Toyota Avensis (2015 – 2019) Review

Toyota Avensis (2015 – 2019) At A Glance

3/5

+Well-equipped and easy to drive. Comfortable long distance cruiser. Lots of interior space.

-Bland styling inside and out. Not particularly fun to drive. Apart from 2.0-litre diesel the engines need to be worked hard to gain meaningful performance.

Insurance Groups are between 13–22
On average it achieves 73% of the official MPG figure

The Toyota Avensis is the typical sensible saloon. It prioritises value and practicality over style and driving excitement. As a result the Avensis is spacious, well-equipped and boasts high levels of comfort and refinement. However, it does show its age, with bland interior styling and an uninspiring drive.

The third-generation Avensis was launched in 2009 and received a major update in 2015 to bring it into line with the competition - namely the Ford Mondeo, Skoda Octavia and Mazda 6. These upgrades include more efficient engines and more safety kit as standard.

Despite the raft of impressive updates, the interior retains dull and forgettable, with lots of dark plastics that look like they've been lifted from a 1980s' TV set. That said, the cabin is one of the largest in its class, with plenty of head and leg room in the front and back. The seats are also larger, more supportive and include technology to reduce whiplash injuries in the event of an accident. 

Cabin storage is good with a large front console box - doubling up as a front armrest - and a cavernous glovebox that will easily hold a large water bottle. Admittedly, the 509-litre boot is not as big as the Mondeo or Octavia, but it can still hold a pair of large suitcases or a set of golf clubs. The rear seats can also be folded to offer more space. 

The engine line-up consists of three options - one petrol and two diesels - with the former being a 1.8-litre four-cylinder with 147PS. Fuel economy for the petrol is not as impressive as other family saloons, with the Toyota returning 139g/km and up to 47.9mpg. 

Those covering high mileages will be better off with one of the diesels, with the 1.6 and 2.0 powertrains returning a respective claimed figures of 67.3mpg and 62.8mpg. The 1.6 diesel is the most economical powertrain in the range, but again lags behind the competition on emissions and doesn't dip below the all-important 100g/km for CO2.

While the Avensis isn't anywhere near as much fun to drive as its rivals, it redeems itself on the motorway with low noise levels and impressive long distance comfort. What's more, being a Toyota, it feels relatively well-built and is backed by a comprehensive five-year warranty.

Long Term Test Toyota Avensis Touring Sports 2.0 D-4D

Real MPG average for a Toyota Avensis (2015 – 2019)

RealMPG

Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.

Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.

Average performance

73%

Real MPG

36–55 mpg

MPGs submitted

64

Diesel or petrol? If you're unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel (or even an electric model if it's available), then you need our Petrol or Diesel? calculator. It does the maths on petrols, diesels and electric cars to show which is best suited to you.

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Ask Honest John

What's the best ULEZ compliant car for £5000?

"I need a reliable car for mainly motorway driving and I’m in ULEZ so must be petrol for my budget, which is most reliable and comfortable for the job?"
If you want reliability, comfort and motorway capability we would suggest looking at cars such as the Skoda Octavia and Superb, Toyota Avensis and Mazda 6. You should find plenty of examples within your budget.
Answered by David Ross

Best spacious used car?

"I'm looking for spacious, reliable used car with either fold down seats or a large boot. I do a lot of town driving with occasional long runs. I am looking for fuel economy but I am worried about the diesel particulate filter sooting up problem. If it is to be petrol, please suggest an economical, roomy, cheap but comfortable used car."
Without knowing your budget it's difficult to give you a clear answer. We'd gravitate towards a Skoda Octavia estate as an all-rounder, but the Fabia Estate might work for you depending on if it's big enough - it'll certainly be economical. Other recommendations include the Honda Accord Tourer, the Mazda 6 Tourer and the Toyota Avensis estate.
Answered by Lawrence Allan

How reliable is the Toyota Avensis?

"I have a Toyota Avensis 1.6 D4D estate with 65,000 miles on the clock. It has a full dealer service history. I have read that the engine is not reliable and was wondering if I should keep it or sell it before it costs me lots to repair or ends up worthless. The challenge is that I need a big estate and replacing it seems to be really expensive at the moment. I do less than 10,000 miles a year, but all the trips are long journeys. So would it be best to sell it now or will it do a few more years (ideally four more years) then I won't need a big car and could buy a small one?"
The Toyota Avensis is generally a very reliable car but issues arise with the diesel engines when people neglect servicing or use them for regular short journeys or lots of urban use. Provided you maintain it well and take it for regular motorway runs (to prevent a blocked DPF), your car should easily have another four years in it without any major issues.
Answered by Andrew Brady

What automatic car do you recommend for around £5,000?

"I am looking for a practical automatic medium-sized workhorse car for around £5,000. The Ford C-Max 2.0 TDCi fits the bill, but does this model have the Powershift gearbox, or are the bigger engines fitted with something better? If it has, can you suggest something else reliable?"
The C-Max is fitted with a Powershift gearbox. I would consider the Toyota Avensis estate 2.2-litre diesel auto. It has loads of room inside and they're considered to be extremely tough, we have had few reports of issues: https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/toyota/avensis-2015/good
Answered by Russell Campbell
More Questions

What does a Toyota Avensis (2015 – 2019) cost?