Toyota Auris Touring Sports: economical and practical

Price: £16,045 - £23,990

Pros: Very efficient Auris Hybrid version, plenty of boot space, comfortable ride

Cons: CVT automatic gearbox is noisy, rear seats can be quite cramped, ford Focus Estate is more fun to drive

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3.7/5, Carbuyer "The Toyota Auris estate (known as the Toyota Auris Touring Sports) is the Japanese brand's entry into the crowded small family estate class. The opposition includes the VW Group trio of the Volkswagen Golf Estate, Skoda Octavia Estate and SEAT Leon ST, as well as models like the Ford Focus Estate, Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, Honda Civic Tourer, Hyundai i30 Tourer, Kia Cee’d SW and Peugeot 308 SW. The Auris Touring Sports is undeniably practical, with a large boot that can swallow lots of luggage, especially if you fold the rear seats down flat. It's not quite as impressive for passenger space, however, especially in the back. Another major selling point of this car is the availability of the Auris Hybrid version, which pairs a petrol engine with an electric motor for excellent fuel economy and very low running costs. It falls into the lowest company-car tax bracket and qualifies for free road tax, making it a very attractive choice for buyers looking to keep their motoring bills to a minimum.

3/5, Auto Express "It falls short of its rivals in the way it looks and the way it drives, but is comfortable and refined. Importantly for an estate car, boot space is impressive."

3.5/5, Parkers "Behind the wheel the Toyota Auris Touring Sports is a tale of two halves. On one hand it is comfortable, easy to navigate around and spacious. On the other the steering wheel is a little cluttered, the touchscreen is situated too low down thus diverting your gaze from the road and there are a few touches that seem misplaced and dated, like the digital clock."

3/5, What Car? "The boot is the big news. The floor is 10cm lower than in the Auris hatch, so you don't have to lift heavy items as high to get them into the car. Loading is further eased by the absence of a lip at the entrance to the boot."