Toyota Ireland tells us that it has launched its new Avensis with ‘premium style and comfort’ and with advanced safety technology. Prices start from just €25,870 for the entry-level ‘Aura’ petrol and €27,710 is the starting price for the ‘Aura’ diesel versions.
Toyota says that the new model offers more prestigious exterior and interior styling, and lower-emission engines including a new 1.6 D-4D. The Japanese carmaker says that “the new Avensis is designed to appeal to customers looking for premium comfort and high specification, while maintaining its signature attributes of quality, durability and reliability”.
The press release states that the new 2015 Avensis has been designed to offer significant improvements in five key areas: styling, safety, sensory quality and comfort, equipment and value for money and driving pleasure and running costs.
Both the saloon and Touring Sports versions of the new Avensis feature much more dynamic exterior designs. The front of the vehicle is a bold interpretation of Toyota’s trademark design language, with a smaller more aggressively styled upper grille which anchors new headlamp clusters and extends the overall vehicle length by 40mm. The lower grille encompasses a gloss black-painted bumper centre and has been significantly enlarged, pushing the fog lamps to the extremities of the vehicle, emphasising vehicle width. The more elegant profile is further enhanced by a choice of new 16″ and 17″ alloy wheel designs.
In Toyota’s anticipation of a 5-star rating from the Euro NCAP programme, they tell us new Avensis’ safety systems have been comprehensively upgraded, bringing active safety and driver assistance to new levels. A focus on active safety technology introduces the new ‘Toyota Safety Sense’ (TSS) system, fitted as standard across the model range. It works b processing information provided by a compact, windscreen head-mounted unit housing both a laser and a camera. The TSS offers a pre-collision safety system incorporating a forward collision warning (FCW) and featuring autonomous emergency braking. The ‘Luna’ and ‘Sol’ specification grades also feature a lane departure alert (LDA) system, automatic high beam (AHB) and road sign assist (RSA).
Toyota tells us that the interior comfort and style have been enhanced and refined resulting in a more elegant interior design. The all-new interior design offers attractive trim, finishes and colour schemes. It adds that the premium feel of the cabin is further improved by a new front seat design, which it claims is ideally suited to maximise comfort on long distance journeys.
And that the feel and operation of all switchgear has been improved, and sensory quality is further heightened by the careful harmonisation of text and symbols, and more consistent back-lit illumination. The interior design has also been designed with robust materials which provide additional sound absorption and insulation resulting in decreased noise vibration and harshness (NVH) and a smoother, quieter drive.
Toyota says that standard specification includes class-leading equipment and advanced technology such as the ‘Toyota Touch 2’ system and an 8-inch multimedia screen. In addition, the new TTS system is fitted as standard across the range, which it says is a demonstration that the new Avensis offers outstanding value for money and cutting edge safety equipment at every level of the new grade structure.
The new Avensis powertrain line-up has been comprehensively revised. Toyota say that they now offer customers lower fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and cost of ownership. The four strong engine range features a new 1.6 litre and a new 2.0 litre diesel engine as well as 1.6 litre and 1.8 litre petrol engines.
The press release also adds that both front and rear suspension systems feature significant improvements to enhance both ride comfort and handling performance, while steering feel and responsiveness has also been improved.
Steve Tormey, Chief Executive of Toyota Ireland told us: “The new Avensis has a distinctly premium feel: With its dynamic exterior, improved sensory quality and comfort as well as class leading Toyota Safety Sense technology Avensis offers a truly rewarding driving experience. There are over 44,000 Avensis drivers in Ireland and we firmly believe that the new Avensis will be enjoyed by our current customers as well as winning new ones”.
