ROAD TEST: TOYOTA AVENSIS 2.0 D-4D LUNA:IT'S A conversational cul-de-sac at any social gathering: when asked what you drive, answer "Toyota Avensis" and you can see their facial muscles contort as they rake their brain for a follow-up comment. It's like announcing you're a management accountant; no one is quite sure where to take the discussion from there.
The problem is that the Avensis has been incredibly successful. Since the inception of the Carina, Toyota saloons have been the mainstay of the motoring masses. From the Garda fleet to the taxi ranks and sales rep conferences to teachers’ conventions, the Avensis is omnipresent in Irish life. You might think the Toyota executives must be rolling in the loot. They may very well be, but in motoring terms, being a firm favourite with the “just want something to get me from A-to-B” car buyer is as much a curse as a blessing. Car firms have mastered the art of turning function into fun, adding glamour to the motoring goods.
Yet several years ago Toyota took a different tactic. It cast aside its more exciting models – MR2s and Celicas – in favour of a wholesome family-friendly range. It seemed to struggle with the idea that it could have a Prius in the same stable as a performance car, so sacrificed fun in the name of frugality. Toyota has done something of a U-turn, with the new GT-86 about to set pulses racing again.
But what of the family fare? Well the Avensis suffers under the weight of the common popularity, the Boyzone of the motoring world. For years it did everything according to the book, nothing sparkling. The problem for Avensis came in 2005, when the Passat brought electronic handbrakes and the like to the masses. The talk was of VW going upmarket, but it was merely trying to keep ahead of the pack. Its executives wanted to differentiate VW models from the ever-improving offerings from Korean rivals. Toyota needed to follow suit, particularly with the arrival of the Hyundai i40 and the upcoming Kia Optima. In this instance Toyota took a significant step forward, though you wouldn’t quickly notice it. Toyota doesn’t help itself by billing this car as a “minor change”. True, much of the underpinnings and metal is the same, but who ever heard of a car firm downplaying a model upgrade?
The reality is that Toyota seems to be in a bit of a quandary over this change. On the one hand it’s a nip and tuck facelift that shouldn’t startle current owners. On the other Toyota need to make people aware that it’s a significant update for potential buyers to visit the dealership and not just base their decision on the older model.
This car is a far more significant overhaul than the “minor change” tagline claims. Clearly, Toyota is concerned about the harm a major midlife revamp might do to resale values on the current fleet, but in branding the changes minor it’s doing a disservice to this latest version of the strong-selling car.
Our test car was the Luna version, but the value proposition on offer meant its price is equivalent to what you get at mid-range equipment levels on rival brands. The value in the deal is a big surprise.
The D-4D engine puts out 124bhp, low compared to rivals, but on regular runs it never feels underpowered. For that you get an emissions rate of 120g/km, pitching it in the lowest tax band.
Externally, there is a new front nose, daytime running lights, LED rear tail light. Internally the car features new designs with extra specification and Toyota’s new centre console touchscreen system; standard on top-end and an option on entry models. This is a decent upgrade, albeit a system that’s also fitted to the new Yaris and one that’s not quite as intuitive as it could be. For example, flicking between radio and the USB port requires navigating a rather fiddly menu system.
Toyota has also tweaked the car’s handling characteristics and the steering feel is sharper than before – although still not as good as the Ford Mondeo or Mazda6.
The Avensis remains a strong seller in Ireland, second to the Ford Focus in overall sales this year and the biggest seller in the family car segment. Part of that is the loyal following for the brand that’s based on a history of reliability and a strong dealer network that between them has one of the most prized collection of customer contact lists on this island. The line about “the best-built cars in the world” remains a contentious issue, inciting some to challenge their audacity at retaining this slogan after its recall problems.
The biggest boon for the Avensis is the quality of the cabin and the improved finish on the car. This is a world away from the harsh plastics and clunky feel to the car that took to our roads a few years ago. The value is also hard to argue with. It offers the lowest rate of motor tax, a price tag that’s a few thousand lower than rivals, and a badge that means the car will hold its value relatively well.
The Mondeo is still our car of choice in this class for driving pleasure, but its cabin seems cluttered compared to the Avensis. The Passat has started to seem like it’s getting close to its sell-by date. The Insignia looks great, the Hyundai i40 is the dark horse in this race, a smart looking rival that’s worth a look. In this sort of company the Avensis would previously have been an also-ran, but somehow the “minor” changes make a major impact. It might still be regarded as dull to the chattering classes, but it’s sure to surprise those who actually sit inside.
Factfile
ENGINE2199cc putting out 148bhp @ 4,000rpm and 350Nm of torque @ 2,000rpm
PERFORMANCE0-100km/h in 8.5 seconds (top speed 217km/h)
ECONOMY4.6 L/100km (61.4mpg)
EMISSIONS120g/km (Band A - €160 motor tax)
PRICE€30,595 (starts at €25,495 for 2.0 D-4D Terra)
RIVALSFord Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Titanium 4dr €32,295 (motor tax: €225); VW Passat 2.0 140bhp TDI Highline €32,955 (motor tax: €160); Opel Insignia 4dr 2.0 CDTi 130bhp SE €31,380 (motor tax: €160); Hyundai i40 1.7 CRDi saloon Executive €26,995 (motor tax: €160)
OUR RATING 6/10
A pleasant surprise for the money.