BUILD em up and knock em down seems to be a national pastime in this country. The Toyota Auris is a perfect example.

Before it arrived, the UK's motoring critics were predicting great things for the model Toyota had chosen to replace its Corolla, which was the world's best-selling car.

The Auris looked a whole lot better than the dumpy Corolla, promised more space, extra equipment, greater safety and a better drive. What could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot, actually, if you can believe the self-appointed experts.

Now it's here the critics are falling over themselves to berate Toyota for not going far enough to make the Auris a must-have car.

It's probably true to say the driving experience is rather underwhelming upon first acquaintance. The ride is fine, but the 2.2-litre diesel engine feels curiously bunged up, as if it is trying to clear its lungs to breathe properly all the time, and there's precious little feel for the road through the steering.

The cabin, too, is a strange mix of good and bad. Good in that it is perfectly assembled and completely rattle- free; bad in the way some of the details seem to put form before function, such as the way the centre console flows into the fascia, thereby forcing the stylised handbrake into an unnatural position.

All of this was driven home to me after just a few miles behind the wheel.

But living with the Auris for more than just an hour or two made me see things differently.

For one thing, it really is beautifully put together. We've come to expect razor-sharp panel gaps on Japanese cars but the Auris still sets the pace in the medium hatchback class.

Everything is perfectly aligned.

Every little detail has been perfected, right down to the indicator stalks that have a lovely smooth action. I noted that exactly the same stalks are used on the Lexus LS 460 - a car that costs seventy grand!

If you closed your eyes behind the wheel of this car (not something I'd recommend you do) it would be easy to suppose it was a much more expensive vehicle. Clearly some of the Toyota/Lexus DNA has rubbed off.

The steering wheel is nice and chunky to hold. The speedo and rev counter have been styled to look like an expensive chronograph watch, similar to the Lexus IS200. A couple of floating LCD gauges sit within the clock faces and the whole instrument pack is backlit in an unusual amber colour that is easy on weary eyes.

The raised centre tunnel does at least bring the gear stick within easy reach, even if the handbrake is a pig to use because it is too upright.

The CD unit is a bespoke fit in the fascia. It can accommodate MP3 discs, therefore it can play up to ten hours of tunes.

Two rotary dials control the volume and adjust the sound quality.

They are very easy to use.

Beneath this sits the climate control - a dual set-up with individual temperature adjustment for driver and passenger - that is changed via easy-to-operate buttons. The four mid-level vents direct a strong flow of fresh air to your face.

Keyless ignition is handy. You open the doors by lightly touching the driver's side handle and start the car by pressing a button without ever needing to take the fob out of your pocket.

The Auris is a very practical car, too.

Overall it's a good size, not too small and not too large, and legroom in the back is above average.

There are some thoughtful touches too, like the double glove box and the deep boot. Although the wheel arches do cut into the luggage space a bit, it's still a useful shape.

The rear seat backs fold down but it's disappointing to report that they don't fold completely flat.

In Japan Toyota has just brought out a hot Auris called the Blade Master G (you've got to love those crazy Japanese names), but no UK sales are planned.

So, for the moment, the hottest Auris you can buy is the T180 turbodiesel.

Don't let that put you off, though. The turbocharged engine packs a 175bhp punch.

That's a lot for a diesel, even if Toyota has cheated a bit by using a 2.2-litre capacity in a class where 2.0-litre is the norm.

The hefty 400NM slug of torque at a lowly 2,000rpm makes the Auris a grunty performer. It hauls itself around corners and up hills with no fuss or drama, although it's not exactly a rev-hungry beast. The low-down pull makes the six-speed gearbox unnecessary, although it's nice to have one for ultra-relaxed highspeed motorway cruising.

The same power unit is found in the RAV 4, the larger Avensis saloon, the Verso and the Lexus IS220d. It's been tried and tested over millions of miles.

At any speed it is quiet and very refined. There is no diesel clatter, even from a cold start, and the 2.2D is up there with a petrol engine in terms of overall deportment. Its official combined fuel consumption figure is a little over 45mpg.

Nor is it particularly dirty. The CO2 figure is 164 g/km, which means it doesn't cost a fortune in road tax. A service is required every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever comes sooner.

Toyota has positioned the T180 as the thinking man's alternative to a gas-guzzling hot-hatchback.

The body is largely free of spoilers and body kit but the smart alloy wheels are shod with wide tyres and the aggressive front bumper has a deep chin.

The zero to 60mph time is less than nine seconds, which is only fair, but the in-gear acceleration, which is a more realistic measure of on-the-road performance, is good.

The T180 is the only Auris to have double wishbone rear suspension, other models in the range having to put up with a less sophisticated set-up.

Variable rate power steering is light enough about town but offers precious valuable feedback at speed and there's a bit of body roll through tightly-wound bends.

The payback comes in town, where the Auris has a good ride, absorbent and well damped.

So it's no hot-hatchback the Auris T180, but it does offer a tempting package. It is well built, quiet, economical, roomy, fairly practical, keenly priced and likely to prove fearsomely reliable.

Those are all qualities that don't become apparent until you've lived with an Auris for some time. And, in the real world, away from racetracks and handling circuits, they count for a lot.

So it offers a perfectly adequate drive, reliability, is inoffensive to look at and tremendously well made. Just like the old Corolla, then.

SPECIFICATION

Engine: 2.2-litre turbodiesel
Max power: 179bhp
Max torque: 221lb ft
CO2 output: 164g/km
Insurance group: 13
Fuel consumption: 45.6mpg
Top speed: 130mph
0-60mph: 8.1 seconds
Equipment: Electric windows, central locking, keyless ignition, CD player wi MP3/WMA playback, power steering, alloy wheels, digital climate control.