Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyota Auris hatchback (2007-2012)

"Spacious, practical and comfortable, there’s lots to recommend the Toyota Auris - yet it doesn’t have the quality or personality of some small family hatchbacks."

Carbuyer Rating

2.5 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews

Pros

  • Very easy to get comfortable at wheel
  • Lots of cabin storage
  • Hybrid very efficient

Cons

  • Short on power
  • Too much wind, tyre and engine noise
  • Ride could be better

The Toyota Auris competes with big-selling small family hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus – although it can’t quite match the broad appeal of these cars because of its limited engine range. It’s also undermined by its bland looks and simple cabin. But it will prove dependable and reliable, plus it’s very easy to drive. All versions come with air-conditioning and lots of useful storage pockets inside, while there’s plenty of space for tall adults in the back seats.

MPG, running costs & CO2

Petrol-electric hybrid HSD offers class-leading 74.3mpg

Economy across the board is very good. The 1.33-litre petrol engine has stop-start – which cuts power (and therefore fuel use) when the car is at a standstill – and returns 48.7mpg. The 1.4-litre diesel does 60.1mpg and the petrol-electric hybrid HSD a class-leading 74.3mpg. Toyota dealers offer fixed-price servicing and parts, although service intervals are quite short, at 10,000 miles.

Engines, drive & performance

With light steering, the Auris is an easy car to drive

This Toyota is an easy car to drive. The steering is light in town, although it could be more accurate. The wheel adjusts for reach and height, and there’s a big footrest for your clutch foot. Unusually, the centre console is set up like a bridge, allowing the gearlever and handbrake to be placed high, comfortably close to the steering wheel. The most powerful engine, the 130bhp 1.6-litre petrol, feels weak unless it’s revved hard; the same can be said of the smaller 1.33-litre petrol, and both become noisy. The diesel isn’t that quick or quiet, either. The petrol-electric HSD hybrid is essentially a Prius under the skin, offering silent electric running over short distances.

Interior & comfort

Wind whistle and tyre roar spoil cabin comfort

The Auris posted a disappointing 59th place out of 100 for comfort in our sister title Auto Express’s Driver Power 2012 satisfaction survey. That could be partly to do with the obvious wind whistle and tyre roar in the cabin, especially at motorway speeds. Add to that the noise of the engines – the diesel in particular – and the Auris could do with more refinement. The floor of the car is unusually flat, so there’s lots of rear foot space, and the rear bench seat reclines for added comfort.

Practicality & boot space

There are lots of storage cubbyholes in the cabin

WHILE the boot isn’t the biggest – a capacity of 354 litres is about average for a family hatchback – there are lots of storage cubbyholes of varying shapes and sizes inside the Auris. These include a tray under the passenger seat, a deep box within the central armrest, two cup-holders that sit flush with the dash, a space underneath the gearlever and two gloveboxes. It will also sit four six-foot adults in comfort, unlike many family hatchbacks.

Reliability & safety

The Auris offers a five-star Euro NCAP rating

There’s a whole host of safety features fitted as standard to the Auris, including nine airbags and traction control. Toyota’s well documented accelerator pedal issues in 2010 extended to the Auris, although the problem has now been rectified, and the car’s electrics and mechanicals have proven reliable. Revisions to the range in 2010 added higher-quality ‘soft-touch’ plastics throughout the cabin.

Price, value for money & options

The Auris is very competitively priced

Given the level of standard equipment each model provides and the soft-touch quality of the plastics, the Auris feels keenly priced. It can’t match similarly sized cars from Kia, Hyundai and Skoda in terms of value for money, but even the basic Auris T2 features air-conditioning, while the TR and SR have alloy wheels and two-zone climate control. The HSD hybrid is expensive, although buyers get plenty of equipment for their money. And all models are sold with a comprehensive five-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Richard is a former editor of Carbuyer, as well as sister site DrivingElectric.com, and he's now Deputy Editor at Auto Express. Having spent a decade working in the automotive industry, he understands exactly what makes new car buyers tick.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Hot car deal: stylish Peugeot 2008 small SUV for £120 a month
Peugeot 2008 front quarter
Deals
12 Mar 2024

Hot car deal: stylish Peugeot 2008 small SUV for £120 a month

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
15 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Skoda Superb Estate review – a near-faultless, practical family car
Skoda Superb Estate Carbuyer drive
In-depth reviews
15 Mar 2024

Skoda Superb Estate review – a near-faultless, practical family car

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
19 Dec 2023

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
12 Apr 2023

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
The best electric cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024