Toyota Auris Active 1.4 D-4D 5dr Car Review - May 2013

REVIEW
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List Price: £16,295
Tax Band: A
Insurance Group: 10
MPG: 74.3
CO2: 99
0-62 Mph: 12.5 secs
BHP: 90 BHP
Range: 817 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3.5/5
The Toyota Auris replaced the Japanese car manufacturer's record-breakingly popular Corolla model in the UK back in 2006. The name Auris came from the Latin for gold, Aurum, and while Toyota haven’t quite struck gold in the same way as they did with its predecessor, the UK-built Auris has continued to be a popular choice with new car buyer. With UK motorists increasingly left counting the pennies Toyota has seen budget rivals like Kia on their coattails, and the Toyota Auris Active 1.4 D-4D 5dr is part of their response to this. The Toyota Auris Active 1.4 D-4D 5dr is a member of the second generation of the Auris model, released by Toyota late in 2012, and is competitively priced with low running costs.

PROS:  Spacious, well-made, and cheap to run.

CONS:  A little too much noise, and a little too few horses.

Behind the Wheel

The Toyota Auris Active 1.4 D-4D is powered by an 89bhp, 8-valve diesel engine with a 6-speed manual gearbox. This power unit is quiet enough at cruising speed, but a tad raucous when pottering around town. And potter you will, as performance is not the Auris’ forte. 0-62mph will take 12.5 seconds and top speed is 112mph, but for urban driving it is adequate if unremarkable, with reasonable steering and ride comfort levels. There are decent levels of grip and handling, but the Toyota Auris Active 1.4 D-4D 5dr is a car that is happier in the hands of a relaxed driver. Wind and road noise are a factor on the motorway, however the overall in-cabin experience is fine with flexible seat and steering wheel options and a generally well-considered dashboard layout.

Looks & Equipment

The Auris Active gets power steering, central locking, stability control, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, alarm and immobiliser, and a CD player as standard, as well as a limited list of optional extras such as metallic paint for £495. While that list might not sound particularly inspiring, it should be noted that it is comparable to similarly priced rivals like the Kia c’eed 1 1.4 CRDi 5dr. In terms of looks, it has to be said that the Auris is not without its charms. Highlights include the chevron-style layout of the grille and headlamp arrangement, which sets up the 5-door hatchback body with a rakish demeanor that hints at a sporty pedigree.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Auris comes with driver, passenger, and front side airbags as standard features, as well as stability control. The Auris fared well in Euro NCAP crash testing, especially in the field of pedestrian protection where it achieved a full 5-star rating. A strong performer in last year's JD Power customer satisfaction survey, all the indications are that the Auris will prove a reliable workhorse. This is backed up by a 5-year, 100,000-mile warranty from the manufacturer. Head and leg room are good all round, but particularly in the rear where a flat floor helps the car accommodate three with comparative ease, while the 360-litre boot capacity grows thanks to the standard fitting of split-folding rear seats.

Value for Money

With a price tag of £15,845, the Auris Active 1.4 D-4D is priced to sell, and boasts low running costs to boot. Combined fuel economy is an impressive 74.3mpg, and with just 99g/km of CO2 emissions it also falls into the lowest Road Tax Band A. Insurance will be affordable too, with the Auris falling into insurance group 10. That low purchase price and low running costs will make the Auris an attractive new purchase, while the latter should help to stabilise used values for the model. For value for money, the Auris Active 1.4 D-4D has the edge over the entry-level petrol model, despite being £1,350 more expensive to buy. There is no discernible performance advantage with the cheaper 1.3-litre petrol model, while the diesel is considerably more economical to run.

Toyota Auris Active 1.4 D-4D 5dr Car Review - by 
All Toyota Auris Reviews
Toyota Auris Edition 1.33 VVT-i 5dr - March 2012
The Auris is very good value for money and should be endlessly reliable. It's about as exciting as filling in a tax return but if you're looking for a cheap, practical car, you won't go far wrong w...
Toyota Auris TR 1.33 VVT-i 5dr - March 2012
The Auris TR 1.33 VVT-i perfectly encapsulates the Toyota brand in one car. So it's reliable, cheap and practical but at the same time slow, dull and cheap-feeling.
Toyota Auris TR 1.4 D-4D 5dr - March 2012
The Toyota Auris is a car that is competent in most things that it does, but one of the drawbacks is that it is lacking in personality, although it does come with a good level of equipment. The die...
Toyota Auris TR 1.4 D-4D MultiMode 5dr - March 2012
The Auris replaces the old Corolla and is just as dull as its predecessor. It's a competent all-rounder and should be endlessly reliable but there are more exciting cars out there.
Toyota Auris TR 1.6 V-Matic 5dr - February 2012
The Toyota Auris is a car that is in a class that is filled with quality cars such as the VW Golf and Ford Focus, and although Toyota can boast reliability and a good warranty, many people will not...
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Medium Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Medium Family cars that you can then compare to the Toyota Auris. Here are some popular Toyota Auris alternatives:

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