New Toyota Avensis
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,264
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From: Pittsburgh
Originally posted by ziggyziggy
wow, the old avensis looks like a BMW 3 series.
wow, the old avensis looks like a BMW 3 series.
Wannabe yuppie
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 25,918
Likes: 0
From: Madison, WI
I think it's smaller than the Camry, it slots in the "big compact" class with cars like the previous Altima and such.
Here's what the Car magazine buyer's guide has to say about the current Avensis:
Achingly boring rep-box aimed squarely at the fleet market. Nice revvy petrol engines, the new D-4D diesel isn't bad either, and handling is effortlesslt competent. Just completely devoid of any want-it vibes.
Spec notes: Poor residuals make this the lowest form of auction fodder. This is the car you get for sleeping with the fleet manager's wife.
Rivals: Nissan Primera, Mitsubishi Carisma
But also try: Ford Mondeo
Our choice of the range: 'So what am I doing in here?'
And don't forget Top Gear:
While it’s true that you should avoid cliches like the plague, when it comes to describing the Avensis it’s difficult to avoid using the term ‘the car as an appliance’. Designed to do a job efficiently and without fuss, the Avensis is just a utensil.
From the moment you open the door you can tell that even in top of the range CDX form the car isn’t special. The handle doesn’t feel solid and the door feels flimsier than it ought to – you won’t feel proud to own an Avensis.
Sit inside and the feeling of tarted up repmobile is reinforced with the token wood inserts and plasticky trim and the switchgear feels and looks like it’s getting a bit long in the tooth.
Once on the move things don’t improve – at least not at first. There’s too much road noise and it’s not at all involving to drive. The anonymous looks also don’t inspire you although the smart alloy wheels do lift the car’s presence a fair bit.
But after that things start to look up as the all-disc brakes are very reassuring and although the car feels quick it’s actually even quicker than it seems.
The interior is very comfortable, even in the back – where all the passengers can enjoy three-point seat belts. There’s also plenty of space in the boot although the CD autochanger that’s velcroed to a corner of the boot floor is daft. Not only does it get in the way but it’s sure to get bashed to bits by stray cargo.
This box of tricks also houses the sat-nav system whose display has been shoehorned into the dash. And that’s the rub – this isn’t a proper executive contender because it’s really a low-rent car with a few extras squeezed in to impress (which it doesn’t).
Here's what the Car magazine buyer's guide has to say about the current Avensis:
Achingly boring rep-box aimed squarely at the fleet market. Nice revvy petrol engines, the new D-4D diesel isn't bad either, and handling is effortlesslt competent. Just completely devoid of any want-it vibes.
Spec notes: Poor residuals make this the lowest form of auction fodder. This is the car you get for sleeping with the fleet manager's wife.
Rivals: Nissan Primera, Mitsubishi Carisma
But also try: Ford Mondeo
Our choice of the range: 'So what am I doing in here?'
And don't forget Top Gear:
While it’s true that you should avoid cliches like the plague, when it comes to describing the Avensis it’s difficult to avoid using the term ‘the car as an appliance’. Designed to do a job efficiently and without fuss, the Avensis is just a utensil.
From the moment you open the door you can tell that even in top of the range CDX form the car isn’t special. The handle doesn’t feel solid and the door feels flimsier than it ought to – you won’t feel proud to own an Avensis.
Sit inside and the feeling of tarted up repmobile is reinforced with the token wood inserts and plasticky trim and the switchgear feels and looks like it’s getting a bit long in the tooth.
Once on the move things don’t improve – at least not at first. There’s too much road noise and it’s not at all involving to drive. The anonymous looks also don’t inspire you although the smart alloy wheels do lift the car’s presence a fair bit.
But after that things start to look up as the all-disc brakes are very reassuring and although the car feels quick it’s actually even quicker than it seems.
The interior is very comfortable, even in the back – where all the passengers can enjoy three-point seat belts. There’s also plenty of space in the boot although the CD autochanger that’s velcroed to a corner of the boot floor is daft. Not only does it get in the way but it’s sure to get bashed to bits by stray cargo.
This box of tricks also houses the sat-nav system whose display has been shoehorned into the dash. And that’s the rub – this isn’t a proper executive contender because it’s really a low-rent car with a few extras squeezed in to impress (which it doesn’t).