'MY' Toyota Auris - the one assigned to me for a weekend test drive in southern England in February - must have been practically running on air by the time I returned it. For in a little over a day and a half I covered something like 550 km on a tankful of petrol.
No, this was no frugal diesel but the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i with power uprated to 124 bhp and quite decent torque (pulling power) of 157 Nm. Most of it was not covered on motorways but in quaint country roads (with restricted speeds) and lots of stops and starts.
It was a memorable weekend, taking in a drive down to Brighton from my base near Gatwick, south of London, on the Friday afternoon and then a nine-hour trip the next day taking in the market towns of Winchester and Salisbury, with a detour down to Beaulieu and the National Motor Museum near Southampton, returning to base via the M3 and M25.
All this was greatly assisted by a TomTom GPS in the car (especially for locating the hotel, until I got used to the roads). Still, the roads are well signposted (if you know where you're going) and I managed to locate Beaulieu simply by following the (plentiful) signs when you get to Southampton.
But what of this new Toyota? The Japanese carmaker that is set to overtake General Motors this year as the biggest carmaker by volume wanted to make a clean break for its lower medium hatchback in Europe from the 'traditional' Corolla. To an extent I agree that, once you are launching a new model, it should have a new name.
Yet it takes so long and so much money to build a brand, conventional thinking is that you should hold on to it, unless you want to make a clean break. Which is what the Auris is. Following the architecture of the Yaris, this is a car that stands taller, with shorter front and rear overhangs, yet retains its Toyota identity. Although there is a clear similarity with the Corolla, it is refreshingly different, with its own personality.
What all this means is that you have masses of interior space in a well designed package. I was immediately struck by the 'bridge' concept centre console with the handbrake at an angle. What this means in practice is that the gear lever - in my case a five-speed manual (you get a six-speed on the big diesels or the option of MultiMode automatic transmission) - is much higher than normal (a good 20 cm) and comes so much more easily to hand.
Further up the centre console are the air-conditioning controls (dual zone is also available) and your radio CD (you also get steering controls). There is masses of interior space, good head room and also lots or rear legroom, plus the option to increase the already large (354 litres) boot compartment by lowering the rear seats, getting 761 litres of space.
The comprehensive instrument panel in high visibility orange is a combination of conventional dials for your speedo and rev counter, and digital readings for your fuel and temperature gauge. The steering wheel is both tilt and reach adjustable, and the seats are similarly flexible to enable you to find your optimum driving position.
I tend to go for better shoulder support and a relatively high position - but that is a matter of taste. All round visibility is fine, although the front quarter window is really only useful for looking out of the passenger side. You will find that it is easy to get comfortable in this new Toyota.
On the road, the Auris handles well - given the type of driving conditions I faced: temperatures from as low as 5°C with a mixture of dry and wet roads. This is a willing engine with acceptable acceleration and good power especially at low and medium engine speeds.
The ride is reassured and I felt that even after a long day at the wheel I was not unduly fatigued or stressed but, on the other hand, quite relaxed. The brakes are reassuringly solid, including standard anti-lock (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA).
In terms of safety, the Auris comes with up to nine airbags, including driver's knee airbag, and it goes almost without saying that this is a car that obtained five stars in the Euro-NCAP crash test.
Ultimately, it is up to the market to give its verdict, but the Toyota name will certainly give it a head start. This is a car for families, being a full five-seater, and given the crowded market segment it is in, this is a car that also has to stand out. The Auris will grow on you and I am convinced we will be seeing quite a few of them on local roads before too long.
So, why not go over to the magnificent new Michael Debono Ltd showroom in Zebbug and ask for a test drive?
At a glance
Engine type: 1.6-litre four-cylinder double overhead camshaft Dual VVT-i, four valves per cylinder.
Suspension: Front: independent, L-arm McPherson struts, anti-roll bar. Rear: torsion beam, coil springs and dampers. Double wishbone on D-4D 180.
Braking system: Front: discs ventilated 273 mm diameter x 26 mm thick. Rear: solid discs 270 mm diameter x 10 mm thick. Max. power output: 124 bhp at 6,000 rpm. Max. torque: 157 Nm at 5,200 rpm. Acceleration, 0-100 km/h: 10.4 seconds. Max. speed: 190 km/h. Fuel consumption (litres/100 km), mixed cycle: 7.1 Carbon dioxide emissions (g/km): 166. Environmental classification: Euro 4. Length: 4,220 mm, width: 1,760 mm, height: 1,515 mm.
No, this was no frugal diesel but the 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i with power uprated to 124 bhp and quite decent torque (pulling power) of 157 Nm. Most of it was not covered on motorways but in quaint country roads (with restricted speeds) and lots of stops and starts.
It was a memorable weekend, taking in a drive down to Brighton from my base near Gatwick, south of London, on the Friday afternoon and then a nine-hour trip the next day taking in the market towns of Winchester and Salisbury, with a detour down to Beaulieu and the National Motor Museum near Southampton, returning to base via the M3 and M25.
All this was greatly assisted by a TomTom GPS in the car (especially for locating the hotel, until I got used to the roads). Still, the roads are well signposted (if you know where you're going) and I managed to locate Beaulieu simply by following the (plentiful) signs when you get to Southampton.
But what of this new Toyota? The Japanese carmaker that is set to overtake General Motors this year as the biggest carmaker by volume wanted to make a clean break for its lower medium hatchback in Europe from the 'traditional' Corolla. To an extent I agree that, once you are launching a new model, it should have a new name.
Yet it takes so long and so much money to build a brand, conventional thinking is that you should hold on to it, unless you want to make a clean break. Which is what the Auris is. Following the architecture of the Yaris, this is a car that stands taller, with shorter front and rear overhangs, yet retains its Toyota identity. Although there is a clear similarity with the Corolla, it is refreshingly different, with its own personality.
What all this means is that you have masses of interior space in a well designed package. I was immediately struck by the 'bridge' concept centre console with the handbrake at an angle. What this means in practice is that the gear lever - in my case a five-speed manual (you get a six-speed on the big diesels or the option of MultiMode automatic transmission) - is much higher than normal (a good 20 cm) and comes so much more easily to hand.
Further up the centre console are the air-conditioning controls (dual zone is also available) and your radio CD (you also get steering controls). There is masses of interior space, good head room and also lots or rear legroom, plus the option to increase the already large (354 litres) boot compartment by lowering the rear seats, getting 761 litres of space.
The comprehensive instrument panel in high visibility orange is a combination of conventional dials for your speedo and rev counter, and digital readings for your fuel and temperature gauge. The steering wheel is both tilt and reach adjustable, and the seats are similarly flexible to enable you to find your optimum driving position.
I tend to go for better shoulder support and a relatively high position - but that is a matter of taste. All round visibility is fine, although the front quarter window is really only useful for looking out of the passenger side. You will find that it is easy to get comfortable in this new Toyota.
On the road, the Auris handles well - given the type of driving conditions I faced: temperatures from as low as 5°C with a mixture of dry and wet roads. This is a willing engine with acceptable acceleration and good power especially at low and medium engine speeds.
The ride is reassured and I felt that even after a long day at the wheel I was not unduly fatigued or stressed but, on the other hand, quite relaxed. The brakes are reassuringly solid, including standard anti-lock (ABS), electronic brake force distribution (EBD) and brake assist (BA).
In terms of safety, the Auris comes with up to nine airbags, including driver's knee airbag, and it goes almost without saying that this is a car that obtained five stars in the Euro-NCAP crash test.
Ultimately, it is up to the market to give its verdict, but the Toyota name will certainly give it a head start. This is a car for families, being a full five-seater, and given the crowded market segment it is in, this is a car that also has to stand out. The Auris will grow on you and I am convinced we will be seeing quite a few of them on local roads before too long.
So, why not go over to the magnificent new Michael Debono Ltd showroom in Zebbug and ask for a test drive?
At a glance
Engine type: 1.6-litre four-cylinder double overhead camshaft Dual VVT-i, four valves per cylinder.
Suspension: Front: independent, L-arm McPherson struts, anti-roll bar. Rear: torsion beam, coil springs and dampers. Double wishbone on D-4D 180.
Braking system: Front: discs ventilated 273 mm diameter x 26 mm thick. Rear: solid discs 270 mm diameter x 10 mm thick. Max. power output: 124 bhp at 6,000 rpm. Max. torque: 157 Nm at 5,200 rpm. Acceleration, 0-100 km/h: 10.4 seconds. Max. speed: 190 km/h. Fuel consumption (litres/100 km), mixed cycle: 7.1 Carbon dioxide emissions (g/km): 166. Environmental classification: Euro 4. Length: 4,220 mm, width: 1,760 mm, height: 1,515 mm.