Avensis is a good saloon but its rivals offer some extra in the same price

Toyota Avensis though a good name in saloon class, but far behind from its rivals

Toyota Avensis is in the market since 2009 but still struggling to find secure place due to its ordinary built, lack of new good designing and standard of its material used by Toyota. Saloon class is the toughest class to compete where there are some competent and patent manufacturer standing in front of new comers.

Individually it’s not a bad option but in comparison with VW Passat, Ford Mondeo and Mazda 6, they are far ahead from Toyota Avensis in all sections. If you choose it for long distance covering or as a family car, you might look in its surroundings where you find good option in same price rates.

Interior is quiet and comfortable but its rivals are with more handy equipments

Toyota Avensis is a comfortable saloon but not exceptional in its class. There are more luxurious and comfortable saloons available in the market with better option than that of Avensis. Avensis is not a bad option to choose with good suspensions that soak jumps easily.

Dashboard is simple and easy to read without any dashing new styles of the day that we find in latest vehicles. Interior gives a cheap look overall. Toyota Avensis offers a good roomy interior anyhow. Infotainment system is also efficient in working though not eye catchy. Keyless entry, LED headlights and privacy glass along with leather upholstered seats are offered.

Practicality and boot space

Toyota Avensis offers a good practicality and storage capacity. In this connection it is a nice choice for a family. Seating arrangement is good with nice and handy space at front seats and rear as well. Passengers at front feel enough comfort with plenty of leg and head room.

There is no transmission tunnel in Avensis so at rear seat the middle occupant feels comfort also. Avensis offers a 509-litres boot space that can be expanded up to 1320-litres by dropping rear seats down. The opening lid is not handy one and allows not an easy access to the boot.

With limited petrol and plenty of diesel engines, Toyota Avensis Saloon performs very well

Toyota Avensis is a compact luxury saloon. With plenty of options in power train it performs smoothly with good fuel economy. There are two or three petrol engine in Toyota Avensis, though not quick and brisk in performance, but gives nice driving experience.

Petrol engine range for Toyota Avensis

Toyota has used mediocre engines in its Avensis.  Its petrol range starts with 1.6-Litre V-matic four-cylinder engine that is capable of 130bhp and 118lb/ft torque. It takes 10.1 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 124m/h. Fuel average is reasonable with 42m/g and Co2 emissions are152g/km. It is fitted with six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system as standard.

There is a 1.8-Litre V-matic petrol engine available in three different mechanical combinations. It is capable of 144bhp and 133lb/ft torque. It takes 9.1 seconds to reach from 0-62m/h with top speed of 124m/h. Fuel average of this unit is 42m/g along with 152g/km of Co2 emissions.

This engine is fitted with six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system as standard, seven-speed M-Drive S automatic gearbox and front-wheel drive and seven- speed CVT automatic gearbox with front-wheel drive system optional with minor changes in outputs.

Toyota has also used 2.0-Litre VVT-I petrol engine with 149bhp and 145lb/ft torque in its Avensis. It takes 8.7 seconds to get form 0-62m/h with top speed of 127m/h. Fuel average is just 40m/g with 163g/km of Co2 emissions. This engine is also available with different mechanical combinations.

Vast diesel engine range is powerful and fuel efficient

Diesel engine range of Avensis starts with 1.6-Litre D-4D unit. It is capable of 110bhp and 199lb/ft torque. It takes 11.0 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 115m/h. It is considered as an entry level version. Its fuel average is 62m/g with 116g/km of Co2 emissions. It is fitted with six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system as standard.

After 1.6-Litre entry level diesel engine there is a 2.0-Litre D-4D of 124bhp and 229lb/ft torque. It takes 9.4 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 124m/h. Fuel average of this diesel engine is 62m/h with 119g/km of Co2 emissions. It is available in six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system as standard. Second version in this 2.0-Litre engine is of 140bhp and 236lb/ft torque. Its performance is the same as we have in 124bhp but 0-62m/h sprint time is just two seconds better than the previous version.

A 2.2-Litre diesel engine is of 147bhp and 251lb/ft torque. It takes 9.2 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 127m/h. Fuel average of this diesel unit is just 46m/g andCo2 emissions are 165g/km. The reason behind this fuel consumption is its six-speed automatic gearbox that consumes extra fuel than the manual gearbox system.

Second version in this 2.2-Litre diesel engine is of 174bhp and 296lb/ft torque. It takes 8.2 seconds to get from 0-62m/h with top speed of 137m/h. Fuel average of this version is 47m/g with 157g/km of Co2 emissions. It is available in six-speed manual gearbox and front-wheel drive system as standard.

Safety measures used in latest Avensis are up to standards

Toyota Avensis is a reliable vehicle since its debut in 2009. Safety measures and features used in this vehicle by Toyota are perfectly acceptable and it has also secured five star rating of Euro NCAP in crash tests. Adaptive cruise control and stability control system along with traction control are perfect in functioning.

It covers not only adult occupant safety but its children and pedestrian safety equipments and systems are also praiseworthy. In some rim levels collision mitigation braking system is being installed on demand. Parking sensors with rear view assisting camera are also available in the latest Avensis. Standard airbags are there to protect driver and front passenger’s knee also.

Hill starts assistance, anti lock braking system. Its reliability is though good but could not convince the audience completely. Most of its users complaint of its inferior built material and cheap interior that has no match with its competent rivals. Toyota Avensis offers not an excellent driving experience too, reported by some of its users.