mbines elegance and comfort
not expected that Toyota
would put so much good
into a mid-level car. This
would however be expect-
ed in Lexus models and
other high-end Toyotas
like the Mark II and Crown.
Well, that was never true
and we have seen them
do it with the Mark X. The
Camry too has been a
best seller in the US for
many years and continues
to do well in most markets
except Kenya where they
have
priced themselves out of
the market.
So what made the Av-
ensis such a good car to
drive?
For starters it has a flex-
ible engine that is able to
squeeze out more power
across a wider rev band.
With 147bhp at 5700rpm
in the 2.0 and 125bhp in
the 1.8 you should have
enough fun The D4-D
manages 116bhp at 3600
but has an impressive
torque. The throttle is ex-
citable and this comes in
handy when you need
to overtake that
odd truck up a
hill.
The
Av-
ensis also stopped quick-
er from a speed of 50kph
than its European rivals.
It was not your typical
budget Toyota and did not
even sound like one.
The engine noise was
also muted giving the car
a premium feel you will
not experience in the Pre-
mio/Allion brigade.
It used better quality
material on the inside that
helped the stereo sound
more premium. It was
also more refined than the
Mazda and Peugeot.
I would like to remind
you that we are discuss-
ing 2003 models here
and not the current 2010
models currently being
imported.
The reason the Aven-
sis was doing so well in
Kenya might be sim-
ply because it was
designed in
Europe
or
the fact that we are be-
coming more discerning
as consumers.
We want faster and safer
vehicles and realize that it
is cheaper to buy German
cars than we thought pre-
viously.
Looks aside, what used
Avensis should you go
for? Whether you go for
the station wagon or the
saloon you would be best
advised to choose the
2.0D4D.
Treat it right by servic-
ing it on time with the
right genuine parts and
you will enjoy a rewarding
and thrilling ownership.
If you are looking for an
‘old’ used vehicle be sure
to check its condition and
verify that it was treated
right over the years. Do
not buy the Toyota Aven-
sis for its performance,
which is great, but for its
comfort and refinement,
which is better than you
would expect?