Auris Hybrid

I believe importing new (or fairly new) vehicles into the US from Europe or elsewhere is very difficult, if not impossible.

Saying that, I understand the importing of RHD Japanese sports cars has a niche following in CA so it obviously can be done.

Why would you want an Auris HSD? Just because it's different? It is similar to the Prius inside but the boot/trunk isn't as big. It does manage to get about 2mpg more than the Prius on the Euro cycle though.

 

Doesnt the Prius have bigger space and trunk than Insight?

Obviously top cover was missing, why didnt you ask your seller?

here is how it looks normally:



For some reason, Auris Hybrid sells great. In my country, it is same price as Prius so I would always buy Prius as it is higher class of car.

 

there are even cubbies under:

 

Question is ,why wouldn't i ? I like the looks of it.Appears to have more head room. I also prefer the back window styling.I have a hard time viewing out the back window in the prius.

 

I meant why would you want one considering the massive amount of hassle it would involve in importing one (if indeed it is possible to do so).

If you manage to import one then yes it would be a cool car to have - being the only one of a kind hybrid in the USA.

 

Decided to have a quick look at this properly. The following wiki link is quite useful;

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_import_vehicle]Grey import vehicle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

I notice that if you are to import a Auris HSD you would probably have to do crash testing and US compliance. As the vehicle is based on the Prius then emissions should comply (the Auris meets Euro 5). Also despite the differences in crash testing in the Euro and USA, the Auris HSD gets a 5 out of 5 NCAP result so should get a good US result. The only thing I can think you'd need are the side marker lights which are not a legal requirement over here (though some models have them - but not the Auris).

So if you have a million bucks or so you might look at importing a few LHD Auris over, crash test them and see if they comply. If they do (and the Smart did!) then you might have a pop at selling them.

Whether you'd make any money or not is another matter.

[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Auris]Toyota Auris - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]
Toyota Auris | Euro NCAP - For safer cars crash test safety rating

 

Or you take an extended vacation in Europe, pick one up and register it there and drive around for a few weeks. Then ship it back as your used car. Of course you'd have to petition the NHTSA and fill out a few forms to allow your vehicle in and it might involve something like bumper reinforcement and exhaust upgrades. Try out this web site, NHTSA Vehicle Imports, but even better just go to your friendly neighborhood DMV and ask them what it would take to ship your car home. That should give you some nice homework. But you must have it already registered in whatever country you buy it from. How do I know this? My Dad wanted to buy a Jaguar when we lived in England and ship it back. He chickened out from the forms and regulations.

 

A prius is very common here in the Netherlands, you would recogneize one from a mile distance, but the Auris Hybrid?
That`s a undercover hybrid!
And that`s why I am very happy with my frost blue Auris Hybrid, and it is very fuell efficient!

 

We have a Prius in the US. We're going to the UK next year and wanted to rent a hybrid for our drives but they're virtually impossible to find from the major rental companies. We found that Hertz UK has the Auris Hybrid so we reserved that. Now, we're concerned that the trunk isn't big enough to handle two 22" roll-on suitcases plus incidental bags (a backpack, my wife's carryon, etc.).

Are the fears unfounded? I can't glean any info from the Toyota UK site as they quote the cargo area in cubic feet with no top and no dimensions. Hertz is no help.

Any rental agencies offer the Prius?

Thank you,

Bruce

 

Can't find a website to give you specifications that might help. It is about the size of a VW Golfs trunk - maybe a little bit smaller. 22inch suitcases are on the small size so you should be able to get your luggage in. Could the incidental bags just go on the floor behind the front seats if there are just the two of you?


The following link applies to the NON hybrid Auris, so the Auris boot/trunk will be smaller still. I guess measured in litres won't help but the link compares the Auris to a Ford Focus trunk which is much bigger;

New Toyota Auris Hatchback Car Review | Parkers

ah, found this for the hybrid Auris - I think the trunk size of 233 litres is for the hybrid vesion;
http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/toyota/auris/hatchback-2007/47573/

 

I found volume measurements in the Auris Hybrid brochure which shows that the compartment is about 50% of the Prius' but they typically measure from the floor of the area to the roof of the car which is completely impractical. What got me worried was comments made on this forum that the boot/trunk area is irregularly shaped.

Also Toyota posts the volume with a "boot maximizer" installed (and not installed) but I have NO idea what that is.

Thank you,

Bruce

 

On the previous page of this thread there is a picture of the boot/trunk where the floor lifts up to reveal a space underneath. This space is compartmentalised to enable items to be stored without rolling about. The boot maximizer (read trunk maximizer) removes this compartment under the floor with a single larger area - similar to the existing Prius.

Check out the following for full details of the Auris HSD.

Hybrid Cars - Toyota Auris | Hybrid Cars from Toyota | Toyota UK

I still think with your small amount of luggage you should be OK. My only worry for you is when you fill the car up with petrol! You think gas prices are high in the US! ha ha

 

I saw the gallery but missed the individual photos of the various sections of the car. I see that it will likely accommodate both of our suitcases.

Here in the States, the area under the floor of the trunk/boot is pretty much worthless. To make it of any value, one must buy the trunk organizer which gives us compartments!

I've been checking the prices on petrol but it's a PITA to have to calculate liters to gallons and GBP to USD. That's why I was hoping to rent a Prius. Since the only place which seems to rent them is in Loughton and we're going directly from Heathrow to Bath, it's terribly inconvenient.

If you know of any agencies renting them, please let me know. An Internet search only turned up the one legitimate agency.

Thank you,

Bruce

 

do not know about rental agencies near London. Go with the big names you've heard of. Do you need to go for a hybrid? A diesel automatic will be more plentiful and will give you similar economy (less in town) and allow you to compare them to the hybrids. Just don't put petrol in by mistake!?!

Petrol at the moment in the UK is £1.35/$2.16 a litre which at 3.78 litres to a US gallon is $8.16. Diesel is £1.39/$2.22 or $8.39. Now you know why we drive smaller cars! Was filling up today and saw an Audi A6 fill up with £110 which works out at $175!?!

 

1. I found two agencies which rent Priuses: Loughton Self Drive and AutoPoint Cars Limited. The former is 50 miles NE of Heathrow and has no pickup or delivery of vehicles; the latter has pickup and delivery at Heathrow. The prices are inline with other agencies for normal vehicles. Only Hertz currently rents hybrids in the UK and it's only the Auris.

2. I have a long-time aversion to diesel vehicles and, as they're more expensive for fuel, it doesn't make sense to me. I don't feel the need to check out the diesels because there's little to no chance that we'll ever buy one. With Audi introducing hybrids in a couple of years and Toyota expanding the Prius line here, we'll be covered when our current vehicles go off-lease.

For rental, we considered an Audi A1 (not available in the US yet) as the mileage is similar and it's bigger but it's also a lot more expensive.

While the prices aren't anywhere near as high here, we're used to spiked prices. Currently, it's about $3.85 per gallon for regular unleaded. I had an 2007 Prius which I had to sell because I had knee surgery and I couldn't get in and out of it. I bought an Acura (Honda) RDX and the mileage was torture getting about 14 miles per gallon using Premium unleaded. My monthly gasoline bill for the Acura was about what my Prius lease payments are while my monthly gasoline bill for the Prius is about 1/6-1/8th of the Acura. So, I feel your pain to a lesser extent.

Thanks again,

Bruce

 

Surprised Germany allows diesel to be cheaper with all the Green party members in the Government. I might be a cynic but is it anything to do with the motoring lobby in Germany?

It doesn't need the EU to regulate when you've got your own Government who are able to adjust their own taxation bands.

 

Sorry for being so late!
I was very busy lately, and now I`ll tell you about the trunk.
Yes, it is small, the Prius has a lot more space.
In the past we went on vacation, using a Toyota Yaris Verso.
It had a double floor, so we could put a lot of things below the floor.
But the kids grew up, and they don`t want to go on vacation with mum and dad anymore.
So for us this car is fine.