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SO SOLID DEBUT

Models Covered: (4dr saloon 5dr hatchback / estate 1.8, 2.0, 2.4 petrol, 2.0 diesel [T2, T3, T3-X, T3-S, T4, T Spirit, T180])

BY ANDY ENRIGHT

Few cars have transmogrified in quite such a dramatic fashion as the Toyota Avensis. Once a rather lightweight and compact medium sized Mondeo challenger, the 2003 edition saw the Avensis undergoing a fundamental reappraisal of its place in the overall scheme of things. No longer was the car content to do battle with off the pace rivals like the Rover 45 and the Mazda 626. Now it was taking aim at the best cars in the class – models like the Ford Mondeo and the Honda Accord. With saloon, hatchback and Tourer models to choose from and an impeccable record for reliability, the 2003-onwards version of Toyota’s Avensis is as close to a risk-free used bet as it’s possible to get.

Toyota were faced with a dilemma when developing the 2003 Avensis. The market for mainstream medium range family saloons and hatches was shrinking fast with customers increasingly likely to downsize to a smaller hatch or try to preserve their investment by plumping for something with a prestige badge. Should the company make the Avensis a cheap and cheerful car that followed its predecessor’s lightweight, low complexity approach or else make a serious commitment to moving upmarket with all the costs that entailed? Toyota took the gamble and pitched the Avensis at the quality end of the medium range market, covering their bets with a broad range that included a hatch, a saloon and a Tourer estate with a range of decent 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrol engines. In November 2003, Toyota expanded the range with a clean D-CAT diesel engined version that used a revolutionary catalyst system to lower emissions still further. This initially sold alongside the less high-tech D4-D diesel engine that had been introduced to the range a few months earlier. A flagship 2.4-litre petrol model also joined the range at the end of 2003 and in early 2005 we saw a 148bhp 2.2-litre D4-D diesel introduced. The 2006 facelift brought a variety of changes to the Avensis although the styling remained fairly nondescript. Ride and handling issues were addressed through revised suspension and steering settings while D4-D 130 and D4-D 180 diesels were also introduced.

Designed in France, the latest car is firmly Eurocentric, being marketed solely on this continent. It’s bigger, bolder and far better looking than the Mark 1 Avensis and has gone about deconstructing the medium saloon genre with a vengeance. Three bodystyles are available – saloon, liftback and Tourer – while three petrol engines were initially on offer. Customers could choose either a 129bhp 1.8-litre VVT-i engine, a 147bhp 2.0-litre direct injection VVT-i powerplant or a 2.4-litre version of similar direct injection configuration. The VVT-i set-up is Toyota’s variable valve timing system which offers decent torque and fuel economy at low revs and a hefty slug of power at full throttle. You can also try to find an example with the 116bhp 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine or go for the advanced 2.0-litre D-CAT (Diesel Clean Advanced Technology) diesel. The 2.2-litre diesel models arrived later and the post 2006 facelift model was offered in sporty T180 form with a 2.2-litre 177bhp oil-burner plumbed in. Trim levels depend on your choice between five options: T2, the rather clumsily-named T3-S and T3-X, T4 and T Spirit. All come with air conditioning, an alarm immobiliser, power windows and mirrors, ABS and an excellent quality stereo system. The T3 grades are basically there to differentiate between those who want satellite navigation (T3-S) from those who simply want extra luxury (T3-X). T4 offers both, while the plushest T Spirit level also includes power seats with leather trim. Safety was prioritised with all models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag which represents a UK first. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. Step from an old Avensis into the cabin of the post-2003 car and you’ll spot no significant family resemblance. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up.

Prices start at around £6,000 for the first of the 1.8-litre hatchback models with 2.0-litre versions commanding £7,125. Tourers start at £7,000 for a 1.8 T3 on an 03. The pick of the range has to be diesels. The 2.0-litre D-4D starts from £8,375 on 03 plates and goes up to around £8,950 for a 55-plate model.

The Avensis has forged a reputation for monotonous reliability and while drivers of old Corollas may well have hoped in vain for a broken timing chain or an electrical fire to interrupt the car’s clockwork tedium, there’s no such issue with this version. As long as the service records have been properly adhered to, it’s difficult to imagine a more trouble-free car in its class – a testament to both Toyota and the British workers. A 1.8-litre long term car we ran performed virtually faultlessly during a six month spell, the only minor complaint being a slight rattle from the rear tailgate.

(approx based on a 1.8 five-door T3) Although pitched a little above what you’d expect to fork out for Vauxhall or Ford spares, Toyota’s parts pricing policy has come under the microscope of late with the result that many prices have been frozen or reduced. A clutch assembly will cost in the region of £160, whilst an exhaust is around £350. A new starter motor retails for around £175, although a replacement headlamp will be in the region of £220. Repair costs have been kept down with a consequent effect on insurance premiums.

Better sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise, but to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison when developing the post-2003 Avensis. Instead they chose the Lexus LS400 as a benchmark and claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. The Mondeo and the Peugeot 406 were identified as class leaders in the area of steering feel, handling and ride and Toyota have tuned the steering for better feedback. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. One advantage of this is that it reduces intrusion into the luggage bay, the saloon version featuring a 520-litre boot. The 1.8-litre saloon will sprint to 60mph in 10.1 seconds and return 39.2mpg, making it quicker, more powerful and more economical than equivalent 1.8-litre variants of the Mazda6, the Renault Laguna, the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Vectra. Unlike the D4-D range, the Avensis D-CAT range is only offered in saloon guise; liftback and Tourer buyers will have to kick their heels for a while. Only one variant of this diesel engine is currently offered, a 114bhp powerplant that delivers a decent slug of torque – 280Nm to be precise. Performance is reasonable, the Avensis hitting 60mph in 11.2 seconds and running on to a top speed of 121mph, but this car isn’t all about straight line speed, instead offering a relaxed and flexible power delivery that means you won’t have to frantically stir the stick whenever you need to make progress

The Toyota Avensis was transformed in 2003. If you want a rugged, well built and beautifully specified used mid range model, the Avensis takes some beating. It may not be the most charismatic car in its class but it might just be the most solid.

COLOURING IN
Toyota’s affordable Avensis Colour Collection models aim to bring a spot of… well, colour to entry-level medium range motoring. Jonathan Crouch reports

You don’t expect a very colourful motoring ownership experience if all you can afford is the entry-level version of any given model line-up. That applies in the Mondeo and Vectra-dominated medium range sector as much as in any other – but perhaps it shouldn’t.

That’s certainly the thinking behind Toyota’s Avenis Colour Collection models, priced from £14,545 (£1,100 under the normal 1.8-litre T2 entry-level point) but sacrificing nothing terms of specification and in fact adding metallic paint (normally a £325 option) at no extra cost. Body-wise, there’s a choice between a five-door hatchback or a saloon. And the ‘colour’ bit? Well basically, you get a wide choice of metallic hues (Eclipse Black, Silver Steel, Carlo Blue, Silver Fern and Metropolis Grey), plus you get colour-matched bumpers, mirrors and door handles. You also get a chromed front grille surround and, if you’re interested, a ‘Colour Collection’ badge at the rear. The basic price buys you a 1.8-litre petrol-powered model but there’s also the option of a 2.0-litre D4-D diesel version. Normal Avensis features include an eight-speaker CD sound system with steering wheel controls, air conditioning, a trip computer, multi-adjustable front seats and a steering column that adjusts for both reach and rake. Security is provided by remote central double locking, an alarm and an immobiliser. Avensis sales across Europe are on a huge roll just at the moment and one of the many reasons is that this Toyota looks so much more substantial than many of its rivals. It really does appear at first glance to be half a class bigger again, but the tape measure doesn’t lie and shows the Avensis to be a mite smaller in most key dimensions than a Mondeo. That needn’t matter as long as the car looks good and has a European feel. Hence this Avensis was designed in France and is being marketed solely on this continent.

"Avensis sales across Europe are on a huge roll just at the moment…."

All Avensis petrol engines, including the 1.8 used in the ‘Colour collection’, are sophisticated VVT-i set-ups. This is Toyota speak for variable valve timing system which offers decent torque and fuel economy at low revs and a hefty slug of power at full throttle. With more power than most rivals, the Avensis is surprisingly quick, feeling not only brisk off the mark, but also pleasantly punchy at the top end. Despite its apparent size, the Avensis weighs some 120kg less than a 1.8-litre Mondeo and as a result will nudge an average of 40mpg. The 1.8’s 171g/km CO2 emissions figure is also the best in class and makes the Avensis a tempting choice for company car drivers, even those who have yet to be headhunted or earmarked for the board. Safety has been prioritised with all models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag - a UK first. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. Step from an old Avensis into the cabin of the current car and you’ll spot no significant family resemblance. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin again make the Avensis feel a class up. Better sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise, but to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison. Instead they chose the Lexus LS430 as a benchmark and claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. The Mondeo and the Peugeot 407 were identified as class leaders in the area of steering feel, handling and ride and Toyota have tuned the steering for better feedback. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. One advantage of this is that it reduces intrusion into the luggage bay, the saloon version featuring a 520-litre boot. Overall, the ‘Colour Collection’ package works because the Avensis itself works: why else would sales be soaring? To take that package, effectively slash the best part of £2,000 off it and ‘colour’ it up has to be a job worth doing. Overall, a car that should be on your shopping list in this sector.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis 1.8 range PRICES: £14,545-£16,545 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-10 PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 124mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8 Tourer] (urban) 30.1mpg / (extra urban) 48.7mpg / (combined) 39.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, TRC, VSC, BA, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

TIME FOR T?
The Toyota Avensis has been a big hit on its long term test, primarily because it does the simple things so well…

Some cars are easier to get excited about than others and Toyota’s Avensis is always destined to be one of the others. The Avensis is very good at what it does. Sturdy and dependable in that typically Toyota fashion, it fills the family car void with the minimum of fuss. It’s just not a vehicle that’s destined to have its likeness splashed across magazine covers or pinned to bedroom walls. So why is it then that the key to the Toyota Avensis we’ve been testing has become such a coveted item around the office? Could it be down to the four characters stamped on car’s tailgate? T180.

Some cars are great to look at and utterly sublime to drive but cars of this type tend to fall down when the time comes to fit the family in them, put fuel in them or pay the hefty sum the guy in the dealership wants in exchange for the keys. The kind of cars that people lust after are usually very different from the ones they buy and although our Avensis is no object of desire, when it comes to everyday life it’s a pretty good fit. The T180 diesel engine is the flagship in the Avensis range and the popularity of our long term test car can largely be put down to this installation. It can get a decent shift on if you bury the throttle and flip through the gears with a bit of purpose. 177bhp and an 8.6-second 0-60mph time might be peanuts by the standards of today’s sports saloons or even top line hot hatchbacks but the Avensis side steps the financial penalties associated with such cars through its 46mpg combined cycle fuel economy and 161g/km CO2 emissions. The Toyota isn’t a car you’d take out for a lunchtime blast down some country lanes, the handling isn’t really involving enough for that, but its surge of acceleration is satisfying when overtaking or zipping up to cruising speed and using it isn’t accompanied by a pang of guilt as that fuel gauge lurches south.

"…its all-round competence quickly becomes endearing"

Anyone in our office with a long motorway journey scheduled in over the coming days starts buttering-up the Avensis key holder nice and early. A constant stream of coffee is usually forthcoming along with casual remarks concerning the general excellence of whichever car they plan to offer in exchange. The Avensis excels itself on such trips, the aforementioned muscular power delivery doesn’t go amiss but it’s more the general comfort and refinement, not to mention the manageable fuel bills, that seals the deal. The T180 unit isn’t as hushed as the very best diesels in the medium range sector but it comes close and the Avensis suspension set-up does a good job of soaking up expansion joints. There’s plenty of grip at the front wheels and body control is also surprisingly good. The Avensis dash is extremely solid and the simple control interface helps you get to grips with the various functions in double quick time. The large square buttons on the centre console are all clearly marked and the instruments give-up their information at a glance. You just know that it’s all going to stand the test of time better than the more flamboyant designs and material choices found in rival products but that doesn’t stop you wishing the Avensis interior had more of a spark to go with its undoubted quality. All round practicality is extremely good. It’s easy to find a decent driving position with a reach and rake adjustable wheel and the electrically-adjustable seat. Fold the rear seats down and there’s a 190cm load area to play with. The rear seats don’t fold totally flat and you’ll need to ditch the parcel shelf, but when you’ve done this, it’s apparent that the Avensis is a very capable load carrier. Equipment levels on the Avensis are very generous and particularly so as this is the flagship model in the range. Dual zone climate control and satellite navigation are fitted while the T180 also benefits from a sports styling kit. Like the interior, the exterior lines are far from extrovert and said styling kit is barely worthy of the name but a huge tea tray spoiler and ground-hugging side skirts would hardly tally with the car’s low key approach. The cars we want to drive and the cars we want to own are not always the same thing. The T180 Avensis isn’t a vehicle to capture your heart as soon as you clap eyes on it or slip behind the wheel but as an everyday drive, its all-round competence quickly becomes endearing.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis T180 hatch PRICES: £22,055 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 12E PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.3s / Max Speed 136mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 46.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, VSC, TRC, BA, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

TOY WONDER
Toyota’s Avensis looks as dependable as ever in its latest guise. Steve Walker reports

You can always rely on a Toyota Avensis and the latest model is unlikely to be any exception. Improvements across the board with a particular focus on safety and the environment should go down well with buyers.

Medium range family cars might not be the most enthralling category of vehicle in today’s marketplace but that doesn’t mean that the thousands of motorists who end up behind the wheel of one don’t want some excitement. Whether they’ve shelled out their own money or been handed the keys by their company’s fleet manager, drivers of family saloons and estates are just as eager to be exhilarated as the punter who’s re-mortgaged his house to buy a Lamborghini, maybe more so. The problem is that these large mainstream cars must speak to an almost impossibly broad church. Running costs, build quality, practicality, reliability, all of these essential factors and more have got to be nailed down before designers and engineers can even think about instilling sporty dynamics or concocting a beguiling exterior. Toyota’s Avensis has traditionally done the basics with aplomb. The latest car aims to put the icing on the cake. Toyota is eager to emphasis that this Avensis has been designed to appeal to European tastes. When manufacturers say that, it always leads you to wonder who the previous models were aimed at and it’s certainly safe to say that the old Avensis was typical Toyota. Like any number of the marque’s other efforts, it was eminently reliable and built like a Sumo wrestler’s rocking chair but ever so slightly staid in its design. Created in the South of France and manufactured in the UK at Toyota’s Burnaston plant, today’s Avensis is off to a promisingly European start. Toyota has wheeled out its latest engine technology to power the Avensis. The petrol engines are of the Valvematic configuration which improve efficiency and increase power through an advanced combustion process. There’s a 1.8-litre engine with 145bhp and a 2.0-litre packing 150bhp that can reach 60mph in a swift 9s when fitted to the saloon body. The diesels use the latest generation of Toyota’s tried and tested D-4D technology and comprise a 130bhp 2.0-litre with 310Nm or torque, a 150bhp 2.2-litre with 340Nm and another 2.2-litre with 180bhp and 400Nm. That later engine has some serious firepower behind it and is capable of hitting 60mph in 8.5s. There’s a manual gearbox as standard or the option for petrol buyers of the Multidrive S CVT gearbox which is available with wheel-mounted paddle shifters. The diesels are available with a conventional six speed automatic.

"Today’s model is instantly a more engaging thing to look at than its predecessor…."

The Avensis gets off to a promising start with regard to its driving dynamics. The car rides on MacPherson strut front suspension with a double wishbone arrangement at the rear. Lots of attention has been paid to enhancing the torsional stiffness of the car and boosting its resistance to body roll. Today’s model is instantly a more engaging thing to look at than its predecessor. Can it rival the likes of Ford’s Mondeo, Vauxhall’s Insignia, Mazda’s 6 and the Honda Accord in the fashion stakes? That’s always going to be a matter of opinion but Toyota has achieved a suitably sleek shape for both saloon and Tourer estate models. At the front, diamond headlamps smear dramatically back in to the front wings and the chrome-ringed grille sits above a large central air intake. This Toyota is 50mm longer than the previous model and is wider by the same amount with a lengthy wheelbase of 2,700mm. This all adds up to a generously proportioned cabin and a good-sized boot tagging along behind. In the Tourer model, cargo rails help to keep unruly loads in check and the seats have a one-touch folding mechanism. The Avensis is available with a sizable haul of equipment that includes dual-zone air-conditioning, automatic headlamps, rain-sensing wipers and cruise control. Other high tech additions include a touch screen satellite navigation system, keyless entry and start technology and an 11-speaker stereo with a 10Gb hard drive. The Tourer model can also be ordered with a panoramic glass roof. From a safety perspective, the car looks extremely well appointed with seven airbags and active headrests featuring on every model. VSC+ stability control is available which can make steering inputs and apply selective braking to pull the car out of a slide and there’s the option of the AFS Adaptive Front lighting System for improved visibility at night. Toyota even offers ACC Adaptive Cruise Control that maintains a set speed and distance from the car in front when cruising. Style and driving enjoyment are great but running costs are where most sales battles are won and lost in the medium range marketplace. Toyota has been hard at work minimising the cost of running an Avensis and the figures make impressive reading. 41mpg and 163g/km emissions from the 1.8-litre petrol engine is a decent showing but the 2.0-litre diesel trumps it emphatically with a 55mpg average and a tax-friendly CO2 reading of 134g/km. This Toyota achieves its strong performance at the pumps in part through its slippery shape. The saloon has a drag coefficient of 0.28Cd thanks to its sleek bodywork and specially designed flush under floor. All Avensis models with automatic gearboxes are also equipped with an ECO driving indicator that shows the driver how efficient their driving style is. On manual cars, this is replaced by a shift indicator that advises on the best time to shift up or down. Toyota isn’t going to alienate any of its existing customers with the latest version of this car and we all know it’s got a lot of those. The design builds on the solid foundations laid down by the previous model and its attempts to bring a little extra sparkle to the look and feel of the package appear to have been successful. The increased focus on the environment and safety in the latest Avensis should pay dividends and Toyota has also introduced a raft of new technologies both in the engine bay and elsewhere on the car. The medium range market is closely fought and highly populated with buying decisions often coming down to the smallest detail. Worryingly for its rivals, this car seems to have got the details right.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis range PRICES: £15,760-£24,570 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-12 PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 9.0s / Max Speed 127mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8 saloon] (urban) 33.2mpg/ (extra urban) 52.3mpg / (combined) 43.5mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: seven airbags, active head rests, ABS, EBD, VSC+, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4695/1810/1480 [saloon]

SAFETY VALVE
Toyota’s latest Avensis is aiming to retain its core attributes while injecting a little more sparkle into proceedings. Steve Walker checks out the 1.8 petrol model.

The Toyota Avensis has always focused on being solid and dependable and the latest version follows that familiar theme. In 1.8-litre petrol form, it delivers high levels of comfort and refinement with good performance given the engine size and strong economy. Build quality is first rate, equipment levels are high and the interior is neatly designed. When Toyota finally gets a handle on design flair and handling verve, it’ll be unstoppable.

Toyota freely admits that its second generation Avensis was somewhat dull. It’s a refreshingly open approach at a time when most manufacturers would rather put their hands up to a spate of arson attacks on orphanages than concede that one of their products is anything less than wonderful. Admitting your mistakes can often be a first step on the road to rectifying them which is partly why hopes were reasonably high for the third generation Avensis. Here we look at that car in entry-level 1.8-litre Valvematic petrol form. It’s not the most obvious point in the range to seek out an injection of charisma but it is a version that will account for quite a chunk of overall sales. Toyota’s strengths are well known. It builds practical, functional cars to very high standards of fit and finish, instilling them all with its trademark dauntless reliability in the process. What it struggles to do is to design the sort of vehicle that has prospective buyers swooning with admiration in the showroom and distracted pedestrians tripping over their dogs when one passes them in the street. If Toyota could do that, it’d be borderline unbeatable. The hope with today’s Avensis is that it can nudge the marque’s dull but worthy medium range family car model line in a more desirable direction. The car is built in the UK at the Burnaston plant which deserves to carry some weight with buyers over here and in the shape of the 1.8-litre Valvematic unit, it has an engine that’s very much of the times. The 1.8-litre petrol engine acts as the entry point to the Avensis range in the UK. It employs Toyota’s latest generation petrol engine technology which is known as Valvematic. This is a progression from the previous generation dual VVT-i powerplants because as well as varying the valve timing according to throttle inputs, it can also adjust the valve lift. The end result is greater efficiency manifested in better fuel economy and more power.

"The Avensis is another example of Toyota doing what it does well…."

This 1.8-litre engine develops an impressive 147bhp and can sprint from zero to sixty in 9.4s. Most notable however is its torque, which gives far better flexibility at lower to medium engine speeds than Toyota’s less advanced VVT-i powerplants did. The engine sounds sweet enough and doesn’t become harsh if you do hold onto the gears. Motorway refinement is also strong. The engine is certainly good enough to raise questions over the need for the 152bhp 2.0-litre Valvematic engine that sits above it in the range. If you’ve experience of other Avensis models, you won’t get into this third generation one expecting to embark on a rollercoaster ride of thrills and exhilaration. Toyota’s past efforts have been competent from a driving perspective and little more but we can state from the outset here that this Avensis is something more. I’m willing to push the boat right out and declare it ‘extremely competent’. That’s praise indeed. At least, it is for a Toyota saloon. The Avensis serves up an assured ride and maintains its composure even if you corner it fairly quickly. It will fidget a little over minor surface imperfections and the seats could be more supportive but this is a genuinely comfortable car. The steering has a nice weight and the wheel is well shaped but there’s little feedback and a lack of accuracy from the helm. The Avensis is neither one of the best nor worst handlers in the sector and that middle of the road position is a step forward for Toyota. As a tool for commuting and devouring motorway marathons, however, it’s much nearer the top of the pile. Much of the desirability that Toyota has set its sights on achieving with the Avensis is rooted in the way a car looks. There’s no doubt that Toyota’s designers have been allowed to let their hair down a little but, at risk of overplaying the metaphor, it looks like the top brass have drawn the line at dreadlocks and bubble perms. The car still plays it very safe. The shallow side windows, defined shoulder line and raked windscreen give some purpose and there are nice touches, particularly around the rear of the saloon version, but the unusual headlamps and deep grille still need work. Inside, the cabin is sober but predictably well put together. There are some upmarket finishes and the controls layout is as easy to fathom as you could wish for. Everything works and feels like it will continue to do so for a long time to come. The Avensis has resisted the trend amongst large family cars to indulge in serious middle age spread between generations. It’s scarcely any bigger than the MKII car. This means that it lags behind the sector’s most spacious offerings but there’s still room for a couple of six-footers in the rear and the boot is nothing to be sniffed at. The car uses fully independent suspension all-round and Toyota has assembled a fine line-up of transmission options, the 1.8-litre engine being offered with the six-speed manual or a 7-speed CVT ‘box that’s dubbed Multidrive S. There are four Avensis trim levels but as a 1.8-litre Valvematic customer, your choice will be limited to entry-level T2 and the second rung TR. The basic package includes air-conditioning, a 6-speaker stereo system, electric heated mirrors, an electronic parking brake and remote central locking. The TR is the most popular trim level in the whole range and it adds 17" alloys wheels, front fog lights, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control with a speed limiter, electric rear windows and an AUX input for an MP3 player. Toyota isn’t offering a hatchback, so buyers can either choose the saloon or the Tourer estate at a premium of just under £1,000. All models have VSC+ stability control and an array of airbags. The medium range family car sector has been losing customers to premium range compact executive models for some time now so there’s no surprise that Toyota is following the lead of the market’s other major players in aiming to push the Avensis upmarket. There’s certainly plenty of equipment and advanced features but Toyota has resisted the urge to increase the price accordingly, keeping the car at similar levels to its predecessor. The advanced combustion system on Toyota’s Valvematic engines comes with major cost benefits. The 1.8-litre unit achieves economy or 43.5mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 154g/km. This marks it out as one of the most efficient engines of its size in the sector and will go down a storm with the fleet customers that constitute the lion’s share of the medium range market. It’s true that close to 80 per cent of all Avensis models will find their way into the hands of company car users and Toyota is at great pains to emphasise what a cost-effective product the Avensis will be for fleet customers. Strong residual values and long service intervals will work in conjunction with the efficient engines to maximise affordability. The Toyota’s Avensis has always been a car that you bought with your head while your heart wasn’t looking and despite attempts to instil the latest model with some additional pizzazz, that seems unlikely to change. The Avensis drives competently and is extremely well put together, while the Valvematic technology gives Toyota’s petrol engines a real edge in efficiency over most rival units. In 1.8-litre form particularly, it’s a car that’s well-suited to the number-crunching fleet managers who green light most purchases in the medium range sector but private buyers spending their own money might want a little extra excitement. The Avensis is another example of Toyota doing what it does well. Even in 1.8-litre petrol form, the car gets the basics right and would serve ably as a comfortable, reliable, affordable family car. The fun factor is still sadly lacking but by playing to its strengths, the Avensis will persuade buyers who keep their heads screwed on and their hearts on a tight leash.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis 1.8 Valvematic PRICES: £15,760-£18,450 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 154-157g/km PERFORMANCE: [saloon] 0-60mph 9.4s / Top Speed 124mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [saloon] 33.2 (urban), 52.3 (extra urban), 43.5 (combined) STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, EBD, BA, VSC+, ESS. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm [saloon] 4695/1810/1480

SLOW BURNER
In diesel form Toyota’s dependable Avensis is at its most cost-effective. Steve Walker reports.

Excitement, flair, unbridled passion these qualities can be overrated in a car. Yes you did read that correctly, just bear with me on this one. There’s no question that beautiful, fast cars are the ones that motorists yearn to own but novelties can wear off. Once you’ve had your spine compacted by the ‘sports’ suspension, fed the engine’s insatiable appetite for fuel with your hard earned cash and received your thousandth disdainful sneer from a jealous pedestrian, a car that’s comfortable, economical and unobtrusive might suddenly look very appealing. Toyota’s Avensis revels in just such a steady-Eddy image and it’s never steadier than with a D-4D diesel engine.

Toyotas tend to be slow burners. They might lack the wow-factor that’s evident in some rivals but try living with one for a month or so and the practicality and depth of engineering usually shines through. That didn’t stop Toyota striving to up its game by instilling some extra sparkle into its third generation Avensis. We’re told that the car has ‘athletic styling’ and ‘dynamic handling’ as well as the more prosaic attributes we’ve come to expect. A thrilling Toyota Avensis is a prospect that will have family saloon rivals mightily worried. A number of choices are presented to the Avensis diesel customer. The entry-level option is the D-4D 130 which serves up 124bhp from its 2.0-litre capacity. Next comes the 2.2-litre D-4D 150 with 148bhp and the 2.2 D-CAT 150 engine with the same power output and Toyota’s advanced particulate filter technology. Topping the line-up is the 175bhp 2.2-litre D-CAT 180. All the engines use the same four-cylinder common-rail injection configuration and all can cover the 0-60mph sprint in under 10 seconds. Even the D-4D 130 engine can deliver 310Nm or torque and it does so all the way from 1,800 to 2,400rpm. It pulls powerfully through the gears and its 9.7s 0-60mph acceleration coupled with a 124mph top speed should be enough for most. Choose the D-CAT 180 unit and there’s an 8.5s sprint and a 137mph top speed which is quick for a family saloon with a diesel engine.

"The diesel engined models are a particularly strong suit with their low running costs and muscular performance."

Toyota announced on unveiling this Avensis that "agility is nothing without stability". The Avensis has always felt a stable car and the latest model continues to emphatically tick that box but agility? The steering isn’t as pointy or communicative as the best handling models in the medium range marketplace and the Avensis never feels quite as light on its feet through corners or when changing direction quickly. What it does do is serve up a comfortable ride and a relaxed experience on the motorway where the lack of cabin noise is particularly noteworthy. The diesel engines are less hushed at lower speeds, particularly before they’ve had the change to warm up but refinement generally is first rate. Does the latest Avensis have the visual drama to set hearts aflutter? The shallow side windows, defined shoulder line and steeply raked windscreen give some purpose and there are nice touches, particularly around the rear of the saloon version, but the unusual headlamps and deep grille still need work. Inside, the cabin is sober but predictably well put together. There are some upmarket finishes and the controls layout is as easy to fathom as you could wish for. The centre armrest with its sliding lid and generous storage space beneath is very well executed and the Tourer estate model features a load area that’s cleverly thought out. In general, everything works and feels like it will continue to do so for a long time to come. The Avensis has resisted the trend amongst large family cars to indulge in serious middle age spread between generations. It’s scarcely any bigger than the MKII car. This means that it lags behind the sector’s most spacious offerings but there’s still room for a couple of six-footers in the rear and the boot is nothing to be sniffed at. There’s 543-litres of luggage capacity on offer in the Tourer and that only drops to 509-litres in the saloon. There are four Avensis trim levels; entry-level T2, the second rung TR, then T4 and T-Spirit. The basic package includes air-conditioning, a 6-speaker stereo system, electric heated mirrors, an electronic parking brake and remote central locking. The TR is the most popular trim level in the whole range and it adds 17" alloys wheels, front fog lights, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control with a speed limiter, electric rear windows and an AUX input for an MP3 player. Toyota isn’t offering a hatchback, so buyers can either choose the saloon or the Tourer estate at a premium of just under £1,000. All models have clever VSC+ stability control which as well as selectively braking individual wheels can actually steer the car to correct a skid. The medium range family car sector has been losing customers to premium range compact executive models for some time now so there’s no surprise that Toyota is following the lead of the market’s other major players in aiming to push the Avensis upmarket. There’s certainly plenty of equipment and advanced features but Toyota has resisted the urge to increase the price accordingly, keeping the car at similar levels to its predecessor. The Avensis showcases Toyota’s Optimal Drive technology, an umbrella term for a whole series of innovations designed to improve fuel economy and emissions levels. As a whole, the Avensis diesel engines emit 10 per cent less CO2 than the units in the previous generation model and are right up amongst the cleanest units in the class. The D-4D 130 returns 134g/km and economy of over 55mpg. Even the powerful D-CAT 180 engine can achieve 157g/km and 48mpg. It’s true that close to 80 per cent of all Avensis models will find their way into the hands of company car users and Toyota is at great pains to emphasise what a cost-effective product the Avensis will be for fleet customers. Strong residual values and long service intervals will work in conjunction with the efficient engines to maximise affordability. Toyota’s Avensis is a mature proposition that’s been improved in most major areas compared to the previous generation car. The diesel engined models are a particularly strong suit with their low running costs and muscular performance. Buyers seeking a sharp driving experience might be disappointed but virtually everywhere else, the big Toyota does a commendable job. Despite Toyota’s best efforts, the latest Avensis isn’t a car that schoolboys will have plastered across their bedroom walls, it’s not even one that’s going to captivate middle age motorists when they see it in the showroom. There are certainly more exciting cars, there are more exciting medium range family cars but we’d still advise you to give the Avensis a chance. It’s comfortable, superbly built, economical and safe with some refreshingly practical design thrown in. In diesel form, the case gets stronger still and if you’re buying a long term ownership proposition rather than a quick thrill, it stands comparison with the top contenders.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis Diesel PRICES: £16,540-£24,570 – on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 7 CO2 EMISSIONS: 134-160g/km PERFORMANCE: [D-CAT 180] 0-60mph 8.5s / Top Speed 137mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [D-CAT 180] 38.2 (urban), 56.5 (extra urban), 47.9 (combined) STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: ABS, EBD, BA, VSC+, ESS. WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/heightmm [saloon] 4695/1810/1480

THE ULTIMATE COMPANY CAR?
What really matters when you’re choosing a company car? Jonathan Crouch reckons Toyota’s Avensis T180 gets it about right. He’s been living with one long term to test the theory out…

The things that add up to the ultimate company car are very different to those of the ultimate car. Low running costs, green emissions, impressive economy and classy cruising ability take the place of power and prestige. Which means that just on company car criteria, Toyota’s Avensis T180 might just be the car that business users – and their accountants – have always dreamed of. Our long term test has revealed the truth.

We’ve been running the car now for nearly six months, having chosen it in recognition of the increasing number of company car sales Toyota is these days achieving amongst business user-choosers. No, the Avensis isn’t as quite as sharp a handler on twisting B-roads as, say, a Mondeo or a Peugeot 407. But the truth is that, by and large, most business users don’t do the bulk of their mileage on twisting B roads. Endless motorways are the preferred habitat of this kind of car. And here, the Toyota has few peers. The T180 variant is the flagship of the range and, priced from £22,055, isn’t cheap. Still, if you can be satisfied with 126bhp rather than 175bhp and a slightly lower level of equipment, an otherwise pretty identical Avensis D-4D can be yours for less than £16,000. Mind you, if the company’s paying, what the heck. And the T180 is a pretty impressive piece of kit. After all, how many cars can you think of that can accelerate from rest in sixty in just 8.3 seconds on the way to 136mph yet still average around 50mpg on a regular basis? Answers on a postcard please. What really sells this car however, is its inherent quality. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up.

"What really sells this is its inherent quality….."

Effective sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise and to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison when developing this Avensis. Instead they chose the super-luxury Lexus LS saloon as a benchmark and, as a result, can claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. Toyota’s efforts on the handling front are, as I’ve suggested, not quite as effective. This never feels like a car that you want to drive just for the fun of it. Still, that’s not what it’s about. This is something you can sink back into at the end of a hard day and enjoy the refinement and, particularly, the ride quality being highlights of the driving experience. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the old Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. One advantage of this is that it reduces intrusion into the luggage bay, the saloon version featuring a 520-litre boot. Despite the recent tweaks, the neat exterior styling remains a little forgettable. The nose features the Toyota family face and the bonnet is very compact. Viewed in profile, the stub nose and boot are dominated by the huge sleekly domed cabin, the high waistline giving an impression of rigid solidity. It’s almost as if Toyota were overanxious to underline the Avensis’ new-found gravitas. Safety has been prioritised with all Avensis models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. If you’re convinced by all this and, like us, want an Avensis, then you’re going to need a few more arguments to use with your company’s fleet purchasing Manager. OK, so here goes. Like its predecessor, this car is the cheapest car in its class to run – for all kinds of reasons. Take residual values: at around 35%, they’re around 7-8% better than Ford, Vauxhall or even VW. Take insurance: in some cases, you’ll find you’re two groups better off. Take servicing: over 70,000 miles this car will spend only half the amount of time in the workshop that a Mondeo or a Passat would. Take accident repair: in a front-end shunt, this car will be 55% less costly to fix and 65% less costly in a rear-end shunt. Take company car tax: an Avensis driver will be between £300 and £1,000 a year better off than with any other rivals. Take fuel economy: no other car in the class can beat it. Even the tyre choice makes the rubber 23% cheaper to replace. Does it all add up to a package you could consider as ‘The Ultimate Company Car’? Many will consider that it does. On paper at least, the Avensis T180 is car the corporates can’t ignore. If rival manufacturers would, like us, take the trouble to live with one, perhaps they wouldn’t be so continually surprised by this model’s sales figures.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis T180 range PRICES: £22,055 - £23,205 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 12E PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.3s / Max Speed 136mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 46.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, VSC, TRC, BA, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

AFFORDABLE LUXURY
You’re unlikely to go far wrong with the purchase of a Toyota Avensis and the TR models ensure the value proposition is a bit of all right. Steve Walker reports

Well, built, refined and comfortable to drive, the Toyota Avensis may not be the most involving of driver’s cars or the most endearing thing to look at but there’s no doubt that it gets the basics right. The TR derivatives chuck the kitchen sink at the car in terms of equipment but without bumping up the price too violently. The result? An overwhelmingly sensible destination for your family car budget.

It’s common knowledge that the medium range family car sector where the likes of Ford’s Mondeo, Vauxhall’s Vectra and Toyota’s Avensis compete is underpinned by fleet sales. Business buys these vehicles in bulk so its massed ranks of sales reps and area managers can get out on the roads and keep the balance sheets ticking over. Sales to fleets are integral to the fortunes of cars like the Toyota Avensis but that isn’t to say that manufacturers aren’t keen to add as many private buyers as they can to their order books. That’s why we see ventures like the Avensis TR, a well specified, keenly-priced model that’s been created to give Toyota’s medium ranger extra lustre under the showroom lights. The nation’s fleet managers buy in bulk and they don’t pay list price. They run the cars for two or three years then they sell them on. Their primary concerns as they sit behind their desks feverishly tapping away at their calculator key pads are costs - purchase costs, running costs, depreciation costs. Fleet customers will take the most cost-effective car on the table every time. Private buyers are different. Spending their own money, they want a car that’s affordable and reliable but they are more likely to prioritise performance, comfort and luxury. They want a car with the surprise and delight features that make it feel special and render it enjoyable to use and live with. Models like the Avensis TR are packed with this kind of stuff. Toyota offer up a choice of three engines with the Avensis TR. The 129bhp 1.8-litre VVT-i unit turns in modest performance figures (0-60mph in 10.3s and a 124mph top speed) and needs to be revved quite hard to achieve brisk progress. It is a smooth and quiet powerplant that makes sense if you like to cruise along enjoying the impressive ride and refinement of the Avensis. The diesels are better if you can afford them. The 130bhp 2.0-litre D4-D (0-60mph in 10.6s and 124mph top speed) is slower than the petrol but its performance is more accessible, the powerful torque giving punchy responses low down in the rev range. The range-topper is the 150bhp 2.2-litre D-4D (9.3s 0-60mph and 130mph top speed) and this unit is stronger still with real urge for overtaking.

"A well specified, keenly-priced model that’s been created to give Toyota’s medium ranger extra lustre under the showroom lights…."

The D-4D diesel engines aren’t the most refined in the sector but the sound insulation on the Avensis is out of the top draw. Toyota didn’t choose the most refined car in the class as a comparison when developing this Avensis. Instead they chose the Lexus LS luxury saloon as a benchmark and, as a result, can claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. Toyota’s efforts on the handling front are not quite as effective. This never feels like a car that you want to drive just for the fun of it. Still, that’s not what it’s about. This is something you can sink back into at the end of a hard day and enjoy, the refinement and, particularly, the ride quality being highlights of the driving experience. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. Despite some recent tweaks, the neat exterior styling of the Avensis remains a little forgettable. The nose features the Toyota family face and the bonnet is very compact. Viewed in profile, the stub nose and boot are dominated by the huge sleekly domed cabin, the high waistline giving an impression of rigid solidity. What really sells this car is its inherent quality. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up. Factor in the lofty equipment levels of the TR models and the upmarket impression is magnified. Specification is the nuts and bolts of the Avensis TR’s compelling value proposition. Buyers get the basics like alloy wheels, front fog lamps, cruise control, climate control, rain-sensing wipers and a leather trimmed steering wheel. You also get the intriguingly-named dusk-sensing headlamps but thankfully, the implication that these automatic lights can’t identify dawn has no basis. On top of all this, the TR model adds an advanced full map satellite navigation system with a 6.5" touch screen display. There’s the choice of three bodystyles with the Avensis TR and Toyota is keen to emphasise the fact that whether you go for the saloon, hatch or tourer estate, you’ll be getting one of the sector’s best choices on grounds of sheer value for money. Take the 2.0-litre D-4D TR model. Its £18,545 asking price is slightly up on equivalent versions of Volkswagen’s Passat, Vauxhall’s Vectra and Renault’s Laguna but only the Laguna has sat nav and it lacks cruise and climate control while all the others do without the automatic wipers and headlamps. The equivalent Ford Mondeo misses out on the wipers and headlamps as well but it’s more expensive than the Avensis TR and once again, there’s no sat nav. Although the Peugeot 407 has the full complement of features, it comes in at £300 more than the Avensis. The D-4D diesels do the fuel economy thing very effectively with the more powerful 2.2-litre car capable of averaging 48mpg and the 2.0-litre alternative upping that figure to 51mpg. With CO2 emissions for the two at 156g/km and 146g/km respectively, the running costs should be pleasantly low. The 1.8-litre alternative returns 39mpg on the combined cycle and produces a less impressive 171g/km so it will be less cost effective but there is this car’s lower purchase price to be taken account of. Residual values for medium range models tend to be fairly catastrophic primarily because of the regular influx of discarded fleet vehicles that emerge on to the market annually to push prices down. High equipment levels like those on the Avensis TR will make it a more desirable used purchase compared to the poverty spec fleet contingent but don’t expect the car’s clutch of extras to protect it from some spectacular depreciation. Private buyers who may previously have overlooked the Avensis have reason to give the car far more careful consideration now that the TR models are installed in the range. The value for money angle is sewn up comprehensively by the inclusion of satellite navigation on top of the generous standard specification for a modest increase in price. With the refinement and comfort of the basic Avensis package plus some capable engine choices, the TR has plenty to recommend it. There’s no doubt that the Avensis lags behind the class best if you value excitement. Both in the way it looks and the way it drives, Toyota’s medium ranger lacks the charisma of some of its key rivals. That said, the smooth ride, and hushed noise levels in the cabin give the Avensis a very different kind of appeal with excellent build quality and Toyota’s famed reliability ensuring that this is a car you can have faith in over the long term.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis TR range PRICES: £17,545-£20,045 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 9 PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.3s / Max Speed 130mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

ESTATE OF MIND
Toyota's Avensis Tourer Makes A Compulsive Case If You Buying An Estate Car With Both Head & Heart. Jonathan Crouch Reports

Car buyers broadly fall into two distinct categories. Those who buy with their heads and those who do so with their hearts. Buyers of estate cars like this Toyota Avensis Tourer you would expect to fall into the first category. And you would be wrong.

Today’s estate customer is less likely to get a tape measure or a calculator out of his or her pocket than a pair of sunglasses. They value the extra versatility and appreciate cheap running costs but both are usually less important than the fashion statement being made. After all, if space is all you want, you don’t buy an estate car anyway: you buy an MPV. Toyota found this out to its cost with the first generation Avensis, a model range boasting an estate version of such low profile that many didn’t even realise it existed. No matter that it was the cheapest, most economical, easiest to repair, least expensive to insure estate car in its class: buyers didn’t care – and sales suffered. This state of affairs couldn’t be allowed to continue with the post-2003 MK2 line-up, given that around 2,000 Avensis Tourer station wagons roll out of the British Burnaston factory every month in search of European buyers. So we’ve seen a radical rethink – and a radically different car as a result, improved further with a neat facelift and the addition of some powerful diesel engines to the line-up.

"There are perhaps more exciting, more passionate estate cars but none make more sense…"

It’s no fashion icon, but there is a quality look and feel to the product which will please Mondeo and Vectra customers as well as possibly appealing to a few of the BMW and Audi buyers shopping in the next class up. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a well appointed cabin make the car feel a class up. Indeed, you could put Lexus logos on the thing and, although you might not be that excited by the product, you probably wouldn’t think the badge out of place in terms of quality of engineering. With that achieved, it might now be fair for Toyota to expect that some of their more traditionally practical virtues would begin to come into their own. So what are these? Well, since despite the trendy name, this is an estate car, we’d better start at the sharp end. It’s significant to point out that this Toyota is still shorter than its rivals – around 100mm shorter than a Mondeo for example. Which leads one to worry as to whether the Tourer’s carrying capacity is going to be up to very much. As it happens, it’s not bad. There’s 520 litres of space on offer with the rear seats in place, rising to 1500 litres when they’re folded flat: good enough to get close to the class leaders in other words, if not quite to match them. A section of the load floor can be lifted to reveal a hidden storage tray, big enough to accommodate the luggage cover when not in use. An integrated partition net can be added to this cover to stop shopping bags crashing into garden centre produce and vica versa. Moreover, the luggage floor itself can be folded to create separate storage compartments, while tie-downs and shopping hooks are there to ensure that with loads both large and small, delicate items can be carried safely. Engine-wise, there isn’t the choice you will find elsewhere in the Avensis range, though all of the major bases are covered. Petrol customers can choose either a 129bhp 1.8-litre VVT-i unit or a 147bhp 2.0-litre direct injection VVT-i powerplant. The VVT-i set-up is Toyota’s variable valve timing system which offers decent torque and fuel economy at low revs and a hefty slug of power at full throttle. A 124bhp 2.0-litre D-4D diesel will have particular appeal to Tourer customers. Above this, Toyota have 148 and 177bhp 2.2-litre D-4D units. Safety has been prioritised with all models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. All models now also come with vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TRC) and brake assist (BA) to boost the already impressive Avensis safety credentials. Better sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise, but to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison. Instead they chose the Lexus LS430 as a benchmark and claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. Ford’s Mondeo was identified as a class leader in the area of steering feel, handling and ride and Toyota claim to have tuned the steering for even better feedback. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. Tourer prices start at £16,545 and trim levels depend on your choice between: Colour Collection, T2, TR, T Spirit and T180. All come with air conditioning, an alarm immobiliser, power windows and mirrors, ABS and an excellent quality stereo system. The plushest TR, T Spirit and T180 levels also include a colour screen satallite navigation system. All of which leaves only a few practical points. This car is the cheapest car in its class to run – for all kinds of reasons. Take residual values: at around 35%: they’re around 7-8% better than Ford, Vauxhall or even VW. Take insurance: in some cases, you’ll find you’re two groups better off. Take servicing: over 70,000 miles this car will spend only half the amount of time in the workshop that a Mondeo or a Passat would. Take accident repair: in a front-end shunt, this car will be 55% less costly to fix and 65% less costly in a rear-end shunt. Take company car tax: an Avensis driver will be between £300 and £1,000 a year better off than with any other rivals. Take fuel economy: no other car in the class can beat it. Even the tyre choice makes the rubber 23% cheaper to replace. As we said at the outset, all this may not mean much to today’s more liberal estate car buyer – though maybe it should. Just as well then that the Avensis Tourer has other weapons in its armoury. There are perhaps more exciting, more passionate estate cars you can buy in this sector but there are none that make more sense.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis Tourer range PRICES: £16,545-£23,205 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-9 CO2 EMISSIONS: 155-221g/km PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.5s / Max Speed 121mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8] (urban) 30.1mpg / (extra urban) 48.7mpg / (combined) 39.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Nine airbags / ABS / EBD / VSC / TRC / BA WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4700 / 1760 / 1525mm

A BETTER RETURN ON YOUR INVESTMENT
The Avensis D-4D Diesel Range Shows Toyota At The Top Of Their Game. Andy Enright Indulges In Some Inconspicuous Consumption

You probably don’t know Alan Phillips. I don’t and I’m glad for it, for here is a man of quite maniac zeal, a man who worships at the grail of fuel consumption. Seated comfortably behind the wheel of a Toyota Avensis 2.0-litre D-4D diesel, this eccentric chap completed the 839 mile journey between John O’ Groats and Land’s End on 50 litres of fuel, averaging an almost unbelievable 75mpg. To be fair to Mr Phillips, his quest did raise a lot of money for the Children In Need charity, but nonetheless it’s an arcane task that involves some esoteric driving techniques. You or I are more likely to see something like 48mpg.

This figure is still something many of us would associate with a supermini or citycar rather than a hefty medium-range family saloon like the Avensis. Doors that thunk shut like bank vaults and interiors that feature more airbags than you could count on one hand don’t normally record class-leading fuel consumption figures but the Avensis D-4D seems to defy the laws of physics. How can a car return fuel figures more akin to a Smart car and at the same time be built so tough that it can attain the highest EuroNCAP safety score to date, racking up some 34 points and a maximum five-star rating? Only Toyota’s engineers can answer that one. The Avensis D-4D range encompasses saloon, liftback and ‘Tourer’ estate versions and opens at £15,545. Three D-4D variants are offered, a smaller 2.0-litre 124bhp ‘130’ unit, a 148bhp 2.2-litre ‘150’ option ands a 177bhp ‘T180’ range-topper. The 2.0-litre powerplant delivers a decent slug of torque – 300Nm to be precise - and performance is reasonable, the Avensis hitting 60mph in 10.3 seconds before running on to a top speed of 124mph. The 2.2-litre D-4D is more advanced as well as being more powerful. It pumps out 310Nm in ‘150’ guise, delivers a 9.3s 0-60mph time and can hit a top speed of 130mph. It’s a second generation common-rail diesel which means improvements have been made to the combustion process which produce greater refinement and efficiency even than the first generation common-rail units. Fuel economy for this larger powerplant is almost identical to that of the 2.0-litre option. Emissions figures of between 146 and 161g/km for all three D-4D engines are backed up by the added bonus of Euro4 emissions compliance (which knocks 3 per cent off benefit in kind taxation) meaning that the Avensis D-4D models are bound to be popular with fleet managers. Whole life costs are admirably low due to a combination of low insurance ratings, reduced servicing time, competitive parts pricing and sturdy residual values. In fact, Toyota reckon that some 60 per cent of all Avensis sales will go to fleet customers.

"The fuel economy figures are something many of us would associate with a supermini or citycar rather than a hefty medium-range family saloon like the Avensis"

Trim levels depend on your choice between five options: Colour Collection, T2, TR, T Spirit and T180. All come with air conditioning, an alarm immobiliser, power windows and mirrors and ABS. The plushest TR, T Spirit and T180 levels also include a colour screen satellite navigation system. Safety has been prioritised with all models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. Step from an old Avensis into the cabin of the current car and you’ll spot no significant family resemblance. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up. Better sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise, but to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison. Instead they chose the Lexus LS430 as a benchmark and claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. The Mondeo and the Peugeot 407 were identified as class leaders in the area of steering feel, handling and ride and Toyota have tuned the steering for better feedback. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. One advantage of this is that it reduces intrusion into the luggage bay, the saloon version featuring a 520-litre boot. Even Toyota anoraks may have trouble recognising the latest facelifted Avensis from its post-2003 predecessor but peer closely at the revised front and rear ends and improvements begin to become apparent. The engineers have also been hard at work on improving the suspension and steering systems used across the range, improving the ride (which didn’t need much enhancement) and the handling (which really did). Otherwise, it’s pretty much as you were. The Toyota Avensis D-4D may be understated but it has a great deal going for it. It feels reassuringly solid and the diesel engines have some spirit to them as well as the predictably excellent fuel economy and emissions showing. Although the car scores well on almost every conceivable objective measure, it still lacks the bold styling or edgy personality of some of its more high profile rivals. Still, those who choose to overlook the Avensis D-4D line up may be missing out on the most well rounded contender in this corner of the market. More well rounded even than Alan Phillips? We’ll leave that up to you to decide.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis D-4D diesel range PRICES: £15,545-£23,205 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-11 PERFORMANCE: [2.0] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 124mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [2.0] (combined) 51.4mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

TOYOTA ASSUMES POLE POSITION
We’ve Become Accustomed To Some Excellent 2.0-Litre D4-D Diesel Engines In The Avensis But With The 2.2-litre D-4D Units, Toyota Have Unleashed Something Even Better. Andy Enright Reports On The D-4D 150 Version…

What a difference 200 cubic centimetres makes. We’ve become quite accustomed to Toyota’s excellent 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, but endowing each of its four cylinders with another 50cc of capacity has changed the very nature of the car. Whereas before the D-4D was bought by those sporting their sensible shoes with pride, it has now metamorphosed into an engine that serves up a healthy dose of fun on the side.

The 2.2-litre D-4D unit we’re looking at here comes sporting a hefty 148bhp but Toyota’s engineers have also developed a 175bhp T180 ‘Clean Power’ version with a whole host of technological innovations. Both engines are produced by Toyota Motor Industries Poland, are Euro IV-compliant and are ushered in alongside upgrades to suspension settings and an improved refinement package, making the car a far more agile handler. A six-speed manual gearbox also makes its debut. The main focus for volume sales is the 148bhp engine we check out here, priced from £19,045 for saloon or hatch, or £1,000 more if you want the Tourer estate. With a combined fuel economy figure of 47.1 mpg and emissions of 157g/km, it’s certainly affordable to run, the combined fuel economy figure being only 4mpg lower than that of the 130bhp 2.0-litre D-4D car. Performance is in significantly better however, the larger-capacity car slashing nearly one and half seconds from the sprint to 60mph, registering a brisk 9.1 second performance over the yardstick dash. A top speed of 130mph means that normal motorway cruising speeds should be both relaxed and fuel-efficient. The all-aluminium construction of this engine keeps weight down, helping the car’s handling balance and further improving fuel efficiency. Even Toyota anoraks may have trouble recognising the latest facelifted Avensis from its post-2003 predecessor but peer closely at the revised front and rear ends and improvements begin to become apparent. The engineers have also been hard at work on improving the suspension and steering systems used across the range, improving the ride (which didn’t need much enhancement) and the handling (which really did). Otherwise, it’s pretty much as you were.

"Smooth doesn’t even begin to describe it…"

Both 2.2-litre D-4D Avensis models feature an improved set of Noise, Vibration and Harshness countermeasures. Already renowned as one of the most refined cars in its class, the Avensis now augments this with an acoustic windscreen, thicker bonnet insulation, extra sound deadening material in the engine compartment and a thicker passenger cell floor and tunnel silencer. Given that Toyota initially benchmarked the Avensis’ sound insulation against the Lexus LS430, it’s easy to imagine quite how hushed motorway cruising is now. As well as being quieter, the latest Avensis is also a little lighter on its feet thanks to the front anti-roll bar being beefed up by 20 per cent. The front shock absorbers have also been pumping iron while the power steering pump is stronger for a quicker steering response. The result is a car that corners more keenly with less roll and better all round body composure. Trim levels are angled in this model towards the plusher end of the Avensis trim spectrum as you’d expect from prices in the £18,000-£22,000 bracket. All come with air conditioning, an alarm immobiliser, power windows and mirrors, ABS and an excellent quality stereo system. All models now also come with vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TRC) and brake assist (BA) to boost the already impressive Avensis safety credentials. Safety has been prioritised with all models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag which, at the time of this generation Avensis’ original launch, represented a UK first. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. Step from an MK1 Avensis into the cabin of the current car and you’ll spot no significant family resemblance. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up. The exterior styling is neat, if a little forgettable and perhaps the only area of the latest car that’s in any way disappointing. The nose features the Toyota family face and the bonnet is very compact. Viewed in profile, the stub nose and boot are dominated by the huge sleekly domed cabin, the high waistline giving an impression of rigid solidity. It’s almost as if Toyota were overanxious to underline the Avensis’ newfound gravitas. Compared to its predecessor, it is 110mm longer and 55mm higher with a 70mm increase in wheelbase. The driver sits further forward and higher, maximising rear legroom. If you were looking for a smooth, well equipped and beautifully refined diesel mid-ranger, the Avensis D-4D was always a prime pick. The latest 2.2-litre model adds a few more strings to this model’s bow and offers keener drivers something a little less stodgy. With 148bhp on tap, the 2.2-litre engine is punchy and hugely efficient and certainly whets the appetite for the 175bhp Clean Power installation. If you thought that getting excited about a Toyota Avensis was the first step on a slippery slope, it’s time to think again.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis 2.2 D-4D 150 diesel range PRICES: £19,045-£23,205 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 9 PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 9.3s / Max Speed 130mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 47.1mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

A CLASS ACT
Toyota’s Avensis Is A Very Under-Rated Car. But Is The 1.8-Litre Car Most Customers Will Buy Good Enough To Meet And Beat The Class Best? Andy Enright Reports

There’s a strange rule in car buying behaviour that dictates quite how big a country’s wares can become before we stop buying them. Small French and Italian cars are good, some medium ones tolerable but large ones are usually a joke. The same used to apply to Japanese cars until Toyota’s luxury division Lexus shook up the hierarchy. Toyota is now aiming to deliver a strident wake up call to the medium range family saloon sector in the bluff shape of the latest Avensis.

In order to get a true picture of how good the car is, we’ve taken a look at it in its entry level 1.8-litre guise. With fewer bells, whistles and mechanical whiz-bangs to distract the buyer, perhaps this is where the merits of the Avensis are easiest to assess. Or perhaps not. One glance at the technical specification reveals that even on first rung of the Avensis ladder there’s quite a bit to contend with. Not that Toyota will punish you for the privilege. The T2 variant starts at £15,655 which is competitive against directly comparable rivals from Ford, Vauxhall and Renault. What’s more the Toyota looks so much more substantial than any of the others. It really does appear at first glance to be half a class bigger again, but the tape measure doesn’t lie and shows the Avensis to be a mite smaller in most key dimensions than a Mondeo. Still, to compete with the best Europe can offer, Toyota have realised that a dodgy Japanese translation rarely cuts it. Hence this Avensis is designed in France and being marketed solely on this continent. At present there are just two petrol engines on offer, this 129bhp 1.8-litre and a 147bhp 2.0-litre unit. Both, including this 1.8, are sophisticated VVT-i set-ups, Toyota speak for variable valve timing system which offers decent torque and fuel economy at low revs and a hefty slug of power at full throttle. No fewer than three bodystyles are available, a saloon, a liftback and an estate. With more power than most rivals, the Avensis is surprisingly quick, feeling not only brisk off the mark, but also pleasantly punchy at the top end. Despite its apparent size, the Avensis weighs some 120kg less than a 1.8-litre Mondeo and as a result will nudge an average of 40mpg. Its 171g/km CO2 emission is also the best in class and makes the Avensis a tempting choice for company car drivers, even those who have yet to be headhunted or earmarked for the board. Trim levels in 1.8-litre guise depend on your choice between three options: Colour Collection, T2 and the TR. All come with air conditioning, an alarm immobiliser, power windows and mirrors, ABS and an excellent quality stereo system. The TR model gets satellite navigation with a full colour display as standard.

"The Toyota looks so much more substantial than any of its rivals"

Safety has been prioritised with all models getting no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury. Step from an old MK1 Avensis into the cabin of the current car and you’ll spot no significant family resemblance. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin again make the Avensis feel a class up. Better sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise, but to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison. Instead they chose the Lexus LS430 as a benchmark and claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. The Mondeo and the Peugeot 407 were identified as class leaders in the area of steering feel, handling and ride and Toyota have tuned the steering for better feedback. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. One advantage of this is that it reduces intrusion into the luggage bay, the saloon version featuring a 520-litre boot. Even Toyota anoraks may have trouble recognising the latest facelifted Avensis from its post-2003 predecessor but peer closely at the revised front and rear ends and improvements begin to become apparent. The engineers have also been hard at work on improving the suspension and steering systems used across the range, improving the ride (which didn’t need much enhancement) and the handling (which really did). Otherwise, it’s pretty much as you were. Toyota have made a very fine job of transforming the Avensis 1.8 from a middleweight snoozemobile into one of the category’s real heavy hitters. Any car that can marry lowest in class running costs with best in class practicality and mix in a healthy amount of dynamic competence and sheer road presence is usually good enough to claim the number one spot. It’s probably not rocket science to predict that the Avensis 1.8 will fail to outsell the Ford Mondeo or the Vauxhall Vectra but make no mistake – it’s a better all round car. Alongside the Mazda6 and the Honda Accord, the Toyota Avensis now shows the Japanese have finally got to grips with what was always something of a home banker for the Europeans.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis 1.8 range PRICES: £14,545 - £18,545 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-10 PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 124mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8 Tourer] (urban) 30.1mpg / (extra urban) 48.7mpg / (combined) 39.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, TRC, VSC, BA, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

VIVE LA DIFFERENCE
Toyota’s revised Avensis still looks to be a class act in the Mondeo-dominated medium range sector. Jonathan Crouch explains why…

Toyota’s Avensis has proved to be a hit right across Europe, an even greater sales success than even Toyota could have expected. Some experts are puzzled as to why. It doesn’t sell on image. There’s no sporty version. No V6 petrols or diesels. Instead, Toyota have concentrated on quality and value and it’s worked. At least it has so far. The British importers hope sales will continue in a similar vein with the recently improved version we’re looking at here.

The car received a mild facelift in 2006 and, more importantly, was given two advanced new diesel engines, the 2.0-litre D-4D 130 unit and 2.2-litre D-4D 180, to supplement the 2.2-litre D4-D 150 option carried over from the pre-facelift range. At the same time, the suspension and steering systems were sharpened up, sorting out the previously rather woolly handling. That only left equipment, more recently tweaked to suit a largely business-orientated market that these days prioritises clever satellite navigation systems. Hence the fact that sat nav is now standard on TR, T Spirit and T180 grades – and not just any sat nav. This is Toyota’s full-map, touch-screen system borrowed from top Lexus models, recently improved and able to guide you automatically around traffic hold-ups. As a bonus, it can also play MP3 and WMA digital music files stored on disc. Other trim tweaks across the range include smarter alloy wheel designs, with the wheels themselves up from 16 to 17 inches on D-4D models. Plus there’s also smarter interior fabric and extra metallic colours on key models. Enough of the trim detail – back to the basics. Prices start at £14,545 and, as before, two petrol engines are on offer. Customers can choose either a 129bhp 1.8-litre VVT-i engine or a 147bhp 2.0-litre direct injection VVT-i powerplant. The VVT-i set-up is Toyota’s variable valve timing system which offers decent torque and fuel economy at low revs and a hefty slug of power at full throttle. All models come with vehicle stability control (VSC), traction control (TRC) and brake assist (BA) to boost the already impressive Avensis safety credentials. Safety has been prioritised with all models continuing to be equipped with no fewer than nine airbags as standard, including a driver knee airbag. Secreted beneath the steering column, this system protects the driver’s knees and lower legs from injury.

"Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up"

What really sells this car however, is its inherent quality. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up. Effective sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise and to give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison when developing this Avensis. Instead they chose the super-luxury Lexus LS430 saloon as a benchmark and, as a result, can claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. Toyota’s efforts on the handling front are not quite as effective. This never feels like a car that you want to drive just for the fun of it. Still, that’s not what it’s about. This is something you can sink back into at the end of a hard day and enjoy, the refinement and, particularly, the ride quality being highlights of the driving experience. The compact strut front suspension is similar to that of the Corolla, but the rear is a modified version of the Celica’s multilink system. One advantage of this is that it reduces intrusion into the luggage bay, the saloon version featuring a 520-litre boot. Despite the recent tweaks, the neat exterior styling remains a little forgettable. The nose features the Toyota family face and the bonnet is very compact. Viewed in profile, the stub nose and boot are dominated by the huge sleekly domed cabin, the high waistline giving an impression of rigid solidity. It’s almost as if Toyota were overanxious to underline the Avensis’ new-found gravitas. On the road, the 1.8-litre saloon will sprint to 60mph in 10.1 seconds and return 39.2mpg, making it quicker, more powerful and more economical than equivalent 1.8-litre variants of the Mazda6, the Renault Laguna, the Ford Mondeo and the Vauxhall Vectra. Couple that with one of the biggest cabins in class and competitive pricing and you have to wonder whether maybe Toyota’s strong sales showing in this sector isn’t set to continue. All of which leaves only a few practical points. Like its predecessor, this car is the cheapest car in its class to run – for all kinds of reasons. Take residual values: at around 35%, they’re around 7-8% better than Ford, Vauxhall or even VW. Take insurance: in some cases, you’ll find you’re two groups better off. Take servicing: over 70,000 miles this car will spend only half the amount of time in the workshop that a Mondeo or a Passat would. Take accident repair: in a front-end shunt, this car will be 55% less costly to fix and 65% less costly in a rear-end shunt. Take company car tax: an Avensis driver will be between £300 and £1,000 a year better off than with any other rivals. Take fuel economy: no other car in the class can beat it. Even the tyre choice makes the rubber 23% cheaper to replace. Undertake an extended back-to-back drive against best in class rivals and you can form your own opinions as to whether Toyota have hit their marks on chassis dynamics, engine characteristics and overall ergonomics. Whatever your perspective, you’ll probably have to agree that they’re not far off. Whether you view the purchase of a car like this practically or passionately, the Avensis still looks a class act.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis range PRICES: £14,545 - £23,205 - on the road INSURANCE GROUPS: 7-12 PERFORMANCE: [1.8] 0-60mph 10.3s / Max Speed 124mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: [1.8 Tourer] (urban) 30.1mpg / (extra urban) 48.7mpg / (combined) 39.2mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, VSC, TRC, BA, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

ABOUT FACE FOR THE AVENSIS
Toyota’s Avensis has long been the benchmark for the sector when it comes to build quality but now the Japanese giants want it to challenge in terms of driving dynamics. Andy Enright tries the range-topping T180 diesel model and assesses Toyota’s efforts…

Some assignments are a little more appetizing than others. When the call came to drive the latest generation Toyota Avensis, I must admit to a certain degree of resignation. I’d driven the old car extensively and while it made a great motorway cruiser and was built like no other medium range family car, it didn’t exactly juice the old adrenal gland. Think of it as the spiritual successor to the Rover 75’s title of ‘wheeled Werther’s Original’ and you’re not far from the mark. When the news came in that Toyota were planning on giving the revised car a whole package of chassis improvements however, my interest was piqued. The T180 diesel model I tested barely puts a foot wrong.

It’s not perfect though. The styling has been updated but it’s still rather staid. Look really closely and you’ll spot the subtly tweaked front and rear ends and if you line the old and new cars up back to back, you’ll be able to count off the changes. The front grille and headlights are revised and there are now indicators incorporated into the door mirrors, Mercedes style. A range of updated colours is also offered. The T180 diesel engine is one that’s being rolled out across much of the Toyota range. It’s the same powerplant you’ll find in the range-topping RAV4 and the Corolla Verso and you’ll even find a variant of it under the bonnet of the Lexus IS220d. As its name suggests, it’s good for 180bhp which is a decent return in this corner of the market, and can be slipped into either the four-door saloon, the five-door hatch or the Tourer estate body styles. The four and five-door versions cost £22,055 and tack another £1,000 on if you need the additional luggage room of the Tourer. That’s not a lot of cash when one pauses to consider that you’ll need another £6,000 to snag a similarly-powered Lexus IS220d. That does buy you a rather sassier shape but if you’ve got family to haul about, the Avensis will be eminently more practical.

"The Avensis T180 is so well-equipped it makes an equivalently priced German rival feel as if it’s been broken into and looted"

There’s not even a lot in it these days when it comes to driving manners. The old Avensis rode beautifully but when shown a corner, it would run through a fascinating repertoire that encompassed lurching, wallowing and lumbering. The bigger the roads, the better the Avensis would appear. When Toyota claimed they were going to sharpen up the Avensis’ cornering skills it was easy to see the car losing its high speed cruising comfort and being subsumed into a very average morass. That hasn’t happened. Toyota have retained the hushed motorway abilities of the car and added a welcome dose of poise when it’s pitched into a corner with a little enthusiasm. The suspension has benefited from a beefier anti-roll bar up front and a thinner one at the back to sharpen turn in. Changes to the shock absorbers and the suspension bushes have also given the Avensis a welcome dose of tactility. Best of all, the steering has been retuned with reinforced steering members, stiffer joints in the main shaft and beefier steering housing mounting bushes. The result of all of this is a car with vastly improved body control and one which feels reassuringly safe and secure through corners rather than slightly white knuckle. The engine makes some decent figures without feeling particularly rapid. Toyota claim a sprint to 60mph of just 8.3 seconds with a top speed of 136mph attainable. The six-speed manual gearbox is precise without possessing the sort of shift you’d flick up and down the box just for the fun of it. The standout figure is the 46.3mpg fuel economy, although on our road test route the only time I got near this mark on the ‘instant consumption’ gauge was when the meter went to 99.9mpg as I freewheeled downhill. When accelerating from a standing start uphill, the figure can drop momentarily to less than 4mpg! After almost driving into the back of a tractor while monitoring my fuel-sipping progress, I decided to switch the display to something less distracting. What hasn’t changed a great deal is the Avensis’ inherent quality. If anything, it’s become even more refined with a longer equipment list and plusher interior finishes. The doors thunk shut like a Lexus and it was to their luxury division that Toyota looked to imbue the Avensis interior with a genuinely upmarket feel. It seems to have worked. Soft touch plastics, neat metallic finishes and a huge cabin make the Avensis feel a class up. Standard kit for the plush T180 trim includes satellite navigation, leather and alcantara trim, smoked alloy wheels, and a six-disc CD autochanger. If you’re weighing up a choice between this and a base specification BMW, Audi or Mercedes, this kit list could well swing the decision. Effective sound insulation has reduced weight and decreased noise. To give some illustration as to how seriously Toyota took refinement, they didn’t choose the most refined car in the class – let’s say the Vauxhall Vectra – as a comparison when developing this Avensis. Instead they chose the super-luxury Lexus LS430 saloon as a benchmark and, as a result, can claim that even at 124mph, there is zero wind noise from the door mirrors. The arguments for buying an Avensis T180 are quite compelling. None of its direct rivals offer a diesel engine that’s quite so powerful and neither can any of them match this car’s build quality. Throw in improved dynamic responses, a vast standard equipment list and a manageable asking price and you have a car that, to a certain extent, creates its own sub niche. If Toyota had managed to engineer in a little sex appeal it would be the complete package.

Facts At A Glance CAR: Toyota Avensis T180 range PRICES: £22,055 - £23,205 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 12E PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 8.3s / Max Speed 136mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 46.3mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Dual front, side, and curtain airbags, driver’s knee airbag, ABS, EBD, VSC, TRC, BA, ISOFIX child seat fixings WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: (length/width/height mm) 4630/1760/1480

BETTER IN THE LONG RUN
There’s no better way of getting acquainted with a long term test car than to put some miles on the clock. With that in mind, we gave our Toyota Avensis T180 2,000 miles to chew on in a week to see how it fared. Andy Enright reports

Some of our long term cars get more action than others. I remember we once had a luxury saloon with a petrol engine so thirsty that every time you filled it up it felt as if you would shortly get a call from your credit card company questioning the unusually large transactions on your account. I used the train a lot instead. Then there are cars like the Toyota Avensis T180. Spot the keys to this car in the office key locker and you need to be very quick on the draw.

There really is no substitute for putting miles on the clock to really get to know a car. Only extended use will throw up its quirks, its character and fix in your mind its strengths and weaknesses. Yes, experienced road testers can form quick and often accurate assessments of vehicles based on just a short blat up and down a familiar piece of road but in order to really discover what the car’s like to live with, you’ll need to get some long hours of seat time. Our Avensis T180 was aimed at the French Alps and then given the treatment. French autoroutes tell you a lot about a car’s nature. Although you’ll often see advertisements for used cars where the owners attempt to explain away intergalactic mileages by dismissing them as simply motorway miles as if they don’t count, extending a car for long periods at high speeds remains mechanically stressful. The Avensis T180 is a car built for this particular task, a long sixth gear dropping the revs down to a point where high-speed cruising is possible without taking the engine out of its comfort zone. We averaged 85mph between two toll gates some 150 miles apart and the Toyota’s trip computer informed us that we had also averaged a consumption figure of 37.8mpg.

"The Avensis T180 is discreet and dependable"

This trip computer is so good it can be distracting. Prod the ‘display’ button on the multi function steering wheel and the LCD readout shows average fuel economy for your trip, instant economy and average speed. There’s also a handy outside temperature gauge that warns you of icy roads ahead. At one point, I started trying to maximise economy and found myself coasting downhills and so on before reminding myself that the traffic ahead was a more pressing concern than getting a high score on a digital readout. The specification of the T180 is slightly unusual. There are some upmarket touches like an in-dash satellite navigation system, leather and alcantara trim, smoked alloy wheels, a six-disc CD autochanger, dusk-sensing headlamps and electrically multi-adjustable front seats - and then there are some rather odd omissions. There’s no auxiliary input to connect an iPod or mp3 player to the stereo system, no heated seats and no parking sensors either. The satellite navigation system is fairly easy to use, although it gave so many eccentric route instructions that we eventually resorted to a good old-fashioned paper map instead. At one point it diverted us off a main road, through a mazy industrial estate and then back onto the main road at the junction we’d left. There can be very few complaints about that diesel engine though. If I was to grumble, it would be to say that pulling into fast flowing traffic or onto a busy roundabout can be a little unnerving, the power delivery pausing before the turbocharger gets going, but you’ll soon take into account that, if you have some sympathy for your clutch, the T180 isn’t the quickest off the mark. Once it’s rolling and the turbo comes on stream, there’s a big dollop of torque at your disposal. Toyota claims a sprint to 60mph of just 8.3 seconds with a top speed of 136mph attainable. The six-speed manual gearbox is precise without possessing the sort of shift you’d flick up and down the box just for the fun of it, while the brakes are solid and confidence-inspiring. The handling of the Avensis has improved in its latest incarnation but to be honest, the car was so weighed down with gear on this trip that it wasn’t really thrown into any corners. More important was the ride quality and this was very well judged, isolating the expansion-joint thuds on autoroute bridges and dealing capably with scabby, ice damaged Alpine roads. The steering is accurate and feels well-oiled in that expensive manner usually the preserve of executive cars. The dashboard is clear although the orange colour scheme of the main dials can appear a little garish. Likewise, some of the minor instruments are haphazardly located, the heated rear window and the windscreen demist buttons being on completely different parts of the fascia. All round practicality was extremely good. It was easy to find a decent driving position with a reach and rake adjustable wheel and the electrically-adjustable seat. Fold the rear seats down and 190cm long skis will sit lengthwise in the cabin. The rear seats don’t fold totally flat and you’ll need to ditch the parcel shelf, but when you’ve done this, it’s apparent that the Avensis is a very capable load carrier. There are a lot of very competent cars in this class and £22,055 remains a fair slug of cash for a mainstream family car but the Avensis T180 makes a compelling case. It’s by no means an exciting car but what it lacks in charisma it more than makes up in depth of engineering. Trying to imagine one of these by the side of the road with its bonnet up just does not compute. Whether you warm to the Avensis T180 very much depends o