Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid interior and comfort

If you’re looking for a car that places substance over style, you’ll love the Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid. It has a no-nonsense design that feels robust and capable of handling all a family, or a hard day on the road, could throw at it. It just lacks the nice-feeling materials you’d find in an Audi A3 e-tron or Volkswagen e-Golf.

Toyota Auris Touring Sports Hybrid dashboard

The Auris looks rather conservative inside, but there’s plenty of technology to keep driver and passengers entertained. Every model has a seven-inch touchscreen which operates the Bluetooth connectivity and DAB radio. Compared to this, the digital clock looks like it’s from the 1980s.

Elsewhere the dash is well laid-out, with clearly labelled instruments and well placed buttons that are easy to read and operate. The multifunction steering wheel enables you to make calls and adjust the radio settings without taking your eyes off the road.

The main difference you’ll find in the hybrid compared to petrol-powered models is the instrument display, which has the rev counter swapped for an efficiency dial. This shows how much you’re taking – or putting back into – the batteries. The needle swings back and forth, and it can become all-encompassing to ensure you’re driving as economically as possible. There’s also a display for battery charge and fuel consumption.

Equipment, options and accessories

Unlike some models, the hybrid version of the Auris Touring Sports is available in every trim level. You can choose from Icon, Icon Tech, Design and Excel.

Icon comes with air-conditioning, LED daytime running lights, Bluetooth connectivity, remote-control central locking and electric windows, as well as automatic headlamps and individual reading lights for the front and rear seats. Importantly, it also comes with the Toyota Safety Sense system, which includes autonomous emergency braking.
 
Icon Tech adds cruise control and sat nav powered by TomTom. Auris Design gives a bit more visual impact, with 17-inch alloy wheels and tinted glass outside and sports seats trimmed in Alcantara suede on the inside. Tech includes all-round parking sensors, folding mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and rain-sensing wipers.

Excel provides a few more comfort-orientated features like heated leather seats, dual-zone air-conditioning, keyless entry and start and voice recognition for the infotainment system. There are also LED headlights and a different style of 17-inch alloy wheels. It also opens up the option of a 'Skyview' panoramic sunroof – the only model in the range to have this.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

Although every Auris Hybrid has the Toyota Touch 2 infotainment system fitted as standard, the range of functions depends on trim. You’ll need to go for Icon Tech for sat nav, and Design for voice recognition. 

Models with sat nav can access online services such as Google StreetView and real-time traffic information when your smartphone is connected to the system. The range-topping Excel also adds voice control, text-to-speech announcements and 3D mapping by TomTom. Despite all this, the system looks dated, is a pain to use and doesn't offer Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, making it one of the worst systems in the class.