The new 2015 Toyota Auris has been launched, and is available to order from Ron Brooks Toyota Centres now! Here we take you through what’s new and exciting about the 2015 Auris, including a new exterior design, a new interior and an upgraded engine range.
It has been improved with an emotional and refined design, which borrows design cues from higher segments to create a look that comes from a class-up.
Safety has also been massively improved, with Toyota Safety Sense optional on all grades apart from Active, at just £450. To find out more about this, watch the videos here.
Exterior
At the front of the 2015 Auris are new LED headlamps with LED light guides, which are optional on the new Design grade (we’ll get to the model line-up later) but standard on Excel grade. The front has been totally re-designed too, with a new bumper with dynamic upper grille and evolved under priority (lower grille) that features integrated fog lights. The bumper runs the full width of the car, and highlights the visually broader stance and lower centre of gravity.
The side of the car is even more sophisticated with longer overhands that improve the overall balance of the design, and a character line sweeps from the front badge all the way down the side of the car to the rear lamp cluster. There are new 16” and 17” alloy wheel designs too, which complement the new dynamic look perfectly. There are two new colours in the range: Sporty Denium Blue and Elegant Orion Blue.
The Shark Fin antenna is new for the Auris and the front and rear parking sensors are bezel-less for improved aesthetics. Like the front headlamps, the rear taillights feature LED light guides and the muscular rear bumper is accentuated with chrome garnish on all grades (excluding Active).
Interior
Inside the new 2015 Toyota Auris you’ll notice straight away the improvements in quality, technology and design. A multi-information 4.2 colour TFT screen displays key vehicle information within the driver’s line of sight for extra safety, and this is standard on all grades apart from the non-hybrid Active version. The combination meters have been redesigned with a sportier shape and a new font that makes them easier to read.
As you would expect, Toyota Touch 2 multimedia is also standard (on all grades bar Active) and features a 7” touchscreen that uses capacitive buttons for switching between interfaces. These are simple and intuitive to use, despite being a bit different to regular buttons. The dashboard is designed in a double-layer visual structure, with the space between the individual parts creating a “floating” appearance that further improves the light and airy feel to the interior. The air vents have been redesigned too, and have a much more modern feel to them. Other quality imrpovements include real stitching on the steering wheel, instrument panel and centre armrest. There are new seat trims too.
Grades
For the first time on the Auris, the hybrid powertrain configuration is available with the Active trim level for buyers who want the latest engine technology at the lowest cost.
Icon
Icon models add 16” alloy wheels, front fog lamps, Toyota Touch 2 Multimedia with 7” touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, DAB digital radio and a rear-view camera. You also get 2-ring combi meters and the 4.2 colour TFT vehicle information display we mentioned earlier, as well as a leather steering wheel and gear shift lever.
Business Edition
Business Edition models add Go Navigation, cruise control, heated seats and power lumbar support to ensure you stay comfortable on long journeys – and don’t get lost.
Design
In addition to Icon specification, new Design models add 17” alloy wheels, privacy glass and cruise control.
Excel in addition to icon
In addition to Icon specification, top-of-the-range Excel models add half leather heated seats, power lumbar support, dual-zone air conditioning, 17” alloy wheels, bi-LED headlights, LED light guide technology, privacy glass, smart entry with smart start, front and rear parking sensors, intelligent park assist, rain sensing wipers, electro-chromatic rear-view mirror and Go Plus satellite navigation.
Ride and handling
The front and rear suspension setups feature optimised shock absorbers for better ride comfort on the motorway and better handling stability when the roads get twisty. The Electric power steering has been re-tuned to offer more weight and steering feel, with improved feedback particularly apparent between speeds of 39-49mph.
The dash & door sealing imrpovements combine with an instrument panel silencer and sound abosoption technology in the transmission tunnel area to reduce the amount of engine, window and road noise entering the cabin.
The Auris is renowned for being relaxing and easy to drive, and this is no more apparent than in the Hybrid model. The car starts moving as such as you apply the accelerator thanks to excellent throttle response, and changing lanes on the motorway is easy with the instant acceleration of the electric motor combined with the 1.8-litre petrol engine. There’s no need to think of a gearbox as all Toyota hybrid models are automatic, and the smooth-running nature is enhanced still further when the electric motor takes over to deliver a near-silent driving experience at lower speeds. It’s refined at cruising speeds too.
Engines
We’re really excited about the biggest engine shake-up in the Auris for quite some time.
New 1.2 petrol turbo engine
A new 1.2-litre Turbocharged petrol engine is a first for the Auris, and is a more affordable choice for the urban driver. This lightweight 4-cylinder engine delivers comparable performance to a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine and packs 116 DIN hp and 185 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm, achieving an impressive 58.9mpg with the 6 speed manual transmission and an improved 61.4mpg with the 6-speed automatic transmission fitted. This engine offers plenty of torque and great in-gear acceleration making the Auris both responsive and fun to drive.
New 1.6 D engine
This is the engine of choice for motorway drivers, and is a first for the Auris. A 1.6-litre common-rail diesel with Solenoid injection replaces the outgoing 2.0D and packs 112 DIN hp and 270 Nm of torque between 1,760 and 2,250rpm. It delivers dynamic performance close to that of a larger 2.0-litre unit, but offers much lower fuel consumption and emissions of 67.3mpg and 108 g/km of CO2. The cost of ownership is lowered further by lengthier servicing intervals – now 12,500 miles or 1 year. All other engines retain their 10,000 mile/1 year servicing intervals.
1.4 D
The 1.4 diesel engine has been significantly upgraded to offer the best fuel efficiency of the entire range at a whopping 80.7mpg combined and CO2 emissions of just 92 g/km, making road tax £0 for the year. Torque is available from lower down the rev range and delivers better response in urban driving.
Contact your local Ron Brooks Toyota Centre for more information or book a test drive today to be one of the first to try the new Auris!
