Everyone is accustomed to the fact that Toyota cannot create anything unsuccessful. Maybe a strange design that many will not like, or a couple of “jambs” in the car due to carelessness, but they don’t have any completely unsuccessful copies.
The company is considered by many to be the best automaker in the entire world.
Today in our review we are pleased to present you the Toyota Avensis 2007 2nd generation. Production of the 2nd generation Avensis Toyota began in 2003. This is the T-25 or T-25 (2006) model. The restyled version differs from the older version quite simply - in the color of the rear lights. In the pre-restyling version it is completely red, and in the restyled version it has white inserts, but overall the design has not changed much.
Exterior
Appearance is the main criterion for choosing and purchasing a car. There is practically nothing to tell about the design of Avensis Toyota; it is quite controversial. There are several complaints about it:
- the car is quite low, the ground clearance is only 150 cm, but there are cars with 130 cm. Of course, you can’t drive an Avensis Toyota off-road
- an incomprehensible bumper with plastic covers made of two parts, which everyone constantly clings to
There are also advantages:
- good Michelen tires, 16-inch wheels
- window tinting
Interior
This car has a trunk volume of 520 liters. The opening is large enough, there is a handle for closing. The only negative that almost everyone complains about is that it creaks.
Avensis Toyota is a car for every day with good equipment. It is worth considering when purchasing that the fabric interior absorbs dust and various stains. In the maximum configuration with a 2.4 liter engine, the interior will be leather.
What is installed in this version?
- electric windows
- heated windshield, side and rear
- heated front seats
- Rain sensor
- 9 airbags
Unfortunately, there is no cruise control.
There is plenty of space in the cabin, especially for rear seat passengers. For their convenience, an ashtray, a 12-volt outlet and a light are located next to them.
The doors are quite heavy, but close very easily. It seems that they themselves are “putting the pressure on.” The Toyota Avensis 2008 audio system is somehow strangely tied to its operation. You can only listen to music when the car is running.
Specifications
The car participating in the review is equipped with a 1.8-liter V-VTI engine, 16-valve with 129 horsepower. Until 2005, such an assembly used a lot of oil. The problem was huge and appeared instantly. This happened due to defects in the piston group. It also clogged due to low-quality oil. But in 2005 this problem was solved. The channels in the engine were made twice as large and the rings and the cylinder block processing system were changed. The oil filling volume has increased.
There is also a simpler engine of 1.6 liters and 110 hp. s., accelerates to hundreds in 11 seconds. In the city, such an engine is quite enough, but again, until 2005, it ate a lot of oil.
The Avensis Toyota also has a 2-liter engine with 147 horsepower. Fuel consumption in the city is only 1 liter more than the 1.8-liter. At the same time, the car is more dynamic. The only feature of the 2-liter power unit is that it is more picky about the quality of the fuel poured.
There is also a 2.4 liter, but it differs slightly from the 2-liter in design. There are also diesel engines - 2 liters and 2.2 with 177 liters. With. Diesel engines are no different from similar engines from other manufacturers. It is better to change the oil every 7 thousand mileage. A timing chain is installed, the replacement of which is very individual.
Driving performance
Front-wheel drive, electric power steering. On the center console there is a monitor, separate climate control, and wood-look inserts. Standard dashboard. The steering wheel is adjustable for tilt and reach. On the steering wheel there is control for switching channels and sound of the audio system, a display button that displays consumption, mileage and speed. The transmission is a five-speed manual; the same automatic transmission is also available.
Results
As the test drive of the Toyota Avensis 2007 - 2008 showed, it is a fairly reliable car that handles normally. There is no point in revving the engine too much, because even from the bottom it drives in any gear. Toyota Avensis 2008 has a soft suspension. There are no special questions. It's perfect for driving, no questions asked. It is ideal for everyday driving.
Video
A video review of the car can be seen below.
The whole photo shoot
New “Toyota Avensis” - everything as usual and even a little better
Externally, the third “Avensis” is very different from its predecessor. Not a single common detail: the car body was completely redesigned. The car has become larger, more solid, and its design is perhaps more expressive in some ways. But the chassis of the Avensis remained the same. Apparently, Japanese rationalism took its toll – what’s the point of fundamentally changing a generally successful platform? But the model received new, more powerful engines of the “Valvematic” family, and the place of the outdated four-speed “automatic” was taken by the ultra-modern “Multidrive S” variator with the ability to manually change gears.
“FLAGSHIP, flagship model, new leader, top of the model range” - Toyota representatives repeated these words so often that I simply could not help but ask again:
- Excuse me, what kind of flagship, but really?..
“Yes, yes, of course,” they didn’t even let me finish the question. – We remember that the older Toyota Camry is also sold in Russia. But for the rest of Europe, the flagship is precisely “Avensis”.
Indeed, Europeans and Russians perceive Avensis differently. For motorists of the Old World, this is the largest, most luxurious and prestigious passenger model from Toyota. And for us - an intermediate link between the super popular “Corolla” and “Camry”.
In principle, both approaches have a right to exist. But when developing the new “Avensis”, the Japanese looked at it primarily from the position of Europeans. That is why, as Toyota employees told me, the chief engineer of the project, Takashi Yamamoto, before starting to develop the car, visited a dozen European countries (I’m willing to bet that Russia was not among them), talked with specialists and car enthusiasts, found out their tastes and requests and preferences and only after that I took up the drawings.
By the way, he was assisted in his work by a team of employees from the European headquarters of Toyota Motor Corporation invited to Japan. Thus, what they ended up with can be considered the fruit of cooperation between specialists from two cultures. A kind of sushi bar in the center of Brussels (somewhere next to the European office of Toyota) - adaptation of the traditions of Japanese cuisine to the tastes of the Old World.
In Europe, Avensis is the flagship of the model range, the largest and most prestigious Toyota passenger car.
The less the merrier
The multimedia system menu is completely Russified, and the navigator's voice messages are also in Russian.
The interior of the new Avensis, perhaps, cannot be called expressive, but there is no fault with the ergonomics, and the quality of finishing materials is at a decent level.
I'M LUCKY. It seems that one of the foreign journalists broke or completely destroyed the car intended for the test drive. It was urgently replaced with the first available car that was at hand. And from a pile of key fobs from test Avensis cars, I managed to fish out the key to this replacement car.
Where's the luck in that? Yes, the fact is that I got a car with almost a basic configuration and with the least powerful engine. Usually, to get acquainted with a new model, manufacturers offer exclusively top-end versions with almost maximum equipment. It is clear that such cars look more attractive, but one can often only guess what the cheaper modifications are.
But this time it turned out differently. I have an Avensis with a 1.6 liter engine and a six-speed manual transmission. The interior, of course, is rag, there is not even a standard audio system. And the engine starts not with a button, as on most versions of the new product, but in the old fashioned way - with the ignition key.
- Let's change the car! – the organizers suddenly became alarmed. – We have richer modifications, with Russian-language navigation, a rear view camera, a 1.8 liter engine and a CVT...
- No, really. Thank you. Now I will go with this one, and then, perhaps, I will change it to another.
The computer self-diagnosis system will remind the car owner about the timing of replacement of consumables and elements.
When reverse is engaged, a picture from a camera located at the rear of the car is displayed on the screen. But the computer does not display the optimal trajectory of movement.
So, let's go. To be honest, I don’t understand why the test drive organizers suddenly became worried. My first impressions of the car are the most favorable. The flagship is the flagship. Even with a low-power motor.
However, stop! Why low-power? Who said that? Yes, my car is equipped with a 1.6-liter naturally aspirated engine. But this is a completely new engine, and the Japanese are removing 132 hp from its not very impressive volume. Is this not enough for you? Until recently, such power was the lot of good two-liter engines. By the way, the base 1.8-liter engine of the previous Avensis produced less. Even taking into account the use of the VVT-i progressive valve timing system, its output was only 129 forces.
The new Toyota engines of the “Valvematic” family (which replaced the engines of the V VT-i family) are noticeably more powerful than their predecessors. Mainly due to the fact that they change not only the opening time of the intake valves, but also the height of their lift. Thanks to this, the air sucked into the cylinders is dosed more accurately, the fuel combustion process is optimized, and as a result, power increases. Moreover, and this is very important, not at the expense of efficiency.
This is how it works in theory. But in practice - without knowing in advance, it is difficult to guess that the engine capacity under the hood of my Avensis is only 1.6 liters. Of course, when starting from a standstill, the headrest does not hit the driver on the back of the head and the seat does not creak from the weight of the body pressed into it. 132 “horses” are not enough for this. But acceleration to “hundreds” in 10.4 seconds is a very respectable figure. At least it allows you not to feel inferior in a dynamic traffic flow.
Toyota engineers abandoned the classic automatic transmission and instead installed a variator on the new Avensis.
What you don't notice
MY GRANDFATHER, the smartest man, loved to teach me:
– Do you know how much money you need to be happy?
- Well, probably a lot...
– No, not a lot, but just enough so as not to think about them. What's the best weather? The one you don't notice!
The slot for loading audio CDs is located under the folding screen. There is also a built-in hard disk connector on which you can record up to 10 GB of music.
The trunk volume of the sedan is slightly more than 500 liters. Three or four medium-sized suitcases fit there easily. It’s just inconvenient to load them - the opening is too narrow.
Continuing his thought, I am ready to argue that the best transmission is the one that does not remind you of its existence. It's as if she doesn't exist at all. A manual transmission does not fall under this definition under any circumstances. Until recently, the classic torque converter “automatic” was the closest to the ideal. But exactly – close, nothing more. All other schemes - “robots”, variators and others like them - suffered from many features that did not allow us to forget about their presence even for a second. I will not list all the problems - enough has been said and written about them. And everyone who has driven cars with similar gearboxes is familiar with their shortcomings.
Japanese engineers also know them. Therefore, for the next generation of “Avensis” they did not install the far from flawless (not only in my opinion) robotic gearbox, which is used on the “Corolla” and “Auris” models, but preferred to develop a completely new variator “Multidrive S”.
True, in order to try it out, I had to swap cars with a colleague. The fact is that the youngest 1.6-liter engine in the range can only be combined with a manual transmission. The older two-liter (152 hp) – only with a CVT. And only for the average 1.8-liter (147 hp) options are possible.
This time I got a 147-horsepower car. I’ll say right away that I didn’t feel any fundamental difference in dynamics. Well, yes, there is a little more thrust at low speeds, acceleration is generally the same. But the transmission...
Let me quote from the official press release: “The Multidrive S CVT provides incredibly smooth shifting, optimizes torque and fuel consumption, always using the optimal engine speed.” I am ready to confirm and even subscribe to every word. Except that the shifts are not felt even in the so-called manual mode...
Toyota's new CVT is truly a “transmission that doesn’t exist.” It literally does not betray its presence in any way; you can’t even hear the monotonous, annoying noise of the engine, constantly operating at the same, optimal from an electronics point of view, speed. Although there is not much noise in the Avensis at all. Very quiet car. Having jumped out onto a section of the road that was being repaired, with the asphalt partially removed, I even got scared when I suddenly began to hear the rustling of wheels on gravel chips. Before this, the cabin was completely quiet.
The other side of good
The back seat is quite spacious. There is enough headroom and you don't have to rest your knees on the back of the front seat.
A keyless engine start system is offered for an additional fee, but an electronic handbrake is included in the basic equipment.
A NEW CVT, no matter how good it is, is not the main and by no means the only advantage of the car. But the invisibility of the continuously variable transmission is one of the important components of the image of the new Avensis. A car that performs its functions discreetly, unobtrusively and at the same time flawlessly.
Does the engine pull well and consume little fuel? Great, but in a couple of weeks the owner of a Toyota Avensis will begin to take it for granted. Does the CVT smoothly and imperceptibly change the transmission gear ratio? Amazing! But this smoothness will become a habit in just a couple of days. Is it quiet in the cabin? After an hour you forget that things can be different.
Japanese engineers even made sure that the Avensis owner thought less about scheduled maintenance - compared to other company models, the service interval was increased to 15,000 km. And also, to make repairs in the event of a minor accident as easy as possible, bumper mounts, headlight brackets and other small things that suffer in collisions are made easily removable, disposable and as cheap as possible.
However, all these advantages also have a downside. The car turned out to be invisible in everything and to everyone. There is nothing to catch your eye on, nothing to focus your attention on. However, the previous “Avensis” could not boast of any super-original, out-of-the-ordinary features. Which, however, did not harm his popularity at all, quite the contrary. Although, I remember, no one sang his praises either. Maybe in vain? Maybe. People just quickly get used to good things and stop noticing them. That's how we are made...
RETROSPECTIVE
1998 – 2002
The first generation Avensis was produced at the Toyota plant in the UK. This car replaced the “Carina E” model, famous for its reliability and ease of use. Through the efforts of Japanese engineers, “Avensis” fully inherited all the best qualities of its predecessor. Structurally, these models are also quite similar. The chassis has remained virtually unchanged. A 1.6-liter gasoline engine was considered the base engine; there were also 1.8 and 2-liter engines. And in Europe a two-liter turbodiesel was also sold.
2003 – 2008
The second generation model was also produced in England and was even exported from there to Japan. Compared to its predecessor, the new Avensis was completely designed from scratch. The car received significantly upgraded engines. In our market, the 1.8-liter VVT-i engine with 129 hp has become the base engine. And the flagship version was also equipped with a 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine, borrowed from the Camry model. Diesel modifications, designated “D-4D”, were not sold here.
SAFETY
The steering wheel will help the driver
We don’t even need to talk about the fact that the new Avensis is equipped with ABS with automatic brake force distribution and emergency braking booster. The exchange rate stability system and traction control probably won’t surprise anyone today either. Many models have all this. But Toyota engineers came up with something more...
The ELECTRIC power steering, which is installed on the new “Avensis”, can work together with the VSC dynamic stabilization system and, if necessary, independently turn the steering wheel to a small angle. Thus, in emergency situations, the car, at the command of the electronics, can slightly correct its trajectory or even help compensate for the skid.
But it’s too early to talk about the passive safety of the Avensis. The model has just appeared on the market, and its crash tests under the EuroNCAP program have not yet been carried out. But considering that in 2003 the previous “Avensis” already received the highest rating in these tests, we can expect that the new product will perform no worse. At least as standard, it is equipped with seven airbags, including an additional “air bag” that protects the driver’s knees.
MODIFICATION
For the most practical
The new “Avensis” is available in two versions: sedan and station wagon. Representatives of the Toyota company claim that the station wagon body was designed separately, and therefore it is fundamentally different in appearance from the base sedan.
The STATION is slightly longer than the sedan. Its rear overhang has been increased by approximately 70 mm. But outwardly it is almost invisible. The car doesn't look any more massive. First of all, this is the merit of the designers, who, when designing the rear part of the body, tried to rid it of the excessive bulkiness characteristic of many station wagons.
The trunk volumes, if measured to the line of the rear windows, are not fundamentally different between the sedan and the station wagon: 509 liters versus 543. But if you fold the rear seats of the station wagon, a very impressive space will be freed up for luggage - more than 1,600 liters.
| Brief technical characteristics of “Toyota Avensis” | |||
| Overall dimensions, cm | 470x181x148 | ||
| Curb weight, kg | 1.365 - 1.435* | 1.370 - 1.455* | 1.435 - 1.505* |
| Engine | 4-cyl., in-line, 1.598 cc cm | 4-cyl., in-line, 1.798 cc cm | 4-cyl., in-line, 1.987 cc cm |
| Power | 132 hp at 6,400 rpm | 147 hp at 6,400 rpm | 152 hp at 6,200 rpm |
| Torque | 160 Nm at 4,400 rpm | 180 Nm at 4,000 rpm | 196 Nm at 4,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed, mechanical | 6-speed, mechanical (variable speed drive) | variable speed drive |
| type of drive | front | ||
| Maximum speed, km/h | 200 | 200 | 205 |
| Acceleration 0-100 km/h, s | 10,4 | 9,4 (10,4) | 10,0 |
| Average consumption fuel, l/100 km | 6,5 | 6,5 (6,7) | 7 |
| Fuel capacity, l | 60 | ||
| *Depending on configuration. | |||
The closed parking lot of our bank resembles an army parade ground: all the cars are like soldiers in formation - the same. One Avensis, two Avensis, three, four, five. And so on until ten. Even their license plates differ by only one digit in a three-digit number. What can you do: in Russia, Toyota Avensis is a regular in corporate fleets.
The story tastes as bad as dust. The bank bought a batch of new Toyotas to replace old ones that had been written off due to mileage and age. It would seem that this is a new product, a third-generation car that has just appeared on the Russian market. But it entered my life completely unnoticed, taking its place in the usual chain of accessories: Avensis - a formal suit - a communicator, in which every day is scheduled down to the minute.
According to the owner's manual, the 17-inch alloy wheels hide 320mm brake discs at the front and 290mm at the rear. The Avensis brakes well, and the only criticism concerns the pedal, which gets stiff when you press on it quickly.
If we continue in the same spirit, then as a link between family and work, Avensis will not deserve a more detailed story than “I’m sitting comfortably, I’m eating normally.” But I read the automotive press, I know all the terminology, and I’m interested in cars! I'm observant - so why not talk about Avensis with feeling? Or at least meaningfully. At worst, I’ll have something to attach to my resume at DRIVE.RU if I suddenly get bored of studying economics. There are such examples in their edition.
Externally, the new Avensis is quite strict and smart. Like me in a business suit. And you can’t deny the harmony of the image to the “Japanese”. The most interesting details are at the front.
First of all, the new Avensis is no longer the trade wind-shaped “fish” that made the last six years resemble one long Thursday. Today, unexpected parallels can be traced in appearance: for example, the hood suddenly evokes associations with the updated Saab 9-3. Front optics of an unusual shape and stamping at the bottom of the doors hold the gaze of a passerby for several seconds, endless for Toyota. If our head of the analytical department did not have the same Avensis, this guy would certainly look behind me.
The sides are decorated with “shoulders” in the style of the Volvo S60 family sedan. It's a pity, these elements persistently loom in the side mirrors, hiding what is happening in the area of the thresholds.
Inside there is a space of minimized risks. It is open to a person of any size thanks to the wide doorway. The interior is devoid of flair, but looks solid. The amount of soft and hard plastic is balanced, like a debit with a credit on the eve of an inspection. Not a suit from Brioni, of course, but it will look like Feraud. Although, even with the office uniform of such brands, I would not wear a plastic Casio watch, which is suggested by the convenient climate control unit.
- When driving briskly, the lack of distinct lateral support for the front seats is compensated by the frictional properties of the leather trim. But at this rate, the variator, and along with it the central tunnel, heats up so much that it can even boil water in the cup holder.
- The main touch display could use a higher resolution, and it fades in sunny weather. Although it is easy to navigate the wilds of the multimedia complex, as well as use “navigation” with a detailed and visual map. It’s a pity, occasionally a sweet female voice (just like my assistant’s) asks to drive under a brick.
- A couple of hours behind the wheel and you can switch modes of the Multidrive S variator blindly. The large Sport button is also easy to find without looking. Just keep in mind that dynamic movement around the city in sport mode will cost you 14-15 liters of gasoline per 100 km.
Avensis allows you to sit down correctly and seriously praise the wide range of adjustments: there is enough free space for both arms and legs. But after a whole day of business plans, quotes and rubles-euro-dollars, I want to settle myself into a cozy chair. But it’s a bit harsh, and the back is diligently pushing my tired body out. But the side mirrors are good, and the bright dashboard lights can be dimmed in the evening. The multimedia system is also easy to use: the buttons are large, including “virtual” keys on the central touch screen (you don’t have to squint to access them, like Tom Berenger in “Sniper”).
I would not recommend using the new Avensis as a “personal car”. Rear passengers are not provided with air deflectors. But there is a massive armrest, tilted too far forward, and headrests that look like they are made of stone. And a person taller than 185 cm will touch the ceiling with his head every now and then.
On the move, it is most difficult to apply the definition of “official” to Avensis. It is elastic and soft enough: minor and medium-sized road troubles do not bring discomfort to riders. And no ship rocking. Only in large potholes, which, as you understand, I don’t try to avoid, does the Toyota seem harsh, although the sound of the front suspension is much more annoying. Potholes in the asphalt, cracks, rails that are not flush with the rubber pads respond with loud metallic curses somewhere in the legs. In my memory, only the beautiful Mazda6, which I almost bought for my wife, was cursed like that.
As you might guess, I am fenced off from a professional assessment of handling by a non-deformable barrier. The car turns, doesn’t roll too much - and it’s nice. But isn’t it significant that the Avensis makes me squeeze the plump three-spoke donut with interest, changing my usual route? The ribbon of the Rogachevskoye Highway either curls like an eel, then quickly straightens out. A couple of quick turns - and it doesn’t seem to me that the electric booster is not saying anything.
The situation with sound insulation is strange. If you sit on the back seat, the “Japanese” seems to be a fairly quiet car. But from the driver’s seat you can hear both the front wheel arches singing and the wind howling at the windshield pillars.
And most importantly, this is a Toyota, that is, when it begins to seem to me that the meaning of the words “precise reactions, but soft like a cat” is about to dawn on me, a delicate stabilization system already stops the drift of the front wheels and takes control of the following sliding with all four.
A two-liter “four” from among the good “economists”. On the highway you can achieve 6.2 liters per 100 km, and in the city with quiet driving you can stay within ten liters.
I may not be a speed freak. But that’s why I like the normal mode of operation of the CVT and the extended responses of the 152-horsepower “four” 2.0. Life barely glimmers at the tip of the tachometer needle. However, let's not pretend that the Sport button on the center tunnel doesn't exist. As soon as the letter S lights up on the dashboard, the spirit of my assistant enters the power unit. She also does everything before you ask. But if it were as responsive as the Avensis in sport mode, I'd have problems at home. The engine spins easily up to 5000 rpm, following the pedal precisely. Even at speeds over 120 km/h, the Avensis has enough traction reserve. Neither the 145-horsepower Mondeo nor the Mazda6 2.0 AT, which I know by chance, accelerate like that.
It was not by chance that the competitors came to mind. For me, the new Avensis has become a collective image: it looks like almost all its opponents in the class. In terms of handling, it’s almost like a Mondeo, in terms of the composure of the suspension, it’s a little short of the level of the Insignia (it would be even quieter), and the ergonomics are almost like a Volkswagen. And that the mood is purely Toyota, boring and lifeless, as is commonly believed. Trust a person with extensive experience in operating a variety of Toyotas: the more boring a Toyota is upon a fleeting acquaintance, the more pleasant it is in everyday life when your head is torn from work worries. Avensis is like a ticket to a sanatorium.
There is only one “but”. All of the above is true if you were given this car at work. If you want to spend 1,387,000 honestly earned rubles (or, better yet, borrowed from my bank) on an Avensis in the top “Lux” configuration, think hard. “My” car is exactly like this, and neither I nor my colleagues who are entitled to Avensis can find a reason to pay that kind of money. Perhaps the bank's fleet manager would give it some thought, but he is more interested in operating costs. At least officially.
The considerable trunk volume (509 l) is increased thanks to the folding backrest of the sofa in parts (60:40). The pluses include the wide opening and the closing handle on the inside of the lid, upholstered in fabric. The disadvantages are the loading height and the zeal with which the lid shoots up. Somehow undignified.
Version 1.8 is another matter. A less powerful engine producing 147 horsepower and a more modest list of equipment do not deprive the Avensis of its solid “corporate” appearance and do not make it a lesser quality car. However, you no longer have to listen to the annoying question over and over again, why did you choose Avensis, and not the 200-horsepower Volkswagen Passat Highline with a six-speed automatic transmission, which costs 1,382,235 rubles.
According to the law of the secondary market, which states that a car should cause as few problems as possible, Toyota Avensis could become a leader in its class. If it were not for the high reputation of her predecessor - “Karina-E”.
Expected more
“Karina-E” was phenomenally reliable and tenacious. In the “acceleration” mode of the company’s car, which was muzzled by all and sundry, it drove 250,000-300,000 km in Moscow without problems (Moscow in the mid-90s, when the quality of roads, gasoline and company service was completely different), after which it switched into new hands, and the new owner was also happy. People said that it was easier to sell “Karina” than to torture her. And the car itself was a success: excellent engines, a spacious interior that would be the envy of other business-class models, a huge trunk. And the design was so ahead of its time that even today “Karina-E” does not look outdated.
After such a successful model, buyers expected something even more outstanding. And in the fall of 1997 they waited for the Avensis... The car looked, of course, more modern, but not a trace remained of the former brightness of the design. The rear cabin has become tighter, and the trunk in the sedan has also become smaller. In general, at first glance, “Avensis” did not suit the role of a worthy successor to “Karina-E”. Of course, it has become much better in terms of safety, driving performance, noise insulation and smoothness, because it appeared at a time when Toyota learned to make cars that drive much more solidly and noblely than they look from the outside. On the move, the Avensis feels like a compact front-wheel drive Mercedes with a Toyota logo. But to understand this, you first need to buy a car.
And here the reputation of ultra-reliability suffered. There was such a fuss around “childhood diseases” that people finally became convinced that “Avensis” is no longer “Karina”. In fact, the car wasn't bad at all. It’s just that buyers got used to the fact that “Karina” didn’t break down at all. But this was true only in relation to the “Japanese women”. After the assembly of “Karina-E” using European components was transferred to England in 1996, the situation changed somewhat - it is clear in which direction. But then the locomotive of consumer confidence accelerated so much that it simply did not have time to feel the roughness of European quality. “Avensis” initially began to be assembled in England.
Bad and good are relative concepts. To get an objective picture, it is better to operate with facts. The Avensis cars of the first years of production had five weak points: front brake discs, steering rods, steering column universal joint, immobilizer and heated seats. Over time, problems with these parts have been learned to be eliminated with little effort. After which “Avensis” becomes a typical “Toyota” - reliable and surprisingly durable.
Only from Europe
“Avensis” was not only assembled, but also sold exclusively in Europe. Therefore, in this case, the question of regional specification, typical for Japanese cars, disappears. You won’t run into either an “American” with lighting equipment of an overseas standard, or an “Emirati” who is afraid of the cold. All that remains is to choose the best body, engine and transmission for you.
With a sedan and a station wagon, everything is clear - which one to choose depends on your needs for the amount of useful trunk volume. In addition, the Avensis also has a liftback body. In fact, this is an ordinary 5-door hatchback, but not with a short, but with a long, sedan-like, rear overhang and a smoothly sloping fifth door. The Avensis liftback looks nicer than a sedan, and in terms of trunk transformation it is almost as good as a station wagon. That's why it is very popular in Europe. The disadvantages of the liftback include poor rear visibility and a low ceiling above the rear sofa.
In terms of transformation capabilities, the liftback trunk is practically not inferior to the UNIVERSAL
Like all Japanese cars, Avensis in all modifications has an average, quite sufficient level of equipment. You won’t find a completely “naked” car or, conversely, stuffed to the brim with sybaritic things. You can guaranteedly count on power accessories, ABS brakes and at least two airbags. Heated seats and, in rare cases, factory leather upholstery are also available. But there may not be an air conditioner. Europeans, you know, are tight-fisted.
“Avensis” does not experience any specific body problems, and the time has not yet come for corrosion. For now we can only talk about possible problems with electrical equipment.
Doesn't start and doesn't heat up
On cars of the 1998 model year, the immobilizer can “forget” the key code, and the car suddenly refuses to start. If this happens far from a company service center, you can try to turn on the ignition for 30-35 minutes with the doors closed, and then turn the key to the “start” position. This usually helps. But when the memory loss will occur next is unknown. Therefore, it is better to replace the immobilizer electronic unit.
Sometimes the central locking remote control key fob suffers from forgetfulness. If there is strong radio interference when opening or closing doors, the corresponding function may stop working. The functionality of the key fob is restored by programming at the Toyota technical center, before visiting which you can use the key.
But if the central lock begins to close and open spontaneously, it means that water and salt have reached the electrical part of the driver's door lock, which controls the central lock. The driver's lock will have to be replaced.
The seat heating initially failed due to the fact that the heating element in the cushion was not laid correctly and was rubbing against the metal frame. Can you imagine the shock that awaited customers when they learned that the heating element was not supplied separately as spare parts and that they had to buy the chair assembled! But now you can buy a “hot water bottle” separately, and the mechanics received instructions from the Japanese on how to install it correctly.
The front electric windows may work unevenly, and the glass, after being fully raised up in the “auto” mode, may spontaneously fall down. All this can be eliminated by cleaning the glass guides from dirt and lubricating the mechanism. And the release command is given when the glass rests on the skewed upper seal and the anti-pinch protection perceives this as an obstacle. You just need to correct the seal that has shifted over time.
If the arrows of the coolant temperature and fuel level indicators began to “freeze”, and the telemaster’s magic trick of hitting the dashboard visor makes them flinch, it means that the “tidy” dial has shifted down due to vibrations and lies on the axis of the arrows. Remove the panel and put the dial in place. For a Toyota electrician - 40 minutes of work. By the way, if the low engine oil level indicator lights up on the dashboard one day, don’t panic, but take out the dipstick. Most likely, the oil is still there, and the cause of the commotion was an unsuccessfully laid wire to the sensor, which was frayed. Restoring it is a couple of trifles.
What is the price
Immobilizer unit replacement $620
Driver's door lock replacement $70
Heating element replacement $340
Picky “Lyn Burn”
Speaking about Avensis engines, one should distinguish between cars before and after the 2001 model year, when the car underwent a slight restyling and received completely new engines. These cars are still young and have not yet appeared on the secondary market.
Which engine to buy an Avensis 1998-2000 model year with primarily depends on the quality of the fuel sold in your region. If even injection VAZs spit from local gasoline, it is better to abandon engines with a “lin burn” power system (literally translated “thin combustion”), running on an ultra-lean fuel mixture. These are 101- and 110-horsepower “fours” with a volume of 1.6 and 1.8 liters, which were not supplied to Russia. For their volume, they are exemplary economical, but they are very sensitive to the quality of what is burning and what is being set on fire. In Moscow, where gas stations are more or less controlled, “Lyn Burns” generally behave normally. But after refueling with a blatant surrogate, such an engine may immediately require replacement of spark plugs until it completely refuses to start in the cold. And candles on “Lyn Burns”, by the way, with a platinum-coated electrode, cost $12 apiece, and you can’t use regular ones instead of them.
In our conditions, a 2-liter 128-horsepower engine and a 110-horsepower 1.6-liter engine are preferable. The latter was supplied mainly to Russia and Eastern European countries and is rare. These engines use regular 4-dollar spark plugs, and they react less painfully to the quality of gasoline. True, a 2-liter with mud in the tank can also become capricious on a frosty morning. But if not on the first try, then on the third it starts.
In terms of characteristics, the optimal engines for the Avensis are 1.8 liter engines (the most popular in Europe) and, naturally, 2 liter engines. Equipped with a Lin Burn power system, the 1.6-liter engine is still sluggish. But a regular “one and six” drives almost like a 1.8 liter “Lyn Burn”.
The 1.8-liter engine only comes with a “Lyn Burn” power system, the 2-liter, on the contrary, without it, and options are possible for the 1.6-liter. There are several ways to visually distinguish “Lyn Burn”. The easiest one is to find out in which direction the “fungus” installed at the end of the fuel rail is tilted. If he looks forward, then it is a “lin burn”. Towards the windshield (see photo) there is a regular engine.
As with any engine with a catalyst, leaded gasoline will sooner or later kill the oxygen sensor (or lambda probe). Please note that conventional motors and those with a Lin Burn power system have completely different sensors installed. They are similar in appearance and have the same threads. But if they are mixed up, the engine will not work normally.
In operation, Avensis engines require a minimum of attention. They don't eat butter. Although valve clearances are adjustable with washers, in practice they almost never require adjustment. Even the timing belt rollers live until the second belt replacement - that is, 200,000 km! Yes, after 150 thousand, valve stem seals or crankshaft seals may require replacement. But these are natural age-related sores, not worth talking about. But there are no regular failures of the control electronics and the high-voltage part of the ignition system, leaks of gaskets and water pumps - all the things that European engines love to “delight” the owner with.
A typical mistake of garage mechanics. If, when installing camshafts (for example, after replacing oil seals), the scissor gear is not cocked, any of the engines will make a knocking sound similar to the knocking of valves during operation. Accordingly, Petrovich has a reason to “spoil” you for adjusting the valves...
Engines in operation
As we have already said, Avensis gasoline engines are very unpretentious. The only operation that has to be done more often than prescribed is replacing the spark plugs. On our gasoline they last 10,000-20,000 km. But the timing belt does not require discounts for Russian specifications. According to the instructions, it is changed every 100,000 km.
There are practically no problems common to all engines. Only minor details are possible. If the engine is equipped with one ignition coil located in the distributor housing, it sometimes fails. And on 2-coil versions, one of the spark plug caps may break through within three years. However, both of these rarely happen.
On a 2-liter engine, over time, the exhaust gas recirculation valve “flies out”, as a result of which the car begins to stall when the gas is released. If you are particularly concerned about the environment, you can replace the valve. Or turn it off, which will lead to a slight increase in toxicity. In addition, this engine is characterized by increased timing belt noise. Nothing criminal, this is normal.
What is the price
Spark plug replacement (labor only) $20
Replacing timing belt without rollers (1.6/1.8/2.0) $245/230/300
Ignition coil replacement $155
Replacement of spark plug wires $80
Recirculation valve replacement $170
This is vitality!
The chassis of the Avensis actually turned out to be no less durable than that of the Karina. It’s just that while savoring the growing pains, they somehow didn’t notice it. Let's start with childhood illnesses.
The front brake discs initially warped and caused the steering wheel to shake when braking. The problem was solved only on restyled cars of the 2001 model year, when instead of drum rear brakes, the Avensis received more efficient disc brakes. On cars of early years of production, technology requires grinding curved discs. But their wear margin is already small, so it makes no sense to buy original discs that will still start to beat. After the warranty period expires, it is better to buy wheels from the Italian company Brembo, which are half the price and are not prone to beating.
Steering rods on the first cars only lasted 20,000-30,000 km. But soon their design was strengthened, and now spare parts are supplied with parts of a new type, which last for at least 100,000 km. However, the traction rods on the car you are purchasing have probably already been changed. Sticking of the steering column universal joint, when the steering wheel rotates with noticeable jerks, also occurred on early Avensis cars. To get rid of this, you need to disconnect the steering shaft and fill the driveshaft splines with Castrol-LM lubricant. It's a cheap matter.
The culprit for knocking noises when turning the steering wheel is most often the UBITION JOINT (shown by the arrow). It's easy enough to remove and lubricate
If the 500-liter trunk of the Avensis is used as a truck body, the rear springs may sag and the wheels will become “housed.” But this is no longer a childhood disease, but a country disease. If you like to transport bricks and bags of cement, install station wagon springs, they are stiffer. Better yet, buy a trailer.
What else? The impact can cause the wheel bearing to hum, and the salt can cause the ABS wheel sensor to fail or the rear brake cylinder bleeder fitting to break off. But these are isolated cases that do not qualify as statistics. Leaking or knocking of the steering rack on runs up to 150,000 km (there are still few cars with high mileage) is also rare. If this happens, it is not necessary to replace the rack with a new one. It can be repaired in an authorized workshop of the German company ZF.
The average mileage of other chassis parts is presented in the operating costs table. As you can see, up to 100,000 km (on our roads!) there is basically nothing to do with the suspension. And the phrase “more than 150,000 km” means that due to natural wear and tear, these parts have never been changed. Judging by the experience of the Karina-E, the chassis of which was adopted by Avensis with minor changes, their turn will come closer to 200,000 km.
That is, if you take a car with a mileage of about 100,000 km in Europe, over the next hundred thousand you will only once change the bushings and stabilizer struts, shock absorbers and, possibly, the rear silent blocks of the levers. All. The rest of the expenses will go to the next owner.
Are you confused by the numbers in the table? These are prices for spare parts and labor from an authorized dealer with a $50 standard hour. In independent companies, original parts are 15-20% cheaper, and a standard hour in unauthorized Toyota workshops costs $25-30. This means that the cost of parts and their replacement can be reduced by 40 percent.
Operating costs (chassis)
Front suspension and steering
Rear suspension
60,000 - 80,000 km
80,000 - 100,000 km
Stabilizer bushings $65
stabilizer bushings $47
Brembo brake discs $180
100,000 - 120,000 km
100,000 - 120,000 km
stabilizer links $210
Tie rods $330
shock absorbers $470
Shock absorbers $380
more than 150,000 km
Stabilizer links $185
trailing arms (2 pcs.) $230
120,000 - 150,000 km
wishbones (4 pcs.) $560
Rear silent blocks of levers $200
fists $450
More than 150,000 km
Possible unplanned expenses
Ball joints $270
steering rack repair in ZF workshop $350
Levers assemblies $640
steering rack replacement $1450
Tie rod ends $220
replacement of the front wheel bearing (1 piece) $150
Rear spring replacement $360
_________________________________
replacement of ABS wheel sensor (1 pc.) $210
Prices of original parts including replacement at an unauthorized technical center.
Are we buying?
Feeling nostalgic for the Japanese-made “Karina” is like looking for last year’s snow. Forget it. Today, almost all Japanese mid-range cars intended for the European market are assembled in Europe. But even adjusted for European quality, Avensis remains one of the best (if not the best) in its class on the secondary market. In the section “Three years is not an age” we met many classmates of Japanese and European brands. So far I don’t see a single model that, at the age of three to five years, can compare with the Avensis in terms of reliability, endurance and, as a result, low cost of maintenance.
However, few “Avensis” are brought from Europe. The reason is the high price. Cars from 2000 with a 1.6-liter engine cost from $13,000, and the price of 2-liter versions with an automatic transmission reaches $16,500. For a Japanese middle-class car, this is expensive. Even taking into account the fact that Toyota traditionally costs somewhat more than other Japanese cars.
In this case, price is a barometer of the attractiveness of the product. If you count the costs of maintenance and repairs, it turns out that many of Avensis’s classmates (especially German ones) quite quickly compensate for the initial difference in price with it and then “go ahead.” Since car repairs are expensive in developed countries, prudent Europeans prefer to overpay at the time of purchase rather than pay for more frequent repairs.
If you generally liked the Avensis, but you think it’s too expensive, it might make sense to wait a little while Europe is flooded with the new Avensis and the prices for the previous generation cars drop somewhat.
“Automatic” is a rarity
An automatic transmission on the Avensis can be obtained with 1.8 and 2 liter engines. However, there are practically no statistics on it. Russian dealers offered only the 2-liter version with automatic transmissions. However, judging by the price of “automatic” cars, they were not particularly persistent in their offer. And very few “Avensis” are brought from Europe. But if we take into account that the Karina-E had almost the same gearbox and it was quite reliable, we can assume that the Avensis should not have problems either.
Most likely you will have to deal with a manual box. The unit is also problem-free. Your attention may be attracted only by a short muffled squeak at the moment the clutch is released, which is typical for some copies. It's OK. You can ride with this for as long as you like. The clutch usually lasts about 150,000 km, and the oil in a manual transmission, as in an automatic one, is prescribed to be changed after 40,000 km.
What is the price
Alexander Konov, photo Alexander Sadovnikov
We didn't expect this Avensis. No, he did not disappoint in any way. It just turned out to be completely different, so different from our forecasts. What did we expect? For the further evolution of the design ideas embodied in the famous Carina E and which received such successful development in the first generation Avensis model. To the known progress in terms of serial equipment with a slight increase in price relative to its predecessor. On the appearance of sports modifications that are so fashionable these days. And what is the result?
Let's start with the design. The photographs speak for themselves: not a trace remains of “Karina”. Another creative rush, so typical of the Japanese-Korean school? Fortunately, no. The Avensis has been "dressed up" and "coiffed" in accordance with the new corporate identity introduced for the European market. High sides, characteristic shapes of doorways, body pillars and head optics allow the car to take its place in the Yaris-Corolla-Camry family. But the car most closely resembles Toyota's flagship, the Lexus LS430. And those who see the Avensis II for the first time ask the same question: is this the new Lexus? No, dear ones. This is not a Lexus. This is Avensis. But frankly “Lexus-like”.
The quality of the car and its equipment plunges into culture shock. Direct fire salvo against German and Swedish classmates! Huge wheels and the deathly glow of xenon light evoke a surge of respect for the car among others. The doors close after a light touch by inertia, with a dull thoroughbred bang. The interior is gorgeous: beige leather, two-tone plastic and wooden inserts. The materials are selected with excellent taste, the panels are perfectly fitted, electric drives and microlifts are everywhere. The optitronic instrument panel comes to life with the turn of the ignition key. An approach worthy of a business class sedan!
A true highlight of the noble interior is the center console made of dark gray metal. Large buttons, discreet displays... real high-tech! Control of a dual-zone climate control system and an audio system, including a CD player and radio, are concentrated here. By the way, this “music” is a source of special pride for the car’s creators: great attention was paid to the quality of its sound. After listening to several CDs I got the following impression. Indeed, the capabilities of the audio system are not comparable to what has been heard in budget Japanese models. The "transparency" and structure of the upper register bring a lot of pleasure when listening to classical music and jazz. Electronic and pop music sounds good. However, there is no question of realistic reproduction of dance and rock music due to weak, indistinct bass. No dynamics, no drive. But this is not a tragedy: it seems that the matter can be corrected by simply installing an amplifier and subwoofer without replacing the audio system assembly.
And one more thing about equipment. The new Avensis can easily be called a bastion of safety. For the first time, a D-class car received nine airbags, one of which protects the driver’s knees. The brakes are more reliable than ever: they are controlled by several electronic systems, led by the VDC stabilization system. Moreover, the driver is allowed to disable only the traction control function.
About pricing policy. From the entire range, we are supplied with a sedan and a station wagon with 1.8- and two-liter gasoline engines. There are two levels of equipment: the fairly rich Sol and Executive, where everything is inclusive. We decided not to sell hatchbacks, as well as cars with 1.6-liter engines and in the basic configuration, because previously they were not in particular demand. Diesels are also a miss, but due to the low quality of our diesel fuel. What is the result?
The “starter” 1.8 Sol sedan with manual transmission costs $22,900. The Avensis Executive you see in the pictures, with its two liters, sequential automatic transmission and all sorts of useful equipment - from the rear window curtain to VDC - is already $29,900. Does it bite? In any case, compared to the first generation model, the price increase is significant. It seems that Japanese cars are gradually losing one of their main advantages over Europeans - attractive prices. Having taught us to quality, they are now teaching us to pay for it. There is another point. In the Russian line of the Toyota brand, a gap of $10,000 has now formed between the “neighboring” models Corolla and Avensis (the difference in prices for basic configurations). Area vulnerable to attack by competitors.
How does the new Avensis perform? Have there really been radical changes in this direction, and the car has lost the amazing smoothness for which its predecessor was famous? The mere sight of low-profile tires forces you to prepare for the worst. However, after a few hundred meters all far-fetched disappointments dissipate without a trace. In terms of comfort of movement in space, I would like to compare Avensis with Mercedes - if not with the 210, then certainly with the 124. The car responds to transverse seams and cracks with soft slaps from the tires, and to potholes with smooth rocking of the body. The sound insulation of the car is so perfect, and the ride is so easy that driving along the highway is perceived as nothing less than flying. The seats are soothingly comfortable, the interior pampers with space: the rear passengers do not feel cramped at all. Class!
Controllability is also maintained in the same ideological vein. Responses to steering inputs are calm and sedate, which is why the car sometimes seems clumsy. But at the same time, the car steers accurately, and the algorithm for changing feedback does not raise any questions. However, the “first” Avensis was not particularly sporty.
The only misunderstanding is the car’s poor power supply. The engine with direct fuel injection, tuned to environmental standards Euro 4, shows acceptable vigor only at high speeds, however, the very “long” gears of the automatic transmission limit even these capabilities. Starting from a standstill occurs briskly, without tension, but in subsequent gears acceleration is very anemic. Moreover, overtaking at speeds above 120 km/h is difficult, since sharply pressing the gas pedal does not produce any effect for a long time.
The only thing that helps is the manual shift mode, the usefulness of which on this machine can hardly be underestimated. Firstly, it allows the engine to immediately enter the “combat” range of 4000-6000 rpm, and secondly, it does not allow the box to automatically engage the next gear upon reaching the red zone of the tachometer. This is the only way to ensure an acceptable level of dynamics.
That's how, in one generation, Avensis stepped from workhorses almost into business sedans. But maybe you shouldn’t indulge in luxury, but choose a simpler, cheaper version? In the next issue we will talk about what the most “basic” Anensis is ready to please the buyer with.
