Toyota Avanza

The Toyota Avanza’s cabin is practical. The company has focused on durability over luxury and this is evident form the hard plastics, simple dashboard layout, and minimal soft-touch materials. Most variants come with a black-grey colour scheme that hides dirt well but isn’t the most exciting to look at. Higher trims get subtle silver or chrome accents. The dashboard is straightforward and no-nonsense. 

The Toyota Avanza can carry up to seven passengers. The front row gets decent comfort with supportive seats for city driving. While adjustment is manual, the driver gets a commanding view. The second row gets bench-type seats with adjustable recline and a flat floor. Sliding function allows better access to the third row. Cushioning is on the firmer side, making long trips slightly uncomfortable. There’s no armrest in the middle row. The third row has more space than before but is still better suited for kids. 

Pros and Cons

Pros: Spacious cabin

Cons: Third-row seating crammed

Features and Technology

The Toyota Avanza gets a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment unit. Higher models get an 8.0-inch unit. Both get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support for seamless smartphone connectivity. The unit is connected to a multi-speaker audio system. Steering wheel-mounted audio controls are available on higher trims. The instrumental panel gets analogue gauges with a digital multi-information display. It’s functional but the Avanza lacks a fully digital instrument cluster found in some competitors. Higher trims of the Avanza get digital air-conditioning controls.

Pros and cons

Pros: Improved infotainment unit

Cons: Entry-level model gets very basic tech

Boot Space and Storage

Being a seven-passenger MPV, cargo space in the Toyota Avanza depends on how many seats are in use. With all rows up, the Toyota Aanza gets 150 litres of boot space. With the third-row seats folded down, the capacity increases to 500 litres. With both second and third-row seats folded down, the Avanza transforms into a mini cargo van, offering over 1,000 litres of flat storage space.

Toyota has designed the Avanza’s cabin with multiple storage compartments. The front row gets a standard-size glovebox, two cup holders near the central console, plus bottle holders on each door. Central console storage is available in higher trims. A small tray under the dashboard provides additional space. The second row gets seatback pockets, and bottle holders on rear doors. The third row gets side pockets and cup holders

Pros and Cons

Pro: Flexible cargo space

Con: High loading up

The Toyota Avanza measures 4,395mm in length, 1,730mm in width, and 1,665mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 2,750mm. The latest-generation Toyota Avanza has ditched the boxy look of its predecessors in favour of a bolder and sharper design. The front-end now comes with a large hexagonal grille with chrome or blacked-out accents. The grille is flanked by sleek headlights that are sharper and more angular, and blends well with the grille. Top models get all-around LED lighting. There’s a sculpted front bumper with a sportier look, complemented by fog lights in some variants. The upgraded Avanza carries some elements seen in Toyota’s sports utility vehicle (SUV) series, making it look aggressive and modern.

From the side, the Toyota Avanza retains its MPV shape. It’s long, tall, and has a high roofline for maximum cabin space. The car now gets sharp character lines running across the doors, lending it a more dynamic look. The flared wheel arches add a touch of ruggedness. Black outside mirrors and door handles on sportier trims lend contrast. The car runs on stylish alloy wheels (in 15-inch or 16-inch) depending on the trim. The tall proportions and relatively small wheels is a reminder that Toyota Avanza is a practical MPV rather than a sporty crossover.

The Toyota Avanza’s rear-end design is clean and functional. The car gets redesigned taillights that now stretch horizontally, inspired by Toyota’s bigger SUVs. A chrome or black bar connects the taillights, lending a wider appearance. A subtle roof spoiler adds a slight sporty touch. The clean bumper design with reflectors add better visibility.

The car is available in Black Metallic, Silver Metallic, Greenish Gunmetal Mica Metallic, and Dark Red Mica Metallic colours.

Pros and cons

Pros: Sharper and more modern front design

Cons: Rear design could be more exciting

The Toyota Avanza’s entry-level model returns a fuel economy of 10kmpl in urban traffic. On highways, the mileage derived is around 18kmpl. The Avanza is among the most fuel-efficient cars in its segment

Pros and cons

Pros: Fuel-efficient for a crossover 

Cons: Performance drops when fully loaded

The Toyota Avanza prioritises practicality over luxury and that’s evident in its ride comfort. On smooth roads, the Avanza delivers a decent ride. But on rough or uneven surfaces, things get bouncy. The suspension does a fairly decent job to absorb minor bumps and thuds. But bigger potholes and rough terrain make the ride quality unsettled. Cabin noise is another area where the Avanza needs improvement. At city speeds, it’s relatively quiet, but on highways, road and wind noise seep into the cabin, making conversations a bit harder to hear.

Handling is not the Avanza’s strongest point. But it’s still adequate. The steering is light and easy, making city driving and parking effortless. But the light steering also means there’s minimal feedback from the road. At a higher speed the steering feels a bit vague and less confidence-inspiring. Body roll is noticeable when cornering, as expected from a tall MPV. The Toyota isn’t meant for aggressive driving. But it’s still a nice-performing car for urban commuting

Pro: Responsive handling

Con: Needs better noise insulation

The entry-level mode of Toyota Avanza is equipped with a four-cylinder, 1.3-litre petrol engine that produces 97PS/122Nm. The motor is paired with a five-speed manual transmission (MT). The top model is hauled by a 1.5-litre petrol engine that outputs 105PS/138Nm. The motor is mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Both powertrains offer smooth and efficient performance for daily use. But the engines aren’t particularly fast. Highway performance feels underpowered when overtaking or driving at a higher speed. 

Pros and cons

Pros: Ideal for daily city driving

Cons: Highway performance underpowered

The Toyota Avanza comes with basic but practical safety equipment. The car gets a reverse parking camera in higher models along with parking sensors. The camera’s clarity is decent. But there’s no 360-degree camera that’s useful for a family MPV). There are also no front parking sensors.

Standard safety equipment across all models include dual front airbags, electronic stability control, traction control, antilock braking, hill-start assist, and seat anchors for children along with seatbelt reminders. The Toyota Avanza doesn’t get a blind-spot monitoring system or rear cross-traffic alert function. There’s no advanced collision avoidance feature like automatic emergency braking (AEB).

The safety package of the Toyota Avanza is decent but still lacks modern crash-prevention tech that’s becoming common in competitors like the Mitsubishi Xpander and others. Driver-assist features are also minimal with no adaptive cruise control or automatic emergency braking.

Pros and cons

Pros: Useful safety equipment

Con: Lacks 360-degree camera

Competitor Comparison

The Toyota Avanza has several competitors in the Philippines market, and Maxus G50 is one of them. Both are MPVs, but they cater to different buyers. The Toyota Avanza is a budget-friendly, fuel-efficient seven-passenger car with a 1.3L or 1.5L engine, offering reliability but modest performance. It’s compact and ideal for city driving. The Maxus G50, on the other hand, is a more premium MPV with a 1.5L turbocharged powertrain, delivering better power and a smoother ride. It has a more spacious cabin, advanced tech, and better safety features. However, it’s pricier and less fuel-efficient. The Toyota Avanza is for practicality and affordability, while the Maxus G50 offers more power and comfort.

Conclusion and Final Verdict

The Toyota Avanza is a no-frills MPV designed for practicality, reliability, and affordability. While it won’t excite driving enthusiasts, the car excels in fuel efficiency, low maintenance costs, and versatile seating for families or businesses. The current-generation Avanza brings modern tech and safety improvements, but it still lacks advanced features found in competitors. Performance is modest, and ride comfort is decent but not exceptional. The Avanza is a solid choice for those waning a spacious, budget-friendly people-mover. But for more power, refinement, or luxury, there are other options. The Toyota Avanza is a functional MPV, but not much thrilling to drive.