The Toyota Auris is an attractive and well-sized family car that benefits from the choice between a conventional engine and a hybrid setup. There’s a lot of different models within the range to choose from though, so we’ve picked out three of the best to make deciding between them a little easier.

The smart choice for saving money – Auris Active

The Auris Active does sit at the bottom of the range, but still includes an impressive amount of standard technology. Inside, you’ll find a radio with integrated Bluetooth connectivity, as well as USB connection for MP3 players. Air conditioning comes as standard, as do power front windows.

Outside, the Auris Active looks just futuristic thanks to LED daytime running lights, and 15-inch alloy wheels.

A shark-fin antenna sits atop the car, providing a housing for the car’s aerial while also looking aerodynamic and sleek.

Although a hybrid option is offered with the Auris Active, we’d be inclined to choose the 1.3-litre petrol, which uses a six-speed manual gearbox. Producing 100bhp, it returns an excellent 128g/Km CO2.

The Smart choice for those on a budget – Auris Design

The Design specification builds on the already excellent amount of equipment that is offered with the Active. The exterior benefits from larger 17-inch alloys wheels with a five double-spoke design. They do well to lift the car’s exterior, and add to the car’s already edgy looks. Privacy glass on the rear windows does well to be both functional and good-looking – they provide added security for luggage placed in the rear, as well as making the Auris look understated.

Inside, there’s a noticeable difference when compared to the Active. Now, there’s a seven-inch touch screen multimedia system, which incorporates multimedia controls and satellite navigation. There’s still Bluetooth hands-free, but now DAB radio is also included. A three-spoke leather steering wheel adds to the car’s premium feel, and a piano black centre console completes the look. A reversing camera means that the car is even easier to park, and should avoid any accidents when backing into spaces.

The smart choice for technophiles – Auris Excel

The Excel represents the very top of the Auris range. For button pressers, there’s no better option as it has the most amount of equipment available.

To begin with, the interior still has the same seven-inch touch screen display that features on the Active. However, it is now linked up to a six speaker sound system, and features Wi-Fi connectivity that allows the driver to use apps from within the car. Voice recognition is included too, meaning that there’s no need to take your hands off the wheel when entering information such as destinations or radio stations.

Dual-zone air conditioning is included, as are heated driver and front passenger seats. These are manually height-adjustable, too.

Outside, LED lights are used at both the front and back of the car, and a chrome surround on the lower front grille brightens up the front end of the Auris. Body-coloured mirrors and door handles enforce the car’s premium image – those door mirrors are automatically retractable as well.

For the Excel, we’d choose the hybrid engine layout. It produces an incredibly low 91g/km CO2, and can return a combined economy figure of 72.43mpg meaning that it’s much easier on the wallet. It also means that the car is exempt from London’s congestion charge, and will be much cheaper to tax and run over a longer period when compared to a conventionally-powered car.