Car Statistics: Toyota - Auris Series 07 (3 stars)

Styling (3 stars)

Uninspiring and - if you squint a bit - very similar to the old Corolla. That car was a best seller, though.

Handling (4 stars)

Capable handling allows for mild entertainment on a twisty road, but all versions lack the verve of a Focus or a Golf.

Comfort (3 stars)

Mops up bumps in the road competently, but the seats are unsupportive, adjust awkwardly and can become uncomfortable on longer journeys. The firmer T180 rides less well.

Quality (3 stars)

Could have scored higher, save for the utility, hard-touch plastics that make up the dashboard. A surprising omission from Toyota.

Performance (4 stars)

The high-end T180 provides performance to rival most warm-hatches with bags of torque and an 8.1 second 0-60mph time. Most other models provide adequate pace ? generally the diesel models pull harder than the petrols.

Roominess (4 stars)

Extra height allows the Auris to offer a decent amount of cabin space. Rear-leg room's fine and the boots big enough for a fairly hefty shopping trip, too.

Costs (4 stars)

If the previous Corolla is anything to go by, maintenance and repair overheads should be low. The 1.4 D4D diesel returns an excellent 56.5mpg, but the T180's economy is disappointing.

Value (3 stars)

The Auris is relatively pricey, although equipment like keyless entry and climate control may help to justify this. The T180 performance model is just too expensive.

Stereo (2 stars)

The sound quality's comparatively poor and there's no iPod socket. Sat nav's a £1500 option.