in its latest design. To achieve this some established tricks are used; numerous horizontal elements and slimmer airdams emphasise the car’s extremities, creating the impression of something more road-hugging. Combined with inched-up dimensions, the Toyota Auris has a more commanding presence while still retaining a strong sense of Toyota’s corporate identity. Add in a splash of vibrant colours like citrus yellow and it’s sure to raise a few eyebrows.
Sadly though there’s little substance behind its sporty pretences. The engine range hasn’t received the sort of advancements that its peers have, defiantly steadfast in its non-turbo configurations. We drove the 1.6 normally aspirated engine which despite 97kW, yields between 15Nm or 80Nm compared to the smaller capacity Golf VII 1.2TSI or the similar capacity Ford Focus 1.5 Ecoboost. To its credit it didn’t require much rowing through the cogs and its 0-100km/h of 10.0 seconds remains competitive – taking out frustrations on the 6000rpm redline is deeply satisfying. Its apparent weakness is fuel consumption – we’ll reserve judgement until we drive it on test – and the lofty carbon emissions which incurs a small tax on the sticker price. Fleet operators will most likely take the bulk of 1.3-litre engines while subjectively a hybrid option remains the car’s USP.
The Toyota Auris drives very confidently, making up for a slight absence of engagement with solid construction and composed ride with very little noise intrusion. Steering feedback has tightened up; now it is responsive and accurate while the gearbox finds the next cog with little coercion, married to a light clutch action.
Inside there’s more positive news designed around keeping things simple and logical. This is a car you can jump in and have everything set to your preference within the first 500 metres. A sophisticated screen sits flush in a black piano surround, displaying bright graphics and offering a plethora of compatibility modes. Because of its position, those usual stubborn corner buttons are easily found. In the higher spec models the dual climate system has wonderful tactile feel.
The seats are supportive and offer a wide range of settings (and seat warmers) but don’t them to immerse you in the action. The only interior disappointment is that the doors look a bit sparse and are made from cheap plastic, and rear headroom is poor.
Should I buy one?
Despite the improvements it still seems unlikely that the Toyota Auris is about to mount a serious challenge on the segment leaders. Whether for the right reasons, buyers are attracted to turbo engine technology and those truly concerned about fuel consumption will rather opt for a diesel than a hybrid. There’s nothing truly innovative on offer although we suspect with current partnership tie-ups with BMW and Mazda, that could soon change. As a no frills package with good specification and strong brand integrity, the Toyota Auris is a safe bet.
Pricing Toyota Auris 2015
Auris X – R223 700
Auris Xi – R249 100
Auris Xs – R259 800
Auris Xr – R287 700
Auris Xr CVT – R301 700
The new Auris benefits from a three-year/100 000 km warranty. All Auris models come standard with a five-year/ 90 000 km service plan.
