Used Toyota Avensis saloon 2009-2015 review

Believe it or not, the Toyota Avensis is built in Burnaston, near Derby, which means you get to tell people that you’ve shopped local. It’s almost as wholesome as getting your weekly food shop from the farm shop. Trouble is, while buying your groceries from the very hands that grew it has a certain amount of charm, purchasing an Avensis is a much more clinical affair.

That slightly unemotional feeling is carried into the interior. While it’s hardly going to offend anyone, the disappointingly light and flimsy feeling switches and plastics might. Some of the textures are quite odd, and rivals such as the Ford Mondeo do dashboards much better. It is at least simple to use with plenty of big buttons on the infotainment system and climate controls.

But safety is rather good with the Avensis, with airbags as standard, including a driver’s knee airbag to prevent injury to their legs. Higher specification models could have been ordered with an optional safety package that included pre-crash safety (which warns the driver of impending danger), adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist with lane departure warning. Very advanced stuff for a car of this age.

Legroom in the back isn’t quite as generous as it is in the Ford Mondeo, but the Avensis impresses with a flat floor; this means that there isn’t a transmission tunnel to straddle if you happen to be sat in the middle seat in rear of the car.

The driving experience is one of relaxed, refined progress. All the control weights, from the steering, to the gear change and pedals are light and easy to use. The ride is quite decent once up to speed and the car feels most at home on the motorway.

The Avensis got a facelift in 2012 that brought a new 2.0-litre diesel with better fuel economy and lower emissions.

An early 2009 Toyota Avensis with a petrol engine could be yours for as little as £3500, and that’s without ridiculous mileage.

Up your budget to £5500 to £6000 and you will be able to find all sorts of low-mileage examples with a higher level of specification.

If you are looking for a facelifted example from 2012, be prepared to spend at least £7000.

Not a lot really. Fuel economy for both petrol and diesel cars is remarkably good for a vehicle of its size and age. Both the 1.6 and 1.8-litre petrols have combined average figures of 42.8mpg and cost £190 per year to tax. The 2.0-litre is only slightly less efficient at 40.9mpg, so it manages to fit into the same tax band as the smaller engines.

The diesel range starts with a 2.0-litre D-4D that manages to average 55.4mpg and costs £135 per year to tax. This engine was updated in 2012 with the facelift, which reduced its consumption to 62.8mpg and £30 road tax.

If you want a bit more power, then take a look at the 2.2-litre diesel with either 148bhp or 175bhp. The former has an average consumption figure of 51.4mpg and £150 road tax, and the latter manages to average 47.9mpg and cost £190 to tax.

Be aware of the D-CAT version of the 2.2-litre diesel because it is fitted with a diesel particulate filter (DPF). It is noticeably less efficient than an Avensis without a DPF, and has a combined average of only 45.6mpg and cost £190 to tax.

The range starts with T2, which gets air con, CD player, electric front windows, driver’s seat height adjustment and seven airbags. But it is rather basic, so we’d suggest you look for a TR model which adds 17in alloy wheels, front fog lights, climate control, Bluetooth, cruise control, electric rear windows, automatic headlights and an electrically adjustable driver’s lumbar support.

T4 spec cars get electrically adjustable leather seats and push-button start. T Spirit Nav adds Bi-xenon headlights and sat nav.

If you need to go petrol, stick with the 1.8-litre rather than the 1.6-litre, because it has the same fuel economy figures with a bit more power to help move the rather sizeable Avensis around.

Of the diesels, go for the 2.0-litre diesel in the post-facelift car, because 60-plus mpg and low road tax is very appealing. If your budget cannot stretch to one, the 2.0-litre diesel in the pre-facelift car is a good compromise of performance and economy.

Our favourite Toyota Avensis: 2.0 D-4D TR

The thorn in the Avensis’ side has always been the Ford Mondeo. The problem is that the Mondeo does everything really well, often, much better than the Avensis can. It is also freely available everywhere because it sold in much greater numbers than the Toyota Avensis. Finding a well-equipped Mondeo with excellent history isn’t hard, which is why it is the better used car buy.

The Volkswagen Passat is much classier than the Avensis and doesn’t have an interior filled with cheap plastics. It really does have the feel of a more upmarket model, even if it doesn’t quite have the same aspirational pull of a BMW or Audi.

If you want a motorway mile muncher, then the Vauxhall Insignia is worth a shout. The diesels are rather efficient and the interior is a rather nice place to pass the time – once you have gotten past the daunting myriad of buttons strewn across the dashboard of early examples.

Find a used Toyota Avensis in the What Car? Classifieds here

For all the latest reviews, advice and new car deals, sign up to the What Car? Newsletter here