TOYOTA AURIS HATCHBACK REVIEW

My car

Bought a new Auris TR 1.33 in October 2009. So far have covered 850 miles (not much three months) and have used it mainly about town. Engine still feels tight and fuel consumption not matching the official figures - although I am getting similar fuel consumption to my previous 2006 Corolla 1.4. Interior has harder plastics than Corolla - but a lot of cars are like this now (Focus, Mazda 3, Kia CEED, etc). Very well equipped for the price I paid - dual zone air conditioning, 16 inch alloys, etc. Car must be one of the last in Solar Red - don't know whether this colour will return when the facelifted Auris goes on sale - but looks smart with the bumper protectors and bodyside mouldings fitted. More space inside than the Corolla and bigger boot. Very pleased with it so far.

My car

I bought this car one month ago and mainly used it in the city traffic, so I am not able to comment on mileage yet. This is a car built from inside out, so the exterior might not be everyone's taste. Its size makes it a good city car with lots of room inside. I am surprised how easily I can park this car every time. On highway it felt stable and quiet, I was thinking of driving at 120km/h but actually the speedometer was showing 160. So keep and eye on it on highways with speed restriction.

My car

Despite looking good on paper the SR180 has problems. The 2.2 unit has engine mangement issues and despite having it in writing from the dealer that the car is faulty, Toyota UK describe the poor starting (up to 10 seconds of engine turning to fire) and low fuel economy (35 mpg on a long motorway run at 70 using the cruise control) as 'characterisitcs' and refuse to investigate.

Also numerous creaks and rattles from the dashboard This is a nearly product that should have been good, but penny pinching and apathy by Toyota UK ruined it.

My car

I've driven about 5,000 miles in this car since buying it as a pre-reg car. Before this we have owned two Toyotas, both Yaris and i guess l was expecting a step forward in terms of drive quality and refinment. Unfortunately i have neither.The first thing that strikes you about the Auris from the inside is the poor quality of some of the fittings (yes i wonder how long that seat adjuster is going to last!). The plastics are also of a poor quality and are quite brittle, marking easily, There are silly design touches like the position of the gearlever to free up space underneath it which serves no purpose whatsoever... or the way the seatbelt retracts into the brittle plastic trim which is already scuffed badly. The Yaris was a good car, but at speed the road and engine noise was quite intrusive, so when i bought a bigger car i guessed this would improve....wrong again! This car is painful to drive at 70mph and at 3,500 revs could really do with a 6th gear. Im not sure how such a large company like Toyota have overlooked things like this?? In the end i could only come to one conclusion that is this car was designed and built by accountants, there really is no other way they could have got it so wrong.