TOYOTA AVENSIS SALOON REVIEW

Performance

3 out of 5 stars

Petrol power is limited to a single 145bhp 1.8-litre engine, which is a little short on low-down grunt and needs to be worked hard. The 124bhp 2.0-litre diesel is more flexible, but the 148bhp 2.2 is not much quicker and represents little gain unless you need its optional automatic transmission.
Ride & Handling

3 out of 5 stars

The Avensis feels well off the pace compared with rivals such as the Ford Mondeo. It’s at its best when ploughing a straight furrow on the motorway, where the suspension quietly goes about its business. Throw in a few bends, though, and a woeful shortage of steering precision and plenty of body roll quickly curtail any notion of enthusiastic driving.
Refinement

4 out of 5 stars

The Avensis is a quiet car and it's particularly hushed around town because you can barely hear the engines at idle. Work them hard and they can get a little gruff, but the diesels settle to a subtle background hum on the motorway. There's little else to trouble you at speed, although rough surfaces kick up some road noise.

Buying & Owning

4 out of 5 stars

The Avensis is priced to compete against key rivals, and in the long-term, it will hold its value better than the Ford Mondeo or Vauxhall Insignia – expect diesel models to return around 40% of their original new price after three years. The manual D-4D returns a fine 62.8mpg
Quality & Reliability

4 out of 5 stars

The Avensis doesn't provide the same feel-good factor as some rivals – the design and materials in the cabin are too bland for that. However, everything feels solidly built, and Toyota consistently scores very well in our reliability and customer satisfaction surveys. If you do have any concerns, they should be allayed by the fine five-year warranty.
Safety & Security

5 out of 5 stars

The Avensis comes with just about every bit of safety kit you can imagine. There are front, side and curtain airbags, plus one under the steering column to protect the driver's knees. There are also active front seat head restraints, along with a stability control system that helps get the driver out of danger in an emergency. Deadlocks and an alarm are also fitted across the range.

Behind The Wheel

4 out of 5 stars

It doesn't score highly for style, but the Avenis's dashboard gets top marks for ease of use, thanks to its bold, simple controls. The only quirk is the push-button handbrake, which takes some getting used to. The driver's seat is comfortable, although the system for adjusting the backrest angle is a little fiddly. Visibility is excellent; the rear view is a lot clearer than that in many rivals'.
Space & Practicality

4 out of 5 stars

The Avensis isn't as spacious as a Ford Mondeo, but it provides lots of head- and legroom and a flat floor makes things reasonably comfortable for a central rear passenger. The boot isn't as large as a Mondeo's, but it doesn't fall far short, so it's massive nonetheless. The rear seats split and fold, but the saloon body limits what you can put in.
Equipment

4 out of 5 stars

Entry-level T2 models have basics including air-conditioning and an auxiliary input socket, but most buyers will upgrade to TR trim, which adds desirable features such as sat-nav, electric rear windows, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, Bluetooth connection, alloy wheels and dual-zone climate control. Extras on T4 and T Spirit models include leather upholstery and fully electric driver's seat adjustment, but they push prices uncomfortably high.