(Mon 25 Jan 10)

The 2010 version of the Toyota Auris is largely the same as the one that went before it, but Toyota has done a little more than a simple facelift job. The styling changes are quite significant - especially at the front, which has a new bonnet, bumper, grille and foglights. The rear end has been revised too, there are new wheel designs, and the door mirrors now have indicator lights, while the interior has been redesigned with new dials and centre console, plus the introduction of a new soft-touch material for part of the dashboard.

Our own opinion of the original Auris was that it wasn't much fun to drive, and that seems to have been a widely-held view. Toyota, saying that it has "taken UK customer feedback into account", has reworked the suspension in the interests of better handling and ride comfort, and has also adjusted the power steering.

Most Aurises sold in the UK are in TR trim, which comes with 16" alloy wheels, climate control air-conditioning, front foglights, a six-speaker audio system, retractable door mirrors and all-round electric windows, and gets the full range of 1.3- and 1.6-litre petrol engine and a 1.4 turbo diesel. The cheaper T2, which has 15" steel wheels and four-speaker audio, gets only the smaller petrol engine.

At the top of the range comes the SR (pictured), which uses the 1.6 petrol engine and is available only as a five-door (the T2 and TR also come in three-door body styles). Extra equipment on the SR includes 17" alloys, rear privacy glass and a rear spoiler. The SR costs £16,495, the T2 comes in at £14,463 (plus £500 if you want five doors) and the TR ranges from £15,140 to £17,745.

A hybrid version of the Auris, called the HSD, will go on sale in the UK in July this year, though pricing for that one has yet to be announced.

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