By the time the Carina E went out of production in 1998, Toyota had picked up a reputation for making cars that were comfortable and reliable, but essentially bland. Avensis was the company’s first stab at changing that – it was as comfortable and reliable as ever, but Toyota injected a bit of excitement, with sleeker lines, a more comfortable ride and advertising that included a trendy Iggy Pop soundtrack.

Parkers top buying tips

As with all used purchases, do remember to get a car history check. It might just save you from an unpleasant surprise later down the line. Also, don’t forget you can use our valuation tool to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car. You can also check our reviews section for more information about the cars you are interested in.