Toyota Auris Hybrid (2012-2018) review - MPG, CO2 and Running Costs

The financial benefits of running a hybrid are largely determined by where you drive the most. We've tested the Toyota Auris Hybrid on town and country roads, but the majority of miles were on motorways and dual carriageways.

Sadly, this didn’t show the Auris in the best light, and we only managed 44.9mpg. That can be put down to the fact the engine runs continuously at higher speeds, and the nature of the CVT gearbox means it instantly pulls higher revs as soon as you press the throttle.

If you do most of your driving in stop-start traffic, the figures improve dramatically. The electronics attempt to cut the engine and rely on electricity in most situations, and we returned 83.9mpg on one city run in the Auris.

The worst 'official' average fuel economy figure in the Auris Hybrid line-up is 72mpg (and some trim levels will do 81mpg), while CO2 is rated from 79g/km.

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Company car users will see especially big benefits in running the Toyota, as even higher-rate taxpayers will face an annual tax bill £200 cheaper than a comparable Golf diesel, thanks to the Auris’ low company car tax bracket and low list price.

The benefits for private buyers aren’t quite as strong as the Benefit-in-Kind advantage is irrelevant, and the fuel savings will take some time to accumulate and pay back the hybrid price premium. 

The hybrid powertrain is now available across all Auris trim levels, but you have to upgrade to the Excel model for luxuries such as two-zone climate control or keyless entry.

Insurance groups

Insurance groups for the Auris Hybrid depend on the trim level you choose. The Icon is group 7, while the highest rating is for the Icon Plus with leather upholstery and panoramic roof, which falls into group 14.

Depreciation

Interest in hybrid models remains high across the used market, and this is currently keeping residual values a little higher than for traditional models – which should also hold true for the Auris range.