Following on from the latest gener-ation Auris hatchback, Toyota has expanded its line-up of mid-range models with a load-lugging version of the practical hatch. Unusually for the normally-conservative Toyota, the firm has gone down the radical, edgy route for the Auris family’s styling, although its looks hide an equally-bold engine strategy.
Like the Auris hatch this estate – or, to give it its proper name, the Touring Sports – can be had in petrol, diesel and petrol-electric hybrid guise. According to Toyota, its Auris wagon is the first of its type to market with a hybrid powertrain.
Predictably, this should open up the market to buyers seeking low consumption and emissions alongside a more practical bodystyle. And don’t forget the business user, who will no doubt be attracted to the car’s extra load space and low tax burden.
It might mirror the hatch at the front, but move away from the Touring Sport’s aggressively-styled nose and you’ll spot the practical roof rails and the wagon’s extra length. There’s also a racy-looking spoiler to help streamline the car’s progress through the air, while a tailgate that opens at bumper level to aid the passage of large or heavy items is another useful touch.
Peak inside the Touring Sport’s rear compartment and, with the rear seats folded, you’re presented with a flat load bay. Granted, this is nothing new for most modern estate cars, but even the hybrid variant of the Auris wagon boasts a no-compromise rear deck thanks to some clever packaging of the battery system. The car’s 530- and 1,658-litre capacity with the seats up and down respect-ively also does much to boost the car’s practical appeal.
Inside the cabin it’s largely the same as the Auris hatch, right down to the car’s wheelbase measurements. The result is a surprisingly spacious interior as compact family cars go, with enough room fore and aft plus a good helping of headroom in the back.
But it’s how the car performs on the road that will be important for most buyers, particularly those with a keen eye on saving money. The petrol variants – 1.33- and 1.6-litre – have been tuned to deliver high levels of refinement when driven in the relaxed style that’s often associated with Toyota’s conservative approach to car set-up. Certainly, that’s the case with the 130 bhp 1.6-litre car, which only becomes vocal when pushed hard, while the plush ride ensures cabin comfort levels are high.
Diesel power is another choice by way of an 89 bhp 1.4-litre motor, although the main attraction is the hybrid model. The now- familiar template of 1.8-litre petrol engine, battery pack and electric motor delivers a combined power output of 134 bhp. Of greater importance to some will be the car’s baseline 85 g/km CO2 rating and 76.3mpg official combined consumption figure when fitted with 15-inch wheels. The numbers are a fraction higher with 17-inch wheels.
The benefits for private buyers include the zero road-tax rating plus a low real-world outlay at the pumps, while business users have the added benefit of writing down the car’s cost plus handing over the minimum amount to the Treasury in Benefit In Kind tax.
On the road the hybrid-badged Auris wagon delivers a pleasingly refined driving experience and, predictably, apes that of the popular Prius. Electric mode is as you would expect, and does much to reduce fuel consumption at low speeds and boost the performance of the petrol motor under hard acceleration. The automatic transmission’s smooth operation rounds off the Touring Sport’s ease-of-use character.
Just like the petrol variants, the hybrid Touring Sport’s ride and overall comfort levels are polished enough to compete with conventional rivals. This is especially true when running in electric-only mode. The upmarket ambience mirrors the car’s equipment list, which is up to Toyota’s usual high levels of generosity.
The four-model range (Active, Icon, Sport, Excel) boasts a high level of safety and comfort kit as standard. Moving up the trim levels, buyers can expect to see the likes of Toyota’s touch-screen multi-media interface, leather trim and alloy wheels. Company executives expect the Icon grade to be the most popular, thanks in part to the inclusion of Bluetooth, DAB radio and a reversing parking camera.
Well equipped, stylish, practical and easy to drive, Toyota’s Auris Touring Sports is a welcome addition to the Auris fleet. Offering a practical load space and, in hybrid guise, the potential to reduce ownership costs to levels below that of the competition, it’s a car you ignore at your peril.
At a glance
Engine
1.8-litre petrol unit plus electric hybrid system developing a combined 134 bhp.
Performance
Maximum speed 109 mph, 0-62 mph 11.2 seconds.
Economy
76.3 mpg when fitted with 15-inch wheels.
C02
85 g/km when fitted with 15-inch wheels.
Transmission
Continuously variable automatic transmission as standard, driving the front wheels.