ROAD TEST: Toyota Auris 1.6 XR
The new VW Golf has taken a bit of flak for looking too similar to its predecessor. Now that's something no one can accuse its latest Japanese rival of.
The new Toyota Auris bears virtually no resemblance to the one that came before it. Here, a collection of sharp edges replace the jelly-moulded surfaces of the previous generation as part of Toyota's new "look at me, I'm being sporty" design revolution.
I love the way its slim new headlights point into a v-shaped grille and even the car's shape is not half bad. It's just in those smaller details like the bumper creases and oversized lower airdam and rear diffuser that it starts looking too fussy and somewhat incoherent. It's a bit over-designed, but then Rome apparently wasn't built in a day.
The inside story is a definite step in the right direction. The dash design is not exactly easy on the eye yet it is well finished by Toyota standards, with a soft-touch top section and some middle panels in stitched leather.
STRETCHING OUT
Unless you're a family of ogres, there is enough space to stretch out inside and rear legroom is impressive, as is the 360-litre boot.
The Auris is comfortably spacious, comfortable to sit in and - you guessed it - comfortable to drive. The gearshift has a solid feel, yet it slices through the gate with ease, and the steering is light enough for parking yet feels suitably weighty at higher speeds.
The suspension does a good job of absorbing the madness beneath it and around corners it's communicative, stable and safe. It's not quite a Golf in the chassis department, but it's about as good as you could expect from a car with torsion beam rear suspension.
Its floaty stream of comfort and adequacy continues with the engine, a modern 1.6-litre chunk of alloy that musters 97kW at 6400rpm and 160Nm at 4400rpm.
It has a rather appealing, rorty note and feels strong for a normally aspirated sixteen-hundred.
Yet the R253 200 XR model that I drove does feel a bit high up the price ladder for a normally aspirated sixteen-hundred.
Sure, it's got all the desirable pampering utensils, including leather seats (heated up front), touch-screen audio system with reverse camera, climate control, cruise control and keyless start.
But what kills it for me is that you can have a Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline for just a little more.
That said, I think there is some good value to be had in the reasonably-equipped Auris 1.6 Xi model, which undercuts most of its rivals, at R217 500.
VERDICT
Stick to the lower end of the range and the Auris makes sense as comfortable, practical and relatively desirable hatch attached to a badge that's renowned for dependability, good service and all that sensible stuff.
PRICE
Toyota Auris 1.6 XR - R253 200
RIVALS
VW Golf 1.4 TSI Comfortline - R264 900
Chevrolet Cruze hatch 1.8 LS - R230 800
Ford Focus hatch 1.6 Trend - R239 300
Honda Civic hatch 1.8 Elegance - R252 000
Hyundai i30 1.6 Premium - R237 900
Renault Megane 1.4TCe GT Line - R254 900