Our Toyota Auris Hybrid has been out of its comfort zone with a number of motorway journeys this month, and its fuel economy has suffered as a result.
It's normal use consists of a 35-mile commute with typical speeds of 40-45mph, when it consistently returns almost 60mpg.
The motorway trips have seen this drop to an average of 46mpg as the hybrid technology was rarely called into action.
This is a shame as otherwise the motorway experience was an enjoyable one – the Auris provides a refined, comfortable ride, and covered the miles effortlessly.
It has, however, continued to excel in urban areas, where the seamless switch between petrol and electric power combines well with a smooth CVT gearbox.
Our Auris's strengths in towns and cities continue into car parks where, short of covering itself in bubble wrap, there's not much more it could do to prevent low speed bumps and scrapes – a common source of potentially costly end-of-contract damage charges.
Its front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera make you aware of what is around you at all times, so there are few excuses for any collisions.
Better still, from a crowd-pleasing point of view at least, is Park Assist automatic parallel parking.
Simply press the button and the system will tell you when you pass a suitable space.
Stop, take your hands off the steering wheel, follow the on-screen instructions regarding the gears and brakes, and relax as it parks you safely into your space. So simple to use, but very impressive.
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