Toyota Auris 1.8 TS Hybrid, our test - Road test

We've extensively tested the Toyota Auris Hybrid Staton Wagon, the more sustainable version of the Japanese family.

Pagella

city	8/ 10
Outside the city	8/ 10
шосе	7/ 10

Life on board	7/ 10
Price and costs	8/ 10
safety	9/ 10

The Toyota Auris Hybrid is a spacious station wagon with remarkable driving dynamics for a vehicle of this type. Consumption is low, as long as you drive by its rules, and the price is interesting.

The Toyota Auris has undergone cosmetic changes this year, redesigning its exterior and opting for a cleaner, more modern line. Aesthetically, it's more harmonious and successful than the sedan version, even if it's not a car that likes to be spotted, but the 17-inch alloy wheels of the car we're testing give it an extra touch of exuberance that won't hurt.

Version HYBRID it is also the most interesting on the list, with its direct-aspirated 1.8 four-cylinder naturally aspirated engine surrounded by an electric motor, and the total power produced by the engines is 136bhp. and 140 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels through a proven transmission. CVT of Toyota Prius, a continuously variable transmission that does not work that much differently from a scooter.

La Battery it cannot be recharged anyway, this is what the heat engine or the release and braking recovery system takes care of.

city

La Toyota Auris station in the city he has many arrows in his bow. In the mode ECO the two engines work together efficiently, providing not only better fuel consumption, but also better acoustic comfort. By being careful about gas, in fact, only electricity can be used to move in traffic, albeit at low speeds, and even when the heat engine turns on, it always does so discreetly, maintaining a truly calm silence.

Additionally, Change the variator, for its part, it helps in this relaxed driving experience. As long as you stay in the "green" area of the RPM indicator (there is no real RPM counter), the Auris moves smoothly and without stopping traction, with smooth progression and quiet silence.

When you press the "EV" button, the car will only move in electric mode until you exceed 40 km / h, do not accelerate completely and do not drain the battery.

However, its size does not make it the same parking lot as a city car, and even if the car is equipped with a rearview camera, the sensor system does not help with the progressive beep, it just beeps intermittently when you engage reverse gear. ...

Nevertheless, Auris in the city, it relaxes and consumes little (the data indicate a consumption of 3,8 liters per 100 km), and thanks to the type of engine you can easily enter zone C.

Outside the city

Despite Auris is station wagon familiar with the ecological spirit, it is an amazingly agile and fun vehicle. We were surprised by the steering: light, fast and progressive, almost like a sports car, thanks also to the 17-inch wheels. The chassis is also agile and the dampers are very well tuned to provide good comfort. comfort on bumps without sacrificing cornering responsiveness.

It's a shame the hybrid doesn't have the power to match such a successful chassis. Pressing the throttle hard will cause the tachometer needle to turn red, reminding you to drive in an environmentally friendly manner. Even choosing the "Power" mode, the situation does not improve: the torque of the electric motor is felt, the initial thrust is there, but Switch variator this makes the accelerator pedal virtually insensitive in sporty driving, causing only slip and dissipating the available power and torque.

But if you stick to his rules Auris he will repay you by leading you in silence and indifference. This is where you start to appreciate the CVT transmission. In fact, the delivery is fluid and velvety, and the transition from electric to thermal (and vice versa) is almost imperceptible.

Il on-board computer provides you with all the information you need about the operation of the two engines, as well as data regarding your route and fuel consumption, to always show you the most environmentally friendly way to drive. Whether you are driving in the city or on the highway, the flow rate is really good. We've rarely been able to reach the manufacturer's stated numbers, but with the Auris Hybrid on a roughly 100 km suburban route, we managed to achieve even more, covering an average of 27 km per liter of fuel.

шосе

Limit Auris Hybrid it can be reached via the motorway, where constant gas and (relatively) high speeds prevent the hybrid system from performing at its best.

However, the car is well soundproofed and if you can keep the tachometer needle in the “ECO”, The engine remains low enough to avoid problems.

But the driving position is comfortable: low, leaning back and with a good soft seat. There's no shortage of cruise control as standard, while the version we're testing comes equipped with "Toyota Safety Sense » (€ 600), which includes automatic high beam, collision avoidance system, lane change indicator and traffic sign recognition.

Life on board

La Auris it is comfortable for both front and rear passengers. There is enough room even for tall people, and there is plenty of knee room for those sitting in the back.

Il trunk from 530 liters, it is not one of the most capacious in the category, but there are also those who are worse (Ford Focus Station Wagon - 490 liters) and who has better (308 Peugeot SW 610 liters).

The salon has a rational design typical for the brand, in which soft plastic and high-quality eco-leather, very pleasant to the touch, alternate with rather cheap hard plastic, both on the tunnel and in the doors. Some buttons also seem to have come from a different historical period, while the touch-sensitive infotainment system is reminiscent of an eighties sci-fi movie.

La measuring instruments, on the other hand, simple and legible: tachometer with indicator Eco on the left and the speedometer on the right, separated by a small center screen that provides a variety of information such as instantaneous consumption, distance traveled and average consumption or hybrid system performance in real time.

Noteworthy is the leather steering wheel with controls on the steering wheel: soft, of the correct size, with a thick and soft crown.

Price and costs

Il price departure for Auris Hybrid with equipment chill is 24.900 16 euros, a very attractive price for a car of this type. Japanese cars usually don't leave too much room for customization, in fact there is no risk of raising the price dangerously with the options with the Auris. The basic "Cool" package has everything you need: an on-board computer, a rear-view camera, XNUMX-inch alloy wheels, a multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control, and front and rear LED daytime running lights.

The coupled thermoelectric motor works well and with proper control (staying in the ECO area of the rev counter and changing your driving style) you can consume very little. During our test, we were able to easily match the manufacturer's declared consumption of 3,9 l / 100 km.

safety

La Toyota Auris It is built with a non-deformable high-security cab with a programmable assortment cage (MICS) and has front, rear and side airbags. The version we are testing also features Pre-Crash Protection, Lane Change Indicator and Traffic Sign Recognition (included in the € 600 Toyota Safety Sense package).

Our findings

TECHNOLOGY

engine	4-cylinder naturally aspirated gasoline engine / batteries
bias	1798 см
Potenza	136 CV
couple	140 Nm
conviction	Euro 6
Exchange	continuous automatic with 0-speed planetary gear
the weight	1410 kg