Toyota Avensis 2.0 D-4D TR Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £21,525
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo diesel
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive Power: 124 bhp
0-62 mph: 9.7 seconds
Top Speed: 124 miles per hour
Economy: 62.8 miles per gallon
Emissions: 119g per kilometre
Equipment: GPS, climate control, reversing camera, automatic wipers and lights, Bluetooth
On Sale: Now

The new look Toyota comes with a dash of extra style, yet the healthy kit count fails to make up for a distinct lack of fun.

Our Rating: 6.0 / 10

Greater value for money, lower CO2 emissions and being able to make those long journeys on the motorway pass by in comfort are the things that are important to Avensis buyers, and Toyota is very well aware of this. It makes sense therefore that the brand new Avensis has been given improvements in all of these areas, as well as acquiring some extra style into the bargain as well.

The new look has been designed to incorporate the new family face of the company, which includes a bolder grille, more angular headlights and a redesigned front bumper. The most crucial changes, however, are the improvements that have been made to the best selling 2.0 D-4D engine that is being tested here.

CO2 emissions have been slashed from 139g per kilometre to as little as just 119g per kilometre, which has the double impact of not just reducing the road tax bill by as much as £85 per annum but also has large implications for the drivers of company cars. Fuel economy has also been given a boost, rising from 53.3 miles per gallon to 62.8 miles per gallon.

The way the Avensis drives has likewise been improved. It is now much smoother and considerably more refined than was previously the case, and although the bhp rating of 124 remains the same, most people will be more than satisfied with the performance on here, with the car capable of going from 0-62 miles per hour in as little as just 9.7 seconds.

When the engine is pushed to the rev range’s upper limits, it does have a tendency to become a little on the rough side, but when the new vehicle is cruising alone at 70 miles per hour, it barely makes any sound at all.

There have also been changes to the cabin including the likes of extra sound deadening, which means that it is now both a more luxurious and a much quieter place in which to be able to spend some time. There has been a subtle redesign of the centre console, the dashboard has been finished off with higher quality soft touch plastics and the leather-trimmed steering wheel is now included as standard.

A good dose of dynamic ability has arguably been the main thing that the Avensis has always been rather lacking in, but the steering has now been made more responsive and quicker and a much stiffer anti-roll bar has been placed in the rear in an attempt to resolve this issue.

However, all of these changes ultimately don’t really add up to much as a whole, and although there is somewhat less body rolls when going through corners, the fact remains that the Toyota still lacks the type of involving drive which is available with competitors such as the Ford Mondeo. Nor is that the only bad news, with smaller bumps and lumps in the road also being felt much more here than was the case with the old vehicle.

On the upside, it is better value for money thanks to the kit included, but this is just is not an involving driver’s car.