This week Nicholas reviews the Toyota Auris. Read Nicholas’ other reviews. Ed
The sun is beating down as I take my place in the car. Mouth dry with nerves, and no idea what the next half hour of driving will be like.
The door slams shut and I get ready to start – it feels like I’m starting a race. Except this is no ordinary competition.
Highest MPG challenge
Wight Motors Toyota, Sandown, is inviting people to drive the new Toyota Auris hybrid. However, to add incentive, it will be giving away £100 of fuel to whoever can return the best mpg from their test drive. The trip computer is reset and you must follow a set 12.8 mile route, with your average miles per gallon from the trip becoming your score.
When I arrived the top score was an impressive 73.4 mpg, just shy of Toyota’s official figures and practically impossible to beat on the Island’s hilly and congested roads.
Two engines: One petrol, one electric
First, I should introduce the car. The Toyota Auris Hybrid uses two engines; one petrol and one electric. When the batteries are charged the car runs on electric power alone, and every time you brake or slow down the batteries receive more charge. The transition to regular running, when the engine is driving you forward with a little assistance from the motor, is almost imperceptible.
Drive is though a CVT gearbox and to further help economy this Auris is equipped with smaller wheels and low rolling resistance tyres. The price for all this technology? £19,895.
Silent running
I prod the power button. Aside from the glowing dashboard you are completely unaware the car is on, but knock the stubby gear selector into drive and it creeps silently forward. My eco run has begun – the mission to get VentnorBlog to the top of the leader board.
I’m trying my hardest but the trip computer is telling me I’m only managing 16mpg. The designated test route takes you up the steep incline of Brading Down and there is nothing to do but crawl up it and hope for the best. The slog to the top takes ages.
I gradually let the speed increase as it flattens out, so I take every opportunity to take my foot off the accelerator pedal and I focus on keeping up momentum in the corners. Although with the speed up to only 40mph, it’s no challenge to avoid the brake pedal”¦
I’ve finally reached the Hare and Hounds and follow the green arrow on the traffic light left. It’s a downhill free fall to the junction at Arreton, and then a slow meander though the 30 mph zone. All of this is done at an indicated 99.9mpg, as after you hit the EV button the car runs on electric power alone. But things get hairy as I approach Apse Heath – the slight incline combined with the necessity to accelerate for the 50 mph zone means I spend a few moments at around 30mpg. It’s a low point, and I’m on edge. I pick a careful line though the next few corners and sense I’m gripping the steering wheel with sweaty palms”¦
Now I’m in traffic. The hill down to Lake should have given me a chance to gain some momentum for the final run into Sandown, but instead I’m crawling along.
It’s sweltering hot, as I can’t afford to waste precious energy on the Air Conditioning. But every time I brake the electrical current whirs back into the batteries, and I know I can use this energy to run just the electric motor for the last stretch.
Finally, after a triumphant downhill run, I pull up outside the dealership. I have no idea what score I’ve managed, but I’m encouraged by a graph that flashes up on the dashboard pointing above a 70mpg average. Then the moment of truth. I’ve managed 82.1 mpg on the test route, verified by the mileage I’ve covered.
A 10/10 effort from this cocky 23 year old upstart and it goes to the top of the leader board. VentnorBlog has thrown down the gauntlet to the rest of the Island.
Thanks to the team at Wight Motors Toyota
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