Avensis gets new competitive edge
This week’s launch, which on initial impressions is indeed a major step forward in the face of a D-Segment onslaught from the likes of Ford and Volkswagen with their respective new Mondeo and Passat models, was also marked by a little quibbling as to whether the new car is merely a facelift or a completely new car.
Some company representatives might have been a little taken aback by this questioning of their ‘all-new’ claims — pesky journalists and their churlish probings — but it seems to be a fair cop when you consider the only claims being made by Toyota about chassis changes concerned a more rigorous welding regime and a better class of glue used to seal the windscreens.
In fairness, there are those new BMW engines, a really neat new look, much better driving characteristics thanks to suspension revisions, a suite of new safety features, a raft of new kit and a completely new interior, all of which do combine to give the Avensis a new level of competitiveness.
And there is stuff like the comprehensive warranty package, the price and the placing of the car in the market segment which, Toyota says, puts the Avensis squarely ahead — on value alone — of the D-Segment contenders such as Mondeo and Passat as well as the upstart Hyundai i40.
The Japanese company’s representatives seemed to take particular pleasure in pointing out that their car will come with a host of stuff which are only optional in both the Ford and the VW, while they are not even available in the South Korean contender.
Toyota also made a big deal of the new interiors on offer in the new car and maintain the car now offers much more attractive trims, finishes and colour schemes.
Their claim of a premium feel throughout is not an idle boast and neither is the claim that decreased noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) levels are way better than before or that the new Avensis offers a smoother, quieter drive. Both these claims were evident during the test drive in Switzerland.
On the technology front each grade — there are three of them: Aura, Luna and Sol — offers such as the Toyota Touch 2 system and an 8” multimedia screen.
While the Irish press material singularly failed to mention that the new diesel engines had been sourced from BMW (like that was a bad thing, or something), the fact is the new petrol and diesel powertrain line-up has been comprehensively revised and now offers lower fuel consumption, CO emissions and cost of ownership.
The four strong engine range features the two Beemer units, as well as 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre petrol engines.
Prices for Avensis start from just €25,870 for petrol and €27,710 for diesel and while it might be argued that the new car is not quite entirely new, it is certain that a lot of punters are going to like what’s on offer here They will like the look; they will like the value for money; and, they will also like the traditional Avensis values of sturdiness and reliability. They probably won’t even care that it is not as all new as is being maintained.
That’s why the Toyota are justifiably bullish about this new car.
