The new Avensis is a landmark car for Toyota which this year completes its 30th year in business in Ireland. And signs on that it is making its mark, because since it was launched in March here, sales have exceeded 2,500 copies.

The new model is an enormous step up from the popular family car it replaces in every way. It’s jam packed with safety, comfort and high technology features. The good news is you don’t have to be a teckno geek to operate all the high technology on board.

Toyota see it appealing not only to traditional family customers, but to company reps and image conscious young buyers who are normally prepared to spend an awful lot more to get what they want in a car!
They’ll now be eyeing up this new Avensis in a different light.

Avensis is available in saloon, lift back and tourer specifications and is on offer here in 1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol engines. A 2.0-litre version will be available in September and a 2.0-litre D-4D 116 bhp model is expected in June.

Customers can choose from the Aura, Strata, Luna or Sol specifications. Both Luna and Sol models are available with a four-speed automatic transmission which features a sequential shift.

The car under review is the 1.8-litre VVT-i saloon Luna specification which will set you back E28,435. The entry level 1.6-litre Aura saloon is priced at E24,635, which compared with some of the competition, seems very affordable for what is on offer.

This 1794cc, 129bhp version, while not exactly setting the road on fire, proved a real smoothie to drive along all types of road from motorways to the twisty, mountainous roads around Wicklow Gap and on down into Wexford, ending up exploring the small fishing villages dotted along the coastline invisible from the road.

What impressed me most was the smoothness of the drive and the overall quietness in the cabin. It gives you a sense of being cocooned from the elements. No engine or wind noise filters through during ordinary driving.

In looks, the new car is both bigger and sturdier than before, almost Germanic in style, with a new more upmarket front and grille. The main feature at the side is the high waistline. Rear lights clusters wrap up over the wings and give the effect of having nine bulbs. Family owners will appreciate the space provided by the huge 520 litres of boot space.

The cabin also is very well thought out with all the various controls close to hand. It’s bigger than before with an extra 6.5ins of room.

There’s a low scuttle line and it’s easy to get a nice high driving position. You can actually see some of the bonnet which, for someone my height, is unusual nowadays in a saloon. Seats are extremely comfy, being ergonomically sculpted for extra support and have a high hip point which makes it easier to get in and out of the car. However, I found the front seat adjuster difficult to shift and broke the nail on my right forefinger trying to make it move.

I was glad to see the back of the long hand brake which used to annoy me in the older version. It’s been replaced with a neat, shorter version which is far more user friendly. I particularly liked the gold colour of the Optitron instruments, so easy to see at night. The steering wheel is big and chunky and comes with audio controls. Three screens on the dash provide all the usual information. The gear shift is a pleasure to use and the foot pedals nicely positioned. There’s also a nice footrest.

There’s lots of chrome around the interior and Titanium-look inserts on the dash and door panels brighten the cabin.

On the safety side, the new Avensis was awarded a 5 star top safety rating from EURO NCAP, and the highest number of points in that crash testing programme ever awarded to any car setting a new standard.

It is the first car of its type in Europe to feature a driver’s SRS knee airbag. (This is now also in the new Lexus RX 300, Toyota’s luxury brand). All Avensis come with nine airbags as standard.

Other standard features included ABS & EBD, air conditioning with dual temperature controls, immobiliser, remote central locking, big front arm rest, 8-speaker in-dash CD player, radio/cassette with audio controls integrated in the steering wheel, all-round electric windows, front fog lights, rain sensing wipers, and energy absorbing bumpers!

Besides the seat adjusters, the only other crib I could find was with the steering which I found a bit vague at first. Not to any serious extent, but not just as sharp as the rest of the vehicle was. It takes a few days to become used to it.

Toyota Ireland still expect a significant number of 1.6-litre buyers for the new model, but say the 1.8-litre will appeal to those used to buying expensive cars and getting what they expect for their money!

Sales of between 5,500-6,000 units are expected in a full year. While Toyota admit to having lost some business in the fleet market, they believe the ‘user chooser’ will now opt for the new Avensis and see their family buyers continuing to opt for the 1.6-litre version.