Toyota Avensis 2000 test drive - 2003 sedan

The new face of the leader

Toyota Avensis appeared in 1997. Thanks to the advanced design, the European quality of assembly and the high level of comfort, the car has become massive. And recently, the model, which has 70% of sales for dealers, has been updated.
 
Toyota has updated the popular model, realizing that the excitement cannot last forever, and if you do not take measures, the car will eventually go to the consumer. They decided to limit themselves to restyling, so as not to scare away customers with unusual forms.
 
First of all, the front part of the car was subjected to alterations. The new optics that form the correct beam of light only at the expense of the reflector, the emblem that migrated from the hood to the radiator grille, and the reinforced bumper went to Avensis to benefit, giving it sports. For the same purpose, a chrome exhaust pipe and a new, more stylish combination of rear lights appeared in the back.
 
The salon also changed somewhat. Basically - the central console. Its lion's share is now occupied by a route computer combined with a radio (exactly the same is installed on the new RAV4). From him, the driver receives information about the instant and average fuel consumption, and also finds out the distance that you can drive in a fuel remaining in a 60-liter tank.
 
In the cabin, everything is still comfortable, ergonomical and practical. True, there is one point that made us think. Avensis, as befits a car of this class, is almost completely electrified. Wipers and mirrors, for example, have separate control keys, but heating the seats can be turned on either for the driver or for the driver and the front passenger. Imagine the situation: your friend from the frost jumps into the car and wants to immediately use an additional heat source. Then you, already stealing from the work of a powerful heater, have to frure with the neighbor.
 
Toyota decided not to supply cars to the Russian market equipped with direct fuel injection engines. This also applies to Avensis with a new two -liter engine. The reason for the discrimination is the unsatisfactory quality of our gasoline, which, according to the company's experts, causes corrosion of engine parts, which leads to its premature failure. Russians will have to be content with only a new 1.6-liter engine with variable gas distribution phases and a two-liter of the previous model.
 
Unfortunately, we got a car for the test precisely with this, already familiar with a 2-liter power unit, and how the new 1.6-liter engine will behave, we can only guess, relying on technical data and our experience. By the way, in terms of its indicators, the 1.6 motor differs little from 1.8-liter units of other manufacturers, and in some parameters (including economy) exceeds them.
 
As for our experimental, its character has not changed. As before, Avensis is dynamic, quite comfortable, and most importantly, predictable car. Relics in 128 hp It is enough to disperse it to 200 km/h, and if necessary, shoot up to hundreds in 9.3 seconds.
 
However, do not rush immediately as you sit behind the wheel, drown the gas pedal to the floor. The clutch on the car does not tolerate fuss, and therefore, the pan -line handling of it inevitably leads to a jerk when switching gears. Only after you get used to the weightless pedal, you will get smooth and at the same time dynamic acceleration.
 
But you will not have to adapt to the brakes. The system of distribution of brake force, coupled with ABS and rear disc mechanisms, significantly improved the behavior of the car with emergency braking and made Avensis more stable on roads with slippery coating. Electronics care about everything.
 
Improvements affected not only active, but also passive safety. In addition to two front and two side air pillows, optional inflatable curtains appeared that protect the driver’s head and front passenger from bruises during the accident.
 
The immobilizer integrated into the ignition key (as well as the remote opening buttons) is included in the standard equipment. The owner will have to take care of only the mechanical anti -theft system. The precaution will not be superfluous, since the hunters for this car, most likely, will be pleased, and not everyone will have $ 21,900. In addition, this is not the final price. For the most sophisticated version of the sedan in the R2-Premier configuration with a leather salon, six eirbegs (including two additional side pillows and inflatable curtains), an automatic gearbox and a climate control system, dealers ask for $ 2,4800.
 
Technical characteristics of Toyota Avensis
 
The body is an all -metal, supporting, 4 -door O number of places, people. - 5 o equipped mass, kg - 1245 o dimensions (length/width/height), mm - 4520/1710/1425 O base, mm - 2630 o maximum speed, km/h - 200 o time acceleration to 100 km/h, C - 9.3 O Control consumption of fuel (mixed cycle), l/100 km - 8.0 O engine - in line, 4 -cylinder; working volume, cm3 - 1998; Power, L.S. at MIN -1 - 128/5400; Twisting, NM at MIN -1 - 178/4400; Power system - injection O transmission - 5 -speed, mechanical Opening wheels - independent, McPherson O brakes: front - disk, ventilated; Rear - disk ohille control - with a hydraulic wrap of price, $ - 21900.
 
Text: Oleg Kalaushin
 

Source: Magazine 5 wheel [12/2000]