Insurance Group: 24
MPG: 43.5
CO2: 173
0-62 Mph: 9.8 secs
BHP: 148 BHP
Range: 574 miles
PROS: The Avensis T Spirit 2.2 D-CAT is well-made, practical and very easy to drive.
CONS: It's very expensive at over £28k. Would you spend £28k on a diesel Toyota which is not very fast and only manages 42mpg? We thought not.
The Avensis Tourer T Spirit's 2.2-litre diesel engine delivers 148 bhp at 3600 rpm and 250lb-ft of torque at 1800-2400 rpm offering decent performance levels for its class. A top speed of 127 mph is more than sufficient and acceleration is also fairly good, with 0-62 mph arriving in 9.8 seconds.
However, the Avensis' handling lets the car down. The soft suspension means that the car sways like a drunkard through the corners and the steering is very numb and lifeless. On the plus side the cabin is quiet and the ride is composed but overall, the Avensis Tourer is a dull drive.
Styling is fairly bland on the Avensis, both inside and out but the range of interior equipment is fairly extensive at this trim level. Power steering, central locking, stability control, alloy wheels, climate control, electric door mirrors, electric front windows, cruise control, Bluetooth connectivity, an advanced stereo system with CD and MP3 connectivity and a built-in sat nav are all standard features which come fitted to the car.
A metallic paint finish to the exterior costs an additional £450 whilst a leather interior and rear parking sensors also become standard features.
The Avensis is supplied with a five year/100,000 mile warranty and feels very well made, so reliability should not be too much of an issue.
There is also loads of interior space with plenty of leg and headroom in both the front and rear seats. The boot is also very large with 543-litres on offer with the rear seats up and 1609-litres available with the rear seats down.
The Avensis scored five stars in the Euro NCAP tests and is fitted a good amount of safety equipment including front, side, curtain and a driver's knee airbag.
Priced at £28,885 the Avensis Tourer T Spirit 2.2 D-CAT is very expensive - you can get a entry level Audi A4 or BMW 3 Series Touring for this sort of money.
The running costs are also mediocre. Despite being a diesel - and not a very powerful one at that - the Avensis manages a miserable 42.2mpg and emits 176g/km of CO2, putting it under relatively high VED band I.
The Avensis tends to hold on to its value well but the T Spirit 2.2 D-CAT is so pricey, it will have to fall a long way to find a buyer come part exchange time.
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