Toyota has given the Avensis a whole new look for 2015, in a facelift that will hit Howards Motor Group’s Weston-Super-Mare showroom this summer.
This is the most radical facelift Toyota has ever carried out on any of its models, pumping in even more of a cash injection than the Japanese firm sent the way of the 2014 Yaris. There’s a reworked chassis and sexy new interior, plus alterations to the exterior that were first seen earlier this spring at the Geneva Motor Show.
New LED headlights, front bumper and bonnet and front chrome bar give the new Avensis a look much more in line with the firm’s branding. It’s a smidge longer than its predecessor and the back end also comes with new LED headlights.
Improvements to the chassis have resulted in a smoother ride and sharper handling, while the cabin is now a serene place to be, thanks to improved insulation that blocks out vibration and noise.
Toyota has added two new diesel engines, a 1.6-litre D-4D and a 2.0-litre D-4D. The former is a BMW jobbie that replaces the 2.0-litre diesel and is considerably lighter than the old unit. It’ll take you to 62mph in 11.4 seconds and on to 112mph (on the autobahn). With low CO2 emissions and fuel economy of 68.9mpg, we can see the Green Party signing up a whole fleet.
The new 2.0-litre diesel is the new alternative to the old 2.2-litre version and returns 62.8mpg. It will sweep you to 62mph in just 9.5 seconds, while CO2 emissions of 119g/km are unlikely to bother the environmentalists. Petrol engines also feature reduced CO2 output of up to 19g/km and the 1.8-litre is now Euro-6 compliant.
Full UK specification is yet to be revealed, but Toyota says that the Avensis will have a 'clearly differentiated grade structure' that will be as appealing to corporate buyers as it is to private. The new Avensis is the creation of the firm’s design team, based in France. The new cars will roll off the production line at Toyota's UK factory in Derbyshire.
Available specifications for the Toyota Avensis are Active, Business Edition, Business Edition+ and Excel. Included as standard is the manufacturer’s 'safety sense' suite of active safety technology.
So how much will the facelifted Avensis set you back? Prices begin at £17,765 for the entry-level model. For the all-singing, all-dancing top-of-the-range Sports tourer, expect to pay £28,440.
The new Avensis is a smart, practical, safe and engaging alternative for anyone looking for reliable family transport.
You can test-drive the Avensis, or any other model in the Toyota range, at Howards Motor Group’s Weston-super-Mare showroom.
Image credits: Zavatskiy Aleksandr, Shutterstock