The road less travelled with Toyota’s Avanza

Let’s not beat around the bush: the Toyota Avanza is not a poster on your wall type of car. You can’t even say it is an aspirational car in any way.

But what you can’t beat – and nor can the competition, because this car outsells them something like five to one – is its solid reputation, dependability, versatility and user-friendliness in the compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) segment.

The new Avanza brings forth a refreshed exterior design, utilising the new highly recognisable Toyota design language, to create a stronger brand identity and elevate the status of the product. The advancements continue under the skin, where the new model offers reduced NVH levels, improved ride quality and refinement. And to experience this first-hand, we were given a weekend away with the family and the Avanza.

The exterior changes you can see for yourself and I won’t comment any further here, other than to say the Avanza gets better looking all the time.

On the inside, there is new interior decor that now features a classic monotone black interior colour scheme, along with modernised interior panel trim and trendy accent panels offset against the durable seat fabric with stylised inserts.

Paying attention to detail, the driver is treated to a new instrument cluster that adopts amber hued inserts, a silver outer bezel and white night-time illumination for greater visibility and user-friendliness.

All models receive a new Eco indicator to provide feedback on whether you are driving economically or not. Adding some extra durability is a heel-pad built into the driver’s foot area, helping to preserve the carpet from heavy usage.

But the Avanza is all about moving people, and here it continues as a highly versatile vehicle with a new, split third row seat that now allows passengers to independently adjust the back row seating. In addition, the third row seats also feature a tumble function to conveniently increase cargo space when so required.

Contributing to an increased level of safety, the second seating row has been fitted with a centre headrest. The centre headrest uses a smart split design, allowing the seats to fold down individually.

A three-point centre seatbelt is also on offer, providing greater occupant safety. Isofix restraint points are featured, which are further complimented by a seatbelt warning system for driver and front passenger, as well as driver and passenger airbags – all standard throughout the range.

Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) has been added to all models, bolstering the active safety specification of the new Avanza, which includes ABS. An anti-theft system with alarm and immobiliser completes the safety specification.

Under the skin, the suspension geometry and design have been tweaked to provide improved handling and stability, steering feel, as well as enhanced ride comfort.

For power you get two new engines in 1.3 and 1.5 litre guise and they produce 70kW with 121Nm of torque and 77kW and 137Nm of torque respectively. You also have the choice of a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic on the 1.5 litre model, which drives the rear wheels.

We had the top of the range 1.5 TX manual. It is no robot racer, but it did provide for an adequate level of go for a vehicle loaded with the whole family.