If you're looking for a sensible used car purchase the Toyota Avensis makes an obvious choice. While it's a little short on looks and charisma, it more thank makes up for with practicality, which means it's equally popular with families and company car drivers.
You'll want to search for the final edition of the Avensis in order to get the best from its sensible persona. Toyota even managed to boost the kerb appeal of later iterations, as well as boosting the overall quality that results in a car that feels quietly refined.
Understated looks are less of an issue if you search out the Touring Sports estate version, which has to be the most practical and arguably the better looking of the lot. Performance doesn't set the world alight, whichever model you choose, while handling is predictably average. However, what it lacks in those areas the Toyota Avensis more than makes up for with comfort and, above all, reliability.
If you're looking for value then the Toyota Avensis makes a very sensible purchase. You'll pay a slight premium for the Touring Sports (estate) model, but it’s worth it for the additional practicality. It's also worth looking for models with better trim levels, but the comfort is consistent across the range.
Indeed, Toyota spent time improving the noise, vibration and harshness levels of the Avensis, so later models feel much more refined than earlier incarnations. Crucially, diesel models benefit from an underbody damping sheet. Add all the tweaks together and you've got a car that offers premium levels of refinement.
The driving experience might be a little on the average side, and the diesel engines can be quite noisy when you push them. Nevertheless, the CVT is refined and relaxed when you’re cruising or accelerating without urgency. Overall, the 2.0-litre D-4D is the most refined option, so it’s the version we’d recommend if you're looking for a sensible saloon that isn't going to break the bank.
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Whether you opt for the saloon or the Touring Sports, one of the BMW-sourced diesel engines makes most sense.
In the saloon, we’d recommend the 1.6 D-4D engine, especially if you spend most of the time covering long distances in glorious isolation. A 0-62mph time of 11.4 seconds tells you that it doesn’t offer the last word in performance, but 112PS is just enough power to avoid it being a frustrating experience. Besides, you’ll appreciate the claimed 68.9mpg.
Buying the Touring Sports suggests that you’ll be carrying people and their gear, so the 143PS 2.0 D-4D makes more sense. The added punch gives the Avensis more urgency, which is handy when you’re carrying a full load. Economy drops to 62.8mpg.
All versions of the Avensis come loaded with the kind of equipment that will keep a company car driver happy, but a mid-range trim makes more sense when you’re buying used.
Of the engines available, the BMW-sourced diesels are the pick of the crop. The 1.6 D-4D diesel offers excellent economy and is aimed at fleet users who spend most of their time in sixth gear cruising down the motorway. The 2.0 D-4D offers improved performance with only a small drop in fuel economy. This, therefore, makes it an excellent choice for family buyers or those who carry heavy loads. Here are our picks for powertrain options.
Toyota Avensis 1.6L D-4D: In the saloon, we’d recommend the 1.6 D-4D engine, especially if you spend most of the time covering long distances in glorious isolation. A 0-62mph time of 11.4 seconds tells you that it doesn’t offer the last word in performance, but 112PS is just enough power to avoid it being a frustrating experience. Besides, you’ll appreciate the claimed 68.9mpg.
Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D: Buying the Touring Sports suggests that you’ll be carrying people and their gear, so the 143PS 2.0 D-4D makes more sense. The added punch gives the Avensis more urgency, which is handy when you’re carrying a full load. Economy drops to 62.8mpg. The 0-62mph time is 9.5 seconds in the saloon or 9.8 seconds in the estate, with a top speed of 124mph.
Launched in 2015, the latest Avensis is a comprehensive reworking of the earlier car, with Toyota giving it a subtle facelift, an improved cabin, more standard equipment topped with an impressive suite of safety systems. There are two versions available: a four-door saloon and a five-door Touring Sports (estate).
Toyota Avensis Active: The entry-level Active trim features 16-inch steel wheels, autonomous emergency braking, air conditioning, cruise control, hill-start assist, LED daytime running lights, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a six-speaker CD/radio system, Bluetooth and electric front windows.
Toyota Avensis Business Edition: Adds 17-inch alloy wheels, Toyota Safety Sense, automatic high beam, lane-departure warning, road sign assist, eight-inch touchscreen with Toyota Touch 2 and Go, DAB digital radio, a reversing camera, a colour TFT display, climate control, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights, all-round electric windows, cloth/Alcantra seats, driver’s seat lumbar support, electric door mirrors and front fog lights.
Toyota Avensis Design: This trim option was introduced in 2016 and features 18-inch alloys, Alcantara/leather seats and rear privacy glass. Meanwhile, Business Edition Plus models get 17-inch alloys, keyless entry and go, LED auto-levelling headlights and front fog lights with cornering function.
Toyota Avensis Excel: At the top of the range, the Excel trim boasts advanced connectivity, voice control, 10 speakers, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats with electric adjustment, adaptive front lights and a panoramic roof (on the Touring Sports estate).
The Toyota Avensis dimensions are:
Length: 4750mm
Width: 1810mm
Height: 1480mm
Ground clearance: 140-145mm
The Toyota Avensis boot size is:
543-litres
1609-litres with seats folded
A Toyota Avensis registered on or after 1 April 2017 costs £150 per year for Vehicle Excise Duty (VED, or road tax). Buying an Avensis registered on or before 31 March 2017, which could make more financial sense, because the rate of VED was based on CO2 emissions.
In other words, a Toyota Avensis in Active trim with the 1.6 D-4D engine emits 108g/km to 109g/km of CO2, which means you’ll pay just £20 a year in VED. The most you’ll pay is £165 a year for an Avensis with the 1.8 V-matic petrol engine. Again, this is what makes the sensible nature of the Avensis so appealing.
The sensible aspect of the Toyota Avensis is one of its strengths, especially when it comes to insurance. For example, an Avensis saloon with a 1.6 D-4D diesel engine will be the cheapest as it falls into insurance group eight (out of 50) in Active trim or group nine in Business Edition trim. The cost will be slightly higher if you opt for the Design model (group 11).
The cost of insurance for the Avensis Touring Sports is roughly the same as the saloon, with groups ranging from eight to 16. This makes it significantly lower than the BMW 3 Series Touring (group 20 to 40), although the latter is still more appealing if you're after charisma.