After months of waiting it’s finally here, my latest long-term test car. Discussions with Toyota about the long-term model they would provide revolved around its fun-to-drive coupé, the much lauded 86. Somewhere between the initial chat and now, there was a change of heart and the end result was the delivery of an Auris HSD, the hybrid version of its C-segment hatchback. My last long-term car, the chic little Honda CR-Z, also boasted dual power so I am quite au fait with these models.
I was happy to note that “my” new car wasn’t a boring colour. Almost every other car in CAR’s fleet is either white or a light hue. In Pacific Blue Metallic and wearing 17-inch alloys the latest Auris shape looks rather snazzy. This Xr model is the range-topper and as such comes fitted with almost every mod-con you could wish for barring satellite navigation; it even has keyless transponder entry and start-up – cool.
Under the hood lies a 73 kW, 1,8-litre, inline four that is mated with a 60 kW electric engine. The bit that worries me, however, is the CVT that delivers power to the wheels; it is undoubtedly my least favourite type of transmission. This powertrain is said to deliver a combined cycle fuel consumption figure, according to Toyota, of just 3,9 litres/100 km! Having driven the car just a few days prior to writing I can already state that the claim is very ambitious.
Mileage on arrival (km): 3 498 km
Mileage now (km): 3 829 km
Fuel consumption (litres/100 km): 7,02 litres/100 km
We like: snazzy colour, full suite of mod-cons
We don’t like: it’s not a rear-wheel drive coupé
