Toyota Auris Hybrid costs from 18,950

* Auris Hybrid on sale July 1 * Available in T4 and T Spirit trims * Only 500 less than Toyota Prius...

Toyota Auris Hybrid costs from 18,950

The Toyota Auris Hybrid will cost from 18,950 when it goes on sale in the summer.

The hybrid car is available in two well-specced trims T4 and T Spirit.

T4 features:
• climate control
• CD/MP3 player with USB
• electric windows
• heated door mirrors
• seven airbags
• stability and traction controls
• hill-start assist control

T Spirit costs from 20,700 and comes with:
• leather-and-Alcantara seats
• cruise control
• Bluetooth
• automatic headlights and wipers
• smart entry and start
• rear-view camera display in the rear-view mirror

Auris Hybrid: vital stats
The Auris Hybrid has a 1.8 petrol engine and an electric motor that combine to give a power output of 134bhp. Average fuel consumption is 74.3mpg and CO2 emissions are 89g/km when the car is fitted with 15-inch wheels.

When it's fitted with the optional 17-inch wheels, the Auris Hybrid is capable of 70.6mpg while emitting 93g/km of CO2.

At 18,950, the Auris Hybrid is not a cheap way into to hybrid motoring. It is only 555 less than the company's entry-level Prius and more than 2365 more than the cheapest Honda Insight.

Toyota says that Auris Hybrid is close in price to similarly specced rival cars fitted with two-litre diesel engines and says that Auris Hybrid customers and Prius Hybrid customers come from two distinctive groups.

'Prius customers want to make a statement,' said a Toyota spokesman. 'They tend to be style-led early adopters. Auris Hybrid customers will be interested in the mpg and they may also simply prefer a smaller car.'