First drive review: Toyota Auris

Updated
Toyota Auris
Toyota Auris

Jon Reay

Toyota is set on a bit of a UK manufacturing renaissance at the minute, and the brand new Auris will soon be heading up the cars pouring out of the firm's Burnaston factory. AOL Cars takes it for a spin.

What is it?
Toyota's brand new Auris - designed to right the wrongs of the Tim-nice-but-dim current model. There's nothing drastically wrong with the outgoing car, there's just no particular reason to buy it: And that's what this new version should help fix. Aside from an entirely new look, the car has received a make-over under the skin - with a lower centre of gravity (in theory) making for a racier drive.

What's under the bonnet?
Nothing new, sadly. You'll find either a 1.4-litre diesel, or a choice of three petrols - a 1.33, a 1.8 hybrid or a 1.6. We drove the 1.6 and, to be honest, it's a little underwhelming. It's not a bad engine, but the long gearing means you really need to wring it to death to get the Auris to move. It's reasonable fun for driving around a B-road permanently in second gear, but it seriously struggles on motorway inclines in sixth or even fifth - though the later gears do at least keep things quiet while cruising. Toyota admit this won't be the final lineup, though: More engines will appear later in the car's life, but frankly they could do with hurrying along a little.

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