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.
Toyota already has the very finest reputation for making reliable cars.
In the most recent 2008 JD Power survey the brand ranked fourth (sister firm Lexus was number 1). The Avensis itself finished in sixth place for satisfaction (the Prius topped the segment). But don't expect your Avensis to break down: owners were critical of the interior build quality but satisfied with mechanical reliability.
Toyota has listened to customers who had gripes with the interior. The new Avensis cabin isn't particularly stylish but it is an improvement on the previous model's bland interior. Instead of a bountiful display of cheap-feeling plastic, there is clear and logical approach to the dashboard and designers have even created a material that looks and feels like bamboo wood for the centre console. It looks and feels far better than it sounds.
Unfortunately, it's not all perfect and there are still a few nasty plastics to be found, particularly on the interior door handles: all had sharp edges on the test cars we drove.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Toyota Avensis
wrote on 27 03 2008