Other Toyota Avensis (2009 - 2018) models:

  • Summary

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What does this car say about you?

    As a Toyota the car is solid, reliable and practical. It doesn't have frills and does what it says on the tin!

    What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

    Most people are impressed with the space and comfort inside the vehicle rather than its external looks which are not outstandingly stylish.

    Would you buy this car again and why?

    If my circumstances remain the same then I would consider buying again.

    What are you likely to buy next?

    I don't have anything in mind.

  • Buying experience

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Type of dealer you bought from?

    Franchised

    Did you buy this car new?

    No

    What price did you pay?

    £12,000

    When did you buy the car?

    October 2010

    Did you get a good deal and why?

    I had spent months trawling the internet inspecting cars so knew what was value and what was not. My car is a 60 reg with 6500 miles on clock when I bought it. Normally you pay more from a franchised dealer but mine was a Toyota pre-owned and the price was very keen. I even negotiated a further reduction so was very happy.

    Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

    I wanted reliability, comfort, decent size and value for money and compared with other similar tourers this seemed best.

    What was the dealer like?

    The salesman seemed inexperienced. Didn't know a lot about the car and was not able to negotiate on price. Gave the impression that all they wanted was my money!

  • Driving it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    What's it like to drive?

    As a big car I thought the 1.8 engine might make it seem under powered but that's not the case. Its quick enough through the gears and cruises comfortably on motorways. The ride is just fine though there is a tendency for oversteer.

    What's it like to park?

    As a tourer Its a long car and for me the reversing camera is a must. Just as well it's standard on the TR model.

  • Living with it

    4 out of 5 4.0

    Have you had any problems with the car?

    The car has not missed a beat since I bought it more than a year ago. Mine is dark blue and seems to show up any dirt so is hard to keep looking sparkling. I wouldn't buy a dark coloured car next time.

    What's most practical about your car?

    Very large doors which make it easy to get in/out. Large boot which accommodates my very big dog. Comfy seats and overall plenty of room.

    Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

    I use the cruise control quite often and its a must for me as I have back trouble and can't sit with my feet/legs in the same position over an extended period.