Toyota Auris Hybrid pricing announced (UK)

The all-new Toyota Auris Hybrid will start from £18,950 for the entry-level T4 89g spec, rising to £20,700 for the flagship T-Spirit. The Auris Hybrid is powered by the same 1.8 litre VVT-i petrol engine found in the Prius, and an electric motor giving combined output of 134bhp.

The car will be available in 3 well-specified trim-levels; T4 89g, T4 & T-Spirit.

Entry-level T4 89g features Climate control, CD/MP3 player with USB, x4 electric windows, electrically adjustable/heated door mirrors, 7 airbags, 15" alloy wheels, LED daytime running lights, stability and traction control w/ hill-start assist. This model has CO2 emissions of 89g/km with combined fuel economy of 74.3mpg, which translates to over 700 miles on one tank.

Mid-spec T4 adds 'T4 89g' standard equipment plus 17" alloy wheels for £19,200.

Range-topping T-Spirit comes with 17" alloy wheels, leather & Alcantara seats, cruise control w/ speed limiter, Bluetooth w/ steering wheel audio controls, automatic headlights and wipers, smart entry and start and auto-dimming rearview mirror w/ rear camera display. Due to the increase of the alloy wheels, the T4 & T-Spirit models emit 93g/km with overall economy of 70.6mpg.

At £18,950, the Auris Hybrid is not a cheap way into to hybrid motoring. It is only £555 less than the company's entry-level Prius T3 and more than £2,365 more than the entry-level Honda Insight.

Toyota says that Auris Hybrid is close in price to similarly specced rival cars fitted with 2.0 litre diesel engines and says that Auris Hybrid customers and Prius Hybrid customers come from two distinctive groups.

'Prius customers want to make a statement,' said a Toyota spokesman. 'They tend to be style-led early adopters. Auris Hybrid customers will be interested in the mpg and they may also simply prefer a smaller car.'

2010 Toyota Sienna

The 2010 Toyota Sienna ranks 2 out of 7 Minivans. This ranking is based on our analysis of 28 published reviews and test drives of the Toyota Sienna, and our analysis of reliability and safety data. The Toyota Sienna is a comfortable, peppy minivan with plenty of space for the family. The base Sienna represents a great value, while its top-of-the-line Limited trim brings a luxury feel to the minivan segment.

The Sienna delivers one of the best combinations of acceleration, interior space and general quality in its class. Value hunters should take note of the base trim. Edmunds says, "Budget-minded shoppers will like the low-priced Sienna CE that has room for up to eight passengers. Those who can spend considerably more will appreciate how the Sienna Limited comes off like nothing less than a Lexus minivan."

The Sienna and its main rival, the Honda Odyssey, are generally considered to be the benchmarks of their class. However, the Sienna starts at about $2,000 less than the Odyssey. If you want an even better deal, consider the Kia Sedona. Reviewers like it just as much as they like the Sienna, but the Sedona costs about $2,000 less and has longer warranty coverage.

Buyers who are wary of the Sienna because of the recent recall of eight Toyota models should know that the Sienna was not one of the recalled models. However, it is unclear what the fallout from Toyota's sticking accelerator issue will mean for the long-term value of Toyota models.

The Toyota Sienna gets high marks from reviewers for its high-quality interior and performance that's easy to live with. Car and Driver says "the Sienna has Camry-like driving manners," and most reviewers agree. While there are a few complaints about the Sienna's size (it's one of the largest minivans available) there's no quibbling with its flexibility and long list of available features.