Auris Hybrid

[garyg]

Have had a Auris 1.6 MMT since June 07 and loved it, but unfortunatly I hit a tree that had been blown over so now need to repalce it.

Thinking of changing to a 1.8VVT-i HSD T Sprit about 18 months old and was wondering what people thought of these good and bad things ?

Thanks

[Cyker]

On paper they look pretty similar in terms of performance, plus as an autobox the HSD is considered a lot nicer and more reliable than the MMT. It'll be a good chunk cheaper to tax too! ;)

Give it a test drive if you can as some people find them a bit weird to drive, but if you already drive an auto the transition should be pretty easy :)

[Peter Sale]

Really pleased with mine - had no trouble at all (think the 2011 model has a better Battery than the new model)

You will notice the boot has less capacity but we find it OK.

If it has the factory reversing sensors get them to turn the reverse beep warning off or it might give you a headache !

[Ratho1]

Go for the Icon model with 15" wheels NOT the XL with 17" wheels. Not only will you get a better ride it is 10% more fuel efficient, the tyres are much cheaper to replace and they last longer.. You may need to have some add-ons according to your own preferences.

Good luck.

[FROSTYBALLS]

An Auris HSD about 18 months old would be the first generation

Go for the Icon model with 15" wheels NOT the XL with 17" wheels. Not only will you get a better ride it is 10% more fuel efficient, the tyres are much cheaper to replace and they last longer.. You may need to have some add-ons according to your own preferences.

Good luck.

An 18 month old Auris HSD would be the first generation, not the current one - so the above comments about the Icon/Excel wouldn't apply. The trim levels for the first generation were T4 and T-Spirit. The T4 was available with either 15 inch or 17 inch alloys. Think the T-Spirit only came with 17 inch alloys. The 15 inch alloys would probably give a more comfortable ride as the tyres would be a higher profile.

The reason for the first generation's boot capacity being reduced is that the batteries encroached on boot space - with the current generation the batteries were moved forwards to beneath the rear seats.

[Truthseeker]

Go for the Icon model with 15" wheels NOT the XL with 17" wheels. Not only will you get a better ride it is 10% more fuel efficient, the tyres are much cheaper to replace and they last longer.. You may need to have some add-ons according to your own preferences.

Good luck.

I have the latest Auris XL with 17" alloys with 45 profile tyres, and I can honestly say that the ride is a smooth as you would wish, even on bumpy roads. I don't know if it has anything to do with the Multilink rear suspension (double wishbone), which is only fitted to the 1.6 petrol and the HSD, and not the torsion beam set up on the diesel and 1.33 petrol models.

There is no doubt that 15" wheels with higher profile tyres should in theory make for a more comfortable ride, but handling will suffer, and not be as sharp.

I can't see why the MPG would improve though, as the rolling radius of the 17" wheels on 45 profiles, should I be the same as 15" with a higher profile.

[Ratho1]

Hi Frosty you are right. I miss read the garyg post as being looking for a new one. Apologies all round.

As for mpg difference Andy it is to do with rolling resistance. These 15" tyres are narrower than the 17" ones. The current Auris brochure does in fact point out the different mpg figures. I found little difference between the two Icons that I tested in terms of handling and and comfort on the road so for the other reasons that I mentioned, 15" would be the choice. The car handbook that I now have also states that handling on icy roads is worse with the larger wheel size. Now there's a recommendation from the horses mouth.!!

Why did I buy an Excel in the first place ? Because when I factored in the extra cost of the add-ons that I wanted, the Excel worked out cheaper.I knew that I would sacrifice something in mpg but the rest I found out after I had bought the car. Just goes to prove that you cannot do too much research before taking the plunge.

[Truthseeker]

Frank,

Think that maybe I should have gone for the Hybrid HSD instead of the petrol CVT. We had to have an auto, but because we don't do much mileage (5k pa), we did not consider that the extra initial cost of the HSD made financial sense.

However, it is a bit alarming watching the MPG dash readout hover around the mid 30's, so much so that I turn it off. Never worry too much about MPG, but seeing it in real time is a bit disconcerting to say the least - and I assume the computer MPG is a tad optimistic as well.

The HSD XL would probably be worth around £1k more in 3 years time (p/ex value), so 15k miles in the same period, would cost me an around an extra £1000 in fuel (at current prices that is), so on balance, not much in it (at least that's what I tell myself).

Apart from that, and now I have had time to get accustomed to the Excel, the more I like it. The inside it far better than the car magazines report, and for us (both in our 60's), the ride if very smooth and comfortable. Not worried about 0-60 and top speed like I used to in my younger days, just want a nice comfy ride, and on that score the Auris delivers.

[Ratho1]

Andy

I think the dealer price difference between your car and the hybrid is about£1600 when new. I would say that 3 years worth of petrol will cost you say £3000 @ 30 mpg and £1800 @ 51 mpg with both running on 17" wheels for 5000 miles/annum. So the actual cost difference is £400 in your favour.As you say, the resale value will be marginally in favour of the hybrid. The predictions are that the hybrid will hold its value somewhat better of the two so at trade-in time the hybrid might win but not by very much and certainly nothing to worry about.

Conclusion :- turn off the computer and enjoy the ride.

[Whitewagon]

Apart from that, and now I have had time to get accustomed to the Excel, the more I like it. The inside it far better than the car magazines report, and for us (both in our 60's), the ride if very smooth and comfortable. Not worried about 0-60 and top speed like I used to in my younger days, just want a nice comfy ride, and on that score the Auris delivers.

Andy, just as a mater of interest what were you driving before you got this car. I recently drove the new Auris Hybrid but not the Tourer. My impression over the 20 mile test was that it wasn't as comfortable or as quiet on the motorway as my Avensis. Just wondering really whether the same applies to the Auris Tourer.

[Truthseeker]

Andy

I think the dealer price difference between your car and the hybrid is about£1600 when new. I would say that 3 years worth of petrol will cost you say £3000 @ 30 mpg and £1800 @ 51 mpg with both running on 17" wheels for 5000 miles/annum. So the actual cost difference is £400 in your favour.As you say, the resale value will be marginally in favour of the hybrid. The predictions are that the hybrid will hold its value somewhat better of the two so at trade-in time the hybrid might win but not by very much and certainly nothing to worry about.

Conclusion :- turn off the computer and enjoy the ride.

Thanks Frank - I have and I am!

[Truthseeker]

Apart from that, and now I have had time to get accustomed to the Excel, the more I like it. The inside it far better than the car magazines report, and for us (both in our 60's), the ride if very smooth and comfortable. Not worried about 0-60 and top speed like I used to in my younger days, just want a nice comfy ride, and on that score the Auris delivers.

Andy, just as a mater of interest what were you driving before you got this car. I recently drove the new Auris Hybrid but not the Tourer. My impression over the 20 mile test was that it wasn't as comfortable or as quiet on the motorway as my Avensis. Just wondering really whether the same applies to the Auris Tourer.

I had a Skoda Yeti (diesel) and my wife had a VW up, although I tend to be the main driver most of the time. Can't really compare any of these 2 cars to the Auris Touring Sports estate though.

However, I must say that so far, I consider he Auris to be one of the smoothest, quietest and comfortable cars I have ever owned (and there has many in the past 44 years).

The CVT auto box is by far better than the DSG box fitted to a previous Polo, and makes for a very very relaxing drive - something I consider high on my list of priorities at my age (61).

The Hybid you drove will have an almost identical CVT box as mine (although there are slight mechanical differences, they will not be noticeable when driving). Your Avensis should have the same box as me though.

[Whitewagon]

Thanks Andy. Though not quite ready to change yet am looking for others comparisons between models of automatic petrol/hybrids. May just go for another Avensis as have yet to find anything more quiet, comfortable and value for money when nearly new.

[timbooo]

The Avensis is meant to be much more luxurious than the Auris. Doesn't seem fair to expect the same comfort level. There is an Avensis tourer too (which looks pretty sharp if you ask me). I would kind of expect them to ensure that the Avensis retains an edge over the 'lower' cars, else why would anyone buy one?

[FROSTYBALLS]

When comparing the Auris Touring Sports with the Avensis, Tourer or saloon, you're actually covering two different market sectors. The Auris being in the C-segment (Auris, Golf, Focus, etc), and the Avensis being in the D segment ( Avensis, Mondeo, Passat, etc). The Avensis has a 100mm larger wheelbase (2700mm as opposed to 2600mm), and offers more interior space.

[Heidfirst]

the new Auris Tourer actually has a theoretically larger load volume than the Avensis Tourer. I say theoretically because whilst I am sure that the space is there I'm not sure that it's actually really usable in real life due to shaping etc.

[Truthseeker]

My neighbour has a top spec Avensis estate, and I have the new Auris Excel Touring Sports estate, and I would say that the space in the boot is (visually) about the same, as indeed is the actual overall size of the car. He thinks mine is better inside than his as well (and I agree).......go figure!

[Whitewagon]

I've seen a couple of Auris Touring Sports on the road now and they do seem to be very similar in size to the Avensis especially from the rear quarter view. I appreciate the Avensis is in a higher segment and a larger car but I don't see why it should make any difference to the comfort and noise level for the top end models.

[FROSTYBALLS]

Dimensions:

External length - Auris Touring Sports 4560mm

Avensis Tourer 4765mm

Wheelbase* - Auris 2600mm

Avensis Tourer 2700mm

Interior length - Auris TS 1830mm

Avensis Tourer 1959mm

Interior width - Auris TS 1508mm

Avensis Tourer 1485mm

Interior height - both 1180mm

Boot capacity - Auris TS 530 -1658 litres

Avensis Tourer 543 - 1609 litres.

*Usually a larger wheelbase affords greater legroom.

The current Avensis is now quite an old design - dating from 2009 - and following Toyota's usual 5/6 year life cycle, a replacement Avensis may be due by 2015.

[Heidfirst]

larger & heavier usually=more comfortable.

I agree that the Avensis is getting on & under normal circumstances would probably be due for replacement by the end of 2014/start of 2015. However, for most of the Mk III's life the market has been depressed & in particular the Mondeo/Insignia/Avensis sector has been the one that has declined the most - it's now about 25-30% of what it was when the Mk III was introduced - so I wouldn't be surprised if they:

a ) don't replace it on schedule

or

b ) decide that it's actually not worth the investment for a direct replacement.

At any rate I reckon that people who buy one of the last 1.8 Mk IIIs whenever as ex-demo/management cars when they are 1 year old will get a terrific bargain.

[Truthseeker]

Point is, that Joe Pubic would be hard pressed to see any noticeable difference in size between the 2 estate versions, although I appreciate there is on paper.

In the old days, manufactures had a clear size differential between models (ie: Festa>Escort.>Cortina>Granada), but is appears nowadays, even a die hard petrol head like me, sometimes finds it difficult to tell one model form the next level up. I think that the small family car gets bigger on each update - just look at the new Yaris and compare to the original, which was not much bigger back then, than the Aygo is now,

Apart from some models being available with a bigger engine, I can't see why anyone would purchase a new Avensis estate over the Auris Touring Sports estate.......but then I am a bit biased!

[Ratho1]

You are right Andy, but I wonder how much of this business of cars getting bigger is to accommodate people getting bigger also ? One problem is that at the same time, parking spaces appear to have shrunk to get more cars packed in which means that we ding them more often to the delight of the dealers' repair bays.

[Heidfirst]

& the point is that you are comparing a 6 year old car approaching replacement with one that just has been replaced ...

The increase in sizes has been happening in all classes so if there is going to be a direct replacement then you would expect it to be larger as well re-establishing the size differential (& as I said whilst the Auris Tourer in theory has a larger capacity imo the Avensis Tourer has the better one in real life usage).

There is no hatchback Avensis & there doesn't appear to be a saloon Auris so it's only the Tourers that are really competing with each other atm.

& certainly the difference in engines is also an important one. Hopefully they'll put the BMW-derived diesel into the Auris.

I'm pretty sure that if you drive the 2 you can tell the difference.

[Truthseeker]

I have driven them both and so has my neighbour, who has a new top spec Avensis auto. We both agree that there is really nothing to tell between them in terms of interior passenger space (in the front at least), and ride quality. His is the 1.8 CVT Avensis Tourer. Had he had known, he would have gone for the Auris and saved a few bob.

Can't agree with the logic that each new model replacement has to be larger than the model it replaces (although it always is), because in a few years time, we will all be driving cars that are as big as artics - in other words, there must at some time, come a point when big enough is.......well, big enough!

Half time score:

Auris - 1

Avensis - 0

Reckon this will go to extra time though!

[FROSTYBALLS]

Think the increase in size has several facets including:

1. manufacturers don't make big money from small cars,

2. as new models come out, improvements over the previous model are often seen to be more legroom, more headroom, more luggage space, etc - and thus a gradual increase in overall size

3. increased safety standards generally necessitate larger crumple zones front (especially for pedestrian safety) and rear, wider doors to improve side impact protection, etc.

Don't think the increase in people's size plays as big a part as people assume.

Not every new car increases in size. Don't forget that the 1st generation Auris (2007-2012) formed the basis for the 2nd generation (2013 onwards) - hence within the EU, Toyota being able to carry forward the Type Approval from the 1st generation to the 2nd. The length has increased, the height reduced and the width remained the same. So it is more a case of the Auris evolving. The Corolla saloon, made in Turkey, but not sold in the UK is the saloon version of the Corolla/Auris.

Given the Toyota's new global platform which will be used from the 2015 Prius, and presumably the next Avensis, it will be interesting to see how long a life the 2013 Auris and Verso have