toyota avensis 2.0 diesel

zanesue

I would be grateful for some opinions on this car please, i'm looking at 2005-2007

worried_jim

95 owner's reviews here-
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-reviews/toyota/avensis/24764

eg-

I use my Toyota Avensis as my workhorse for getting around the country and meeting customers. As I do in excess of 50,000 miles per year so need a car that’s comfortable, economical, takes up to 4 adults and is easy to drive.

The Avensis meets all these criteria (but with some reservations).

On the comfort stakes it’s very good. It is very rare that I get somewhere and feel tired. I can drive from the Midlands to Glasgow and not feel stiff (not bad as I’m in my 50’s). On a recent trip I managed to achieve over 60 MPG, according to the trip computer that is. This raises my first small gripe. While the trip computer shows that I regularly get 50 MPG when I check the mileage to the amount of fuel I have put in it always seems about 10% higher than the actual results.

While the car does take 4 adults the head room in the front passenger seat is not good for those over 6 Ft tall (or the larger person shall we say). I have on the odd occasion taken 3 adults in the rear seats and there is enough room for all three, however, I have found that when you fit 2 child seats in the rear there is not enough room for anyone to site between them.

If you are thinking of getting this as a family car to take your child seats for testing before you buy.

When it comes to driving it’s very easy. The Sat Nav makes things very easy. This is my second gripe about the car though. The Sat Nav needs the first part of the post code plus the first number of the second part then in needs a road name. Other sat Nav’s I’ve used only need the post code which makes it easier. It takes a bit of getting used to (and sometimes looking up on a map web site to check) but once up and running is very good - as is the traffic reports / detours it sets you.

Servicing is every 10,000 miles. The Toyota Garage I use are very good. The interim service takes about 1 ½ Hrs and is usually around £120 to £150 and around £250 for a major service. Brake Pads / disks are the only expensive parts I’ve had to replace bringing the major service to just over £500.

Overall a very good car to own and run. This is my third Avensis in 8 years and I’m considering changing it for another soon.

seafarers_wife

I've got an 06 2.2 diesel and LOVE it, very low mileage considering its age (55K) as was originally bought when we did a lot of motorway miles due to living in different parts of the country. Even town driving I can get 46mpg on average. Servicing doesn't cost that much as its well looked after. Only bugbear is its nearly £70 to fill up the tank, but I get almost 500 miles out the tank with town driving so it's not that bad. Boot space is great, only thing i detest is the seatbelts in the back are fairly short and if your an adult on the larger side it's very neat. Also they are that short I have yet to find a car seat that can be strapped in easily. I have to use an isofix base which is good, but it would be nice to have the choice.

Jonesya

Check what engine it has - I think the 1AD-FTV has a cam-chain so no costly cam belt replacements required!

zanesue

Thank you worried Jim, seafarers wife and and jonesya, some very helpful info there.

We will be using it as a family car and will need to fit two car seats, my husband also does around 400 miles a week to and from work so comfort and economy are important.

suisidevw

I have the estate version of this, it's EXCELLENT all round.