Toyota Auris 2015, presentation and road test in Belgium

Diego G. Moreira 5 June 2015 7 min.

Toyota Auris 2015, presentation and road test in Belgium

In March of this year at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show we unveiled the details of the new Toyota Auris 2015 and Avensis 2015. In the case of the Japanese compact, it receives many aesthetic changes, but the most important thing is the new engines.

We have been able to take a first look at the new Toyota Auris 2015 in Belgium (near Waterloo), as well as test the new engines and learn first-hand about the improvements of the new Auris.

Updated design and improved interior quality

Before going in depth on the changes to the engines, let’s start with the first thing that catches the eye, that is, the changes to the exterior and interior design. Externally, the Toyota Auris 2015 features a new front bumper, the grille extends up to the lights, and the headlights, which can be LED, have also changed.

At the rear the changes are minor, but LED light units appear. Also noteworthy are the new 16 and 17-inch alloy wheel designs and the additional colours Sapphire Blue and Metallic Blue (the only ones on the units we were able to test).

Inside, Toyota says it has focused on improving perceived quality, with new materials and an overall improvement in quality. Our first impression at the wheel is one of improvement, along with a simpler yet attractive design (such as the central screen placed on a floating panel finished in glossy black) or the dashboard finishes in soft plastic and parts trimmed in fabric. Another novelty is the TFT screen in the instrumentation, which offers abundant on-board computer information.

New engine range for the Toyota Auris 2015

The Japanese compact debuts two powertrains and updates the existing ones. Specifically, it adds a new entry-level petrol engine, the 1.2T with 116 CV (replacing the 1.6 naturally aspirated), and adds a 1.6D-4D with 112 CV (replacing the previous 2.0D with 120 CV).

Another powertrain with new features is the 1.4 D-4D with 90 CV, which has been updated to reduce consumption to 4.0 litres per 100 km (previously 4.2 l/100 km) and also offers greater response from low revs, specifically from 1,400 rpm (previously 1,800 rpm).

Finally, the hybrid engine (1.8 VVT-i with 100 CV and an electric motor with 82 CV, for a combined output of 136 CV) reduces consumption to 3.5 l/100 km and improves emissions. This is the variant that Toyota wants to promote, since it expects 60% of Aurises to be sold with this engine.

Added to the changes are the McPherson front suspension and the electric power steering (EPS), which has been recalibrated so that it transmits more weight when driving at speeds above 80 km/h.

New safety equipment: Toyota Safety Sense

Thanks to a camera and a radar, located in the windscreen, the Japanese brand’s new safety system is capable of performing three functions directly linked to safety.

The first thing the Toyota Safety Sense offers is the automatic emergency braking, which warns the driver of a possible rear-end collision and, if there is no response, then intervenes and can bring the vehicle to a complete stop below 40 km/h, while at higher speeds (up to 80 km/h) it mitigates the impact but does not prevent the collision (normal operation for this type of system).

The other function it has is the lane departure warning (Lane Departure Alert – LDA), which alerts us with a gentle beep inside the cabin and a warning light on the instrument cluster.

Finally, there is the automatic high beam system (AHB), which, thanks to the front camera, can detect other vehicles and switch between dipped and main beams, as well as detect the tail lights of other cars.

Behind the wheel: Toyota Auris 1.2T 116 CV, Auris 1.6 D-D4 and Auris Hybrid

Our first contact with the Auris in a small village near Waterloo (Belgium) was with the new petrol engine. It is a four-cylinder engine with variable valve timing, direct injection and turbocharging, delivering 116 CV.

Our unit is a hatchback, and as soon as we sat down the first thing we noticed is the change in interior quality. I still remember the Auris of two generations ago, with good fit and finish but which relied excessively on hard plastics, whereas the current generation looks much more upmarket, with the upper part of the dashboard in soft, pleasant-to-the-touch plastic, a floating panel housing the screen (touch tablet), and the lower part of the dashboard finished in fabric.

We turn the key and the smoothness is noticeable (Toyota’s motto is relaxed driving) and this Auris seems to embrace it. For the first few metres we notice a smooth powertrain, with just enough power, but one that always delivers torque in a linear way (185 Nm from 1,500 rpm).

The route prepared for us runs along country roads between villages surrounded by trees and green areas, ideal for relaxed driving. Another detail that surprises me is the six-speed gearbox (with very long ratios) and its excellent feel, unusual in a compact.

After covering several kilometres with this powertrain, we like on the one hand its smoothness and linear power delivery, but it is also true that it is the entry-level engine in the range and is just adequate for moving the Auris, though of course it all depends on the driving style you adopt.

Our second test was with a Toyota Auris TS with the 136 CV hybrid engine. The most notable aspect here is ride comfort: clearly a great deal of work went into soundproofing, and it is even more noticeable when you drive the hybrid version. Consumption, as always, is very tight, specifically 5.2 litres on a mixed route between villages and main road.

And finally, we tested the Toyota Auris 1.6D-4D (115D) with the BMW engine, with 112 CV of power. It is a very capable powertrain, moving the Auris with great ease, and its main feature is consumption. On the route, which was more dynamic than with the previous engines thanks to lighter traffic, the Auris proved very stable at all times (a trait that extends to the other versions tested) and with good throttle response. I was especially surprised by the consumption: after a route of approx. 80 km with stretches of spirited driving, average consumption hovered around 5.5 litres per 100 km.

Prices and trim levels

The new Toyota Auris is available from 15,440 euros (including discount and PIVE) in the 116 CV petrol version. There is also an interesting option that Toyota calls “Pay Per Drive”, a lease under which, with a deposit of 4,932 euros, you can have a Auris Hybrid for 190 euros a month on 48-month financing (the instalment varies depending on the chosen engine, and the deposit may also be lower). There are four trim levels: Business, Active, Feel! and Advance, while even the base trim already includes the touchscreen, air conditioning, electric mirrors, among other features.

The prices of the Auris 2015 are as follows (with discount but excluding the PIVE 8 scrappage incentive of -750 euros), and the Touring Sports bodywork adds 1,250 euros: