Avenis’ advance Comfort with a capital C, a big boot and the promise of trouble-free motoring for half a decade should make the new Toyota Avensis appealing to parents as well as businessmen. reports.

Matt Kimberley

Toyota has had an attack of common sense and handed over development of the facelifted Avensis almost entirely to its European arm and, surprise surprise, there are big improvements in key areas.

As well as the new family face the Avensis has new diesel engines sourced from BMW, redesigned front seats for greater long-distance cruising comfort and an improved spread of equipment that includes a package of active safety systems.

Looks and image

The new front end pushes round front foglights right to the edge of the bumper, emphasising premium-esque girth.

It’s a pity, then, that the car looks rather under-wheeled on all but the largest 18-inch options. This is no super-saloon lookalike.

Toyota is targeting business drivers and the fleet managers who supply them, with lower emissions and more comfort; two image-boosting factors for high-mileage types. Toyota is still known for its (almost) peerless reliability, too, regularly swapping top spot in the satisfaction charts with its Japanese rivals at Honda.

Space and practicality

There are no worries in terms of boot space in either the Here is where the biggest improvements have come. The Avensis was a slowturning, wobbly thing but with the addition of chassis spot welds, a new power steering calibration and accomplished BMW diesel engines it is much more direct, positive and – whisper it – almost enjoyable along a twisty road.

There’s a sense of directness and balance in the controls that wasn’t there before.

Toyota’s Touch 2 media and sat nav interface is not perhaps the most attractive, but the navigation fires up and responds to route changes faster than any other unit we’ve tested, never leaving you hanging at a crucial junction

It’s the seats that are the highlight. New shaping spreads the body’s pressure better, reducing fatigue and supporting you more effectively.

In several two-hour stints we never felt the need to shift position or get out for a legstretch.

Value for money

Budget well over £20,000 for a mid-spec diesel. It’s not cheap and faces stiff competition from the Hyundai i40, but it’s mechanically well-sorted and Toyota’s reliability record goes in its favour here. A five-year, 100,000-mile warranty boosts customer value.