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Toyota models, news & reviews
3
Handling
Performance
4
Usability
Feelgood factor
Readers' rating
2.5
By Steve Moody
First Drives
15 December 2008 17:00
Do you have a handy mat for kneeling on in the garden? How about an all-in-one slipper for both your feet? Cantilevered ‘easy’ tongs for picking up leaves without bending down? Is the biggest thrill in your day the frisson of fear delivered by virtue of the Daily Mail’s latest doom-mongering?
No? Well then the chances are that you do not own the current Toyota Avensis either. It’s the sort of car owned by people who take food out of its packaging, and decant it into stackable Tupperware.
Uninspired, pedestrian and lacking in almost any ambition, the only notable feature of the old one was that it looked a bit odd, as though somebody had left it on the window sill in the hot sun, and the corners had melted.
But then faithful, dependable Toyota doesn’t really do exciting. It’s just not part of its plan, and it has a point - admittedly one that most CAR readers just won't get. There are a lot of Tupperware stackers out there, which is why it sells such a staggering amount of cars.
But Ford, Mazda and even Vauxhall have managed to take the humble saloon and do something fairly exciting with it. Perhaps the new generation Avensis will give suburbanites their morning thrill, without the need for stories about knife-wielding immigrants.
Probably not. It seems more time has been spent on the names for the design language than the actual design, with such nuggets as Vibrant Clarity, J-factor, Perfect Imbalance, Freeform Geometrics and Integrated Component Architecture colluding to produce a car that looks rather like a cheap imitation of a Lexus, which of course is no surprise.
The headlights have an edgy, winged appeal while the grille has the chromed, manly strength of it luxurious cousin. But it looks like they’ve fitted the wrong-sized bonnet, with the rim finishing at half-mast somewhere back behind the lights.
The rear, of the saloon in particular, is bland. There’s a badge and some lights but it could be any saloon from the Pacific Rim.
As a design it is singularly unremarkable, perfunctory and delivering no surprises, no flourish and not a jot of joy: a car penned as a means to an end.
>> Click 'Next' below to read more of our Toyota Avensis Tourer first drive
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Toyota Avensis 1.8 Valvematic Tourer (2009) CAR review
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R8RWK says
RE: Toyota Avensis 1.8 Valvematic Tourer (2009) CAR review
I was looking for a large estate car and after 12 years of owning a number of BMW's, I was looking for something a bit less "common". Every corner you turn and almost every other car you see seems to be an Audi or a BMW nowadays. Vehicles for the masses. My new car had to be good value for money, not too bling inside (with all silver bits and lots of buttons etc) and most important reliable and solid. So after looking around a bit I settled for the Toyota Avensis 1.8 Vmatic Tourer TR. It doesn't give me the sporty drive compared to my previous 3 serie Touring, but it is more comfy. the steering (elec pas) is a lot lighter, the gear changes are nice and it drives well. I personally like the bland dashboard styling inside. It has all the kit I need. Reversing sensors, rain sensors, bluetooth, etc. I particular like the electric handbrake. Load space in the back is fantastic and with some nice features. Back seat space has a good amount of legroom. In short, It is not an exiting car to drive, but in every other way I prefer it over my previous car. It might be an idea to have a sports car as your second car though.......just in case you fancy a bit of a blast. Happy sofar.
10 July 2011 09:45
AveanAvensis says
Approaching its 12th birthday I passed on my 1999 Avensis and took delivery of a new T4. I read acres of opinions of the 2009 model, about how dull and unexciting the avensis was. It depends what sort of excitement you crave. I well remember the excitement of pacing up and down outside the MOT stations while my Morris Minor, Hillman Hunter, Fiat 132, Cortina v6 GLS, and Cavalier SRI took it in turn to rasise my blood pressure with their inevitable failure cerificates. I much preferred my years with the 1999 avensis which passed every time, and apart from tyres and wiper blades only needed a new battery after nine years. It never let me down. It took me all over the British Isles in comfort and economy. Well done Toyota I love my new Avensis and hope to have the same service for the next twelve years.
04 April 2011 23:05
crustynuggets says
Well just to add my twopenneth' worth. I have one of these (with a CVT gearbox) and this it's probably one of the best cars I've ever had. Any before anyone thinks I'm one of the pipe and slippers brigade, I'm not. Both the wife and I are 20 - 30 somethings and think our car is great. Well built, comfortable, reliable and cheap to service and insure. And as a bit of a petrolhead I for one enjoy the way it drives. My missus is an advanced police driver and even she enjoys driving it! Well done Toyota!
Well just to add my twopenneth' worth.
I have one of these (with a CVT gearbox) and this it's probably one of the best cars I've ever had.
Any before anyone thinks I'm one of the pipe and slippers brigade, I'm not. Both the wife and I are 20 - 30 somethings and think our car is great. Well built, comfortable, reliable and cheap to service and insure. And as a bit of a petrolhead I for one enjoy the way it drives.
My missus is an advanced police driver and even she enjoys driving it!
Well done Toyota!
06 November 2010 12:44
PamelaS says
Seems like this toyota is one of the few cars that the press is saying looks worse in the metal rather than the photos rather than better! It's a blow but if the brand was simply targeting the customers who bought the mark one version then this toyota avensis is going to give them more of the same dull reliability that they enjoyed first time around, but as for conquest customers...
21 June 2010 17:00
moffmeister says
The whole idea of introducing a new model to supersede an existing car is that it's supposed to be better, and, this simply isn't. This lacklustre effort from Toyota has failed to move the game on - all aspects of the existing car have remained the same or began to decline and that new design, to think of a better word, is just sick. Part Lexus IS, part Cadillac BLS...part Lancia Delta? It's a complete mockery and is, as a result, bound to be a failure. It's destined to sink in a declining market and even religious Avensis buyers are sure to have second thoughts. Maybe columnists such as Glen Waddington should stop warbling on about the supposed ubiquity and unimaginative design of the new VW Golf and turn his attention to this shameful effort from Toyota.
24 January 2009 09:42
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