Toyota Auris D-4D Range
Its impossible to consider these Toyota Auris diesel models without at least a brief mention of the Corolla. The worlds best selling car, it never really achieved much affection in this country, being generally seen as a functional but unexciting white good of a car. The Auris aims to change that and project a more dynamic image for Toyota family hatches.
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4-litre D-4D 90, which produces 89bhp and 190Nm of torque. A more popular option looks set to be the car I covered most miles in, the 2.0-litre D-4D 130. This packs 124bhp and a maximum torque figure of 300Nm, translating into a sprint to 60mph of ten seconds flat and a top speed of 121mph.
The technical highlight of the range is the SR180 version which is good for 175bhp and a whopping 400Nm of torque, making it as muscular in the mid-range as a Porsche 911 Carrera S. Itll get off the line to the 60mph benchmark in 7.9 seconds but its when the turbocharger gets spooled up that this engine does its best work, jetting from 50 to 75mph in 8.4 seconds.
"As youd expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent."
The electrically-assisted power steering is accurate and compared to the petrol models, its easy to feel the weight of the D4-D engine on turn-in. The six-speed manual transmission features some closely-stacked ratios that youll need to keep on top of to maintain decent torque which, in the D4-D 130, is found in a narrowish seam between 2,000 and 2,800rpm. Fortunately, the box is a joy to use. Less delightful is the simple torsion beam rear suspension which feels a little dead.
Its illuminating that the range-topping T180 gets a fully independent rear suspension setup. Perhaps the kindest way of describing the Auris exterior shape is evolutionary. A less charitable verdict would be unadventurous. If Toyota really wanted to position the Auris as a different and higher quality car than the Corolla, step one should be to ensure it doesnt look broadly similar in dimension to that car.
Yet despite the neater touches, well, it does. While Toyota senior suits talk about J-factor, vibrant clarity and emotional identity, most of us think it represents a missed opportunity. The interior has been smartened up with a clearer dash design and OPTITRON instruments but materials quality is slightly hit and miss. Theres also a significant lack of oddments stowage space.
For a car that namechecks the Volkswagen Golf amongst its key rivals, the Auris is more than a little behind the curve here. On the plus side, longer overhangs offer significantly better luggage capacity (354 litres) than the old Corolla and despite the wheelbase being the same, some clever packaging sees rear legroom increase. Compared to the Corolla, the Auris is 40mm longer and 50mm wider. One particularly neat design detail is the low door profiles which help to reduce the visual effect of tallness.
The Auris diesel line-up isnt entirely straightforward in the way its sold through dealers. At the entry level theres the 1.4 D-4D 90, available in T2 or T3 trims, and three or five-door bodystyles. The T3 model is also offered with the option of a MultiMode automatic gearbox.
The D4-D 130 comes in the value TR guise and T3 trim in three of five door form, with the ritzier T Spirit trim only offered with the five-door body. Finally, the SR180 is offered in both three and five-door bodystyles, the latter topping the range at £18,495. As youd expect from Toyota, standard equipment levels are excellent. The TR looks an especially good buy, based on T3 trim with added extras but with £1,000 shaved off the price.
Aimed at private buyers, this means the £14,195 Auris D4-D 130 TR three-door gets 16-inch alloy wheels, leather trimmed steering wheel and gear knob, wheel-mounted audio controls, a six speaker stereo as well as scuff plates on the door sills and extra chrome detailing at the back of the car. Toyota also offers three option packs for the Auris, Style, Protection and Tech. If the Auris plays a mixed hand in terms of design, it comes storming back with a fistful of aces when it comes to running costs, although there is one joker in the pack in the shape of the T180, a model which well consider separately. Both the 90 and 130 D4-D models are not only good value from new but also turn in sparkling running cost figures.
If youre going to buy a car with your head rather than heart, these models are right in the mix. Granted, that might not have been Toyotas intention, but its a reasonably desirable outcome. Expect 56.5mpg from the D4-D 90 model and a very respectable 52.
3mpg from the punchy D4-D 130. Emissions for these two cars are rated at 132 and 151g/km respectively. Likewise, insurance is extremely cheap, the D4-D 90 attracting a 4E rating, the D4-D 130 a 6E banding. The SR180 isnt in the same boat, the 175bhp diesel engine being seen as more of a temptation to speedy drivers although the 13A insurance grouping is still reasonable for a car with this amount of poke.
The 45.6mpg quoted figure sounds good but when you feel the addictive acceleration this thing can deliver, youll be mashing the throttle pedal at every opportunity. Anything over 30mpg will then be seen as a bonus. The Toyota Auris diesel range has a lot going for it.
Spacious, well-built, good value, well-equipped and with a welcome element of dynamism injected in the form of the T180 model, it is, on most objective scorecards, a strong performance. As the Corolla proved, objective scorecards work for a good deal of the world but we Brits are curiously immune to them. We want more. We want personality, some fire in the cars belly, possibly a few appealing flaws that we can call character.
This is where the Auris falls a little flat. Perhaps that appears harsh but its reality. The Ford Focus will continue to sell more because its more fun and the Golf because it says more about you as a person. The Auris diesel is that cagoule in the bottom of your chest of drawers.
Sensible, but you wouldnt want an ex to see you in it.
FACTS AT A GLANCE
CAR: Toyota Auris D-4D range
PRICES: £13,195-£18,495 on the road
INSURANCE GROUPS: 3E-13A
CO2 EMISSIONS: 132-164g/km
PERFORMANCE: [T180] 0-60mph 8.1s / Max Speed 146mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [T180] (urban) 35.8 (extra urban) 54.3 (combined) 45.6mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS /EBD
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: [5dr] length/width/height mm 4220/1760/1515
