Toyota Avensis 2.2 D4-D Tourer long-term test review

Sharp-eyed readers out there will have spotted that this new Avensis is not the only Toyota currently on our long-term test fleet. It’s like the slightly less interesting cousin to the cool and fascinating Toyota iQ that you’ll also find in these pages – the boring accountant at the iQ’s dinner party, that bloke called Howard in Take That; it’s the Ralf Schumacher of our Toyota long-term line-up.

But don’t worry, I’m here to defend the Toyota Avensis from the many insults thrown at it by people who haven’t actually driven it yet – bloody journalists and their prejudices. And if you haven’t driven this third generation Avensis, then you don’t know that it’s actually refined, well-built, with a high spec, good gearbox and an excellent D4-D turbodiesel engine. It’s also handsome (in estate form at least), it steers well, it has a great stereo, a brilliant touch-screen sat nav system… the list goes on.

So it may not be as interesting as the iQ – or for that matter a BMW or an Alfa – but compared to a Mondeo, the Avensis deserves a bit of recognition, and that’s what I’m here to do.

Our car arrived in March with 1900 miles on the clock. It’s a 2.2 D4-D Tourer in ‘T4’ spec, which means 17-inch alloys, leather trim, cruise control, heated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, dusk-sensing headlights and the same Smart Entry system as our iQ. We also have two options – a sat-nav upgrade including a rear-facing camera (£1470) and Aspen Grey metallic paint (£370). Altogether, CAR’s car stands at £24,400.

I wondered whether giving it an exciting name might help. I was thinking about the ‘Burnaston Rocket’, named after the town where the new Avensis is built, in Derby. Or perhaps ‘Oniwabanshu’ – named after the deadly Ninja sect. But then that’s a bit misleading – what the Avensis does well isn’t scary or thrilling. So I’ve decided to called it Alan instead.

Logbook

Total Mileage 2547 miles

Mileage this month 680 miles

Overall MPG 38.8mpg

Claimed MPG 50.4mpg

Fuel costs this month £74

Other costs None

Highs It’s a refined, well built, highly specced, good looking estate car

Lows Everyone thinks I’m turning beige

Source : Carmagazine