• Home
• Green cars
• Electric cars
• Hybrid cars
• Hydrogen cars
• Road tests
• Blog
• World news

Quick links: Eco Driving Tips | Road tax prices | Most economical cars | Low emission cars | Biofuel | Advantages / Disadvantages of biofuel | LPG | Electric vans

Poll

Awards won by TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk

Information

With the Auris Hybrid, Toyota has challenged itself to produce a vehicle that has outstanding environmental and economic abilities, but which also offers a rewarding and involving experience for the driver. The Auris Hybrid comes with three potential engine settings including Eco, Power and EV (using electric power only). Most drivers will probably have the Eco mode as the default setting, as it offers fine performance for day to day journeys and makes the most sense for the wallet. In Eco mode, the engine when pushed, revs willingly and accelerates keenly up to a point before settling down. EV only mode is usable at very low speeds and when the battery is absolutely fully charged. It is in Power mode when the Auris Hybrid comes into it’s own with regards to performance as the rev band is lengthened and the car becomes a warm hatch capable of more spritely performance. The drive is such that your heart might urge you to stay in this mode much longer than the head would advise. However Toyota’s new little hybrid model does not expect you to completely sacrifice performance and ride for economy and the planet, whichever mode you drive it in.

Our road test car came with 17” alloy wheels which added to the styling of the vehicle immensely but also added to the firmness of the ride, although this not to a critical point. It is important to remember at this point that unlike other eco cars, the Auris Hybrid is designed to be a sporty drive and this includes a certain firmness on the road. The steering is very nicely weighted and communicates the vehicle’s behaviour on the road directly to the driver with the minimum of fuss, allowing an assured feeling of confidence in the car. The automatic transmission we feel occasionally leaves it a little too long before switching gears but only on very rare occasions, otherwise it has a smooth gear change.

Solid is a word that suits the Toyota brand in a number of ways and the build quality of the Auris builds on this reputation. Toyota needs to take on the likes of the Ford Focus, VW Golf and Vauxhall Astra with the Auris and for this task a reputation for quality and reliability is of paramount importance. Toyota has always had this area covered, it is the aspect of excitement, driver experience and dynamics that it has worked hard to get right in the last 10 years. The Toyota marque has been affiliated with solidity and reliability throughout the years and we saw no reason why the Auris Hybrid would deviate from this.

The solidity of the Auris relates well to this section as the car does instil the occupants with a sense of safety. Rear parking sensors came as standard on our model as did central locking, alarm, ESP and immobiliser. Insurance group 13 at first appears a little high for a vehicle of this ilk, as it is definitely not a boy racer’s hot hatch!

Situated in the family hatchback sector, the Auris does not suffer a lack of space and is amply comfortable for all the family. The boot is slightly compromised because of the space taken up the electric battery pack but not to a too significant degree. Our car also came with an excellent built in sat nav system to make family trips that bit easier.

The car we drove had just about every bit of kit you could wish for included with it. Satallite navigation, half leather seats, interactive steering wheel with Bluetooth, DAB radio and climate control. The 17” alloy wheels really set the vehicle off well from an exterior perspective. The middle of the range T4 model will probably be the most popular purchase and with an OTR of £18,950 this car represents excellent value once running costs are taken into account. Whilst driving the car in a sporty fashion (legally of course) we achieved an average combined of 46.4 mpg but Toyota’s literature claims 74.3 mpg is possible on a combined cycle. To achieve this though might require an extremely light foot in Eco mode. Residual values promise to be impressive as the car buying populace becomes more cost conscious and greener. Do not believe the myth that the Toyota Hybrid range of cars cannot achieve a great driving experience AND make sound economic and environmental sense… they can.

Toyota contract hire and leasing