The Toyota Avanza 1.5 G gets an 'A'

Despite the congestion in Metro Manila today, the popularity of seven-seater SUVs (sport utility vehicles), crossovers, and MPVs (multi-purpose vehicles) is higher than ever.

Why? Because they’re practical. On occasions when you’re alone, it’s not too big of a vehicle to use every day to get you to work and back home. Plus, it has a lot of space for everyday things like your laptop, office bag, gym bag, an extra pair of shoes, coats and jackets, and everything else in between.

Of course, if you have a big family, it goes without saying that this will keep you guys together whether you’re driving up for lunch at a restaurant on Sunday or going out of town for a vacation.

If Toyota’s Avanza Veloz, at close to P1.1 million, is a little beyond your budget, let me tell you about the next best thing: The Avanza 1.5 G that comes in either a five-speed MT (manual transmission) or a four-speed AT (automatic transmission).

After the updated version was launched in October 2019, the Avanza now sports a refreshed stylish look, comes with a redesigned dashboard, plus a new infotainment system and practical safety features making a great choice for your first MPV.

Despite the new version just being a facelift, the Avanza 1.5 G got an exterior overhaul. Its brand-new fascia gives the vehicle a sportier look with a more confident stance. The facelift includes new split-type LED (light-emitting diode) headlamps which seamlessly complement the character lines of the hood’s sheet metal, as well as front fog lamps alongside its black front grille with chrome garnish. It has redesigned 15-inch alloy wheels that highlight the model’s 180mm ground clearance, a sporty rear design with bulb-type rear combination lamps, and a fin-type antenna. Tire size is 185/65 R15.

Powering the G variants is a 1.5-liter four-cylinder, inline 2NR-VE gasoline engine with dual VVT-i (variable valve timing with intelligence) that allows it to operate in the Otto cycle as well as a modified-Atkinson cycle to improve thermal efficiency. Output is 103hp and 136Nm of torque.

Expect a certain amount of stiffness as the suspension remains the same, a MacPherson Strut with stabilizer suspension in front and a four-link with lateral control rod suspension in the rear that provides additional body anti-roll and stability and keeps the tires in better contact with the pavement to provide better grip.

For stopping power, it has ventilated front disc brakes, leading-trailing drum rear brakes (leading shoe is pressed in the same direction as the rotation of the drums, and this rotation helps to press the shoes against the drum with greater pressure for stronger braking force used for the rear brakes of passenger cars).

Other exterior features include side turn indicators integrated into the headlamps, intermittent windshield wipers in front and a wiper in the rear, color-keyed side mirrors with turn signal lamps, smoked chrome backdoor garnish, rear window defogger, rear reflector, rear spoiler, and a high-mount LED stop lamp.

A speedometer, tachometer, digital odometer and trip meter are standard across, along with an Eco indicator, digital clock, driver + front passenger seatbelts with lamp and buzzer warning, door ajar warning on the black instrument panel center cluster with silver accent.

It also comes with manual digital display and dual climate control and a 6.8-inch WVGA (Wide Video Graphics Array) with T-Link smartphone mirroring (iOS and Android), CD + DVD + MP3 + FLAC with Aux-in + USB + Bluetooth and K2 technology (high resolution audio quality). Two mobile devices can be paired for hands-free calling while five devices can be paired for music streaming to the cabin’s four speakers.

The three-spoke steering wheel is made of urethane and comes with a silver accent and audio control buttons. This shift lever and knob is also made of urethane and comes with chrome and silver accent for the AT trim while the MT trim gets plain urethane.

Both have a 12V accessory outlet, tilt-adjustable steering column with electric power steering, sun visors with mirrors on both driver and passenger side, an anti-glare rearview mirror, fabric seats with visible stitching for style, sliding and reclining driver and front passenger seat, 50:50 split one-touch tumble and slide second-row seats, 50:50 split and tumble third-row seats, molded full door trim with fabric, a glove box, 17 bottle holders, driver and passenger door pockets, sun glasses holder, seatback pockets, room lamp, door courtesy lamp, and front personal lamp.

It also comes with power windows with jam protect, power door locks, and power-adjustable sideview mirrors.

Standard safety features are side door impact beam, driver and passenger airbags, anti-lock braking system with electronic brakeforce distribution, two three-point front ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) seatbelts with pretensioner and force limiter, three three-point second-row ELR seatbelts, two three-point third-row ELR seatbelts, child lock protection (rear door only),  a child restraint system with Isofix and tether anchor, Toyota Vehicle Security System with alarm and immobilizer, and wireless locking features using the keyfob.

The Toyota Avanza 1.5 G AT is priced at P1.012 million while the Toyota Avanza 1.5 G MT goes for P969,000.

Photos from Toyota Motor Philippines