Toyota Avensis (ZRT272W) facelift

2013 Toyota Avensis

Although the JDM Toyota Avensis wagon was been on the market for about five months, it's been rushed for a facelift at the 2013 Model Year. Talk about being too early to be facelifted but whatever.

Designed and engineered from the Great Britain via Toyota Motor United Kingdom, the Toyota Avensis the the Japanese car that has the appeals of European tendency because of its European style, good performance, and a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Available in Japan this April 2012, the Avensis now has two grades; the basic level Xi and the top-of-the-line Li.

For its facelift, the 2013MY Avensis has a new front face that provides a glamorous stance rather than the previous 2012MY JDM Avensis that was sold since September 2011. What's more, the new Toyota Avensis Li variant features a beige-colored interior to provide first-class comfort for five adults. The entry-level Xi variant comes with a black-colored interior. Again, the Avensis has no radio and no sat-nav unless you want those as a dealer option.

The Japan-spec Toyota Avensis Wagon is powered with the 3ZR-FAE (2.0-litre 4-cylinder DOHC) engine that delivers a modest 152PS/6200rpm of power output, 20.0kgf・m/4000rpm of torque output, and 13.6km/L (JC08 Mode) of fuel economy. The standard transmission is a 7-speed CVT with Paddle Shifters and Sport Mode for a more agile shifting at winding roads. The suspension is Euro-tuned to make cornering more fun because the Avensis Wagon has the suspension that was made for the sporty European roads.

Notable safety features include Steering‐assisted Vehicle Stability Control, Electric Power Steering, Anti-lock Brake System, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Emergency Brake Signal, Projector Discharge Headlamps, Intelligent Adaptive Front-Lighting System, Rear fog lights, Flat wiper blades, Global Outstanding Assessment compatibility body, and SRS airbags.

Available in three colors; Black Mica, Silver Metallic, and Super White II

My Comment:
Even though the JDM Toyota Avensis being rushed for a facelift after being on the Japanese market for five months, this latest facelift is finally heading to the right direction because it was featured on last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Again, the Avensis was designed and engineered in United Kingdom and prices start at 2,500,000 Japanese Yen for the Xi model. With that new design, can it keep up against it's Eurasian rivals such as the Honda Accord Tourer and the Hyundai i40?

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation

Europe-spec Toyota Avensis III facelift!

2012 Euro-Spec Toyota Avensis facelift

The Toyota Avensis hasn't been on sale in Japan yet but here in Europe, this third-generation Avensis was been there for about 3 years and it deserved a mid-life facelift, which made a world premiere at the 2011 IAA at Frankfurt, Germany.

This can't be happening! NO! It's unfair!

You know, Japan is not getting short changed with the Toyota Avensis, to be on sale on Japan next week as a wagon model with limited availability, because it is "the latest available in Japan".

Oh, too soon? Euro-spec Avensis facelift teased!

Euro-spec Toyota Avensis facelift?!

The Toyota Avensis hasn't been on sale on Japan before September 19, 2011, but the Euro-spec Avensis will be getting its first facelift on this year's Frankfurt Motor Show. The facelifted Toyota Avensis III will get a new front face inspired from the Indian-market Toyota Etios. No additional details are given yet before its Frankfurt debut.

Will Japan get this? Oh wait, too soon...

Scoop: http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2011/09/toyota-officially-previews-2012-avensis.html

Eurasian Wagon Shootout - Avensis vs. Accord Tourer vs. i40

2012 Toyota Avensis

2012 Honda Accord Tourer

2012 Hyundai i40

Those three Eurasian sports wagons; the Toyota Avensis, the Honda Accord Tourer, and the Hyundai i40, truly have something in common. They are family wagons from Asian car manufacturers and they share the same European Elegance because of its design, quality, and performance. Most of these three have the European Premium but which of these three European Premium sports wagons is mostly a "suitable" type?

CASE ONE:

Slated to go on sale in Japan this month, with limited to 300 units available, the new Toyota Avensis returns with a new face and a whole new attitude. The only offering for the Euro Style Wagon is the entry-level 2.0 Xi variant but rumor has it that there will be a facelift next year and it will gain an additional variant. OK, let's not talk about it for now but let's examine what's up with the Avensis. Since it was designed and engineered in United Kingdom, the new Avensis comes with a stylish European design which is highly attractive in the eyes of Japanese consumers. The interior looks somewhat luxurious but a lack of audio system made Japanese customers have to make do with aftermarket audio systems or "Dealer Option" navigation systems offered from dealerships all over Japan.

The Avensis is powered with the 3ZR-FAE (2.0L DOHC Dual VVT-i Valvematic) engine that provides a power output of 152PS and 14.6km/L of fuel economy (10-15 Mode). The standard transmission is the Super CVT-i with a 7-speed Manual Mode which is highly essential on open roads. With Sport Mode on, the Avensis takes advantage of the Euro-tuned suspension for agile cornering on the touge. If you went for a city driving, you should be fine with the CVT but when you're out in the open and want to go for fun, you can switch it to Manual Mode to take control of the seven gears. The new Avensis is highly focused more on the driver's confidence.

CASE TWO:

Arrived in Japan in December 2008 and later received a minor change since February 2011, the Accord Tourer (CW1/CW2) is the wagon version of the Honda Accord (CU1/CU2) sedan. It might have the same prospects as the Toyota Avensis rival but based on my view, I think the Accord Tourer is much more attractive than the Avensis in terms of styling and interior. Today, there are two kinds of Accord Tourer models to choose from such as the entry-level 20TL and the flagship Type-S grade. The 20TL comes with a R20A (2.0L SOHC i-VTEC) engine that produces 156PS of power and 13.2km/L and the Type-S comes with a K24A (2.4L DOHC i-VTEC) engine that produces 206PS of power and 11.4km/L of fuel economy. These fuel economy numbers might not be as good as the Avensis but in power, the Accord Tourer Type S is our best bet. As noticed, the Accord Tourer comes with a 5-speed semi-auto transmission with Manual Mode but I think five gears can be somewhat a lacking to me.

CASE THREE:

This is a new entry from Hyundai and its slated to replace the i30CW although it has no direct successor after the upcoming i30 Full Model Change soon, the European Premium sports wagon, the Hyundai i40, was designed from Hyundai's R&D Center at Russelsheim, Germany, and manufactured at Hyundai's Ulsan plant at South Korean. It is believed that this is "Korea's Avensis Fighter" but can the Hyundai i40 keep up with the likes of its Eurasian rivals such as the Honda Accord Tourer and Toyota Avensis? What about Euro rivals such as the Renault Megane Estate, Volkswagen Passat Variant, and Peugeot 508 SW? Not sure but be patient. As for me, I don't like the front view of the Korean-spec Hyundai i40 but as for the side view and rear view, it really resembles like the Honda Accord Tourer and I really like it. The biggest impression for me is the interior. With such interior design, this beats the Toyota Avensis and the Honda Accord Tourer by a long shot! I am highly impressed about the interior design and there is a special feature that these two didn't have which is none other than the "Luggage Rail System", a first of its class feature for cargo stability.

Under the hood, the Hyundai i40 comes with two engine types such as a newly developed 1.7L CRDi-VGT engine and the newly-developed Nu 2.0 GDi engine. The new 1.7L CRDi-VGT produces 140PS of power and 18.0km/L while the new Nu 2.0 GDi engine creates 178PS of power and 13.1km/L of fuel economy. They are both come with a 6-speed semi-auto transmission with Paddle Shifters, making it on par against the Honda Accord Tourer.

The verdict: The Avensis, Accord Tourer, and the i40, really have impressive European design, European packaging, and European performance. Only one I will call it the best and I'll choose not just one but two Eurasian wagons; the Accord Tourer and the i40! Sorry Avensis, but see you on your next facelift....

Avensis (Wagon) vs. Corolla Fielder

2012 Toyota Avensis Wagon

2009 Toyota Corolla Fielder

The Corolla Fielder is available exclusively at Corolla dealerships across Japan while the third-generation, imported from Great Britain, Toyota Avensis wagon will be on sale this mid-September 2011 across Toyota, Toyopet, and Netz dealerships across Japan. Those two station wagons offered from Toyota seems to be filled with decisions. I wonder which of these Toyota-made wagons is my pick?

CASE ONE:

The British have them all; Harry Potter, Mr. Bean, BBC, Jeremy Clarkson, James Bond, Top Gear, The Stig, two Getaway titles (The Getaway, The Getaway Black Monday), Teletubbies, the British Library (just like in R.O.D. Read Or Die), the Royal Couple (Prince William and Kate Middleton), William Shakespeare, soccer superstar David Beckham, comedians Harry and Paul, and everything British. (Oh, and we'll just include Cecilia Alcott from Infinite Stratos because she's British too) When I heard about the arrival of the third-generation Toyota Avensis Wagon in Japan, this is just like a trip to Aling Doring's sari-sari store to buy some chocolatiest ever Bingo. What am I saying? You're absolutely right! This wagon is just like it's prepared for some action movie set in Tokyo, Japan, where car chases are inevitable.

The true beauty comes on the new Avensis' European design and the suspension tuned for the sporty European roads makes it perfect to slip past against its enemies chasing the Avensis. Good to know that the 7-speed Manual Mode on the Avensis' CVT is just the perfect timing to turn the tables on all corners and the paddle shifters made it a nice sporty touch, making this Euro Style Wagon more agile and responsive. The main engine available is the 3ZR-FAE (4-cylinder DOHC Dual VVT-i VALVEMATIC) 2.0-litre engine that is packed with 152PS of power, 20.0kg-m of torque, and 14.6km/L (10-15 Mode) of fuel economy. I believe that this is much more fuel efficient than the Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon, but this is a different story.

CASE TWO:

This generation of the Toyota Corolla Fielder is been here for five years and it's about to be obsolete soon. The only advantage for the Corolla Fielder against the new Avensis Wagon was its fuel efficiency. It is offered with either a 1NZ-FE (4 cylinder DOHC VVT-i) 1.4-litre engine and 2ZR-FAE (4-cylinder DOHC Dual VVT-i VALVEMATIC) 1.8-litre engine. In further understanding, a single Corolla Fielder equipped with a 1.5L engine, CVT, and FF drive train can have as much as 20.0km/L of fuel economy, making it the most fuel efficient station wagon made

As proven, I would go for the Avensis Wagon because of its elegant European styling but if fuel efficiency was my thing, I would go for the Corolla Fielder.

Toyota New Avensis (ZRT272W)

2012 Toyota Avensis Wagon

Designed and engineered from the Great Britain via Toyota Motor United Kingdom, the Toyota Avensis the the Japanese car that has the appeals of European tendency because of its European style, good performance, and a 5-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Available this September 2011 is the base model of the Avensis Wagon.

Why they offer only the wagon variant of the Toyota Avensis? Most say that the Toyota Avensis Wagon is an luxurious alternative to the Corolla Fielder. When the Corolla Fielder is sold at Corolla dealers, the third-generation Toyota Avensis Wagon will be sold at Toyota dealers, Toyopet dealers, and Netz dealers, providing better choices for Toyota's wagon line-up. The only model offered for the Avensis Wagon is the base model.

2012 Toyota Avensis Wagon interior

You might think it was fully equipped but the Toyota Avensis Wagon has some of the interior stripped before exported to Japan like for instance the audio system. What would an Avensis Wagon do without entertainment and navigation? Ah the disadvantages of the Japan-spec new Toyota Avensis interior because it didn't offer the audio system. However, the interior design looks more "Cecilia" and it takes more than getting used to. Maybe a little practice goes a long, long way. If you were owning a Japan-spec Toyota Avensis Wagon, you might need to buy some new audio systems to put up on the deck. Japanese people are finding great ways to enjoy this Britain-built Toyota Avensis Wagon.

2012 Toyota Avensis Wagon

The Japan-spec Toyota Avensis Wagon is powered with the 3ZR-FAE (2.0-litre 4-cylinder DOHC) engine that delivers a modest 152PS/6200rpm of power output, 20.0kgf・m/4000rpm of torque output, and 14.6km/L (10-15 Mode) of fuel economy. The standard transmission is a 7-speed CVT with Paddle Shifters and Sport Mode for a more agile shifting at winding roads. The suspension is Euro-tuned to make cornering more fun because the Avensis Wagon has the suspension that was made for the sporty European roads.

Notable safety features include Steering‐assisted Vehicle Stability Control, Electric Power Steering, Anti-lock Brake System, Traction Control, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Emergency Brake Signal, Projector Discharge Headlamps, Intelligent Adaptive Front-Lighting System, Rear fog lights, Flat wiper blades, Global Outstanding Assessment compatibility body, and SRS airbags.

Available in three colors; Black Mica, Silver Metallic, and Super White II

My Comment:
Good to have the Avensis back in Japan despite the offering was the wagon variant. If they were the customers, what will they put up with to enjoy Toyota's Euro Style Wagon? Besides, sales of the new Avensis Wagon will start this fall so better start saving your hard-earned cash and leave the extras to the aftermarket audio systems to fill the gap of the Avensis Wagon's interior. I bet the Britain-made Avensis Wagon was surely a "Cecilia Alcott in the making" in the eyes of a Japanese customer looking for some Japanese car designed and engineered from Great Britain, because the Avensis is MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN!

Potential rivals include the Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon, Honda Accord Tourer, Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Citroen C5 Tourer, Renault Laguna Estate, Renault Megane Estate, and the Peugeot 508 SW. Britain's Toyota is back in Japan...sort of. One day, if I owned the Toyota Avensis Wagon, I will paint that Britain-made Japanese car more Cecilia-ish than you can possibly imagine...

Photo: Toyota Motor Corporation