Avensis - made for the fleet sector

Test Report by Graham Breeze

Motor manufacturers ignore the fleet buyer at their peril these days so it’s no surprise to find that Toyota designed the Avensis Tourer to be a strong performer in that sector.

Today’s fleet car driver demands a lot more than just space and running costs  from a tourer. Now comfort and on-board technologies prove strong influences when the fleet buyer dips into his wallet so Toyota came up with a Business Edition Plus Tourer, dripping with all the latest gizmos and gadgets.

Toyota’s marketing gurus went as far as canvassing business motorists before developing the Avensis. They wanted to know what their needs and expectations were, which was good business sense when you learn they expect 87% of sales to come from the fleet sector.

As a result, the new Avensis range of saloons and Touring Sports wagons has two equipment grades that focus on the things that make life more comfortable, convenient and connected for today’s business motorist.

The Avensis Business Edition is positioned to appeal at the heart of the fleet market. It comes equipped with Toyota Touch 2 with Go, a fast and intuitive eight-inch touchscreen-controlled multimedia package that includes navigation, Bluetooth, DAB and access to online services for local information and journey planning.

It comes with all the things you need for life in a busy business environment where the driver needs to be constantly on the move yet still in touch with everything that’s going on.

The 2.0litre D4D manual Business Edition Plus model on test ticked all the right boxes with cruise control, automatic air conditioning and automatic headlights and wipers, combination leather and Alcantara upholstery, LED headlights and daytime running lights, rear privacy glass and smart entry with push-button start.

All models benefit from a redesigned driver’s seat that gives extra support and comfort for long distance trips, with electrically adjustable lumbar support provided on both Business Edition grades. Improved NVH measures also make the cabin a much quieter and calmer place.

While the Business Edition Tourer offers all the space the average business user is likely to need it does not have the cabin to match. If anything it’s a bit dull, with lots of plastic and not a match for a lot of the competition.

The test model had a top speed of 124mph and got to 62mph in just under 10 seconds while producing only 120g/km of emissions and averaging 61.4mpg, producing benefit in kind of 22% and sitting in the 19E insurance group.

 All those figures would impress the fleet buyer with the cheque book and at £26,630 the test car would also be an attractive option for the private buyer too.

There’s an outstanding safety package too which includes Toyota’s Safety Sense pre-collision system, emergency braking, lane departure alerts, road sign assist, front, side, curtain and driver’s knee airbags, ABS, traction control and emergency brake signals.

There’s no mistaking the Avensis is a Toyota and it benefits from LED headlights and daytime running lights, heated door mirrors, Rear privacy glass, 17” alloys front fog lamps and a rear-view camera, which proved popular as the Tourer is a big car to park.

And to attract the fleet buyers there’s a five year/100,000 miles warranty along with a 12 year anti-corrosion guarantee and a year’s full AA cover.

The Avensis Tourer is made in the UK with the British company car driver right at