Toyota Avensis 2000 test drive - 2003 sedan

Healthy conservatism

What comes to mind when mentioned about a compact Japanese sedan? An inconspicuous -looking car with an inexpressive interior. Practical and, by and large, convenient, without obvious miscalculations. For reasonable money, offering the optimal balance of qualities: you won’t be praised for nothing, you won’t be particularly criticized. Its main advantages are quality and reliability. They are more than enough for them to save millions of buyers from the torment of choice.

 

If you think that the next phrase will be something like: acquaintance with Avensis fundamentally changed my opinion, then you are mistaken. This car did not become a revelation. But there is one but, fundamentally distinguishing it from the modesty models. Namely, a client orientation with certain requests, a person who is looking for exactly what he needs, and not effort to please everyone at once. Although the diligence in itself is very commendable.

 

Much can be said at the first glance at the car. Avensis is conservative and amusing, however, the conservatism of its design seems quite appropriate. And it is not at all surprising, given that the style of the machine was born in the walls of the British center of the Toyota Motor Corporation (here, in Bernaston, the model is produced). Apparently, the Japanese were very afraid to lose those buyers who managed to win Carina E - that’s why Avensis made so similar to their successful predecessor. They were so afraid that in some angles the similarity turned out to be simply amazing. However, we will still attribute stylistic continuity to the pluses.

 

The interior designers did not particularly annoy their imagination either. The car interior does not cause any emotions, rather, suitable for definition, the workplace. Its view could be called dull, if not for the silver inserts for metal on the front panel. They save the situation, great reviving the picture. What about practicality and amenities? Everything is in order with this! Hospital-humid driver's seat with height adjustments and the degree of lumbar support reliably holds the body in corners. Steering wheel and the gearbox lever is perfectly in their hands, a platform is prudently located under the left foot, under the right hand - an armrest with a box for CDs. The dashboard is simple and visual, to organize the control of the radio and microclimate (our car is equipped with air conditioning) not to complain. The parameters of music and ventilation are intelligibly displayed on a common display. Documents can be hidden in a secluded box to the left of the steering wheel, and put points in a container on the ceiling. Even the rear head restraints, and those, as if afraid to harm the sights, pressed into the back of the seat. Two pillows and heating the brushes are on guard of safety.

 

Without remarks, albeit small, Avensis did not stay - you have to find some outstanding! So. The front seats pillows seemed short, the steering wheel could be made a little smaller in diameter. The long lever of the parking brake is carried far forward - unusual, but hardly inconvenient.

 

Avensis is a four -seater car without any reservations, five -seater with reservations. It is very pleasant to travel in the rear seats together: there is no lack of space here, and even high passengers will not have to experience the advantages of recesses in the backs of the front seats. There is also an armrest with a container and two cup holders, however, you have to literally tear it out of the seat. But even if you leave it in place, three riders will be crowded in the shoulders. Local windows are equipped with mechanical drives, and not electric, like front ones. The back of the rear seat folds in a ratio of 1: 2, increasing the volume of already rather big, 500-liter trunk. The only minus of the cargo compartment is the opening with rear lights. As a result of the modernization of last summer, the machine received a 1.6-liter engine with the VVT-I gas distribution phase system (Variable Valve Timing-Intelligent). Now we will find out what he is capable of. I turn the ignition key, reviving the motor. At idle speeds, a barely noticeable trembling runs around the governing bodies. Touching. Demonstrating a solid supply of torque, the engine at ease torn the car out of place. The subsequent acceleration is very even: from acceleration, maybe the spirit is not captivated, but the 16-valve dozens are clearly unable to make a serious competition. A competent combination of gear rates, a clear work of the box - and you gain speed, as in a car with a machine gun. The brakes are conquered by transparency of the drive and efficiency, only ABS begins its work early.

 

The settings of the steering instill confidence and peace. The car responds softly to the driver’s actions softly, but quickly, supplying it with a convincing feedback. Avensis perfectly holds the trajectory on a high -speed line and in gentle turns, willingly screwing into a turn to add gas.

 

Finally, the crown number. The smoothness of the move is in which the car does not know equal. Stunningly energy -intensive suspension! On bad roads, you overtake much more powerful cars without any problems: they are slowing down, and there is no need with Avensis. It comes to natural deception of feelings: their eyes see a purebate asphalt with a complete set of irregularities, and the fifth point reports that we are going along the runway. Logs! What bumps? Cracks! What are the cracks? Tram rails! And, because of them, we swayed a little? Gradually impruden - and stop dropping gas in front of the pits, when approaching in other conditions the heart of Ekalo. And if you take it as it should? No, this is not for Avensis. Not in the sense that the machine becomes dangerous or unpredictable. She does not refuse to chase, but does it reluctantly, with a lazy person, as if hinting that these experiments are not for her. The twisted motor is noisy, and the intensity of acceleration does not grow. The soft gas pedal is not in the best way adapted for accurate dosing of the fuel supply. The driver’s contact with the machine is violated: delay occurs in reactions, a returning force on the steering wheel becomes obscure. Crages of the body also annoy. In high -speed turns, you should be on the alert: a sharp discharge of gas provokes the development of skidding - albeit smooth, but requiring clear stabilizing actions. However, the brakes are good, and the smoothness of the move is delighted: the machine soars over the road, elastic shocks answering only the completely ugly uglies of the coating.

 

In general, Toyota Avensis is a reliable and calm car for calm people. Convenient and comfortable, not causing undesirable interest. Surely super -wandering. It is not suitable for those who are fighting for seconds and do not spare themselves and the car in order to achieve the result. And for those who want to get to the destination with a fresh head, in its original form, it will be just right.
 
 
 
 

Source: Wheel magazine [No. 51/2001]