Toyota Auris Hatchback 2007 - Present

The Auris is Toyota's small family offering. It's a tough market to be in with the likes of the Focus, Astra and Civic all plying their trade. Replacing the Corolla, Toyota knew that they needed something good to stand any chance in his market and with the Auris they've easily made that level, if it's exceptional is likely to be a personal rating.

The Auris looks fairly bland as it sits by the kerb, you would easily miss it while walking the pavement, or driving through town, but that plays into it's charm somehow. There is something about the Auris that exudes a confidence.

On the inside the car offers room and comfort to all of it's occupants. The standard models suffer a little from their soft suspension, resulting in a more lively ride. The T180 has a superior suspension set up and the ride is considerably improved. The steering is accurate and the poise of the car gives assurance that the car will make the corner with room to spare. The road noise is kept low and although the engine can permeate the cabin it never does so to the extent that it is detrimental to the drive.

The engine options start with the 1.4 petrol, which although a little pedestrian is a decent start point for the range, offering 106 mph top speed. The 1.6 unit will take you from standing to 60 in just over 10 seconds and tops out at 118mph. The smart money will probably opt for one of the diesel units which offer a great balance of power and economy. Those looking for power should opt for the 2.2 180 bhp diesel which offer 0 - 60 in 7.8 and a top speed of 131mph, while still returning 45 mpg. If you're not looking to win any races the 1.4 will be more than adequate with a very frugal 56 mpg and 11.6 seconds and 109 mph for it's performance figures.

Inside the car the materials used are all top quality and the feel is once again one of confidence. As the owner of this car you're assured that your passengers are going to be pleasantly surprised, with the level of comfort and room within, especially if you have a model with split air conditioning to ensure that the cabin is always at the right temperature. T
he boot is a nice size and the seats folding almost flat at the touch of a button make the space inside extremely versatile.
That the Auris isn't top of it's particular class is a testament to how good the current crop of small family car really are.

Make no mistake though the Auris is knocking on the door and has to be considered a contender. If you're looking for a small family car you really should be taking one for a test drive.

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