EVEN SMARTER SENSIBILITY (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 95

What would interest you in buying a used Toyota Auris? Decent drive dynamics? A sharp sense of style? A wide choice of efficient engines? All of that is on offer - in theory at leasyt - from this post-2015-era Auris, an improved version of the MK2 model. This was a more confident Focus-class family hatch that's good value, was British-built and amongst family hatches made in this period, is uniquely available in this segment with hybrid power. If you're shopping in this sector, you might not be considering it - but perhaps you should be.

Modelsword count: 15

5dr family hatch / 'Touring Sports' estate (1.2T, 1.6 petrol, 1.6 diesel, 1.8 petrol/electric hybrid)

Historyword count: 400

We buy cars for all sorts of reasons, some sensible but others rather more personal. While it's the extreme designs that tend to grab the headlines, there's still a lot to be said for models that simply work ever so effectively in the real world: like this one, the significantly improved second generation version of Toyota's Auris, launched in 2015. It's a family hatchback developed from experience that bought us the best selling car of this kind in history, Toyota's Corolla, 35 million examples of which were sold in its lifetime before the first generation Auris model took over in 2007. This original Auris, its name derived from the Latin, 'aurum', for gold, arrived as a safe and sensible choice that built upon the strengths of its predecessor without threatening the Focus and Golf fraternity in any particular way. It did though, have the distinction of pioneering hybrid power in this segment back in 2010. But the world's biggest brand needed to go further in a market increasingly demanding more dynamic, appealingly styled, hi-tech and efficient products. With tough competition not only from the mainstream makers but also from up-and-coming Korean budget brands, the company needed to give the Auris a more contemporary look and feel, hence the original introduction of this second generation version in 2012. Unfortunately, the sharper exterior looks weren't really replicated inside. And, more significantly, this model had to carry over much of its engineering from its first generation predecessor. It all meant that Focus segment buyers not sold on the concept of hybrid power often ignored Toyota's contender in this class, an increasing problem for the Japanese brand in the face of the continually improving opposition. Hence the need for the heavily revised MK2 model Auris we're going to look at here as a used buy, a car launched in the Summer of 2015 and featuring a range of changes that also allowed Toyota to launch this design in the American market. These enhancements include a smarter look, both inside and out; improved driving dynamics that deliver sharper steering, better ride quality and additional refinement; and a rejuvenated Euro6 engine line-up featuring an new 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol powerplant. There was also extra safety technology and cutting-edge connectivity to complete what was certainly a much-improved package. It sold until late 2018, after which the car was replaced by a returning new-era version of the Toyota Corolla.

What You Getword count: 283

The original design of this second generation Auris model was a lot slicker than its predecessor, incorporating what Toyota calls its 'keen look' - all sharp angles and smart, rakish lines. And that more purposeful lower-slung styling was further developed with this revised MK2 model, which features redesigned front and rear sections that aim to give the car a broader stance and what the Japanese brand hoped would be 'a more prestigious and sophisticated presence'. Look around at the wheel and you'll see that the cheap silver paint finishes of the original MK2 Auris model have been replaced by real chrome, there's a classy 'piano black' finish for the prominent door pulls and the more curvaceous dashboard gets a smoother, soft-touch surface and a smart stitched trimming. And the rear seat? Well Toyota was always proud of the fact that the Auris was one of the most compact cars in the family hatchback class, though you might not think this to be a particularly good thing if you've a family of five to carry about. Fortunately, some very careful design has ensured that you don't notice the compact dimensions. Take the sloping rear roof height for example, disguised by the way that the ceiling gently bulges over your head. And out back? Does the relatively compact shape compromise boot space? No really. There's quite a high loading lip, but the wider tailgate opening introduced with the original version of this second generation model is welcome and beyond it, there's the capacity to swallow up to 435-litres if you load to the roof - pretty good by class standards and far more than you'd get from, say, a rival Ford Focus from this era.

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