Toyota Auris Touring Sports (2013 – 2019) Review

Toyota Auris Touring Sports (2013 – 2019) At A Glance

3/5

+Spacious interior and fairly large boot with low loading lip. Feels well put together. Good ride quality. Hybrid version offers low CO2 and 60mpg.

-Not a fun drive on 15-inch wheels. Sporty drivers don't like the hybrid's epicyclic transmission. Step in load area floor. Cat converter thefts.

Insurance Groups are between 7–15
On average it achieves 74% of the official MPG figure

The Toyota Auris is now in its second generation, the first model having replaced the Toyota Corolla – famously the most popular car in the world at one time, despite (or perhaps partly because of) its distinct lack of personality.

Despite Toyota’s best efforts, the original Auris largely picked up a character bypass from its predecessor. And although this follow up is a little easier on the eye inside and out, its main problem is that it inspires absolute indifference.

This is, of course, completely irrelevant to taxi drivers who are now graduating from dirty diesels to the Auris hybrid Touring Sport in droves because of its low CO2, 60mpg capability, phenomenal reliability and low maintenance and repair costs. The vast majority of Auris sold in the UK are hybrids.

Moving up through the trim levels, you come to a car that’s very well equipped, with alloys available from Icon upwards, while Business Edition includes ‘Toyota Touch’ multimedia with navigation, Bluetooth and DAB radio. Further up the range you’re looking at convenience features like dual-zone climate control and automatic wipers and lights – though, strangely, leather seats aren’t included even in the top-of-the-range model, but rather 'upgraded cloth'. 

Regardless of trim the Auris is a very safe car, with a five-star Euro NCAP rating and the full plethora of safety acronyms on its spec sheet. Of course it’s spacious too – but not excessively so in the class, with its 530-litre boot around the middle of the pack in pure volume terms. The Ford Focus Estate’s boot is just 476 litres, but the SEAT Leon ST boasts 587 litres, for example.   

Toyota Auris Touring Sport 2013 Road Test

Toyota Auris 2013 Range Road Test and Video 

Toyota Auris hybrid 2015 Road Test

Long Term Test Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid

Real MPG average for a Toyota Auris Touring Sports (2013 – 2019)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

74%

Real MPG

37–67 mpg

MPGs submitted

307

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

What's the best medium-sized automatic car?

"I am looking to buy a medium sized automatic 2015-2017 for under £10,000. I want low mileage and five doors. I currently have a 2013 Peugeot 207SW diesel which is quite an unrefined vehicle but has served me well. I am torn as whether to spend £1500 on it or buy something newer. I think it would be worth about £2000 trade in. I am 70 yrs old which is why I would like an automatic. Most of my driving is on the M5 or A38 about 40miles/week. I am not a high tech person and need space for my large dog. I am unsure about the combination of smaller engines eg 1.2 and auto gearboxes. I have read about the different types of auto gearboxes which hasn't helped. I realise things have changed since the day of 'only big engines have auto gearboxes'"
Take a look at a Toyota Auris Touring Sports. It's a dependable hybrid estate car that I think will suit your needs very well while being reliable and cheap to run. It's popular with taxi (and Uber) drivers due to its versatility and reliability - do look out for signs that any secondhand examples have been used in this way. Alternatively, a Skoda Fabia Estate is a slightly smaller estate car that'll be similar in size to your Peugeot. Its little 1.0-litre (or 1.2-litre) petrol engine and DSG gearbox will be an easy-to-drive and cheap-to-run combination.
Answered by Andrew Brady

I'm selling my 2017 Toyota Auris Estate, what's the best way to get a good deal?

"I was offered a deal with my local Toyota dealer to p/ex my Toyota Auris 2017 (67) Hybrid Estate for a 2018 Yaris Design £13,800 (ticks all the boxes) but it has not worked out for me. Two months ago they offered me £14,000 if I p/ex with them. However, it has taken a while and admittedly I missed a couple of Yaris during that period. Now, they actually have the right car at my Toyota dealership the price for mine has seemingly plummeted to £11,350? Although I consider myself reasonably intelligent (retired Systems Analyst) I’ve never attempted to understand ‘Market forces’ etc. How can the price of used cars for sale stay fairly static, yet the value has dropped considerably (£13,865 in mid June, today £10,725)? Although I’m kinda tempted to consider a ‘car finance loan’ for £13,500 (approx £285/month @ 8.9%) to secure the Yaris and hopefully sell my Auris privately then pay off/settle the finance agreement early etc. I’m assured by my Toyota dealer that if I hypothetically took two months to sell and let’s say I managed to get £12,500-13,000 I wouldn’t incur any ‘penalty charges’ (early settlement etc) just 2 months @ £285/month. So, essentially I’ve paid approx 2 months interest £120 for a £13,500 loan. You guys know all the pitfalls/angles/advantages etc, etc. Should I wait as a retiree (70 yrs) on pension until the market picks up (who knows when?) hopefully again and my car presumably increases in value and then search (dread the thought frankly, exhausting so far) or shall I secure this seemingly good deal ( £13,800 2018 37,000miles FSH Manhattan Grey Design 12 months warranty etc, etc) and use Car Finance (assuming I qualify). Then sell my Auris privately asap without giving it away of course. I really appreciate your sound advice please."
It's worth mentioning that most car dealers will refer to industry 'bibles' for car prices such as Glass's Guide or CAP when offering part exchanges, and these values are updated very frequently to reflect the value on any given day. They may also choose to go under this given value, so although market forces do play a part in it you could take your car to five different dealers on the same day and get a different trade-in value. Also you should bear in mind that unless there is a significant external factor that sends a huge shock through the used car market, your car will not increase in value from this point onwards, it is only a matter of how much value it loses. Selling your car privately is more hassle than trading in, but you should get more money for it, so it is a matter of balancing the effort required against the potentially greater income. If you are happy with the deal in front of you then there is no reason not go ahead with it, and if you are in the position where you can wait and sell privately this will be the best outcome financially.
Answered by David Ross

What is the best way to sell our low mileage car?

"We own a 2018 Toyota Auris Estate and we also have a 5 door 2017 Volkswagen Up!, bought by us as a new, but pre-registered, car, in May 2017 from a main dealer. It has done only 7,500 miles, having been little used because my wife, the principal driver, had a leg injury in autumn/winter 2019-2020 and then we had the lockdown. It has been serviced annually by the same dealer and, on its 5 year service, we had the cam belt replaced, despite the low mileage. As there was some cracking in the original tyres due to low use of the car, (not an MoT failure) we had these replaced last year by Michelin Cross Climates. The car is in very good condition. We are trying to move house to a flat which requires us to downsize and there is only one parking space, so the Up! has to go. We are reluctant to sell privately. A main dealer has offered us £7500, which we think is the trade price value. Is this a fair price? Would we get more from an internet dealer? What would you suggest we do?"
To get the most money for your car, we'd recommend advertising it privately through a site such as eBay, Auto Trader or Facebook Marketplace. It should be an easy car to sell – someone will appreciate the low miles and excellent condition it's in. It could be an ideal first car or city runaround. If you don't want the faff of a private sale, it's worth spending time on all the car buying websites seeking valuations. We've heard good reports of people selling their cars to Motorway.co.uk (https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/how-to-buy-sell/what-is-motorwaycouk/) – you might find a dealer willing to pay strong money for your car in the current climate. £7,500 sounds on the low side – around £8,500 would be a fairer trade value and maybe £9,000/£9,500 as a private sale.
Answered by Andrew Brady

Why are our rear tyres stepping?

"We have a 2016 Toyota Auris Estate (petrol) with Michelin tyres. We are on the second set of tyres and the rear tyres are stepping - the first pair of rear tyres (also Michelin) stepped as well. Is it the car, the tyres or us?"
Could be a problem with the tyre or an alignment issue with the rear suspension. Given that this is the second set of tyres to show the problem, I suspect it's the former.
Answered by Dan Powell
More Questions

What does a Toyota Auris Touring Sports (2013 – 2019) cost?