Toyota Auris Hybrid (2012-2018) review - Practicality, comfort and boot space
The Hybrid is as practical as any of the Toyota Auris range – which means good, not outstanding
Unlike its predecessor, the latest Auris Hybrid’s extra running gear (specifically the battery pack) doesn’t cut into the available interior space, so it offers exactly as much practicality as the rest of the range.
Up front, that means a comfortable driving position with full adjustment for both seat height and the steering wheel, and a good view out of the road ahead.
You might want to gripe about the small back window and tiny rear wiper though - it doesn’t clear very much of the glass. Most Auris’s come with a reversing camera though, which alleviates the problem.
The hatchback Auris is offered as a five-door car only, and the doors open wide to make accessing the rear seats easy – whether you’re getting in yourself, or wrestling with a child seat.
The Auris also benefits from an array of compartments and cubbyholes for bits and pieces.
Size
The Auris hatchback is 4,330mm long and 1,760mm wide, which is pretty average for the compact hatchback class. The Ford Focus is 4,358mm long and 1,823mm wide, while the VW Golf is 4,255mm long and 1,799mm wide.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
With five doors, it’s easy enough for passengers to access the back seats in the Auris, and there’s reasonable shoulder-room for two adults – or three at a pinch.
Legroom and headroom are acceptable too, but the Auris doesn’t set any records for its accommodation.
Kids are catered for with ISOFIX seat mountings in the rear.
Boot
The Auris Hybrid’s 360-litre boot is the same size as the standard car’s, which means it’s a bit smaller than the boot in the SEAT Leon or VW Golf, but bigger than the one in the Ford Focus. When the 60:40 split rear seats are folded down in the Auris, the volume increases to 1,200 litres.
The space itself is easy to access thanks to a low and wide tailgate opening, while the boot floor is shallow so there’s no obstructive lip to heave heavy items over.
With the seats folded the boot isn’t flat, but the Auris is available with a special additional platform that slots in above the boot floor and raises it to be level with the folded back seats. Flat floor sorted!
The specialised powertrain and CVT gearbox mean the Auris Hybrid isn’t suitable for towing.
