Toyota Avensis Tourer

Accepting that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I still think that it would be hard for any motorists not to be impressed by the styling of this new Toyota Avensis Tourer. In my eyes it certainly has that refined and impressive look that one expects from a premium quality brand. Europe’s top two, are certainly going to have to look to their laurels, when competing with this model.
The aura of dignity, quality and refinement continues when you sit into the Avensis Tourer. Everything you touch has a beautiful top quality feel and the design and layout are excellent. Sit into the rear seats and there is plenty of space to stretch out, relax and make yourself comfortable. Open the rear luggage door and the luggage space is vast. That however, is just the beginning. Lift the floor sections and there are plastic trays below offering even more space. Behind each rear wheel arch there are further commodious, below floor storage spaces. For normal use there is the normal, roller blind type tonneau cover, to keep the contents of the boot private. This is easily removable when carrying large or awkward size loads. In addition there is a removable screen that may be left retracted, or clipped up into the roof cantrails, to facilitate the carrying of pets like large dogs, or to prevent items loaded above lower window level, sliding forwards in braking or difficult road conditions.
This is a very versatile, practical and spacious large car, that is comfortable, easy to drive, remarkably economical in its thirst for fuel, which in turn makes it very low in exhaust emissions, for a car of its size and performance. Talking of performance, it has a potential top speed of 200 kph (124 mph) with 0-100 kph acceleration in just 10 seconds. Exhaust emissions are an excellent 136 gm/km, which puts the Avensis into Irish road tax band B, which at present rates, carries an annual road tax burden of 156 Euro. The other good news is that the Avensis Tourer, in Aura specification, as tested, carries a recommended retail price, excluding delivery, of Euro 28,100 !

The test car was fitted with the two litre version of Toyota’s D-4D diesel engine. It was very lightly tuned, giving a specific output of just 46.546 kW/lt. It is ultra smooth, quiet and superbly refined, just purring along in absolute contentment at all speeds up to the maximum speed limit. In fact it was so smooth and quiet that I had to check the fuel filler to confirm that it was in fact a diesel.
It is mated to an excellent, six speed manual gearbox. This offers silky smooth, absolutely precise, gear changes. The ratios were perfectly matched to the power and torque characteristics of the engine. The car was fitted with a shift indicator on the instrument panel. It was one of the first shift indicators, that appeared to be intelligently matched to the engine’s performance characteristics and the driving conditions. Far too many indicators suggest a shift, one way or another and you have no sooner made the shift, when they indicate that you should shift back to the gear you have just left.
According to the official tests, the Avensis Tourer, with the 2.0 litre diesel engine, consumes 6.6 lt/100 km (42 mpg) on the urban cycle, rising to 4.3 lt/100 km (65 mpg) on the extra urban cycle. This gives a combined cycle average of 5.2 lt/100 km (54 mpg). Considering the performance, size, comfort and versatility of this car, I consider that to be excellent. Most of my driving is done in an urban/suburban environment, with just the occasional longer run out into less congested rural settings. According to the fuel consumption recorder, I averaged 6.4 lt/100 km (44 mpg) during the course of this test.
The power assisted steering was geared to give 2.95 turns from lock to lock, of the leather covered steering wheel. The wheel itself had a luxurious, high quality feel, which all helps to deliver that outstanding driving pleasure. It has additional controls for the audio system on the left hand arm of the wheel. Naturally the wheel adjusts for both reach and height.
Ventilated disc brakes are fitted at the front, with plain discs at the rear. The system includes anti-lock, with electronic force distribution and emergency brake assist. There is also a vehicle stability programme that includes traction control.
The test car was fitted with attractive ten spoke, cast alloy wheels shod with Bridgestone Turanza ER 300 tyres. The only downside so far is that the spare wheel is a Spacesaver. While this may be suitable for urban/suburban use, it is no good for longer distances or when towing a caravan or trailer of any sort. While the jack and wheelbrace are conveniently located above the spare wheel, below the luggage floor, just inside the luggage door, the winding handle is below the floor behind the rear seats.

The main driving instruments are in a hooded binnacle behind the steering wheel. The two large analogue instruments for tachometer (left) and speedometer (right) have black backgrounds, with white lettering and red needles. They are easy to see whilst driving. Between them there are digital indicators in red, for engine temperature (left) and fuel level (right). Above this there is a digital indicator for various things like open doors, unfastened seat belts, average fuel consumption, trip distance recorder, etc.
Below the two central air vents, the top section of the facia is dominated by the audio system. The heating and ventilating controls are below this. The temperature setting is unusual in that it does not show the temperature selected in numbers, but by means of a black block that increases or diminishes in size as the selected temperature is increased or reduced.
Surprisingly and disappointingly, the Aura version only has electric windows at the front. The two rear windows still have to be lowered or raised by hand. Trying to do this from the driver’s seat, is very difficult. It does at least have electrically adjustable, exterior rear view mirrors. Another oddity is the electric handbrake. The rocker switch for this is in the lower edge of the facia, just above your left knee. Normally you lift the rocker switch to apply the brake and press it down to release the brake. On the Avensis, however, it works in the opposite direction. You lift to release and depress to apply.

Above left : Normal luggage space below tonneau cover and without screen in place.
Above right : Normal luggage space with screen erected and tonneau rolled back

Above left : Three large below floor storage boxes
Above right : Tools and additional storage above Spacesaver spare wheel

Above : Maximum carrying space

As you can see from the pictures, the Avensis Tourer is a spacious, versatile and adaptable load carrier. Normal luggage space, between the boot floor and the underside of the tonneau cover is 0.543 cubic metres, with all five seats in use. Remove the tonneau cover and retractable screen, fold the rear seats, load to the roof and you have 1.609 cubic metres of space at your disposal. The car comes as standard with silver roof rails, which incorporate fittings to attach a roof rack. The Avensis Tourer can carry up to 103 kg in a suitable attachment on the roof. Alternatively if you need a car suitable for towing, it can take braked trailers/caravans up to 1600 kg or unbraked trailers of up to 500 kg.
On the road this new Avensis Tourer, handles well, is relaxing and easy to drive, with a good comfortable ride, even over poor surfaces. It most certainly is large, adaptable and versatile, but it is also very relaxing, making it a most enjoyable driving experience.
This pleasurable driving experience is heightened by the fact that the fuel gauge seems to move so very, very slowly, from the full towards the empty position. It cruises along with an absolutely effortless ease, yet when you need it, it has the power to deliver an equally smooth and seemingly effortless acceleration.
Toyota give a three years/100,000 km (62,000 miles), warranty, with three years Europe wide roadside assistance, three years paint cover and twelve years anti-perforation guarantee.

Technical data