Toyota's new Avensis was launched onto the European stage this week with the firm ambition to achieve Irish-style sales performance on European markets. From Andrew Hamilton in Barcelona
Here Avensis/Carina has dominated the family and fleet segment consistently for 16 out of 17 years against powerful opposition such as the Ford Mondeo, the Volkswagen Passat and the Nissan Primera.
With a completely new design that flaunts its European development and testing, chief engineer Suguya Fukusato, says "We are proud of our totally European format."
The new Avensis comes in saloon, hatchback and estate forms. The engine set-up has two petrol units of 1.6 and 1.8 litres developing 110 bhp and 129 bhp respectively, both with Variable Valve Timing or VVT-i, and a 2.0 litre 147 bhp direct injection petrol. Diesel is represented by a 116 bhp 2.0 litre with second-generation common-rail technology. A cleaner and greener diesel derivative called D-CAT is coming later.
While the Ford Mondeo is slightly longer, Toyota claims that clever packaging has released lots of room in cabin and boot. Boot space with the seats in place is 520 litres for the saloon and hatch and 1,500 litres for the estate. The hatch can carry 510 litres more than before, at a maximum of 1,320 litres.
On the road, Avensis drives in a quiet refined and vibration-free manner, achieved through increased body rigidity with high strength steel and the use of better sound absorption packaging.
The more affluent cabin is also enhanced by features such as dual-zone air conditioning, power seats and audio controls fitted on the tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel.
Although Irish specifications with prices will not be announced until the car's launch here in March, putting in goodies not normally seen on a D segment car was considered important, irrespective of market.