Auris HSD Icon 1.8L

The Hybrid - solid, economical and reliable

I recently purchased the Auris HSD Icon as a new vehicle from Drivethedeal, saving me around £3k on the list price and with the benefit of 0% PCP finance as well. Overall, a very good deal. The car itself is solidly built, comfortable and easy to drive. Economy is good, though unfortunately not as good as I had hoped: I'm averaging 52mpg from mixed driving, which is quite impressive but still below my expectations - I had hoped for 55-60mpg. However, the fixed costs are also modest: insurance is definitely lower than for a diesel of the same class and similar engine power, and the 84g/km CO2 emissions offer zero road excise duty now and probably for several years to come. I added sat-nav, comfort pack and park assist to the basic Icon package and I'm glad I did; I could have got these from the Excel, but the smaller alloy wheels on the Icon make the ride more comfortable. The cabin is good quality, with the controls in all the right places, though maybe lacking the sumptuousness of other manufacturers - not a big deal. The seats are OK, though again not the best in comfort. The driving experience is a pleasant one - totally silent in electric mode and still very quiet once the engine kicks in, the only noise you hear is when you need to rev the engine to generate the power to move fast on the motorway. At below 40mph the car is almost silent even in engine mode. It's good to drive too, handles well - far better than the 'professional' reviewers would have you believe - and, at least with the smaller Icon wheels, is comfortable on the road, absorbing most bumps and holes well. The boot is decent size for most purposes, though if a lot of space is a necessity you would be better advised to go with the estate version. The Toyota 5 year warranty on the car and 8 year warranty on the Hybrid battery give peace of mind and ensure resaleability should you wish to sell the car. The fit and finish on the car is excellent and you feel you are in a very well built car - no creaking, cracking or squeaking.
The inbuilt sat-nav is very useful, though I've noticed that it is slow to update new build housing estates. The European mapping is great if you like to drive the car across the channel.

Overall I'm pleased with the purchase. My only gripe is that for the price, which is still high after the Drivethedeal discount, I expected even better fuel economy. I would also like to see a more powerful Hybrid battery in the future, one closer to the Ampera. Having said that, it's a very decent small car and perfect for the user who wants a good mix of performance, economy and reliability.

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