An excellent machine. (Toyota Avensis Liftback GLS)

Member Name: Davie Kerr

Product:	Toyota Avensis Liftback GLS
Date:	23/09/02 (585 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mileage good., Handling excellent., Very responsive engine.

Disadvantages: Rear wheel arches very slightly cut into useful boot room.

When travelling to the UK, I usually hire Hertz cars through British Airways. Last month I was lucky enough to get a 6-month-old Toyota Avensis 1.8 hatchback for 3 weeks, and I was SERIOUSLY impressed!
The 5-speed gearbox is very flexible (I managed over 110 mph on a suitably deserted stretch of motorway early one morning, and I could overtake slow stuff at 80mph in third without even breathing hard), and the engine responds instantly to the accelerator, which I really appreciate as a retired Police driver.
There's plenty of room for 5 adults to travel for an hour or two at a time without undue squashing, the seats are comfortable, and the boot space is absolutely cavernous! The handling is brilliant: the car we had cornered as though it was on rails, and this included a fair bit of motoring in the West Highlands where long straight roads tend to be conspicuous by their absence.
Just for good measure, our machine had satellite navigation fitted. Because of the sexy female voice that came with it, we christened it "Nelly the Navigator," and she came in really handy finding our way around East Anglia & London during our stay in that region for our daughter's wedding! The only slight problem I had with the Avensis was with the indicator and winscreen wiper controls, and that was simply because they're fitted the other way around in my elderly Daihatsu Charade.

Summary: