Toyota Avensis Tourer

Expert Rating:

Introduction

Toyota's life cycle clock has ticked over once more and the Avensis has been completely refreshed, now in its third iteration following the replacement of the Carina as Toyota's C-sector offering. This latest version has received a thorough makeover and modernisation under the skin and aesthetically also.

What are its rivals?

Every major manufacturer has a capable car in this market sector and it continues to grow in breadth and depth. In terms of the most capable cars in the class, the Ford Mondeo Estate still stands out as the most talented car for the common man. Further up the scale the Mercedes C-Class Estate is the premium choice. As much as Toyota would enjoy being on the same shortlist as the Merc, it has the Lexus brand to carry that particular fight.

Perhaps the most spicy rivalry is that "enjoyed" with domestic Japanese offerings such as the Honda Accord and Mazda6 - given the pride at stake, these are probably the deadliest rivals, and both have been more successful in terms of tailoring to the European market in recent times.

How does it drive?

Sadly the Avensis doesn't break the mould when it comes to the expectation of how Toyotas drive. The basics are right, such as driving position and control weighting. However, the feel through the controls is sadly lacking and though the chassis is competent there is no pleasure to be derived from probing the extremes of its abilities.

Oddly, the specification of the engine on paper does not translate to performance on the road; 148bhp and 251lb.ft from the 2.2-litre diesel are bang on the money for the class but the 0-62mph time of 9.8 seconds doesn't compare favourably with rivals; blame the automatic gearbox for that. And it's probably the same culprit that shoulders the blame for the average fuel economy; 34mpg is some way behind claimed figures, themselves much better for the manual car.

What's impressive?

Toyota has clearly tried to lift the staid appearance of the previous Avensis, inside and out. The exterior styling is conservative in that there's nothing to alienate anyone but its sleek lines and sculpted features are an improvement over the previous anonymous designs - it still lacks the flair or appeal of European contemporaries though. On the inside the choices of materials and form break up the bigger surfaces and the equipment levels on this upper range T4 spec are generous, as are the cabin and load spaces.

What's not?

The lack of emotion and feeling in the execution of the Avensis isn't a surprise but it's a shame nonetheless. For many the isolation of the driving experience will alienate them and the lack of involvement makes for a rather cold, clinical drive - the lifeless steering is a typical example of that. Also frustrating is the automatic gearbox's shift pattern that holds lower gears longer than is necessary and, even in manual mode, is reluctant to be persuaded to shift up a cog or two.

Refinement isn't a strength, the engine is a little more vocal than it could be and the suspension transmits rather more interference that it should into the cabin, though only over abrupt extrusions such as cat's eyes.

Should I buy one?

Frustratingly Toyota is stubbornly refusing to take a risk in this core area of its business and the Avensis is no great departure from the persona of previous models, lacking in inspiration and enjoyment. Don't think for a second that it isn't capable, as it is, but it's not memorable in any way. No doubt that the Avensis is a good car but it's just a little boring and staid to have true mass-market appeal.

Those who seek an A-to-B mode of transport that will be reliable, practical and dependable can add the Avensis to the list safe in the knowledge that it ticks all of those boxes. Keener drivers should look elsewhere.

Dave Jenkins