Buyers of the revamped Toyota Auris family hatch will no longer be able to choose a diesel engine.
As part of the model range update for 2018, Toyota has made ‘a tighter focus on the (Auris’s) in-demand powertrains’, dumping both the 1.4 and 1.6-litre diesels along with the 1.3-litre petrol unit. The reason is believed to be long-standing poor sales of the diesel, not the current adverse publicity and tax pressures being heaped on the oil-burning engines.
The two remaining powertrain choices are the 1.8-litre hybrid and the 1.2-litre turbo petrol – the hybrid fitted as standard with a CVT automatic transmission whereas the petrol can be bought with either the CVT or a six-speed manual gearbox.
Toyota says that three quarters of Auris buyers choose the petrol-electric hybrid, which offers 80mpg combined cycle fuel economy and CO2 emissions as low as 79g/km.
No more Active
Trim levels have also been streamlined – Active grade disappears, Icon now the entry-level model with 16-inch alloy wheels, a reversing camera, front fog lights, power windows, six-speaker audio with DAB digital radio and automatic air conditioning all on the standard equipment list.
Also standard is the Toyota Safety Sense package, which includes autonomous emergency braking, auto high-beam lights, lane departure alert and traffic sign recognition.
Icon Tech models add cruise control and the Toyota Touch 2 with Go touchscreen, which includes navigation and connectivity functions.
Extras on Design grade models include 17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels, Alcantara upholstery, sports front seats, cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, auto-folding door mirrors, dusk-sensing headlights and rain-sensing wipers.
Excel versions top the range, their Touch 2 with Go package including voice command and text-to-speech functions, along with 3D mapping. Intelligent Park Assist, LED headlights, smart entry and push-button start, heated leather seats and dual-zone climate control are also included.
Hybrid versions of the revised Auris are now on sale – the 1.2 petrol variants will be available early in 2018.
