Corolla
The Corolla has been in production since 1966 and has become the highest selling vehicle of all time. As of 2012 an incredible 39 million have been sold all over the world. It has been manufactured on all six of the major continents.
In Europe, it is currently sold as the Toyota Auris. The model is available as both 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks. Three trim levels are available and the car can be purchased with a wide range of engines and transmissions.
The Auris does not deliver a particularly exciting drive, but what it does offer is safety, practicality and reliability – not to mention low running costs and high residual values.
Prius
The Prius is a medium sized family car. The Prius is a hybrid and was the first petrol-electric hybrid to be mass produced. It was first introduced in 1997, but not sold in Europe until 3 years later in 2000.
The first Prius was a 4-door saloon, but was changed as it entered its second generation to a hatchback.
The Prius is known for its superb fuel economy, delivering over 70mpg, and its low CO2 emissions of just 104g/km.
When Euro NCAP crash tested the Prius in 2004, it delivered fairly impressive results, with a 5/5 rating for Adult Occupants, 4/5 for Children and 2/4 for Pedestrians.
Yaris
The Yaris is a small family car which is produced as a 3-door or 5-door hatchback.
It has been on the market since 1998 and has succeeded particularly well in a competitive supermini market.
It uses a 1.3 litre engine and can deliver a very impressive fuel economy of over 70mpg.
The model boasts a wide range of advanced safety features on top of an excellent reliability record. Moreover, the Yaris scored well in the Euro NCAP crash tests.
CO2 emissions are impressive, at just over 100g/km, and the Yaris is generally very cheap to run. However, the initial purchase price of the car may be considered a little steep.