The Auris is about as safe as a car of this size gets. There’s a five-star euro NCAP crash test rating and a four star rating for child occupant protection. Every car gets nine airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag – a first for this sector – ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution. T180 models also have vehicle stability control and traction control.

On the security front, all cars have remote central double locking and an immobiliser. All but T2 have an alarm and T Spirit and T180 have Toyota’s keyless ‘Smart Entry’ system. Edition models get the full quota of airbags as do the TR, Colour Collective and SR. Indeed, the Toyota Auris safety kit list is the same for all four models with brake assist, stability control, traction control and whiplash-lessening front seats among the highlights.

The boot is a decent size, but there’s a bit of a lip, which makes getting larger items out of it more difficult. But that’s the only criticism in an otherwise strong package. The rear seats fold – with one touch – almost flat and have a 60/40 split, which combined with the tall shape, allows you to carry very large items. There are ten interior storage areas, including a dash-top box in front of the front passenger and a deep main glovebox.

There’s also an underseat tray, a number of cupholders and a coin tray behind the ‘floating’ central column on which the gearstick and handbrake are mounted. In 2010 the central dash between the driver’s and front passenger seat was changed to be deep enough to accommodate two small drinks bottles and act as arm rest.