Category: Large Family 
Price Range: £16,485 to £27,515
Low running costs, well-equipped, fine engine range.
Unadventurous looks, diesel makes a racket when worked, excessive road noise.
New Avensis is still dull, but thanks to its low running costs, remains one well worth considering.
You would be forgiven if you had missed the two previous generations of Toyota's Avensis. After all, the brand itself admits these four-doors were somewhat faceless. That's because the Japanese car maker was too focused on bettering fuel consumption and improving safety. Now it's time to rectify that and inject some excitement.
Perhaps excitement is the wrong word, but in a declining segment the new car must be less of a wall flower.
Slab-sided with an iQ-like nose this latest generation is certainly an improvement, although from the rear we think it still looks a little old fashioned.
Thankfully, under the skin things have moved forward quite dramatically. The Avensis is the second car in the Toyota line-up (the iQ was the first) to benefit from its Optimal Drive fuel-saving features that use low-friction, lightweight components and new engine technology to cut carbon dioxide emissions and boost power.
As well as all the new technology, Toyota has spent money on all-new underpinnings to transform this into a 'driver's' car. So with all this new stuff, is the Avensis a credible Ford Mondeo rival?
Latest Readers' Drives About the Toyota Avensis
wrote on 27 03 2008