Toyota Auris Hybrid, road test (interior design, exterior design and boot)

We continue with the analysis of the occupant of our test garage during these days. In the first part we reviewed everything related to the technical side of the Toyota Auris Hybrid.

Now it’s time to move forward, focusing on the exterior design, the interior, and its headroom and space figures. Will you join us?

Exterior design

The Toyota Auris is already in its second generation. The Japanese compact arrived to replace the well-known and acclaimed Corolla, one of the best-selling vehicles in automotive history. The task entrusted to the Auris was therefore not an easy one…

The first generation did not have a terribly exciting design. It was an update of the last Corolla, with smooth lines that aimed to appeal to as many people as possible, without the need for flourishes or excess.

In this second generation, launched on the market in 2012, it shows a much more powerful design. Toyota decided to give its compact bolder lines in order to put an end to the image of bland cars that it had conveyed for many years. The Auris was one of the first models of the brand to feature the elongated grille with the large logo -blue, because it is a hybrid-. It is the family look that has gradually spread to the rest of the brand’s vehicles.

The front of the Auris shows elongated lines that give the car a sense of width highly valued by customers. The front headlights, which in this version feature bi-xenon technology, also integrate daytime running lights, formed by a block of 3 LEDs in each headlight. The front bumper has a central air intake, as well as several chrome details including the fog light surrounds.

The side view has been considerably lengthened compared to the previous generation. The window line now extends up to the C-pillar, always rising, unlike the previous generation. In fact, although the side has practically no design details -not even moldings on the doors-, there is a line, again rising, that joins the ends of the front and rear headlights. The 17″ alloy wheels, in anthracite color on the Advance version, look balanced.

The rear is perhaps the part with the least personality of the whole. The rear lights, with LED technology for the brake lights, have a not very refined design. Despite this, they fit well with the lines of the rear. The rear window is somewhat small, which results in rather limited visibility when looking in the rear-view mirror. The tailgate has a good height, which makes loading and unloading easier.
The rear bumper features reflectors at the ends, as well as a central molding painted in black, simulating the presence of a diffuser and adding a dynamic touch to the whole.

Interior design and boot

Once we move inside, we find a very pleasant atmosphere. Settling into the driver’s seat is not difficult at all; you quickly find a driving position that suits your preferences. The front seats have height adjustment, while the driver’s seat also has electric lumbar support adjustment.

Although the design of the dashboard is not love at first sight, we quickly find ourselves very comfortable. The rounded and voluminous lines of the previous generation have given way to a straighter environment, with a center console in two practically perpendicular planes. Where we also notice a big leap is in the materials used for its construction.

Most of the hard plastics of the previous Auris have been replaced by soft-touch padded plastics with a very pleasant feel. Although hard plastics are still used in the lower areas of the dashboard and doors, the fits are very well done and the tolerances between parts are very small. Furthermore, Toyota has introduced details to improve the visual quality of the whole, such as the leather trim on the dashboard -standard on the Advance version- or the metallic inserts on the switches.

In terms of space, the Auris can boast good dimensions in all seats. While it is no surprise that there is no shortage of space in the front, the second row also has more than enough room for its occupants, especially in terms of knee room. Headroom is somewhat tighter -still sufficient in any case-, mainly due to the fact that this version features a panoramic glass roof, which lowers the height by a few millimeters.

The boot has more than enough capacity for everyday use, with 360 litres. In addition, the second row of seats can be folded down in a 60:40 split, which adds capacity and practicality by creating a practically flat loading space.

In the final part of the test we will talk about equipment -with video included-, costs and its rivals. See you there.

Photographs | Daniel Valdivielso