Toyota's new Auris is more a continuity car to the ever-reliable Corolla, finds Motoring Editor Michael McAleer
It had been heralded as a new dawn for family hatchbacks. Certainly the decision to change the name of a car that has been at the backbone of Toyota's rise to the top of the car industry is a brave marketing move. The Japanese brand is now the most profitable car company in the world, and looks set to become the world's largest car producer by the end of this year. No small part of this success is down to the Corolla.
The fact that Toyota managed to sell over 30 million Corollas since it was first launched over 40 years ago tells its own tale: a reputation for reliability and build quality in the hatchback market has created a loyalty among owners that is the envy of the motoring world. Simply put, the success of the Corolla has demonstrated that millions of buyers want a car that will start every Monday morning without fail. That's one critical feature rivals clearly haven't managed to mimic.
Who can argue with 30 million sales? Well, for a start, we can't help feeling a little disappointed that Toyota was not braver with the exterior design. After all, the very reasoning behind the name change was due to the fact that for all the respect it earned for reliability, research showed consumers perceived the Corolla to be rather bland.
This new Auris was meant to change all that. If all those devoted fans bought Corollas without being lured by innovative design, imagine how many more people would buy the car if its looks appealed as well.
There's no law against appealing to the heart as well as to the head. After all, fellow Japanese brand Honda also has a strong record of reliability, yet it was brave enough to let the designers push the boundaries with the new Civic.
If the Auris was meant to be the car to revamp Toyota's image in the hatchback market, then someone forgot to tell the exterior designers. We were looking for a new dawn but what we got was a new Corolla. The new look is really a fusion of the outgoing Corolla and the latest Yaris. That's not a bad look, and it will certainly not cause any upset amongst the loyal Corolla buyers.
However, set against the likes of the VW Golf and Focus, it's another conservative take on the family hatchback market. That's fine for what it is, but the likes of the Citroën C4 or Honda Civic set out more striking stalls for those with a keen eye for image.
It's a pity, because Toyota is making much of the fact that this car was designed in Europe for Europeans.
There are, however, some signs that deep in the bowels of this motoring behemoth there are those who caught on to the opportunity being offered by the name change. While that's not obvious from the outside, inside the cabin the designers have finally allowed themselves the luxury of original thought.
The most striking feature is the way the centre console rises up from behind the driver's seat and sweeps up to the dashboard. This buttress offers a short gear lever close to hand and a handbrake up close to the driver. The end result makes both features easier to reach and also leaves room for storage underneath.
Far more importantly, however, it adds a degree of sporting design that none of its European competitors have managed, to date. Yes, the cabin does feel a little more cramped, but a quick perusal of the measurements suggest that there is no real loss of space compared to leading rivals such as the Ford Focus or VW Golf. It offers a proper cockpit feel that wouldn't be out of place in a premium saloon.
Combine this new styling of the central console and the new backlit dials on the binnacle and you start to see that at least some of the designers and engineers at Toyota had caught on to the Auris theme. There's also more to the cabin features than mere aesthetics. One new feature is a little indicator between the rev counter and speedometer that suggests to the driver when it would be optimum for fuel consumption to change gear.
It may seem a pointless addition, something that suggests the engineers had too much time on their hands, but Toyota reckons it can improve fuel economy by 5 per cent. What's more, it will also reduce CO2 emissions and last week's EU Commission proposals on the reduction of car emissions specifically mentioned such gearchange signals as being important features for the future. Yet again, it seems, Toyota is ahead of the pack.
Sadly, for all the praiseworthy efforts with interior design, the quality of the plastics is a real disappointment. From the fake aluminium door handles through to the covering on the new buttress and even the gloveboxes, there's a light and flimsy feel to the plastics that we would not normally associate with this brand. It's a brighter, smarter cabin than that of the Golf or even the Focus, but for premium feel, the Honda still holds sway.
Out on the open road, the Auris has similar traits to its hatchback predecessor. Toyota offers two petrol and two diesel engines in the new model. We've tested the 1.4-litre versions in both and have to commend their comfort and quietness.
The rather sedate 13 seconds from start to 100km/h is actually better than what's on offer from the opposition. That said, none of these 1.4-litre entrants are going to set the world on fire. The most eager normally-aspirated 1.4-litre engine we've tested recently was in the Kia Cee'd with a 0-100km/h time of 11.9 seconds. The Toyota doesn't match it for pep.
There is a noticeable engine hum at 120km/h, but for overall ratings, the Auris - even with the base level 1.4-litre petrol engine - is an adequate performer for motorway or town driving once you get up a head of steam. It only comes unstuck on wet country roads, where there is a tendency to understeer as the front wheels fight for grip. We would have liked if Toyota had opted to offer ESP as standard - or even an option. There are suggestions that it may join the options list in the near future, but it should have been included in the planning stages rather than as an afterthought. That said, it does come with nine airbags, including a new knee airbag for the driver and the car's EuroNCAP ratings are top quality.
In terms of rivals, the Auris will undoubtedly sell just as well as the previous Toyota hatchback. It may lack the driving fun of the Focus or the image appeal of the Golf, but the much-envied reputation for reliability will keep it high on the sales league. At entry-level, however, the greatest threat to the Auris will come from the Koreans, in particular the new Kia Cee'd. With its seven-year warranty, an impressive list of standard features and a more potent 1.4-litre petrol engine, the Cee'd offers a value proposition that will appeal to the logical minds of Toyota owners.
Toyota talks of revolution but the traditional traits of reliability and competitive running costs that made Corolla a success are still to be found in the new Auris.
In the end, it looks like a Corolla; it drives like a Corolla and it will sell like a Corolla. So there's no real need to get too concerned about the name change.
Despite the marketing hype, this is more about evolution than revolution.
ENGINE:
A 1.4-litre four-cylinder in-line VVT-i petrol engine putting out 97bhp @ 6,000 rpm and 130Nm of torque at 4,400 rpm
SPECIFICATION:
Standard features include: 15" metal wheels; nine airbags including new knee airbag; ABS with brake assist and EBD; disc brakes; electric and heated door mirrors; front electric windows; front passenger air bag cut-off; gear shift Indicator; rado/CD player with six speakers; two ISOFIX - child seat fixing points; multi information display: remote central locking; space saver spare wheel.
Strata adds: 16" alloy wheels; front fog lights.
Luna adds:air con; rear electric windows; steering wheel mounted remote audio controls; rear seat cup holders
URBAN:8.7 (32.5)
EXTRA-URBAN:5.9 (47.9)
COMBINED:6.9 (40.9)
CO2 EMISSIONS:163 g/km
EuroNCAP rating:
Adult occupant protection: 5/5
Child occupant protection: 4/5
Pedestrian protection: 3/4
ANNUAL ROAD TAX:€292
PRICE:€22,770
(€19,900 to €29,570)
Factfile
Toyota Auris 1.4 VVT-i Luna 5dr 1,398cc
0-100km/h:13.0 secs
Max speed:170km/h
Bhp:97
Consumption:6.9 L/100km (40.9 mpg)