Auris kitted out in classy finery

This view from above shows off the Auris' new, sleeker lines, but it's a pity about the powerplant.

Toyota no doubt also hopes that the new-look Auris will spark off fresh interest in its C-segment entrant which has not exactly been embraced with wild enthusiasm by the local market.

Toyota is obviously also keeping a wary (and justifiably nervous) eye on the growing popularity of the Korean competitors in this segment because they are certainly not shy to push design perimeters.

Toyotas are generally not head-turning, but the new Auris has certainly changed that with a design that is nicely balanced between cool, funky, smart, and classy. The white coats at Toyota scraped off some of the car's overall height, lowered the ride and spruced up the outside with some zesty lines to give it a much more youthful look.

Living quarters dollied up

A lot of work also went into the living quarters which have been dollied up with so much renewed energy that it almost looks a bit over the top compared to Toyota's rather bland cabin finishes.

The leather wrapped steering wheel with audio controls goes well with the touchscreen and the leather trim of the two upper-range models. To keep irritating engine, road and wind noises at bay a lot of good work has also been done to improve cabin insulation.

Toyotas are generally not head-turning, but the new Auris has certainly changed that with a design that is nicely balanced between cool, funky, smart, and classy.

The new Auris has also been stretched to give more leg room, particularly to the rear passengers, as well as creating additional luggage space in the boot.

Creature comforts include a fully adjustable steering column, cruise control, electric windows, reverse camera, keyless entry and a smart audio system that incorporates CD/MP3 and Bluetooth.

However, on the safety front even loyal members of the Toyota fan club will be disappointed by the lack of stability and traction control, and automatic locking doors, although the Auris does have a plethora of airbags, ISOFIX child chair anchors and a five-star EuroNCAP rating.

Riding dynamics improved

The riding dynamics have improved and during the week we had it on test it was driven in congested commuter lanes, out on the open road, over twisty hillsides and even on gravel stretches and the steering felt marginally sharper. The suspension, too, felt as though it has benefited from a tweak or two.

Typical Toyota drivers will be happy with the way it handles for they are hardly likely to want to hot-hatch the Auris over mountain passes or become involved in robot-to-robot dashes.

There's more legroom for rear passengers, and more boot space.

Which brings me to the one disappointing aspect of the Auris - its go just doesn't match the show. The 1,6-litre normally aspirated engine is far off the pace of what is happening in the modern auto world where turbos have become almost standard and smaller engines have become the norm.

On paper the figures don't look too dull but on the road its 97kW/160Nm fails to generate much excitement. The maker claims a top speed of 200km/h but on our runs into the country-side this seemed a tad optimistic although, in fairness, we didn't put it to the final top speed test. The engine is linked to a highly geared six-speed manual shift, which certainly doesn't make for better than dull performance, particularly along undulating roads or during overtaking.

Taking off from start at the traffic lights at the bottom of Hout Bay's Suikerbossie Hill, anything above 3rd gear is pretty ineffective if you want to keep within the legal limit.

Keep those revs up

The only way to whip some life into the power unit is to keep the revs up which in turn will push fuel usage up and dent your wallet.

A lot of work also went into the living quarters which have been dollied up.

click to enlarge

The car is also prone to irritating stalls at take-off which my wife was quick to query with: "Is there something wrong with the engine or the clutch?"

On the reverse side of the coin, the gearbox is smooth and quick and the brakes are really good - as one has become to expect from a brand with a reputation for good, solid build and reliable engines and transmissions.

Overall the Auris scores well when it comes to looks, safety, ride comfort and peace of mind features and deserves consideration even though it is likely to appeal to the more conservative end of this market segment where purchases are based on common sense rather than on emotion fuelled by looks and driving pleasure.

The Auris comes standard with a three-year/100,000km warranty and a five-year/90,000km service plan.

There are five models to choose from, varying in price from R195,000 to R265,600.

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