Toyota Avensis (2015 – 2019) Review

March 2015

Revised Avensis revealed

For 2015 Toyota comprehensively revised the 2009 Avensis, with new corporate styling, new engines and innovative technology, targeting fleet and well as private customers.

The 2015 Toyota Avensis saloon is 4,750mm long x 1,810mm wide x 1,480mm high. Breakover Angle: better than 12.5 degrees helps prevent grounding on ramps. Wheelbase: 2700mm; ground clearance: 140mm; breakover angle: 11.84 degrees.

There are improvements in five main areas:

• Styling: a new, more prestigious and dynamic exterior design with LED lamp technology.
• Sensory quality and comfort: an all-new, more elegant and refined interior, with an emphasis on significantly improved sensory quality, comfort, trim, finishes, colour schemes and NVH.
• Safety: a comprehensive upgrading of safety systems, designed to achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating. A focus on active safety technology introduces the new Toyota Safety Sense package, provided as standard across the range.
• Equipment and value for money: a new, more clearly differentiated grade structure with class-leading standard equipment levels and advanced technology, such as the Toyota Touch 2 system and an eight-inch multimedia screen.
• Driving pleasure and running costs: two new Euro 6 diesel engines, lower CO 2 emissions across the entire range, longer service intervals, lower servicing costs and chassis enhancements to improve ride and handling.

Toyota comprehensively revised the powertrain line-up for the 2015 Avensis, providing customers with the benefits of lower fuel consumption, emissions and ownership costs.
The five-strong European engine range features two diesels, both BMW N47s: a 1.6-litre re-named D-4D and, making its first appearance in a Toyota, a 2.0-litre N47 re-named D-4D unit.

The 1.6 D-4D generates emissions of just 108g/km, 11g/km less than the 2.0-litre unit it replaces. The new 2.0-litre engine’s 119g/km* represents a 24g/km reduction on the performance of the outgoing 2.2-litre unit.

An increase in service intervals to 20,000km and a reduction of about 20 per cent in the 90,000km/three-year servicing costs for both units have helped make the diesels cheaper to run.

In tune with the current move to downsize powerplants to achieve better fuel economy, lower emissions and better driving dynamics, Toyota is replacing Avensis’s previous 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine with a new 1.6 D-4D.

This Euro 6-compliant engine, working with a six-speed manual transmission, is 20kg lighter than its predecessor. It develops 110bhp at 4,00rpm and 270Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,250rpm. This gives 0 – 62mph acceleration in 11.4 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.

The engine posts an eight per cent improvement in fuel efficiency compared to the previous 2.0 D-4D, with combined cycle fuel consumption of 68.9mpg; at the same time, emissions have been reduced from 119 to 108g/km.

The new Euro 6-compliant 2.0-litre D-4D shares the low fuel consumption and emissions performance of its 1.6-litre sister unit, but it has been tuned for a stronger focus on performance.

The new engine develops a maximum 141bhp at 4,000rpm and a generous 320Nm of torque from 1,750 to 2,500rpm. Its linear torque build-up and willingness to rev gives it particularly strong in-gear responsiveness and acceleration: it will move the car from rest to 62mph in 9.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 124mph.

Numerous developments, including a new timing chain, ensure quiet running at all speeds, and Toyota’s stop and start technology, coupled with a tall sixth gear for motorway cruising, help the 2.0 D-4D return average fuel consumption of 62.8mpg with 119g/km emissions.

A further four per cent improvement in fuel economy has been realised through extensive revisions to the Multidrive S continuously variable transmission available with the 1.8 and 2.0-litre engines. These include a new torque converter, continuously variable unit, oil pump, reduction and differential gears, hydraulic control unit and CVT fluid warmer.

The CVT control logic has also been adjusted to reduce engine revving at medium throttle settings, more closely matching engine speed to throttle inputs, like a conventional automatic transmission.

April 2015

Order books opened for the 2015 Toyota Avensis

Prices from £17,765. First UK deliveries from late June 2015.

The established Active and Excel grades mark the entry point and top of the range. These are joined by new Business Edition and Business Edition Plus versions at the heart of the line-up. Across the board, specifications secure high levels of safety, comfort and convenience, not least with the standard provision of Toyota Safety Sense integrated active safety features on all models (further details below).

Customers can choose from 10 colours, with the metallic options including new Havana Brown and Orion Blue shades. Option packs are also available: the Protection Pack (£325) provides mud flaps, scuff plates, boot liner and rear bumper protector (plus additional load space rails for the Touring Sports if required); the Chrome Pack (£250), available for Avensis for the first time, adds chrome side sill and boot/tailgate trim; and the Parking Pack (£495) equips the car with front and rear parking sensors.

The Toyota Touch 2 multimedia system has been upgraded to the latest 2016 specification. The centrally mounted seven-inch touchscreen now offers revised menu pages for accessing the system’s functions and, where the Toyota Touch 2 with Go is installed, for satellite navigation operation. Access to the My Toyota online customer portal has also been improved.

Toyota Touch 2 with Go has been repackaged as single navigation offering for Auris and Avensis, supplied as standard with three years of free map updates and connection to online services. The on board connectivity gives easy access to live information services for fuel prices, weather, parking and traffic conditions local to programmed routes, helping with easier and more efficient journey planning.