Toyota Avensis test drive 2003 - 2006 sedan

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The second generation Avensis turned out to be a revelation, embodying the value of the business class in the D segment. But is this statement true for all its executions?
 
So, the new Avensis. The asset has the highest comfortability of movement, a cool interior design and an unprecedented level of security: most recently, the first car in the world received five stars and 34 points at EURONCAP Crash tests. Plus quality. The liability has a controversial appearance, mediocre dynamics and serious price. The car in the top version of Executive, which was about the last room of the wheels, costs as much as $ 29400. There is a temptation to reduce financial losses by referring to the basic configuration. The only question is, how much will have to be lost?

  

Before you Toyota Avensis 1.8 SOL for $ 22900. As they say, there is no cheaper. Outside, it was possible to find only a couple of changes: the headlights shine with halogen, not xenon, and the discs were dried up for an inch in diameter. Inside the news is also not so hot: earlier leather seats are now covered with fabric, the curtain has disappeared from the rear window. Of course, the monophonic dark salon does not look so chic as the contrasting light, but the preserved inserts under the tree and the metal central console support the feeling of prestige of the machine. A very decent audio system, separate climate control, folding external mirrors, heating the seats and the rain sensor have not disappeared anywhere. And it pleases.
 
The active security complex was most affected: in the column minus, stabilization, antiboxes and emergency braking systems are listed. Only ABS with EBD remained. But the holy of holies, the structure of passive safety with its record nine pillows is not touched for absolutely understandable reasons.

  

The power plant has become simpler: not a two-liter gasoline engine with direct injection and a sectral automaton, but a 1.8-liter with changed phases of gas distribution VVT-I and mechanics. I must admit, it only benefited the dynamics. Despite the fairly long gear rates of the transmission, the motor manages to realize its capabilities, confidently playing both on the bottom and at the top. Such Avensis is much brisk, and most importantly, more understandable and obedient.
 
The marking of tires 205/55 R16 instead of the previous 215/45 R17, somewhat influenced running qualities. The car has become softer and more leisurely performing the driver’s commands, which is hardly worth considering with loss: in the affiliation of Avensis, the initially non -amymbiasene. But the increase in the already outstanding smoothness of the course leaves the car in this discipline without competitors in its class.
 
And do not forget that it is impossible to order any of the missing, in your opinion, it is impossible: Toyota sells cars with equipment packages, of which two are provided for Avensis: SOL and Executive. Only body, engines and gearboxes can be combined. Measure a hundred times once.

   
The car was provided by LLC Toyota Motor.
 

Text: Leonid Klyuyev
Photo: Roman Ostanin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A source: Wheel magazine [July 2003]