Next Toyota Auris: exclusive first pics | Autocar New 2013 Toyota Auris Hybrid... this is best selling hybrid in Europe, btw, sells better than Prius.
Looks sporty and what do I spy next to the Auris? It's a Yaris Hybrid! I used to like our Matrix models. The current one isn't bad and I like the wave-like accent line that runs down the side of the body but the problem here is that it's priced quite a bit higher than the Corolla sedan. e.g. base Corolla CE 5M starts around Cdn$15k and a base Matrix is about Cdn$16k however, once you add the "essentials" like A/C and power windows and cruise, it's $18-19k for the Corolla and $20-22k for the Matrix. Want AWD? Well that's $24-$26k (base RAV4 4WD is near $27,500 and the RAV4 we have here is the LWB version, not the SWB that Europe has).
The Auris (generally - not just the HSD) is regarding as a boring, dull car over here. So much so that it has the worst depreciation of any Toyota UK model. The small (by US standards) hatch market here is very very competitive and the Auris just doesn't compete. The new look on that photo gives the car an edge and should help sell it in larger numbers, which will also help the HSD version. Great news as it's built not that far away from me
they are both based on Corolla platform but they are not that similar... Matrix is based on Japanese version of Verso platform, so it is small MPV like C-MAX. Auris is a C-size hatchback, like Golf/GTI or Focus Hatchback. Unless there is some depth perception missing from the pics, if we look at Yaris Hybrid next to it, it looks significantly taller, even if G3 Yaris is actually lower than before... So I assume they actually made Auris lower and its profile sleeker, as we can see by much smaller side windows than before and rising belt line.
Auris just got old, quick... it is not a bad car... I had one for 3 years and it is pretty decent... just all the competition got major redesigns 2-3 years after Auris was introduced and now if feels like it is stuck in 2000's. But overall, i find it better quality car than old Corolla, despite reviewers complaining about hard plastic interior and now with Auris showing up in ADAC surveys, it proves me right . Around here they keep their price well as they are regarded as good quality buys.
I didn't say it was an unreliable car, just dull and not particularly desirable and one of the worst UK Toyota model for holding its value as the following confirms; Depreciation league table: Ten cars that lose most value in three years | This is Money Notice quite a few Renaults are up there too
