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Old 04-28-2007, 01:00 PM
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Arrow Toyota Auris 1.4VVT-i T3


Toyota Auris 1.4VVT-i T3

Trouble is, it seems the Japanese firm's designers have forgotten how to create a car that doesn't look almost exactly like the model it is replacing.

And just like the new Yaris, which looks much like the mark one version, the new Auris, despite its fancy name, is almost a dead ringer for the reliable but dull Corolla.

That's not good news because the Auris' aforementioned rivals, especially the Civic produced by Toyota's great rival, Honda, have considerably moved the family hatchback market on.

"The exterior has a highly efficient aerodynamic shape", is the most inspiring line Toyota's press department can come up with to describe the firm's latest car. And it's not hard to see why because lined up alongside a Civic the newcomer already looks dreadfully dated.

The instructions from above might have been to play it safe and pick up on the odd sale here and there from the more conservative driver put off by the adventurous Civic. That's fair enough but the lack of overall design flair really is a mystery and in the end can only lose Toyota sales - I can't imagine anyone under 40 giving it a second glance.

However, the Auris is a safe car - with an excellent five-star ***** safety crash test rating from Euro NCAP plus four stars for child protection and three for pedestrian safety. But despite feeling very well built - a big thumbs-up for the factory in Burnaston, Derbyshire - the lack of soft-touch quality plastics is another major issue.

And while the driving experience is smooth and refined - as long as you don't buy the underpowered 97bhp 1.4 litre VVT-i petrol engine which needs to be thrashed to achieve any sort of motorway pace - the oddly placed handbrake, set at an angle on the "bridged console design", which stretches from the main part of the dashboard down between the two front seats to the floor, feels so darn awkward to use that it remains a mystery why no one pointed it out in the design stage.

The slick five-speed gearbox in the 1.4 litre tested - a six-speeder is also available in more expensive models - is something to be applauded however, as is the excellent ride quality and the Auris' surprisingly good handling.

These plus points make the Auris' dismal lack of character and flair so much more annoying.

There are four model grades and other engine choices centre around a 122bhp 1.6 litre, and three diesel units - an 89bhp 1.4, a 124bhp 2.0 litre and a high-powered 175bhp of the same capacity which will be used to power a fast T180 model.

Boot space lags behind rivals, though. In fact the Auris' 354 litres feels quite cramped compared to the Civic's 485 litre effort and the 365 litres in the Focus. It does beat the Golf though - by four litres. But its rear seats lack any imagination, with the backs simply folding forward.

The end result is a world away from the flexibility shown by the Civic's "magic seat" system and even Toyota's own fold flat layout found in the Corolla Verso, where all seats slot easily into the floor.

So despite the new name, the Auris carries over all the Corolla traits that should have been well and truly erased in the design process. It's not a bad car but it's a long way from one that will have car hunters flocking to Toyota showrooms. - NEIL GREENFIELD

TOYOTA AURIS 1.4VVT-i T3 five-door - from ??13,495 otr

Engine: 1.4 litre VVT-i

Max power: 96bhp at 6,000rpm and 130Nm torque at 4,400rpm

PERFORMANCE:

0-62mph - 13.0 seconds

Max speed - 106mph

ECONOMY: 40.9mpg combined

CO2 emissions/TAX %: 163/19%

INSURANCE GROUP: 4

STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Front, side and curtain airbags; air conditioning; Radio/CD with six speakers; electric windows; 16-inch alloy wheels

Source: [url=http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/content/islington/gazette/Motors/story.aspx?brand=ISLGOnline&category=CarReviews&tB rand=islgonline&tCategory=CarReviews&itemid=WeED26 %20Apr%202007%2015%3A50%3A30%3A073]Islington Gazette[/url]
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