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.
The Avensis scores well here: even the base 'T2' model, is well equipped with aircon, MP3 connection, seven airbags and ESP.
Spend £1,750 more and you add climate control, fog lamps, cruise control, auto wiper and lamps, Bluetooth, and, for added 'car park credibility', the all-important 17" alloys.
Upgrade to the T4 (£1,500) and you get electric leather seats and keyless go. Finally, for those few willing to spend a further £2,000 there's 18" alloy wheels, an 11-speaker premium sound system, xenon lamps and a panoramic roof.
Options include satnav that costs between £1,000-£1,500 and a panoramic roof on non-T-Spirit models (£600).
The saloon has a decent-size boot, although in the rear the squared-off Avensis rear doesn't quite deliver the sort leg- or head-room we expected.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Toyota Avensis
wrote on 27 03 2008