There were many options with the Toyota Avensis, with used models having a petrol or diesel engine, an automatic or a manual gearbox, and front-wheel drive.
The Toyota Avensis has a premium feel and a well-appointed cabin, making it a practical car for everyday driving.
The Toyota Avensis first arrived in 1997 as a saloon that was poised to go up against some popular models. It was designed as a replacement for the Carina, but with a more modern touch. While it was discontinued in 2018, the Avensis had seen four generations and several updates that kept it desirable and functional.
Fourth Generation
At the start of this generation, nearly 90% of all sales were to business and fleet customers, so improvements were made to its style. Even the model structure was upgraded to ensure that the names appealed to businesses. LED lamps were added and the cabin's comfort level increased.
Several powertrains were also dropped during this time, leaving more compliant diesel engines and one petrol option. Emissions were improved upon with the lighter engine designs, making it cheaper to run the Avensis.
Third generation (2009 - 2018)
Even though some upgrades were made to the third-generation Avensis, the majority of changes were small and amounted to a mild refresh. The front of the car was made to look narrower, giving the Avensis a sportier appeal to younger drivers. Toyota made bi-Xenon HID lamps available and the three-door hatchback model was discontinued.
Inside the cabin, some of the materials were upgraded and a new centre stack was released. With the same wheelbase as the previous generation, the rear seat legroom remains roughly the same.
The passenger space in this car is a very competitive choice in its category. Designed for long trips, Toyota Avensis comes with decent legroom and headroom for backseat passengers. Since it does not have a transmission tunnel, even the person sitting in the middle rear seat has plenty of legroom.
The Avensis is a large family car and takes care of the safety of child occupants. The 2015 Avensis had a with Euro NCAP, which included a 93% and 85% rating for adult and child occupancy, respectively. The car has safety-enhancing systems such as large airbags, autonomous braking, tyre pressure sensors and electronic stability control. Higher trims also come with a lane departure warning system and an automatic high beam.
Toyota offers three engine options in this model, the 1.6-litre diesel, 1.8-litre petrol and 2.0-litre diesel engine. The petrol engine has the highest torque of the three with 147 bhp but performs dismally in fuel efficiency delivering only 47 mpg, where the 1.6-litre diesel promises a 67.2 mpg. All the diesel engines come with a six-speed manual transmission, which outperforms the petrol engine's automatic box.
The Diesel models require servicing every 10,000 miles while the petrol engine can run an extra 2,400 miles before servicing becomes necessary. The cost of servicing is lower than that of Ford Mondeo or the Vauxhall Insignia. They are also cheaper to insure as they fall in group 18 for petrol models and 19 and 20 for diesel options.
Because of Toyota's reputation for durability, the Avensis has a better resale value than its rivals in the category. This car is a good bargain for people looking for a long-distance ride in the used car market, holding about 45% of its original value after 3 years.
The Business Edition is the most suitable model for those who need a perfect blend of comfort and on-road functionality at a reasonable price. In addition to the Active model's standard features, it comes with Toyota's Touch 2 sound system, DAB radio, a rearview camera, and a combination of leather and Alcantara in the interior. If a keyless entry and LED headlights are deal breakers for you, you should go for the Business Edition Plus trim.
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