Toyota wants more than the usual 'competent but dull' for its new Avensis. ANDREW HAMILTON says it's worth it
A best-seller on the Irish market, it hasn't merited much attention elsewhere. The Toyota Avensis that used to be the Carina, has topped the family and fleet car sector for 16 out of 17 years, beating the Ford Mondeo, Opel Vectra, Nissan Primera et al. In other markets, however, it gets the sort of faint praise that's often meted out to Japanese cars - like being worthy and competent but dull.
Toyota firmly believes that such comment can't be made about the latest Avensis which will debut here early next year. Essentially, Toyota has looked at rivals, such as Mondeo and VW Passat, and their best virtues have been blended into the new car. Avensis chief engineer Suguya Fukusato says one of his major priorities was "sharp body control and superior ride comfort". He wants Avensis to be dynamically the best for road behaviour.
An affably Bohemian Japanese man with wide interests including Yeats' poetry, he has had much to do with the crafting of Avensis, even though it is very European. Styling was done at Toyota's design studio in the south of France, while manufacturing takes place in Derbyshire, England, where the previous Avensis and Carina were built. An early influence in styling came from the young Greek designer, Sotiris Kovos whose other work for Toyota includes the chic Yaris and the Lexus SC430.
This new English-built Avensis is going to European customers only. It looks distinctly upgraded from what went before. "We think we have put a quality appearance into the profile," says Johannes Thammer, Toyota Motor Europe's vice-
president for product planning and research. He previously worked with Audi, VW's upmarket division. The quality theme is abundant in the interior. Doors open and close with a refined clunk, materials have an elegantly soft touch and everything mixes and matches with precision.
Another of Fukusato's priorities is NVH (Noise, Vibration, Harshness). He talks of a Lexus-style hush in the driving adding: "We hope you don't hear much engine."
New Avensis is up 100mm in length, 70mm in wheelbase and 55mm in height. Toyota claims that no other car in the class will have such a commodious interior. The space doesn't come at the expense of the boot: with 520 litres Toyota again says it has beaten all competition.
The engine line-up includes the 1.8 litre existing VVT-I with 129bhp which will be the big seller on the Irish market. Other versions are a 147bhp 2.0 litre and a 116bhp 2.0 litre common-rail turbodiesel.