by David Finlay (10 May 2007)

Diesel engines encompass the Auris range. The top-performing model, the T180, comes with a very strong 175bhp 2.2-litre unit, and there's a two-litre version in the middle of the line-up. And down at the bottom there's the 1.4-litre diesel fitted to the D-4D 90 tested here.

This is the smallest (1364cc) and least powerful (89bhp) engine that Toyota fits to any Auris, but the D-4D 90 in its various forms is more expensive than the equivalent 1.4- and 1.6-litre petrol models. Although that might not sound like much of a deal, there's payback in the fact that the diesel is in a different league when it comes to economy, with an official combined figure of 56.5mpg.

And it's not slow. In fact, it's a bit perkier than the slightly more powerful 96bhp 1.4 petrol. Why? Because those are maximum power figures; the diesel may lose out slightly at the top end, but it's a lot stronger at the engine speeds most people will use in normal driving.

Similarly, on paper the D-4D 90 is slower than the 1.6 petrol, but it doesn't feel like it. I speak from considerable experience here, since I'm putting a 1.6 through a long-term test, and subjectively there really doesn't seem to be much in it.

Despite all of the above, now that there's only one Auris in the office car park I can't help being slightly pleased that it's the diesel that left first. One thing I like about the 1.6 petrol is that it's pretty quiet most of the time, but that definitely doesn't apply to the D-4D 90, which is surprisingly noisy considering it's a small engine for the size of the car.

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