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<b>ADVANCED AVANZA FAIR:</b> No more will the neighbours point and chuckle at the strange Toyota in your driveway. The 2012 second-generatioin MPV is now a good-looking set of seven-seater wheels.
The first-generation Toyota Avanza was a pioneering "no-frills" compact MPV that delivered exactly what it promised on the box – it got as many people as possible from one place to another in reasonable comfort.
However, the all-new Avanza which will go on sale in South Africa from February 6, 2012 has upped the ante considerably by going big on style, space and comfort.
Toyota says it's kept the virtues of the outgoing model - seven seats, compact body and "excellent value for money" - but the entire package now has::
• A dynamic new design, inside and out, with an enhanced sense of quality.
• Better comfort.
• More storage capacity, especially when all seats are occupied.
• Better safety specs.
• Improved ride comfort and handling stability thanks to a new suspension.
• Lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Sales and marketing man Calvyn Hamman said: “The Avanza, with its three-row configuration and price, has virtually no competitors among compact MPV's. This all-new, second-generation model has much more style, refinement and comfort so we are confident it will be even more favourably received than its predecessor.”
DESIGN AND STYLING
The Avanza is 20mm longer and 25mm wider overall but looks even bigger thanks to longer windows designed to appear to be one piece of glass. A touch of "muscularity", Toyota says, has been added with flared wheel arches and a curved character line. Body-colour door releases are standard and the S and SX models have 14" steel rims with white plastic caps. The more upmarket TX rolls on15" alloys.
The new Toyota face - a "snout" bearing the Toyota logo first seen on the new Yaris - has been added and the grille is body-coloured across the range except for the flagship TX which has chrome mouldings and front fog lights.
The tail door, Toyota says, "flares out from the licence plate" to add another "muscularity" touch and a tail spoiler bearing a third brake light and rear chromed "garnish strip" also distinguish the TX.
INTERIOR
The cabin ambiance now leans more towards "car" than "wagon", emphasised by a lower instrument panel and a central cluster housing air vents, audio controls and ventilation controls.
Paint chrome have been replaced on the fascia and doors by glossy and matt surfaces and luggage volume has grown despite the three rows of seats; and no, Toyota says, leg and knee room is still good. How? Well...
• A lighter seat design.
• Door trim has been increased by 10mm to, Toyota says, "create a sense of spaciousness".
• The front-seat backs are thinner to increase second-row knee space by 20mm..
• The second-row seat backs are 10mm thinner to add knee space for third-row passengers.
• A slide (SX and TX) has been added to the second-row seat (60mm backward) to allow expansion of its foot space along with a one-touch tumble feature which, with the seat slide, makes third-row access easier..
• The third-row seat has been moved forward by 10mm and the tail door trim moved rearward by eight millimetres to extend the luggage floor by 18mm.
The entry-level S version has anti-lock brakes, remote-control central locking, break-in alarm and immobiliser, electric power-steering (tilt-adjustable), power windows, two front air bags and lots of oddments storage.
SX units add colour-coded power external mirrors, aircon and the adjustable second-row seats.
The flagship TX tops-off things with a four four-speaker sound system adjustable from the steering wheel, a USB/auxiliary/iPod port and a dual-zone auto aircon with vents directing air to the rear passengers.
PERFORMANCE
The 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines and transmission are essentially carried over from the first-generation but the vehicle bodies are 20kg lighter, aerodynamics are better, low rolling-resistance tyres and electric 0ower-steering demand less fuel and aircon is more efficient. This, Toyota says, together with myriad other minute improvements has combined to realise substantial accelerative performance and fuel economy enhancements (see table).
Engine changes - at a glance:
• The four-cylinder 1.5 and 1.3 engines with "intelligent" variable valve-timing have been carried over and, Toyota says, "maintain a combination of high performance, fuel economy and environmental performance".
• A resonator has been added to the air-cleaner hose to reduce engine booming at high engine speeds.
• A five-speed manual transmission is standard but a four-speed auto transmission has been introduced to the SX model and its 1.5 engine with hydraulic electronic control to manage smooth shifts and acceleration. A lock-up is said to reduce power-loss associated with torque-converter slip and maintain fuel efficiency.
PRICES (including VAT and emissions tax)
Avanza 1.3 S – R155 900
Avanza 1.3 SX – R168 800
Avanza 1.5 SX – R175 500
Avanza 1.5 SX AT – R189 600
Avanza 1.5 TX – R202 200
All models are delivered with a four-year or 60 000km service plan and a three-year or 100 000km warranty. Service intervals 15 000km.
However, the all-new Avanza which will go on sale in South Africa from February 6, 2012 has upped the ante considerably by going big on style, space and comfort.
Toyota says it's kept the virtues of the outgoing model - seven seats, compact body and "excellent value for money" - but the entire package now has::
• A dynamic new design, inside and out, with an enhanced sense of quality.
• Better comfort.
• More storage capacity, especially when all seats are occupied.
• Better safety specs.
• Improved ride comfort and handling stability thanks to a new suspension.
• Lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Sales and marketing man Calvyn Hamman said: “The Avanza, with its three-row configuration and price, has virtually no competitors among compact MPV's. This all-new, second-generation model has much more style, refinement and comfort so we are confident it will be even more favourably received than its predecessor.”
DESIGN AND STYLING
The Avanza is 20mm longer and 25mm wider overall but looks even bigger thanks to longer windows designed to appear to be one piece of glass. A touch of "muscularity", Toyota says, has been added with flared wheel arches and a curved character line. Body-colour door releases are standard and the S and SX models have 14" steel rims with white plastic caps. The more upmarket TX rolls on15" alloys.
The new Toyota face - a "snout" bearing the Toyota logo first seen on the new Yaris - has been added and the grille is body-coloured across the range except for the flagship TX which has chrome mouldings and front fog lights.
The tail door, Toyota says, "flares out from the licence plate" to add another "muscularity" touch and a tail spoiler bearing a third brake light and rear chromed "garnish strip" also distinguish the TX.
INTERIOR
The cabin ambiance now leans more towards "car" than "wagon", emphasised by a lower instrument panel and a central cluster housing air vents, audio controls and ventilation controls.
WHO SAYS YOU DON'T GET BETTER-LOOKING AS YOU AGE? Sleeker and slightly longer and wider - this is the Avanza TX with its alloy rims.
• A lighter seat design.
• Door trim has been increased by 10mm to, Toyota says, "create a sense of spaciousness".
• The front-seat backs are thinner to increase second-row knee space by 20mm..
• The second-row seat backs are 10mm thinner to add knee space for third-row passengers.
• A slide (SX and TX) has been added to the second-row seat (60mm backward) to allow expansion of its foot space along with a one-touch tumble feature which, with the seat slide, makes third-row access easier..
• The third-row seat has been moved forward by 10mm and the tail door trim moved rearward by eight millimetres to extend the luggage floor by 18mm.
The entry-level S version has anti-lock brakes, remote-control central locking, break-in alarm and immobiliser, electric power-steering (tilt-adjustable), power windows, two front air bags and lots of oddments storage.
TOYOTA'S WORKHORSE MPV GOES UPMARKET: The fascia, instruments and steering-wheel controls are way more sophisticated than those of the first generation and auto aircon comes with the top-end TX model.
The flagship TX tops-off things with a four four-speaker sound system adjustable from the steering wheel, a USB/auxiliary/iPod port and a dual-zone auto aircon with vents directing air to the rear passengers.
PERFORMANCE
The 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines and transmission are essentially carried over from the first-generation but the vehicle bodies are 20kg lighter, aerodynamics are better, low rolling-resistance tyres and electric 0ower-steering demand less fuel and aircon is more efficient. This, Toyota says, together with myriad other minute improvements has combined to realise substantial accelerative performance and fuel economy enhancements (see table).
Engine changes - at a glance:
• The four-cylinder 1.5 and 1.3 engines with "intelligent" variable valve-timing have been carried over and, Toyota says, "maintain a combination of high performance, fuel economy and environmental performance".
• A resonator has been added to the air-cleaner hose to reduce engine booming at high engine speeds.
BACK AND FORTH: The second-generation Avanza has a slide mechanism under the middle-row seats for legroom - or they can fold for cargo.
PRICES (including VAT and emissions tax)
Avanza 1.3 S – R155 900
Avanza 1.3 SX – R168 800
Avanza 1.5 SX – R175 500
Avanza 1.5 SX AT – R189 600
Avanza 1.5 TX – R202 200
All models are delivered with a four-year or 60 000km service plan and a three-year or 100 000km warranty. Service intervals 15 000km.
