- Doors and Seats
4 doors, 7 seats
- Engine
2.4i, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
118kW, 221Nm
- Fuel
Petrol (91) 9.2L/100KM
- Manufacturer
FWD
- Transmission
Auto
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Comfort, not speed
Think family, think Toyota's Avensis, writes Jonathan Hawley.
For: Improved performance appreciated, hugely roomy and flexible interior, good driving position, well equipped.
Against: Poor ride on rough surfaces, average manners, still not cheap for a four-cylinder wagon, lacks aspiration.
Score: 3 stars (out of 5)
How many politicians can pile into a family wagon? An awful lot, if the clamour to engage in the debate over the institution of marriage and society is anything to go by.
While our elected representatives have been absorbed monitoring Playschool for subversive indoctrination, pontificating over Matters of The Traditional Family and arguing over who can and can't marry, the pollies have missed a significant revolution that has been silently happening.
Parliamentarians have yet to sound moral outrage over the demise of the vehicle that has propelled untold families, and surfie layabouts, on great Aussie adventures -- the humble wagon.
The traditional station wagon is under seige in the modern world from the new generation of clan transport, the people-mover.
If you believe Ford, it has all started with the Territory, but take a look at Toyota's Avensis and it isn't far removed from the same basic concept of being part passenger car, part people-mover and wholly unlike a conventional wagon. With its short bonnet, long cabin and seven-seat capacity, the Avensis might not be unique, but it's a thoroughly 21st-century rendition of what family motoring is all about.
The Avensis Verso (to give its full name) appeared in 2002, but has just been updated with a larger, 2.4-litre engine replacing the original 2.0-litre unit. Power has been lifted by just six kilowatts to 118kW, but, more importantly, torque has increased from 192Nm to 221Nm. Given the Avensis comes only with a four-speed automatic, that promises better, more accessible performance.
The upgrade has also included minor improvements to the suspension, a more efficient transmission and a couple of tweaks to interior trim. As before, two models are offered in the GLX and Ultima, with the latter getting side and curtain airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, a leather steering wheel and woodgrain trim. It's not an awful lot given the $5000 price premium, although the Ultima's $48,100 pricetag looks reasonably good compared with other luxury people-movers. Still, it is on the upper side of the equation, especially for families on a budget.
The car is based on a Camry platform, although you wouldn't know to look at it. The Avensis has a tall and narrow body, high seating positions in the front, a second row of seats that slides, tilts and reclines, and a third pair that folds away under the rear floor.
It all makes for a practical family wagon, given that rear leg-room can be extended to fit the tallest of passengers or, with the middle row of seats forward, there's enough space in the third row to squeeze in a couple of adults or accommodate children more comfortably.
Fold away that third row and there's a huge cargo area. There's even an underfloor storage bin big enough to take a couple of sports bags, or more bulky valuables that have to be left inside but hidden or secured. This has been done partly by moving the (space-saver) spare tyre to an almost inaccessible rack under the centre of the car.
The bigger engine has added spark to the driving experience that is more than welcome. The 2.4-litre four is shared with other Toyotas such as the Camry, Tarago and RAV4 and it's a torquey unit, well able to cope with the widely spaced ratios of the four-speed auto. So acceleration is quite strong, without the driver needing to rev the engine hard for decent performance, and fuel consumption of less than 11 L/100km is far better than achievable in a seven-seater 4WD.
The Avensis presents a strong case for itself around town, aided by a reasonably tight turning circle and a good view from the front seats with their armchair-like folding armrests. The transmission lever sprouts from the dashboard, which frees space between the front seats, instrumentation and controls are to Toyota's usual high standards, while niceties such as climate-control air-conditioning, cruise control and a sweet-sounding stereo also help comfort levels.
Things aren't quite so rosy on the open road, where the compromises posed by the Avensis's tall body and hand-me-down suspension conspire to produce a less-than-impressive drive. The suspension is prone to crashing over sharper bumps, which can throw the front end off-line in corners, and there's a build-up of understeer that tells the driver the vehicle's limits have been quickly reached.
Throw a few more people on board, ask the Avensis to tackle a hill with a few corners and the bigger engine starts to struggle even if, at less than 1.6 tonnes, this isn't a heavy car. A manual gearbox would help, but it's obvious the Avensis is built for comfort, not speed.
That doesn't make it a poor choice, because in terms of practicality the Avensis Verso fairly shines. Given the marginal specification improvements of the Ultima version, the cheaper GLX looks like quite good value. With more composure on the open road, it would be a real winner.
Nuts 'n' bolts
Toyota Avensis Verso Ultima
How much: $48,100 (auto), plus on-road costs.
Insurance: Premium $873 (RACV, 40-year-old rating one male driver, medium-risk suburb, $450 excess).
Warranty: Three years/100,000km.
Engine: 2.4-litre, DOHC, 16-valve four-cylinder, 118kW at 5700rpm and 221Nm at 4000rpm.
Transmission: Four-speed automatic. FWD.
Steering: Rack and pinion, 3.2 turns lock to lock. Turning circle 11.0m.
Brakes: Ventilated discs front, discs rear. ABS.
Suspension: Front -- Independent by MacPherson struts with stabiliser bar. Rear -- Torsion beam axle with coil springs and stabiliser bar.
Wheels/tyres: 16 x 6.5-inch alloy wheels, tyres 205/60. Space-saver spare.
How heavy? 1550kg (auto).
How thirsty? 10.7 L/100km average. Standard unleaded, 60-litre tank.
Equipment: Driver airbag, cruise control, CD player, remote locking, side airbags, power windows, alloy wheels, air-conditioning, ABS brakes, leather trim.
Competitors
Ford Territory Ghia -- $49,290 -- 4 stars (out of 5)
Aussie-made wagon has strong six-cylinder performance and finely tuned rear-drive handling. Family-friendly interior, but seven-seat capacity is optional -- as is 4WD.
Honda Odyssey Luxury -- $45,290 (to be rated)
The new model has just gone on sale and is one of the best people movers, thanks to excellent seven-seat packaging and real handling ability.
Prices and details correct at publication date.