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Brussels - first test
Toyota wanted to “play golf” with the Auris. But unlike the Wolfsburg endurance runner, new car buyers do not honor the rough perfection of the Japanese with constant sales records. Actually weird. Because the Auris is nothing else than the Golf. Perfect in the sum of its properties, a little boring because of this perfection and because in no point really bad, somehow without real character.
Character question for golfers
First test drive in the new Toyota Auris 1.2 Turbo
Give me your most beautiful smile - facelift for the Toyota Auris
At the age of three, barely three years old, the facelift for the Auris would not have been necessary and even if you may not hear it in Japan, the design was certainly not the Auris biggest problem. The problem is, I have already suggested it above, there are no problems.
Nevertheless - the Auris comes in autumn with a new front and new graphics for the rear lights. Details that will neither read a hype about the Auris nor pose a problem. So everything stays the same. Nearly.
Under the dynamically engineered bonnet, a new heart beats, despite its hybrid pioneering role in Europe, a really good news and in the interior, strong hand was created.
The clock stays there!
And even if the LCD digital clock in the interior itself had to retire, Toyota has retained the design of the classic timepiece. There are things that don't change. The rest of the cockpit has been properly freshened up. The large touchscreen with capacitive operation is easy to read, the user guidance and graphics remain - Now we say it politely - with potential for improvements in the next Auris generation.
New 1.2 liter turbo four-cylinder
The most important trump card in the Toyota'ians' drive quartet? Of course, the hybrid drive. The Toyota Auris is not only the best-selling hybrid in Europe, it is also winning over many new hybrid customers. Half of all Auris Hybrid customers drive a hybrid for the first time. Is it partly to blame? Probably the chic station wagon called “Touring Sports”. For the station wagon and for the five-door there are now additional new engines with the facelift. The 1.6 liter diesel engine is already familiar from other models. The 112 hp diesel has its roots in BMW and completes the diesel portfolio in the Auris. He is supported by the Toyota 1.4D-4D, which has been trimmed to EU180 standards with the facelift and new common rail injection (6 bar)
However, the new 1.2 liter turbo gasoline engine seems to be really interesting. Not only because it follows the trend towards “downsizing”, but because it resists the trend towards “three-cylinder”. That makes you sit up and take a look under the hood.
Downsizing to four
Four wins
The four-cylinder pumped thanks to turbocharging 116 PS and 185 Nm from its 1.2 liters of displacement. Toyota has equipped the small four-cylinder with gasoline direct injection and variable valve timing. So the engine works, depending on the load, also in the Atkinson Cycle.
A four-cylinder three cylinders preferable makes sense. The effort to turn a three-cylinder, which is fundamentally unbalanced, into a smooth-running engine is not exactly low. And even if there are efforts to provide even three-cylinder engines with selective cylinder deactivation - the classic with four pots wins in the NVH competition (Noise, vibration, harshness) in principle.
Leisetreter with train
Toyota offers the 1.2 Turbo in the Auris both with a manual six-speed gearbox and with a continuously variable automatic. The stepless automatic may score for every market outside of Germany - we have it CVT rather the exception.
The first test drive around Brussels was therefore also with 6 gears and manual work.
This is how the Toyota Auris drives with the 1.2 liter turbo gasoline engine
Relaxed. The Auris is not an athlete. The Auris does not even have a sporting brother. Accordingly, the setup of the Auris is designed primarily for one thing: a quiet driving style. And that fits well with the new 1.2 liter turbo. Unagitated, unruly, with the already early and long applied torque, it can be schaltfaul drive, although one should expect no miracles from the 1.500 Nm between 4.000 and 185 revolutions.
The torque served early allows the Auris 1.2 Turbo to pull calmly out of corners, not sporty, but confident enough to keep calm. The small four-cylinder turbo can be quite “attractive”. The noise insulation has also been improved, from the gasoline engine only a mild whisper penetrates the interior. If you listen carefully, a boost pressure hiss from time to time.
In theory, Tempo 200 and 0-100 sprints are possible in 10.1 seconds. Brussels city traffic and the Belgian speed limit let both values shine on paper. Overall, the Auris 1.2 T should manage with 4.8 liters per 100 km - here too, the test drive in and around Brussels was initially not very helpful.
A more detailed test at a later date will bring clarity to us.
Alternative drive: The 1.6 liter diesel engine (Ex-BMW) and the hybrid (driving report follows)
Conclusion
“Actually” full of Japan golf
It turned out as I expected, the Auris delivers exactly what a Volkswagen Golf would deliver. The perfect everyday car, without real weaknesses, but also without real character wrinkles. The fresh interior convinces with a processing at the level of the Wolfsburg, the assistance systems have been updated - including a pre-collision system that works between 10 and 80 km / h. Traffic sign recognition and high beam assistant complete the range of assistants. Everything is there. And even with the engines, Toyota now offers the “easily digestible” program for the average golf buyer. Small diesel, small petrol.
All with a fast hatchback. And of course, we're talking about Toyota, even as a full hybrid on offer.
So if it is still not enough to “play golf” then it may simply be due to one problem: perfection.
[toggle title=”Engine and Transmission”]
Toyota Auris |
1.2T 6GM |
| design type | 4-Zyl in-line engine, turbo, direct injection |
| Capacity | 1.197 ccm³ |
| Performance | 116 hp / 5.200-5.600 rpm |
| kraft | 185 Nm / 1.500 - 4.000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6 gear manually |
| drive axle | Front |
| Length Width Height | 4.330, 1.760, 1.475 |
| wheelbase | 2.600 |
| Empty weight | 1.190 |
| turning circle | 10.4 m |
| top speed | 200 km/h |
| Acceleration 0-100 km / h | 10.1 sec |
| standard consumption | 4.8 l / 100 km |
| base Price | - not yet fixed! |
| Test car price | - |
| Insurance | - |
| Motor vehicle tax | - |
| - | |
| Use Chance | medium |
| Resale value | great |