Toyota Avensis

Second generation (T250)
Second generation (T250)
	Toyota Avensis (Germany)
Overview
Production	January 2003–2009
Assembly	United Kingdom: Burnaston, Derbyshire (Toyota Manufacturing UK)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon; 5-door liftback; 5-door estate;
Platform	Toyota MC platform
Related	Toyota Allion (T240); Toyota Avensis Verso/Ipsum/Picnic/SportsVan (XM20); Toyota Caldina (T240); Toyota Corolla Verso (AR10); Toyota Premio (T240); Scion tC (AT10);
Powertrain
Engine	petrol:; 1.6 L 3ZZ-FE I4; 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4; 2.0 L 1AZ-FSE I4; 2.4 L 2AZ-FSE I4; diesel:; 2.0 L 1CD-FTV turbo I4; 2.0 L 1AD-FTV turbo I4; 2.2 L 2AD-FTV turbo I4; 2.2 L 2AD-FHV turbo I4;
Transmission	5-speed manual; 6-speed manual; 4-speed U341E automatic;
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length	Estate: 4,715 mm (185.6 in); Others: 4,645 mm (182.9 in);
Width	1,760 mm (69.3 in)
Height	Estate: 1,525 mm (60.0 in); Others: 1,480 mm (58.3 in);
Chronology
Predecessor	Toyota Vista (V50) (Japan); Toyota Camry (XV30) (Europe);

First generation (T220)
First generation (T220)
	Toyota Avensis GS (UK)
Overview
Also called	Toyota Corona (Latin America, Greece); Toyota Corona Avensis (Peru, Chile); Toyota Caldina (Japan);
Production	1997–2002
Assembly	United Kingdom: Burnaston, Derbyshire (Toyota Manufacturing UK)
Body and chassis
Body style	4-door saloon; 5-door liftback; 5-door estate;
Related	Toyota Avensis Picnic/Ipsum/Picnic/SportsVan (XM10); Toyota Carina (T210); Toyota Celica (T200); Toyota Corona (T210);
Powertrain
Engine	petrol:; 1.6 L 4A-FE I4; 1.6 L 3ZZ-FE I4; 1.8 L 7A-FE I4; 1.8 L 1ZZ-FE I4; 2.0 L 3S-FE I4; 2.0 L 1AZ-FSE I4; diesel:; 2.0 L 2C-TE turbo I4; 2.0 L 1CD-FTV turbo I4;
Transmission	5-speed manual; 4-speed A246E automatic;
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,630 mm (103.5 in)
Length	Estate: 4,600 mm (181.1 in); Others: 4,520 mm (178.0 in);
Width	1,710 mm (67.3 in)
Height	Estate: 1,500 mm (59.1 in); Others: 1,425 mm (56.1 in);

Toyota Avensis
Toyota Avensis
	2009 Toyota Avensis saloon (T270)
Overview
Manufacturer	Toyota
Production	October 1997 – August 2018
Assembly	United Kingdom: Burnaston, Derbyshire (Toyota Manufacturing UK)
Body and chassis
Class	Mid-size/large family car (D)
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive; Front-engine, four-wheel-drive;
Chronology
Predecessor	Toyota Corona/Carina E (Europe); Toyota Vista (V50) (Japan, for T250 model); Toyota Camry (XV30) (Europe, for T250 model);
Successor	Toyota Camry (XV70)

The Toyota Avensis (Japanese: トヨタ・アベンシス, Hepburn: Toyota Abenshisu) is a mid-size/large family car built in Derbyshire, United Kingdom by the Japanese automaker Toyota from October 1997 to August 2018. It was the direct successor to the European Carina E and was available as a four-door saloon, five-door liftback and estate.

The Avensis was introduced in 1997, to create a more modern name when compared with the Carina E. The "Avensis" name is derived from the French term avancer, meaning "to advance" or "move forward".^[1] The Avensis was not sold in North America, and it is related to the Scion tC coupé. It also shared a platform with the Allion and Premio and was available at Japanese dealership network Toyota Netz Store.

An MPV called the Avensis Verso (Ipsum in Japan and previously the Picnic in other markets) was built in Japan on a separate platform.

First generation (T220; 1997)

Toyota introduced the Avensis nameplate on its new model, which was launched at the end of 1997. Although an extensive revamp of the previous generation Carina E, the only main common parts were the engines, with an all new style of body. The car was built at the Burnaston factory in Derby. At the same time, production of the five-door Toyota Corolla also started at the British plant.

The first generation Avensis had the option of four engines (1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel) and three body styles (saloon, hatchback and estate). The station wagon was essentially the Japanese-market second generation Toyota Caldina. All of the range gave solid build quality, excellent reliability, a spacious comfortable interior, generous equipment, smooth ride quality and good refinement, but very little in the way of excitement.

The first generation Avensis received a facelift in August 2000. The engines were fitted with variable valve timing, satellite navigation was included as a standard feature along the range and the sporty Avensis 2.0 L SR (with body kit and tuned suspension) was added but overall sales remained low.

The first generation Avensis was also sold in South America. In Argentina and Brazil, it was sold as the Toyota Corona (as seen on brochures), but in Chile and Peru, it was sold as the Corona Avensis. In Greece, the Toyota Corona model name had long been synonymous with "taxi", so Avensis' sold for taxi use received "Toyota Corona" badging until the 2000 facelift.^[2] Models for private use and post-facelift taxis were Avensis, just like in the rest of Europe.

Liftback (pre-facelift)
Saloon (pre-facelift)
Estate (pre-facelift)
Liftback (facelift)
Saloon (facelift)
Estate (facelift)

Engines

Petrol

1.6-litre 4A-FE 81 kW (110 hp)
1.6-litre VVT-i 3ZZ-FE 81 kW (110 hp)
1.8-litre 7A-FE 81 kW (110 hp)
1.8-litre VVT-i 1ZZ-FE 95 kW (129 hp)
2.0-litre 3S-FE 94 kW (128 hp)
2.0-litre D4 VVT-i 1AZ-FSE 110 kW (150 hp)

Diesel

2.0-litre TD 2C-TE 66 kW (90 hp)
2.0-litre D-4D 1CD-FTV 81 kW (110 hp)

Second generation (T250; 2003)

The second generation Avensis was launched in February 2003, in an all new format; this time it offered more in the way of driver involvement and visual appeal. It was launched in Japan in saloon and estate form in October 2003, replacing the V50 series Vista and Vista Ardeo. Like the Echo/Yaris and Corolla, it was penned by the company's design studio in France.^[3] Production officially began on 6 January 2003. Following the withdrawal of the Camry in 2004 (2005 in Switzerland), the Avensis became the largest Toyota saloon sold in Western Europe.

Trim levels in the United Kingdom were T2, T3-S, T3-X, T4, T Spirit, T180 and TR. There is also a special edition, based on the T2 called the Colour Collection. In Ireland, there were five trim levels – Terra, Aura, Strata, Luna and Sol. In Japan, the Avensis is sold as 2.0 Xi, 2.0 Li (later replaced by 2.4 Li) and 2.4 Qi. Only the base model 2.0 Xi is offered with four-wheel drive.

This is first and only generation of Avensis sold in Egypt and Morocco, not in Persian Gulf countries.

In the 2004 European Car of the Year contest, the Avensis came in fourth place behind the Fiat Panda (winner), Mazda3 (second) and the Volkswagen Golf (third). However, it won the 2004 Semperit Irish Car of the Year. What Car? also awarded the Avensis as the "Best Family Car" for 2004 and 2005.

Liftback (pre-facelift)
Saloon (pre-facelift)
Estate (pre-facelift)
Interior

Facelift

In 2006, the Avensis received a mid-career facelift. Exterior cosmetic changes include a slightly redesigned logo, a new front grille with double concave lines (including a new darker grille treatment on higher trim levels), new headlamps and rear combination lamps, revised front bumpers and front fog lights, door mirror with turn signals adoption, new tyres, a new wheel design (in two colours) and a new wheel cap design, and five changed body colours.^[4] Toyota describes the cosmetic changes as strengthening the family connection with the Corolla and Yaris, and allowing the Avensis to maintain a premium look while giving it a sportier appearance.^[4]

Inside, the dashboard materials are revised, the beige interior is replaced by a new grege interior, the instrumentation is revised, the design of the switches is changed, the passenger seat is now height adjustable, alcantara seats are available, and the seats become 60:40 split folding.^[4] The Hi-Fi, which previously had a CD and tape player, now only accepts CDs but also plays MP3s.^[4] The central screen containing the information of the on-board computer has been removed in favour of a compartment (as on the previous entry-level) and is now integrated into the meters facing the driver.

From a structural point of view, the underbody is reinforced.^[4] Finally, the 2.0L D4D 85 kW (115 hp) diesel engine is replaced by the 2.0L D4D 93 kW (126 hp) engine.^[4] This, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, has lowered fuel consumption, emissions, and gives a quoted 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) time of 10.5 seconds.

Saloon (facelift)
Saloon (facelift)
Estate (Japan; facelift)
Estate (Japan; facelift)

Safety

In 2003, the Avensis became the first Japanese vehicle to receive a five-star rating under the Euro NCAP's redone testing, with 34 total points it also became the highest rated vehicle they had tested.^[5] In 2003, the Avensis also became the first vehicle sold in Europe with a knee airbag.^[6]