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maltatoday, SUNDAY, 21 FEBRUARY 2016 II Motoring The green economic attention grabber Good looks and a snazzy interior give Toyota the edge needed to ascertain its dominance in the hybrid sector RESTYLED front and rear bumpers, a new front grille extending into new headlights with LED daytime running lights, dynamic style and spacious, high-quality interior environment is what makes the new Toyota Auris the only car to offer three powertrain choices in the compact family segment. Launched first in 2006, as a more spacious version of the Corolla, the Auris has made a name for itself. 2010 saw the introduction of a hybrid version, and two years later a new, improved vehicle was launched. This year sees the third generation Auris, with Toyota treating the car to a total makeover. The 2016 model offers a fresh and attractive look. The bold, finely styled new headlamps flow into dynamic design whilst the wider, sporty flair, sitting on 16- or 17-inch wheels gives the vehicle a more confident stance on the road. The Auris front starts off with an ag- gressive 'V' design, with a chrome grille that splits and surrounds the head- lights, while the lower grille incorpo- rates glossy black trim surrounding the fog lights. At the rear a large bumper houses reflectors, chrome trim, and the license plate. However the distinctive stance does not stop on the outside design. Interior surfaces are clad in soft-touch materi- als and a slab-like styling adorns the dashboard. The driving position is good with plen- ty of seat adjustment options to help achieve comfortable posture. Visibility is decent and the instrument cluster is clear and easy to read. An innovative integrated dashboard effortlessly mixes intuitive functionality with a stylish design. At its heart is the seamlessly integrated Toyota Touch 2 with 7" screen relayed to a 4.2"colour TFT screen in the instrument panel, which displays trip data, navigation commands and Toyota Safety Sense information. The Toyota Touch 2 mul- timedia system includes features like Bluetooth, MP3 and iPod connectiv- ity, and multimedia management. The standard reversing camera function takes the stress out of parking. The new Auris also features ample luggage space of up to 1635ltr. This is achieved thanks to a completely flat load bay when the 60/40 folding rear seats are dropped down. At times the steering feels slightly light but the recalibrated suspension provides confidence-inspiring weight as you add lock. It also results in a smoother, more comfortable ride. However the new Auris does not only look good but also feels safe. Safety features include the Pre Collision sys- tem, which uses a camera and laser to detect vehicles ahead of your car; Lane departure alert, which detects lane markings; Automatic highbeam with dusk sensor designed for optimising visibility during night driving and road sign assist, which provides a visual and audio warning if the driver does not fol- low road signage. The engines under the hood of the 2016 Auris all meet Euro 6 emissions targets. The 1.33-litre hybrid-petrol can get the Auris from 0-62mph in 10.9 sec- onds and is also a lot quieter than the other options. It delivers 99BHP with CO2 emissions of 128g/km and a com- bined fuel consumption of 51 mpg. Regenerative brakes harvest kinetic energy to take load off the battery, while a six-speed gearbox boosts fuel economy. In conclusion the 2016 makeover should help Toyota confirm its domi- nance in the hybrid sector, while the exterior design and interior styling simply add more to the package. The new Auris is available locally in 10 colours, eight trims and nine wheel options, from Michael Debono Ltd with prices starting from €17,095. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRIS MANGION