Toyota Avensis Tourer T4 2.2 D-4D 5dr Car Review - March 2012

REVIEW
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List Price: £25,895
Tax Band: F
Insurance Group: 24
MPG: 51.4
CO2: 147
0-62 Mph: 9.2 secs
BHP: 148 BHP
Range: 678 miles
CarSite Verdict:  3.5/5
The Toyota Avensis Tourer T4 2.2 D-4D 5dr has a strong diesel engine which delivers good fuel economy. It's a good family car which performs credibly but it's not quite as good as the Mondeo.

PROS:  The Avensis T4 2.2 D-4D is very economical, practical and well-made.

CONS:  It's no fun to drive.

Behind the Wheel

With a maximum power output of 148 bhp at 3600 rpm and a torque figure of 250lb-ft at 1800-2400 rpm, the Toyota Avensis Tourer T4 2.2 D-4D offers decent performance levels for its class. A top speed of 131 mph is more than sufficient and acceleration is also fairly good, reaching 0-62 mph in just 9.2 seconds.

Unfortunately the handling of the car is not as good as that of its rivals, with a lot of body roll experienced in corners. The steering lacks feel, however the engine does work quietly and the cabin is a soothing place to be.

Looks & Equipment

Toyotas are not renowned for their good looks and the Avensis is no exception. It's not ugly by any means, just unbelievably bland.

However, the interior feels well put together and is livened up by the part leather upholstery. The list of standard equipment includes power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, CD player with MP3 connectivity and a built-in sat nav.

Rear parking sensors are priced at £511 and metallic paint costs an additional £450.

Practicality, Safety & Reliability

The Avensis scored five stars in the Euro NCAP tests and is fitted with plenty of standard kit including front, side and curtain airbags and a driver's knee airbag.

The Avensis is supplied with a five year/100,000 mile warranty which is unlikely to be needed, given Toyota's legendary reputation for reliability.

The Avensis Tourer is cavernous on the inside and there is plenty of space on both the front and rear seats. The boot is also very impressive with 543-litres on offer with the rear seats up and 1609-litres available with the rear seats down.

Value for Money

Priced at £25,585 the Avensis Tourer T4 2.2 D-4D is relatively good value for money.

Running costs are more than reasonable for a car of this class too, with road tax falling under band F due to carbon emissions of 150 g/km. Fuel economy of 50.4 mpg means that refuelling shouldn’t be expensive or frequent either, making this model good value for money.

The Avensis depreciates much more slowly than its rivals, making it more cost effective in the long run.

Toyota Avensis Tourer T4 2.2 D-4D 5dr Car Review - by 
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Large Family Alternatives

You might want to read reviews for other Large Family cars that you can then compare to the Toyota Avensis. Here are some popular Toyota Avensis alternatives:

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