You'll be in awe

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), April 20, 2007

Byline: By Roger Mills

Roger Mills drives the Toyota Auris

The latest car from Toyota is the flagship Auris with the still reasonably new 175bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel under the lid.

This is a cracking engine and in the Auris, the lightest car it will yet have been used in, it should produce plenty of the right goods.

Acceleration from 0 to 62mph is a claimed 8.1 seconds and the top speed is 130mph, which is up to the hot hatch opposition, but not ahead of it. It's one of the cleanest engines in class. Diesels always give better in-gear acceleration and this one is no exception, so overtaking should be simple and quick. It has new double wishbone rear suspension for more dynamic handling, larger brakes and retuned steering over the standard cars.

The front brake discs are bigger to cope with the extra power and it comes with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

As far as the Interior is concerned, as befits a sporting model, it comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, smoked glass headlamps, an electric sunroof, keyless entry and start, dual-zone climate control, automatic wipers and headlights and cruise control.

Facts and figures

Make: Toyota

Model Auris T180 3dr

Price: pounds 18,295

Mechanical: 175bhp, 2,231cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed: 130mph

0-62mph: 8.1 secs

Combined mpg: 45.6

Insurance group: 13

CO2 emissions: 164g/km

BiK rating: 22%

Warranty: 3 years/ 60,000 miles, 3 years paint, 12 years anti-rust

Marks out of 10: 9

Main rival: Golf TDI 170