Toyota has always been fairly good at producing dependable, reliable, fairly dull cars that serve their owners well for a long time. The sorts of cars that people who aren't into cars appreciate - which is not a criticism, it is simply something that categorises many mainstream Japanese cars with their lack of engagement and emotion.
Naturally the world waited with bated breath as Toyota announced it was ditching the name that sat at the top of the world's best-selling cars, the Corolla, in order to replace it with a car free from the connotations of dullness.
Unfortunately the Auris hatchback that replaced the car was simply a different style of dullness, remarkably similar in execution. Styling was sharper, the car slightly taller, but the whole package was recognisably Toyota.
The one bit of flair the Toyota has been allowed is the 'flying buttress' dashboard inside the car, with the handbrake and gear lever rising up at you out of the centre console. It works much better in the Prius because that car has more space and an automatic transmission that doesn't require much activity over the console.
The mechanicals under the Auris's skin are thoroughly conventional, Toyota having opted for a cheaper but less dynamic suspension set-up that holds the car back from competing with the likes of the Ford Focus or Volkswagen Golf. It's not unpleasant to drive and the ride is supple enough for UK roads, but there are plainly no thrills to be had here.
There is a good range of engines available for the Auris - the 1.4-litre diesel is impressively economical, but feels breathless installed in this car, but the choice is really yours when it comes to the powerplants. The Auris hybrid will be frugal enough to win over some buyers, especially around town where it can run on battery power only.
There is room enough for four adults in the car, and the boot is on a par with the class average - it's all quite conventional here. There are a few oversights around the car that do grate - the lack of even an option to connect an MP3 player is strange, and there are unsightly patches of cheap plastics dotted around the cabin too.
The Auris is solidly capable in everything it does, but doesn't excel in any area. The only interesting part of the range is the hybrid HSD version, which is a Prius for those who don't want to stand out.