The British-built Toyota Avensis is the company's European flagship model and is available in Saloon and Tourer forms. Three engine options - 1.8-litre petrol and 2.0/2.2-litre diesels - are available with the 2.0-litre turbodiesel likely to be most appealing of the three in terms of running costs to retail and business users. Combined Cycle fuel economy of up to 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions as low as 119g/km mean VED road tax of £0 in the First Year rate and then £30 for year two onwards and a Benefit-in-Kind tax cost for company car drivers of 17/18 per cent, depending on the body style chosen. Both share the usual four trim levels of T2, TR, T4 and T Spirit, with the most popular being the TR which comes with rear privacy glass, full map navigation and Bluetooth connectivity among its features, ideal for the business user. My 2.2-litre D-4D automatic test model was the range topping T Spirit which features additional equipment including heated electric front seats, Panoramic roof and rear parking sensors, but it was also fitted with the £1,480 optional safety pack comprising adaptive cruise, lane assist and departure warning. Choosing the Tourer means the luggage capacity rises from 543 litres with the back seats in use to 1,609 litres as a two-seater and its towing limit is 1,600kg. The Tourer design gives a low deck and high opening fifth door, well-shaped and flat load bed with tie-down eyelets. It's ideal for family, business use or for the less able who need to carry a mobility scooter or wheelchair. The standard parking sensors are useful but hardly necessary on the Avensis Tourer because rear visibility is good, and while on this subject I cannot praise enough the immense panoramic roof which extends form header rail for about three-quarters of the roof. With excellent wipers, very bright long range lights and fog lamps, as well as big windows and electric mirrors, the Avensis Tourer is well suited for any weather conditions or situations. Toyota Avensis 2.2D Auto The powertrain uses the familiar, proven 148bhp 2.2-litre turbodiesel engine and is the first Toyota diesel to utilise the very smooth, responsive and quiet six-speed automatic transmission, which brings even higher levels of refinement to the range. Fuel consumption on test worked out at a reasonable 40mpg, slightly below the official 43.5mpg figure, despite a lot of urban driving being involved. The 2.2-litre engine is a good starter, pulls well within seconds of moving off and always seemed to have something in reserve for overtaking. Motorway cruising was effortless and quiet. I liked the steering feel and agility it gave the car, its lack of vibration or kick-back, and for me the power assistance felt just right with little vagueness apparent. The brakes, including the electronic parking system, worked well with a good pressure underfoot and pleasant progressive action to slow it. Toyota has gone to town on occupant protection with front, side, curtain and driver's knee airbags and the reassurance of the optional pre-crash safety system seems money well spent for a family or high mileage user. The Toyota Avensis Tourer is easy to access, very roomy throughout with good front seats adjustment and comfortable for all users. Ride quality is extremely good over any surface even if you sometimes hear it absorbing bad bumps. It is not a sporting estate like some rivals would like to make out they are, but it not only goes well but also handles with confidence and composure and never showed any vices. With the introduction of the new 6-speed automatic to this capable and composed diesel it adds still further to the Avensis reputation for refinement and ease of driving, and let's not forget it's a British built model which is sold abroad and a worthy example of UK engineering at its best. Toyota Avensis Tourer T Spirit 2.2D Cat Auto Price: £29,205 Mechanical: 4-cylinder, 148bhp, 2.2-litre, turbodiesel, 6-speed auto Insurance group: 23E Performance: 127mph max., 9.8sec 0-62mph Fuel consumption: 43.5mpg Combined Cycle (40mpg on test) Emissions / BIK / VED: 173gkm/ 28%/£275 First Year rate then £195 per annum Warranty: 5yrs/100k, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust For: Powertrain, roomy, versatility, refinement, visibility Against: Some road noise, sluggish acceleration from rest, high CO2 emissions so high tax costs, location of secondary switches.
