Review of the new Toyota Avensis 1.6 Valvematic

The bottom end of the Toyota Avensis range is not a part of the car market that routinely attracts thrill seekers or the acutely image conscious. Toyota's medium range family car does a lot of things very well but if you're looking for an adrenalin hit or to make a major style statement with your next vehicle, we can probably save you the trouble right now. That's not to say that the Avensis should be passed over by everyone. In 1.6-litre Valvematic guise, the car should at least make sense on a financial level.

Toyota's strengths are well known. It builds practical, functional cars to very high standards of fit and finish, instilling them all with its trademark dauntless reliability in the process. What it struggles to do is to design the sort of vehicle that has prospective buyers swooning with admiration in the showroom and distracted pedestrians tripping over their dogs when one passes them in the street. If Toyota could do that, it'd be borderline unbeatable.

The current third generation Avensis is a step in a more desirable direction for Toyota but it still lags behind the class leaders in the image department. Where it can make up lost ground is with its more practical virtues. The 1.6-litre Valvematic engine should be well-placed to do this, sitting at the base of the range with correspondingly low prices attached.

The 1.6-litre unit employs Toyota's latest generation petrol engine technology which is known as Valvematic. This is a progression from the previous generation dual VVT-i powerplants because as well as varying the valve timing according to throttle inputs, it can also adjust the valve lift. The end result is greater efficiency manifested in better fuel economy and more power.

There's an impressive 130bhp on tap in the 1.6-litre Valvematic Avensis and it can sprint from zero to sixty in 10.4s. Most notable however is its torque, which gives far better flexibility at lower to medium engine speeds than Toyota's less advanced VVT-i powerplants did.

"the Toyota Avensis will continue to solider on in the medium range family car market, winning friends with its simplicity, solidity and affordability"

On the road, the Avensis generally serves up an assured ride and maintains its composure even if you corner it fairly quickly. It will fidget a little over minor surface imperfections and the seats could be more supportive but this is a genuinely comfortable car. The steering has a nice weight and the wheel is well shaped but there's little feedback and a lack of accuracy from the helm. The Avensis is neither one of the best nor worst handlers in the sector and that middle of the road position is a step forward for Toyota. As a tool for commuting and devouring motorway marathons, however, it's much nearer the top of the pile.

Much of the desirability that Toyota has set its sights on achieving with the Avensis is rooted in the way a car looks but it still plays things very safe. The shallow side windows, defined shoulder line and raked windscreen give some purpose and there are nice touches, particularly around the rear of the saloon version, but the unusual headlamps and deep grille still need work. Inside, the cabin is sober but predictably well put together. There are some upmarket finishes and the controls layout is as easy to fathom as you could wish for. Everything works and feels like it will continue to do so for a long time to come.

The Avensis has resisted the trend amongst large family cars to indulge in serious middle age spread between generations. This MKIII version is scarcely any bigger than the MKII car. This means that it lags behind the sector's most spacious offerings but there's still room for a couple of six-footers in the rear and the boot is nothing to be sniffed at. The car uses fully independent suspension all-round and Toyota has assembled a fine line-up of transmission options, the 1.8-litre engine being offered with the six-speed manual or a 7-speed CVT 'box that's dubbed Multidrive S.

There are four Avensis trim levels but as a 1.6-litre Valvematic customer, your choice will be limited to entry-level T2 and the second rung TR. The basic package includes air-conditioning, a 6-speaker stereo system, electric heated mirrors, an electronic parking brake and remote central locking.

The TR is the most popular trim level in the whole range and it adds 17" alloys wheels, front fog lights, automatic lights and wipers, cruise control with a speed limiter, electric rear windows and an AUX input for an MP3 player. Toyota isn't offering a hatchback, so buyers can either choose the saloon or the Tourer estate at a premium of just under £1,000. All models have VSC+ stability control and an array of airbags.

The main point of the 1.6-litre Valvematic is cutting costs. While it can't match the economy figures of an Avensis diesel, its 43.5mpg combined cycle economy isn't far off and it undercuts the cheapest oil-burner by around £1,500. The Valvematic direct injection technology is behind the efficiency gains but the car also benefits from other aspects of Toyota's Optimal Drive programme. Emissions are measured at 152g/km, which will go down well with company car users.

It's true that close to 80 per cent of all Avensis models will find their way into the hands of the fleet customers and Toyota is at great pains to emphasise what a cost-effective product the Avensis will be for company car users. Strong residual values and long service intervals will work in conjunction with the efficient engines to maximise affordability.

Despite still lacking much by way of wow-factor, the Toyota Avensis will continue to solider on in the medium range family car market, winning friends with its simplicity, solidity and affordability. The 1.6-litre Valvematic engine is the entry-level petrol choice and it should suit the Avensis well in that its strengths lie more in practical virtues than raw excitement.

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