Toyota Avensis Tourer T Spirit 2.2 D-4D 5dr Car Review - March 2012

The problem for the Avensis Tourer is that this is a class filled with some very good cars, and the Avensis doesn't quite match up with the competition. The Avensis Tourer is a very good car when driving on the motorway, but it is on the A and B roads when the disappointing suspension starts to affect performance, with a lot of body roll and steering that doesn't really respond as you'd expect. The driving position has a seat and a steering wheel that can be fully adjusted to suit the individual, and the visibility to the front and rear is very good when compared with its rivals.

Engine performance is one highlight in the Avensis Tourer, with the acceleration from 0-62mph taking only 9.2 seconds, which isn't bad at all for a car this large. The 2.2 litre diesel also has the power to push the car up to a top speed of 130mph, and generally the cabin is quite refined except when driving on rough surfaces or when the engine is revved quite hard.

The Avensis Tourer is a car that looks a lot like many other estate cars, and the air intake below the grille is fairly typical of what modern estate cars offer, and the height of the windows tapers towards the back. The spoiler over the rear window is attractive enough, but the Avensis Tourer doesn't quite have enough about it to be distinctive in this competitive class. Inside, the wheel and the black plastics are nice enough, and the dashboard keeps things simple and easy to read.

This version of the Avensis Tourer has an excellent standard of trim, with the majority of gadgets and luxuries you would expect for such a price. The panoramic sunroof and leather seats are among the highlights in this car, and satellite navigation and Bluetooth connectivity are also good features. Inside the cabin the leather trim is over power heated seats, and the CD stereo comes with an integrated hard drive.

There is no doubt that the Avensis Tourer is a very practical car, and has a spacious cabin that can comfortably carry five occupants, while the boot has plenty of luggage space. The folding seats add to the flexibility of the car. Toyota does have a well deserved reputation for making reliable cars, and the Avensis Tourer does score well in driver surveys.

The car is also very safe, with a great range of airbags in the front and rear of the car, and also has the driving aids to keep the car stable. These features have helped the car to be awarded five stars in the Euro NCAP safety test.

Although the Toyota Avensis performs quite consistently, the price tag of £27,785 may have some people wanting a little more for their money, especially when compared with rivals such as the Mondeo.

The fuel efficiency from the 2.2 litre diesel engine is very good, delivering an average 50.4mpg. The relatively low insurance costs help to reduce the price to keep the car on the road, but the Avensis Tourer does suffer from depreciation when it becomes time to sell the car. A big selling point for the car is the excellent warranty that is offered by Toyota covering five years or ninety-nine thousand miles, and is also delivered with a year's membership of the AA.