2018 Toyota Auris reviewed
The car in the picture is the 2018 Toyota Auris. Now, before we get into this review we thought we’d look up what the word “Auris” actually means. What we found is that it means ear – so now you know.
The 2018 Toyota Auris starts from around £16k which we have to say is pretty reasonable for this type of car. However, for your £16k what you’ll be getting is a car that has absolutely no equipment on it and comes with a puny engine. You don’t even get things like Bluetooth or an infotainment screen. So, you’re better off going for the Business version which pretty much gives you all that you need. The only problem with this is that the Business trim starts at a whopping £21k! All of a sudden the Auris becomes a lot less completive. In terms of the kit on the Business model you get a plethora of extras such as heated seats and an infotainment screen.
In terms of the general interior we actually quite like it. We like the way it has a flat dash and that it has a really sporty feel to it. The quality of the materials are good too with plenty of soft touch plastics dotted around the place. The leather on the steering wheel also feels nice and the arm-rests are pretty yielding. Overall the cabin is quite a nice place to be with a nice sturdy feel to it which you’d expect from a Toyota. Practicality-wise this car is up there with other cars in its class so expect large big door bins and decent storage.
When you take a look around the back the first thing you’ll notice is that the rear doors don’t open all that wide which is a bit of a pain if you’re trying to manoeuvre in a child seat or elderly relative. However, once you do manage to sit in the back you’ll find that space is absolutely fine with plenty of leg and head room. However, as a note, if you opt for a sunroof then this can eat into your headspace somewhat. What’s great about the back of this car is that the floor is completely flat, that’s to say there’s no transmission tunnel getting in the way of your feet. The only slight problem with this particular car is that the body is quite narrow and that means that when you try and squeeze three adults in the back it can feel a bit tight on shoulder room. Another small gripe is that there is no ski-hatch which can be quite handy to have. However, it’s not really a priority in this type of car.
Around at the back, the boot has a capacity which is not really up there with class rivals such as the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia or the Honda Civic. It’s got a useful square shape to it which means it’s quite easy to load things into it and there’s not much of a load lip which is also handy. There’s also quite a few useful features dotted around such as tethering points, hooks, a 12v socket and under floor storage. If you fold down the seats then the loading bay is pretty flat but there’s a slight difference in height between the floor and the seats. However, you can still easily push things from the back to the front easily.
We now know what this car is like on the inside but what’s the Toyota Auris like to drive? First impressions is that this car is quite easy to drive around in town. The steering is very light, the gearshift is very positive and the pedals are nice and responsive. The brakes do a good job without being too grabby which is also good. However, one thing you do need to watch out for is the engines. The 1.3 litre petrol and 1.4 litre diesel are just so mind numbingly slow that they’ll just drive you crazy. Also, these cars are fitted with really basic suspension which is no more sophisticated on those that you’d find on a child’s toy car! When you go over bumps you’ll find yourself bumping all over the place and the car actually skips if you go over a bump while cornering which is really unnerving. The more expensive versions get much better suspension which makes this car really smooth over bumps which is fine. The one we’re reviewing for this article is the 1.2 which has much better suspension and a turbo charged petrol engine. Not only is this car really smooth but it’s nippy too and returns a “real-world” 41 miles to the gallon (mpg). This then is the engine we would recommend to our readers. If you’re going to do loads of miles then you’re probably going to want to opt for the 1.6 litre diesel which is fairly punchy while being economical. The only downside is that it’s a little bit noisy. If the noise bothers you then you could always opt for the hybrid and run it on electric power alone.
When you head out on the motorway the Auris is absolutely fine. If you’ve got one of the more powerful engines then you can easily drive along at quite a reasonable pace. The ride is comfortable but the one thing that stands out as being a little annoying is the fact that you do get quite a bit of wind-whistle around the windscreen area. Unfortunately, we don’t think the Auris is quite as quiet to travel in as the Vauxhall Astra but it’s alright enough.
You might be wondering what the Toyota Auris is like when you encounter a twisty road. If so, we can tell you that it actually does alright in this department. You’ll find that it grips well and there’s little body-roll. However, what we can’t say is that it’s a fun experience. In fact, there’s no fun to this car in any way, shape or form. So, if you’re comparing the Auris with something like a SEAT Leon then you’d opt for the Leon every time as it’s simply more entertaining to drive. Hatchback cars can be fun but the Auris can only be described as an A to B car and it does this competently.
If you visit DesperateSeller.co.uk then you can get some really good deals on a used Toyota Auris but should you buy one? Well, the Toyota Auris is certainly worth considering. It’s a pretty decent car although there are other hatchbacks on the market which are better.
