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Better looks, chassis and savings with latest Toyota Avensis
publication date: Dec 3, 2011
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author/source: Robin Roberts
The new Toyota Avensis is on sale now from £18,450.
Thanks to the revised engine, new Avensis is also primed to deliver significant
savings in ownership costs through less money spent at the pumps, lower road
tax and, crucial for business users, more favourable company car tax ratings.
With new, longer service intervals factored into the cost equation for business
motorists, new Avensis delivers a best-in-class pence-per-mile cost over three
years/60,000 miles.
|  | The 148bhp Toyota Optimal Drive
2.0-litre D-4D engine is well-established at the heart of the Avensis range but
has undergone a series of changes that yield big gains in emissions and
fuel economy.
Compared to the previous engine, combined cycle fuel economy has improved by
15 per cent, from 53.3 to 61.4mpg and a 14 per cent reduction has been achieved
in CO2 emissions, which fall from 139 to 119g/km. Overall the engine
is 3kg lighter, quieter and gives more linear torque. |
Key changes include a new turbocharger with lower friction bearings and an
electric actuator. The torque characteristics of each gear have also been
adjusted and as a result, drivers enjoy greater torque at low speeds.
Improvements in engine cooling and lubrication and the use of low rolling
resistance tyres have helped cut the CO2 exhaust emissions, along
with new glow plug control, changes to the diesel particulate filter and a new
piston bowl shape that allows for improved combustion performance.
Elsewhere in the new Avensisline-up the Toyota Optimal Drive 1.8 Valvematic
petrol engine with manual or Multidrive S continuously variable transmission
and the 2.2-litre D-4D and D-CAT diesels - the latter with six-speed automatic
transmission - are carried over from the previous model range.
Making new Avensis a more rewarding drive, with better comfort levels, was a
prime goal of the development team. To achieve the desired result, the car has
a more rigid body and benefits from changes to the front and rear suspension.
Small - but telling - adjustments have been made to the aerodynamics and
strategic use of extra insulation material has further reduced NVH levels in
the cabin.
Particular attention has been paid to the electric power steering, which
adopts a quicker gear ratio, giving more direct performance, making the car
more agile and manoeuvrable.
The focus on comfort extends to changing the design of the front seats to
offer better lateral support.
Thanks to the substantial reduction achieved in CO2 emissions,
the new 2.0-litre D-4D engine delivers a 17 per cent Benefit-in-Kind company
car tax rating, four points lower than the previous model. This combines with
the new model's higher equipment specification to make it a very attractive
proposition for business customers, delivering significant savings compared to
rival models in terms of both tax bills and the features you get for your
money.
Among its key competitors, none matches Avensis in providing satellite
navigation as standard, let alone the advanced connectivity and information
features included in the Toyota Touch & Go system.
Overall, the new Avensis 2.0 D-4D cuts the cost-of-ownership bill by £2,000
compared to the previous model thanks to the improved residual values, fuel
economy, CO2 emissions and service, maintenance and repair costs
over three years/60,000 miles. Crunching the figures into a pence-per-mile
cost, the new Avensis 2.0 D-4D dips below the 50p mark to deliver the best performance
among key competitors.
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