Toyota Avensis Tourer full 9 point review
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Performance
Petrol options are a new 1.6 (with 128bhp) or a 145bhp 1.8, 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.
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Ride & Handling
Many Avensis drivers will cover a lot of miles and it's a car that's well suited to the job. Thanks to smooth, light controls and a supple ride it's an easy-going companion that demands little effort. It's nimble and assured on twisty roads, too, but because the steering is light and short of feedback, the Avensis isn't as much fun as a Ford Mondeo.
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Refinement
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.
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Buying & Owning
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 most diesel models to return about 40% of their original list price after three years. The manual D-4D 130 returns an excellent 54.3mpg, and slots into the 18% company car tax bracket.
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Quality & Reliability
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. Everything feels solidly built, however, and Toyota consistently scores superbly in our reliability and customer satisfaction surveys.
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Safety & Security
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.
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Behind The Wheel
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.
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Space & Practicality
The Avensis Tourer is a ‘proper’ – rather than lifestyle – estate, with maximum space taking priority over style. With the seats up there’s as much boot space as in a Mondeo Estate. There’s not as much when they’re folded, but the load space is long and totally flat. There’s so much head- and legroom on board that no-one will struggle for space.
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Equipment
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 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.
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Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0 D-4D TR 5dr
This is our favourite model in the Avensis Tourer range. It’s well equipped, cheap to own and hard to fault in any area. If only it were a little more stylish.
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