Toyota Auris Hybrid (2013-2019) - Practicality & boot space
The Auris Hybrid doesn’t sacrifice any of the practicality of the conventional model
Whether you go for the Auris Hybrid hatchback or Touring Sports, it’s a practical and useful everyday family car. It’s no class leader, though: the Volkswagen Golf, SEAT Leon and Skoda Octavia all have it beaten for either interior room or boot space.
Toyota Auris Hybrid interior space & storage
The Auris is an easy car to get in and out of. It’s only available with five doors and all open wide, so access to the front or rear seats is unimpeded. Most drivers will find a comfortable position behind the steering wheel, which adjusts for rake and reach, while the driver’s seat offers height adjustment. Visibility is good, too, and the Auris is easy to maneuver – although the Touring Sports estate feels a little bulkier
Head and legroom throughout are around average for the class, although the optional panoramic sunroof eats into headroom slightly. Compared to some rivals, the Auris has the advantage of a flat floor with no bulky ‘transmission tunnel’. This means the central rear-seat passenger has somewhere to put their feet. The rear seatback can be reclined to provide greater comfort or more boot space as required.
Interior storage space is plentiful, with cubbyholes throughout. The door pockets and glovebox are generous, plus there’s an additional lidded storage box between the front seats and a pair of handy cupholders.
Boot space
Unlike many hybrids, the Auris doesn’t lose out on boot space to its conventionally fuelled stablemates. There’s 337 litres of luggage room in the hatchback when the parcel shelf is in place, expanding to 1,176 litres if you fold down the back seats and tell your passengers to walk. The Touring Sports is more suited to bulky items, with 507 litres available with the rear seats in play and the parcel shelf in situ. Removing the latter and folding the former opens up 1,635 litres of load space.
Towing
Unfortunately, Toyota doesn’t regard the Auris Hybrid hatchback or Touring Sports as suitable for towing a braked or unbraked trailer.