The Auris... A Two Star Car?

[CurranShelter]

Short version of this post: Auris (2012 on)... opinions? Pick of the range?

Long version follows (for the enthusiasts :)).

I'm coming to the (fairly reluctant) conclusion that it might be time to replace my Corolla, and of course the Auris will be somewhere on my shortlist (alongside offerings from Mazda, Nissan and Skoda, in case you were wondering).

Therefore, I've started casting around for reviews and I see the motoring world is hardly alight with Auris-mania, for example (for the hatch version):

Autocar 3/5
Auto Express 3/5
Carbuyer 3.7/5
Honest John 3/5
Parkers 3.5/5
Top Gear 5/10
What Car 2/5

Only the Daily Telegraph saw fit to give it a fair bit of credit and award it 7 out of 10.

What Car - two out of five? Really? What car did they review? The strange thing is, reading the details, it doesn't sound exactly impressive, but nor do things sound that bad that you'd expect such a lowly rating. Three stars, maybe. But anyway - car reviews are a fairly subjective business and I'll not get too hung up on just one review. Interesting to see that the overall owners' rating on the same page is four out of five.

What does seem to be a recurring theme, though, is that "engines need to be worked hard" (as What Car put it). That I don't like the sound of. Most reviews seem to dismiss the 1.33 VVTi as gutless and hard work (and with the added insult of torsion beam rear suspension), and the 1.6 Valvematic as unremarkable and not very economical. The diesels don't exactly get wild reviews either, but in any case my usage wouldn't suit (or warrant) a diesel. So that leaves the new 1.2T and the hybrid. The former seems to be getting a more positive reception, but as I'm in the market for something a year or two old, it's just too new (and no reliability data either). The HSD is an interesting proposition, but the motoring press all seem in agreement that it's not that lively, and that the CVT makes it noisy in all but the most relaxed town driving. Not just that, but they reckon the official MPG figures are (as usual) total fiction, and an electric-powered range of just over a mile sounds... well, pitiful.

To be blunt, all of this has had me looking hard at the Mazda 3 (which IMHO has a nicer shape and neater dash), but not being one for quick decisions, my mind keeps coming back to the Auris. It has grown on me for some reason. I like the way Toyota seem to think about things. And I like my local dealer. And I don't really need a load of motoring hacks to validate my choices. In any case, reviews seem quite contradictory on refinement, ride, handling, steering, interior quality and overall reliability. On that last point, Which Magazine rate it a four star, unlike the five-star older version, but then Toyota give a 5 year warranty and Mazda don't.

Then there's the boot space aspect. The Auris is a fair improvement on the Corolla in that regard, but I am tempted to upgrade to the Touring Sport as long as it's not too much dearer (used, this is). Seems a good size, I think it looks a bit better than the squashed-back hatch and gets marginally more forgiving reviews given its additional capability. I've had a quick drive of one, and my lasting impression was that it was comfortable and solid, easy to drive but not exactly lively, felt a little heavy at the back (I'm not used to driving an estate) and the steering felt way too light. Mixed feelings really.

So, some questions if I may, to get some real opinions from some real owners who've spent more than 20 mins behind the wheel.

- CVT drone/whine/roar - how bad is it to live with (especially hills & motorways)?
- Wind and road noise - bad or not?
- Steering - over-light and no feedback, or easy and precise?
- Body roll - significant or not?
- Seat comfort - anything to worry about (e.g. on long journeys)?
- Interior quality - good, poor or mixed?
- TS owners... do you find the extra bulk at the back affects the handling much (if you've had hatch experience to compare it to)?
- 12V Battery drain issue - fully resolved?
- Anyone noticed an issue (seen in a couple of user reviews) with the door handles letting a cold draught in?
- Hybrid Battery - any concerns over reliability? Looks like you're tied to Toyota servicing if you want the warranty to go beyond 5 years.
- 1.2 turbo... worth holding out for (assuming I can't find an affordable nearly-new one right now)?

If you've read all of that, thank you, and any help much appreciated.

[TomdeGuerre]

That’s a lot of stuff you’ve written there mon ami and I won’t try to answer it all in one post.

1. Forget the reviews, make up your own mind what appeals / matters too you. Look at Autocar reviews for example, the owners reviews are consistently better than the journalists.

2. Engines need to be worked hard? I’ve only had the 1.6 petrol in my Corolla and two Aurises (Aurii?) as well as driving Toyota courtesy cars and in its current form it’s about one of the best normally aspirated 1600cc engines around. I will be mightily ticked off if Toyota do away with this engine and only offer the 1.2 turbo in its place. I do not need / do not want / will not tolerate being forced to take a turbo for going up and down to Tesco. The 1.33 would not suit me personally.

3. This nonsense about the ‘insult’ of torsion box/beam rear suspension, I had that on my first Auris and now have the multi-link on my present one. I’d take the torsion box back in a heartbeat – and it gives you more boot space.

3. Regardless of whether you pick Toyota, Mazda, Skoda or whatever, see if they’ll give you the car for a full day or at the very least a few hours. By yourself, you don’t need the yapping salesman with you.

[FROSTYBALLS]

The Corolla never did particularly well at the hands of the motoring press either, so really nothing has changed.

Having been a regular reader of Autocar for the past 44 years, and a subscriber to What Car for a number of years, their reviews are quite similar (both owned by Haymarket), and both have had a bias towards teutonic products for a number of years.

Remember the current Auris is a re-work of the first generation, and even retained the Type Approval from 2007. The next generation (due around 2018) will use Toyota's New Global Architecture, so will be much more of a new model than the current one.

As regards the 1.33, yes it needs to be revved a bit more than the previous 1.4, but not excessively, and is comparable in terms of power etc with the lower level Golf, Focus, Astra, etc.

As regards the Hybrid Health Check (HHC) and the Battery warranty extension, one can pay £39 and have the annual HHC done by a Toyota dealer, regardless of where you have the servicing done. Obviously if you choose this route and have a non-battery 'out of warranty' issue, then you say goodbye to any goodwill from Toyota as regards help. Personal choice.

[Heidfirst]

In general Toyotas are for people who just want a car to work reliably & not cost a fortune to run - that doesn't describe your average motor hack who has a new car to play with every week & doesn't have to pay for them.

[BenInAToyota]

Hi Curran,

I had a '14' registration Auris Hybrid 'Icon' spec hatchback from new. It was a company car, and in the 6 months I had it (before I changed jobs), I covered 15,000 miles.

I've had four Toyotas, and the Auris was my least favourite. I think that most of the criticisms made by the reviews you mention are fair, but to address the points you raise:

1. CVT whine/drone/roar: The reviews aren't being unfair with this point, as the gearbox seems to hold the engine at very high revs, resulting in a lot of noise when overtaking/climbing hills/increasing speed. This is my main criticism of the car, and is the main reason that I wouldn't have another.

2. Wind/road noise are noticeable, but nothing compared to the CVT whine.

3. The steering is vague. I'm no boy racer, but even I noticed this, and found it irritating.

4. I think body roll is acceptable for most 'normal' drivers and wasn't bothered by this issue.

5. The spec that I had didn't have lumbar support, but even so, I found the seats to be comfortable (even for long journeys). I Suppose this depends on the shape and size of the driver.

6. Interior quality is ok. Quality of materials is below average, but my car seemed well screwed together, with no squeaks/rattles.

7. Touring sports - don't know.

8. I never had Battery issues (and in my job I spent a lot of time stationary with the A/C on).

9. Never had any issues with door handles letting draughts in.

10. Can't really comment on Battery reliability, as mine was fairly new.

The only other point that I would make is that the engine seemed to want to pull the speed down on the motorway, making it somewhat difficult to maintain a constant speed. If you do decide to buy one and do a lot of motorway/dual carriageway driving, I'd try to find one with cruise control.

Hope this helps.

Ben.

[offashead]

Hi. I have the Auris hybrid tourer. I have only had the car for two weeks. I have to go in a moment but as far as mpg goes (this car is used as a taxi) it's at 69.4 over a 300 mile trip, mostly town but some.. edit.. motorway and A roads. The whine is not like it's portrayed, yes it does roar but quickly settles down once up to speed and back into the eco zone, I quite like it in a way, it's like the car telling you to back off and get back to sensible mode= eco style. I have to go now but will continue with more comments at another point but I have only had it a week or two. So far, thumbs up.

[CurranShelter]

That’s a lot of stuff you’ve written there mon ami and I won’t try to answer it all in one post.

1. Forget the reviews, make up your own mind what appeals / matters too you. Look at Autocar reviews for example, the owners reviews are consistently better than the journalists.

2. Engines need to be worked hard? I’ve only had the 1.6 petrol in my Corolla and two Aurises (Aurii?) as well as driving Toyota courtesy cars and in its current form it’s about one of the best normally aspirated 1600cc engines around. I will be mightily ticked off if Toyota do away with this engine and only offer the 1.2 turbo in its place. I do not need / do not want / will not tolerate being forced to take a turbo for going up and down to Tesco. The 1.33 would not suit me personally.

3. This nonsense about the ‘insult’ of torsion box/beam rear suspension, I had that on my first Auris and now have the multi-link on my present one. I’d take the torsion box back in a heartbeat – and it gives you more boot space.

3. Regardless of whether you pick Toyota, Mazda, Skoda or whatever, see if they’ll give you the car for a full day or at the very least a few hours. By yourself, you don’t need the yapping salesman with you.

Oh yes, the wordiness is an affliction (if I were called Tom, I'd have to be TomdePlume on here). Makes me all the more grateful that folk have read & replied though. :)

If the 1.6 Valvematic (< whatever that means) is anything like the 1.6 VVTi in my Corolla, then I'd be happy with that. Only I had hoped for a fair improvement in fuel economy with whatever I choose.

Very interesting to hear your view about torsion beam suspension - seems to be looked down on in the press but sounds like you prefer the way it behaves (+ yes the boot aspect is a bonus).

Yapping salesmen - - yes they are an annoyance, full of carp and not always a lot of knowledge. As it happens, I went to see Toyota, Mazda, Honda (mistake!) and Skoda. The Toyota bloke wasn't bad, insisted on starting off the test drive, but to be fair I hadn't driven a hybrid before. The Mazda bloke came along and was your typical old-school slippery salesman type, the Honda fella was young, irritatingly enthusiastic and ultimately a right pest who indulged in (dis-)courtesy follow-up calls (plural) along with some Honda dealer call centre, and the Skoda chap said very little, just handed me the keys and told me to take the car out, take my time and enjoy. Very refreshing, and one of the reasons they're still in the running. But anyway, you're right, and there's no way I'll be buying anything without having a proper good go in it.

[CurranShelter]

The Corolla never did particularly well at the hands of the motoring press either, so really nothing has changed.

Having been a regular reader of Autocar for the past 44 years, and a subscriber to What Car for a number of years, their reviews are quite similar (both owned by Haymarket), and both have had a bias towards teutonic products for a number of years.

I thought that too (both points)... glad it wasn't just my imagination.

Guess I don't need to rant on here about this widespread and irritating misconception about the reliability of German cars.

[CurranShelter]

In general Toyotas are for people who just want a car to work reliably & not cost a fortune to run - that doesn't describe your average motor hack who has a new car to play with every week & doesn't have to pay for them.

A very good point, well made. Thank you.

[CurranShelter]

Ben, thanks for your comprehensive reply - much appreciated. Vague steering is something I'm really not keen on, and it's my only big gripe with the Corolla, especially having come from a Peugeot which had superb responsive steering (but yes, terrible reliability). And that's a very good (obvious, when I think about it) point about the seat comfort - what's comfortable for one person could be a nightmare for another.

Your comments on the CVT are as I feared, and does make me wonder if the 1.6 or holding out for the 1.2T (manual) would be a better plan. A shame, as I quite like the hybrid idea, the low emissions and the convenience aspect of a non-manual transmission when it comes to congested town driving.

But, offashead does make a point I can relate to - the hybrid sounds like it would very much encourage me to chill out a bit and have a lighter right foot, and that may be no bad thing. Oh, decisions. And just to muddy the waters even further, wife says it sounds like there's no obvious winner so hang onto the Corolla a bit longer.

Well anyway, thanks again everyone for your comments so far which are all good stuff to ponder on.

[unclepoo]

I have a 2011 Auris t-spirit hybrid, owned it over 1 year now.

Being the t-spirit, it has wider tyres and 17" wheels, so the ride is a little firm, steering feel is good, not too light at all, and body roll is non existent....it corners like it`s on rails.

The engine/ice, cvt/hsd noise that reviews have reported, is utter rubbish. Its the quietest car I`ve ever driven, the engine is only audible when in the power region of the display, and then, it`s not noisy....tyre noise is the first thing you`ll hear because there`s so little else to hear.

I`d recommend one without hesitation.

[Miseryguts]

I have a 2013 Auris Icon 1.6 petrol automatic.

- CVT drone/whine/roar - how bad is it to live with (especially hills & motorways)?

Rubbish,my CVT is quiet,the only time it makes itself heard is under hard acceleration,at 70mph ,nothing.

- Wind and road noise - bad or not?

Bit of tyre noise which varies with road surfaces,no wind noise.
- Steering - over-light and no feedback, or easy and precise?

Nonsense,can't find a problem with it.
- Body roll - significant or not?

What?never had a problem (its a bog standard hatch NOT a "hot" hatch").
- Seat comfort - anything to worry about (e.g. on long journeys)?

150 mile trip,no problem.
- Interior quality - good, poor or mixed?

​Well put together,its no Audi but you don't pay Audi money.
- 1.2 turbo... worth holding out for (assuming I can't find an affordable nearly-new one right now)?

That is for you to decide,I don't like little turbo charged engines,but thats just me,

I never read motoring mags reviews on cars,they are mostly nonsense,or so "pro VAG" its embarrassing.

My first port of call for any new car investigation is the owners forums,especially the "faults and problems" section,this will tell you

far more than any overpaid hack possibly can.

[greenfield8]

I would highly recommend a 6 month old 1.6 Icon Plus, 4.5 years warranty left, sports seats with electric lumbar (drivers side), height adjustable passenger seat (small

passengers like this), satnav, cruise control, reversing camera all for around £12000 with about 10K miles. Seems to be quite a few of these ex “Enterprise” cars around the main dealers all just pre-facelift. To me they represent excellent value for money, yes the road tax is £130 PA however you save close on £7500 on the purchase price of a new 1.2T (& that does not have satnav or cruise). The 1.6 is excellent, a bit old school being without a turbo but you sense it will stay reliable many years into the future – no expensive turbo failures to worry about.

[delbois]

Hi. I have the Auris hybrid tourer. I have only had the car for two weeks. I have to go in a moment but as far as mpg goes (this car is used as a taxi) it's at 69.4 over a 300 mile trip, mostly town but some.. edit.. motorway and A roads. The whine is not like it's portrayed, yes it does roar but quickly settles down once up to speed and back into the eco zone, I quite like it in a way, it's like the car telling you to back off and get back to sensible mode= eco style. I have to go now but will continue with more comments at another point but I have only had it a week or two. So far, thumbs up.

Totally agree with this. The hybrid must be one of the easiest and most relaxing cars to drive. You only hear the whine when the car is pushed hard and even then it is only sounds 'unusual' and not unpleasant. More importantly, the the car pulls very strongly when required (esp in Power Mode). Under normal driving conditions I have found passengers are unable to tell whether the petrol engine is running or if the car is in EV mode. Interestingly the Honest John team had an Auris Hybrid Excel estate on long term test about a year ago and loved it - I would read those HJ test reports and rely on them much more that the standard motoring mag reviews (unless you're a 22 year old who likes to drive like a maniac and gets a 'semi' when you hear the sound of a v8!)

[CurranShelter]

I would highly recommend a 6 month old 1.6 Icon Plus, 4.5 years warranty left, sports seats with electric lumbar (drivers side), height adjustable passenger seat (small

passengers like this), satnav, cruise control, reversing camera all for around £12000 with about 10K miles. Seems to be quite a few of these ex “Enterprise” cars around the main dealers all just pre-facelift. To me they represent excellent value for money, yes the road tax is £130 PA however you save close on £7500 on the purchase price of a new 1.2T (& that does not have satnav or cruise). The 1.6 is excellent, a bit old school being without a turbo but you sense it will stay reliable many years into the future – no expensive turbo failures to worry about.

Thanks, that's a good tip. Must admit I've generally felt a bit wary about the idea of an ex-rental car as even a 6 month old one could have been battered by drivers who don't care too much, but on the other hand I read something where the point was made that the different driving styles it will have had over that time can actually be a good thing. EIther way, if they're sold by main dealers then I would hope they've had a thorough check-up (hope that's not me being naive).

[DarrenM]

I have a 2011 Auris t-spirit hybrid, owned it over 1 year now.

Being the t-spirit, it has wider tyres and 17" wheels, so the ride is a little firm, steering feel is good, not too light at all, and body roll is non existent....it corners like it`s on rails.

The engine/ice, cvt/hsd noise that reviews have reported, is utter rubbish. Its the quietest car I`ve ever driven, the engine is only audible when in the power region of the display, and then, it`s not noisy....tyre noise is the first thing you`ll hear because there`s so little else to hear.

I`d recommend one without hesitation.

Hi. I have the Auris hybrid tourer. I have only had the car for two weeks. I have to go in a moment but as far as mpg goes (this car is used as a taxi) it's at 69.4 over a 300 mile trip, mostly town but some.. edit.. motorway and A roads. The whine is not like it's portrayed, yes it does roar but quickly settles down once up to speed and back into the eco zone, I quite like it in a way, it's like the car telling you to back off and get back to sensible mode= eco style. I have to go now but will continue with more comments at another point but I have only had it a week or two. So far, thumbs up.

Totally agree with this. The hybrid must be one of the easiest and most relaxing cars to drive. You only hear the whine when the car is pushed hard and even then it is only sounds 'unusual' and not unpleasant. More importantly, the the car pulls very strongly when required (esp in Power Mode). Under normal driving conditions I have found passengers are unable to tell whether the petrol engine is running or if the car is in EV mode. Interestingly the Honest John team had an Auris Hybrid Excel estate on long term test about a year ago and loved it - I would read those HJ test reports and rely on them much more that the standard motoring mag reviews (unless you're a 22 year old who likes to drive like a maniac and gets a 'semi' when you hear the sound of a v8!)

Another one on this side of the fence.

The hybrid is lovely and smooth and I couldn't go back to a pure ICE car again. They all feel like dithering dogs to me now.

The TS chassis is perfectly balanced between ride and comfort with no body roll that I can detect.

The ICE high revving when in power mode (nothing to do with a CVT that actually isn't a CVT) is noticeable when you first get the car and are used to driving with WOT. You soon get used to not flooring it and it's only noticeable because the car is so quiet normally. It just sounds like an automatic on kick down.

[Longbottom]

I have had my 2009 Auris for a year now, and I have to say I'm very pleased. It works absolutely fine, and except for using a bit of oil there has been no issues at all (except for me forgetting to check the oil level - but nothing bad really happened). Still, had I listened to what the car tests say, I would probably not have bought it.

Motor journalists are strange. I guess it partially comes from driving different cars every day, which means they get bored with "normal". Partially, I also think it comes from the very active contacts the car companies have with the press. It is easier to like a car make that lets you go for free to Nurnburgring and try their coolest sportscars than one that just gives you a grey family car to test for two days without any further extras.

Anyway, the people who test cars are always obsessed with such strange things. Like soft touch materials on the dashboard. I don't really have the time to sit and feel the material when driving. Perhaps they have. And whether the plastic is soft or hard really doesn't make a difference to anything. Soft plastic is not more "exclusive" than hard - it is still just plastic. Or their unhealthy obsession with VW. The Golf looks as boring as it always has. Still every new version is praised for its wonderful design. They also like to feel the road through the steering wheel. I personally like a steering wheel that is easy on the hand and does what I want it to do.

Reliability, however, seems to be completely absent from almost every car review. Possibly because the reviewer only has the car for a day or two. I still think that the average car owner prefers reliability to soft touch materials and feeling the road through the steering wheel. Or cost of spare parts, or service, which hardly ever pops up in the tests.

I went for recommendations from friends, reliability statistics and active test driving instead. That gave me an Auris, and I am very satisfied with it.

[frankie406]

I've a 2010 facelift auris 1.33vvti and it's quick enough for town driving and gets up to 70mph on motorways.what will you be looking to use yours for?

[whats what]

Well after having to scrap my trusty Toyota Corrolla D-4D with 170,000 plus on the clock because the gear box (5th gear) went went whilst towing on holiday we bought last weekend a 2007 Auris, 55,000 on the clock.

This was not my first car choice I looked at a Hyundia i30 1.6 CRDi but it was sold within days of me test driving it. I had to wait for Peter Vardy to open as they are shut Sundays. So my first impressions are the 1.6vvti engine is fine for just doddling about the place in my opinion, and the handling , steering is vague. Not as sharp as the Corrolla. Not figured ut what fuel comsumption will be like as yet either.

This Auris had faulty powersteering which was traced back to the ECU which has been replaced hence we are the 5th onwers of this car ( found receipt left in car documents). The Mrs is also reporting issues with getting it to start, even with the clutch in.

So jury is still out on this car.

[TomdeGuerre]

WW - the electrically assisted steering on the Mk1 Auris is definitely a bit vague, maybe it feels different / worse on a petrol variant compared to the diesel which had more weight on the front. Been so long since I had my 'Rolla I couldn't really say for a comparison. Fuel consumption? well you can hardly compare the petrol with the diesel, I know my petrol Corolla automatic was thirstier than the petrol MMT Auris by at least a couple of MPG but the 5 gear ons were definitely undergeared for motorway cruising, the 6 speed box was better..

[CurranShelter]

Went and tried out a 1.2T manual (hatch) and an HSD (TS) yesterday, and it brought home what a load of old cobblers some of these reviews are (What Car, I'm looking at you)... Well that's just my opinion, but seems to me that a lot of them don't give credit where credit's due, except the HJ long term test mentioned by delbois (good tip) and the Telegraph review by Kyle Fortune (maybe Autocar's too - less favourable overall but still reasonably balanced).

As for my own impressions, well the turbo lag on the 1.2T irritated me just like the VAG 1.4 TSI I tried in a Skoda a while back, although it wasn't quite as bad on the Auris and I could probably get used to it. It felt strong most of the time, with just the odd moment where it didn't pick up quite as I expected, but nothing too bad. No idea what the revewiers meant about the long gear shift - felt normal to me.

The hybrid made quite a good impression, and I felt like I could live with it and come to enjoy it, even with the high revs and all that. Still a very relaxing drive. On balance I think I'd rather try and find a used HSD now than wait another 6-12 months for some used 1.2T to come onto the market. That said, I haven't ruled out the Mazda 3 which was a nice drive and felt a more familiar experience (as a naturally aspirated petrol), and no big hybrid price tag. I've got to say though, my local Toyota dealerships are a pleasure to deal with, and the same can't be said of the Mazda folk up the road (old-school slippery sales types).

Still trying to figure out how much of a premium I'd pay for a hybrid over a petrol, and a TS over a hatchback, as I'm pretty sure the gap is narrower for used than new, but haven't found like-for-like examples yet. I suppose it all depends on what turns up on the forecourts near me anyway.

[bruce e]

.................. Seems to be quite a few of these ex “Enterprise” cars around the main dealers all just pre-facelift. To me they represent excellent value for money, yes the road tax is £130 PA however you save close on £7500 on the purchase price of a new 1.2T (& that does not have satnav or cruise). ................

Ex rental car? If thats what suits your pocket but you could be buying trouble.

Re check the specs ..............the 1.2T Auris BE has sat nav & cruise control

I wasn't sure about changing from a 1.6 to a 1.2T, that was until I drove it. Turbo lag? yes it kicks in at 2000rpm, no problem here. The road tax £30 & the extra mpg (plodding in urban traffic I get 10 mpg more than in the 1.6, makes it a no brainer to me.