FirstDrive: Toyota Auris Mark your calendar: the end of the Corolla hatchback is nigh. Like it or loathe it, the Corolla became synonymous in recent decades for Japanese sales success, even if it never was one to set pulses racing. In 1997 it became the world's best selling model and here in Ireland it has featured at or near the top of the model sales league since its arrival.
Its strength revolved around the key facets of reliability and functionality that look set to push Toyota into the position of the world's biggest car firm.
No model epitomised the Toyota principles more than the Corolla. So for Toyota to scrap the name of its new family hatchback is as revolutionary as Ian Paisley embracing Gerry Adams in the stands of Croke Park as Antrim win the All-Ireland.
Admittedly, the Auris moniker replaces the Corolla nameplate only on hatchback models (the Corolla name has been kept for the saloon version in some markets, including Ireland).
The theory behind the change is that the name Corolla has been unable to seduce the under-40 consumers. It's quite a step given that it has sold more than 32 million units of the Corolla over the years. But the question has to be asked: was it simply the name that failed to attract young buyers?
The new moniker comes from the Latin aurum, which means gold. For all the allusions to precious metal, clearly the stature of the brand is possibly held in too high esteem by some senior managers, for they have passed up the opportunity to totally revamp the exterior styling.
Basically the Auris features a combination of lines and shapes from the current Corolla in side profile, with a front nose styling taken from the Yaris and hints at rivals such as the Peugeot 207 to the rear. In other words, the result is a deja vu feeling when we see an Auris passing by, an effect likely to compromise the intention to appeal more to the heart of the consumer. If Toyota wanted the Auris to be striking and eyecatching then it has failed to live up to this ambition. In design terms there is nothing to make the Auris stand out from the crowd.
Yet, we must praise the fact that the overall increase in dimensions, executed to favour interior roominess but also to benefit the driving position, did not have a negative impact on weight, fuel consumption or - as we will see ahead - performances and handling.
The most intense design revamp has taken place inside the car and the end result generates mixed feelings. On the positive side, the driver sits in a more upright position and the dashboard is dominated by the ergonomically correct centre console. The design is also quite fetching, with a quality plastic and chrome finish and a high-set gear level. Storage in the passenger cabin gets a thumbs up also - two glove boxes, a drawer underneath the front passenger's seat and a bigger than usual container behind the interior rear mirror.
The build construction must also be praised, considering the overall solid aspect and the minimal gaps between panels, but the hard plastic that covers all of the dashboard and door panel surfacing detracts from the overall premium feel of other features.
The front seats have good lateral support and are wide enough, whereas the rear seats are easy to fold in a one-touch operation.
Interior space is not a benchmark in this class (average in shoulder and legroom) except in headroom, where really the Auris has grown (96cm in the back - cushion to ceiling).
In terms of power output, the 1.4 VVT-i petrol and 1.4 D-4D currently featuring in the Corolla range continue in the new Auris, which makes sense considering they are the segment leaders in their respective classes.
Alongside these is a brand-new addition, a 1.6 Dual VVT-i petrol burner and a new 2-litre D-4D 124bhp diesel. The 1.6-litre engine becomes the reference as far as power delivery and smoothness are concerned. While a 2.2-litre D-4D engine will also be offered in some markets, it's not going to make it into the Irish market.
Linked to the engine line-up are three different transmissions. Two manual (five- and six-speed, the latter coming with 2-litre diesel), and one automated manual (Multimode), which already features in the outgoing model. There is no automatic gearbox, but the demand for it is almost non-existent in most European markets.
We drove two versions of the new Auris around the Barcelona area last weekend: the 1.4 D-4D and the all new 1.6 Dual VVT-i. In both cases we found the steering precise and direct, and enjoyed the seating position behind the wheel (thanks to the steering column adjustments in both height and reach).
The instrument panel features two amber Optitron dials (revs on the left and vehicle speed on the right), circling the on-board computer and the fuel and water temperature gauges.
The 1.4-litre diesel unit shows a remarkable willingness to rev up from 1,900rpm, almost making us believe it's bigger than it actually is, but at the same time it begs for a six-speed manual transmission for highway cruising.
The road handling is strikingly good also, if we bear in mind that no fewer than 4cm were added to the body height in this transition from Corolla to Auris (proportionally more than the length and width gains). The agility has also been improved so we have only praise for the settings chosen for the coils/shock absorbers and the wheel travel and parallel control.
On the downside, there were audible vibrations coming from the dash when we drove on twisted bumpy roads, which really came as no surprise considering the hard plastic used for the interior surfaces. In Toyota's defence, we reckon the finish on this test car was not entirely representative of the new car because the 1.6-litre petrol proved to be much more silent.
Other than that, the sophisticated 1.6-litre petrol Auris proved to deliver a smooth performance - both progressive and with great pulling power at 2,000rpm (the point at which it builds to 90 per cent of its full torque), which is not always the case with multivalve low-capacity petrol engines.
The Auris has progressed in engineering terms from the outgoing model and certainly ascribes to Toyota's cardinal rule of functionality and will undoubtedly meet their second rule of reliability.
However, if the aim is to catch the attention of style-conscious youth, then simply changing the name may not be enough to win these image conscious motorists to the brand.
Clearly the name change has caused enough angst within the upper echelons of the Japanese behemoth, for the new car plays the same trump cards that kept Toyota's sales booming all over the globe: reliability, safety, and sophisticated engines (not to mention low ownership cost).
To this mix Auris adds a more appealing interior design and more space. It's a pity they didn't add more innovation to the exterior styling.
Factfile:
ENGINES: Petrol: 1.4-litre VVT-i - 97bhp; 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i - 124bhp;
Diesel: 1.4-litre D-4D - 90bhp; 2-litre D-4D -126bhp
PERFORMANCE: (top speed and 0-100km/h) 1.4-litre VVT-i: 170 km/h and 13.0 seconds 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i: 190km/h and 10.4 secs 1.4-litre D-4D: 175 km/h and 12.0 seconds 2-litre D-4D: 195km/h and 10.3 seconds
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined L/100km) 1.4-litre VVT-i: 6.9 1.6-litre Dual VVT-i: 7.1 1.4-litre D-4D: 5.0 2-litre D-4D: 5.4
PRICES: To be confirmed
ARRIVAL: In showrooms from end of February