Toyota unveiled the latest version of the Avensis last week and it comes with a host of new features, from engines to safety kit, all carried in a revised body style that’s still noticeably Avensis in design. The Avensis will be up against new editions of the Ford Mondeo and Volkswagen Passat, so you can expect competition to be aggressive.
The overall shape of the car is new, with changes to the front and rear end designs. There are new light clusters, with LED lights, and new body lines to give a more modern look. Thankfully, Toyota has kept the overall dimensions shorter than the new Mondeo and Passat; two cars that I believe are unnecessarily long for our roads.
On the inside, there are obvious design changes to give the car a more luxurious feel. The dash remains black with a softer touch and a large eight-inch touchscreen on models from the Luna specification upwards.
The big news comes in the shape of new engines. The Avensis comes with a new 1.6-litre entry level turbo-diesel engine that’s smooth to drive and impressively quiet. This engine, like the new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel, is a BMW designed-and-built unit, with some Toyota engine management input and still bearing the D4-D badge. The engine combines smoothness with a high level of torque and good economy, and the driver is well cushioned in terms of noise and vibration. We drove the Tourer or estate version at the launch drive and despite the extra size, it performed well on open roads when powered by this new 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine.
The-six speed manual gearbox was smooth, making the 200km-plus test run an easy drive across roads that included the hilly lower regions of the Alps. While the engine torque is higher than the 2.0-litre diesel engine that it replaces, this car has also higher torque than the equivalent Mondeo and Passat models.
Toyota claims the 1.6-litre diesel model delivers an 11% economy improvement over the 2.0-litre outgoing model. At 23.8km/litre (67mpg or 4.2l/100km), it is very close to the competition. The stop-start system, now standard on all diesel models, has helped to lower the CO2 rating to 109g/km, giving road tax of €190 per year.
This new car uses AdBlue technology to keep CO2 emissions low. AdBlue fills are required only at every 20,000km service interval, according to Toyota.
Added to these features is the fact that Toyota claims that the engine service interval has been extended from 15,000km to 20,000km. When you combine all of this, Toyota claims that there is an opportunity to shave close to €500 from the ownership costs of the car over three years.
Toyota has raised the bar in terms of safety by fitting the new Safety Sense system to all models in the Avensis range. This system includes pre-collision warning and a lane-departure alert system that’s especially useful on motorways. We failed to activate the pre-collision system during our test drive. The lane-departure system is easy to engage and disengage.
The overall feel in the new Avensis is one of improved quality. The seats that are firmer and give good adjustment; it was easy to into a comfortable position.
The entry level Aura grade comes with 16in alloy wheels, a good reversing camera, auto wipers and headlamps, and the Toyota Safety Assist pre-collision system with an entry price of €27,710 (£21,995 in NI) before delivery charges. You need to go up a grade to get the touchscreen system and larger wheels, as well as interior styling choices and dual-zone climate control.
Toyota appears to have designed a car in a very exacting way to suit the current D-segment market, so it may not excite but you can be assured that it will be smooth and easy to drive, as well as being economical and reliable. It also delivers the best towing ability at 1,600kg. Fuel tank capacity is the poorest at 60 litres, so stops could be more frequent.
The car performs very well and I found that the handling was smooth and flawless. Toyota’s target of selling 2,400 Avensis models in 2016 will be easily beaten; the car does all that’s needed and a bit more except create wild excitement. Avensis owners will flock back for an upgrade.
Toyota Avensis 1.6 D4-D
Engine 1.6 litre diesel
Engine power 112bhp
0-100km/hr 11.4 seconds
Economy 23.8km/litre
Fuel tank capacity 60 litres
CO2 emissions 109g/km
Road Tax A3 (€190)
Main Service 20,000km/ 12 months
Safety rating NA
Towing rating 1,600kg
Warranty Three years/ 100,000km
Entry Price €27,710
NI Price £21,995
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