Is a 2014 Auris Touring Sports with 149.000km a safe choice?

[Kontorstol]

Hi. I'm looking at buying a Toyota Auris, and I'm looking at a well kept Auris Touring Sports 1.8 hybrid with 149.000 km (92.500 miles) and complete service history from Toyota. How should this car be holding up if I drive another 100.000 km in the next five years? Should I expect any additional problems and costs if I follow the recommended service every 12 months/16.000 km?

Thanks! 

[TonyHSD]

Hi, 

if the car is indeed as good as on the paper you should not have any issues., not any big one at least with hybrid system, Battery, engine etc.  You can read here we have interesting posts about what and when needs to be done as additional work on top of the regular oil service to extend life and prevent any possible premature failures. 
Good luck 

[mpm235]

23 hours ago, Kontorstol said:

Hi. I'm looking at buying a Toyota Auris, and I'm looking at a well kept Auris Touring Sports 1.8 hybrid with 149.000 km (92.500 miles) and complete service history from Toyota. How should this car be holding up if I drive another 100.000 km in the next five years? Should I expect any additional problems and costs if I follow the recommended service every 12 months/16.000 km?

Thanks! 

Hello Daniel, I reckon its a good choice. I've has a 2014 1.8 Auris Hybrid for 2 years and absolutely love it. Smooth, very comfortable, good luggage space, quiet, great build quality, power button makes it feel little bit nippy, totally reliable, 55 mpg, What's not to like?

Its great the one you're looking at has got full Toyota service history, ( you might consider keeping that up with a Service Plan? Not at all cheap, but very good, I've got one with my main dealer, Burrows, they bend over backwards to look after my car and me).  As it's a Toyota, it's much more likely to stay reliable at high mileages / ages than most other, non-Japanese makes.  

One thing to bear in mind, but not panic about, is the EGR valve. This 1.8 Hybrid engine (in the mark 3 Prius and mark 2 Auris) can have trouble with blocked EGR valves, causes overheating and possible cylinder head gasket to go. It does occur in UK, but more a problem in hot climates, with low quality petrol (such as the Priuses that shuffle around Los Angeles). Also, stop-start, low speeds contribute to it. Toyota UK advise it can be mitigated by regularly driving above 40mph (I do quite a few motorway miles, so I'm not losing sleep over it with my Auris). Some Auris/ Prius owners get them cleaned out, once they get over 100,000 miles. You can also DIY clean it, with oven cleaner, stiff brush and elbow grease ( blokes on this forum have done it). If the EGR is starting to get blocked, it will have rough idle on tick over and possibly warning lights on dash, so you will have a heads up before it pops the cylinder head gasket. Like I say, bear it in mind, but no need to panic. I definitely think you won't be disappointed getting an Auris. Cheers, Mark

[Kontorstol]

4 minutes ago, mpm235 said:

snip

Thanks man! I'm also looking at another Auris with less miles but a incomplete service history. Could you take a look at that post and give me your thoughts? 

 

[AisinW]

All Auris hybrid are relatively very reliable compared to any cars from other brands.  However, the 2015-newer are the best choice simply from the perspective of updated head gasket, piston, and piston rings that reduce the tendency of oil consumption.  Oil consumption is the main culprit that cause clogged EGR valve, passage on the intake manifolds, pinging and eventually head gasket failure.  Besides that, oil consumption is poissoning the catalytic converter although newer oil are less harsh to cat these days.   For absolute reliability reason, just spend another $1000-2000 and get the facelift model instead (fall 2015-newer).  

However, the most problematic one is still 2010-2011 range. Toyota fix with multiple steps from reprogramming EGR to change the EGR batch, head gasket (2013), and piston+piston rings (fall 2014). https://www.carcomplaints.com/Toyota/Prius/.  Remember that the problems occure way after 200 000 km. So, before this period, all Auris hybrid are running fine.  The difference only appearance after 320 000 Km or more. 

[mushrooom]

I've got a 2014 Estate with 289,000 miles on the clock. We do about 3000 miles a month and we got it with 242,000 last year. It owes us some tyres and a secondhand wiper motor so far.