Even before the recession the market for large family-sized cars like the Mondeo and Laguna was in a downward spiral, writes Peter Carroll.

Some manufacturers looked into their crystal ball, did not like what they saw, and decided to concentrate on more leisure-oriented vehicles instead.

Nissan took this path, dropped both the Primera and Almera from its range of vehicles, and has done very well thank you with its SUV crossover the Qashqai.

The remaining manufacturers have had to sharpen up their acts to remain competitive and all – from Citro‘n to Vauxhall – now feature quality products in this sector.

For Toyota, the challenge was also to make the third generation of its Avensis, more sexy. Previous versions of the car have been competent but hardly compelling.

Build quality

The new car is manufactured at the firm’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire and build quality looked encouragingly high.

I was sent a two-litre, petrol-powered Tourer to test and it’s a big, chunky car with decent levels of space and equipment. To my eyes, particularly in estate form, it’s easily the best-looking Avensis yet.

The cabin is an improvement over the previous generation interior too. The rear seats fold flat at the touch of a button and there’s a useful 1,609 litres of load space.

It has also become one of the first cars to pick up a five-star safety rating under the new, more stringent Euro test procedure.

Keyless entry

In T4 spec, one off the top T Spirit level, the Avensis comes with 17-inch alloys, electric everything, privacy glass, leather seats and keyless entry.

Sat nav costs an extra £1,470 but is bundled with some extra goodies, making it worth considering: there’s a 10gb hard drive for the audio unit, along with a reversing camera (which means you might be able to get away without having to specify parking sensors).

The hard drive can take a copy of a CD at the touch of a button so you should not need to carry loads of discs around with you.

The reversing camera will be appreciated by those who need a little extra help when parking – though the display can get a little murky when it is raining.

The handbrake is electric – and I found myself constantly groping under the steering wheel to find the button. At least it automatically releases itself when you pull away.

Wider track

The Avensis sits on a new platform and has a wider track but its handling can’t quite match the best in class. It feels stable and secure but not terribly involving to drive, with little feel from the steering wheel.

Refinement levels are high, however, and company car drivers could comfortably rack up some serious miles in one of these.

While the Avensis is renowned for its low running costs, I’m not sure this is the model to pick if you are looking to keep your outgoings to a minimum.

While the 2.0 litre petrol Tourer should be good for up 35mpg, I can’t really see a case for it over the D4-D diesel, which is less than £300 extra to buy in the same spec.

You’ll soon recoup that sum in the money you save on fuel bills – and when the time comes to sell the diesel will probably be easier to shift than the petrol.

By Peter Carroll

FACT FILE:

Model: T4 Optimal Drive Valvematic 2.0 litrePrice: From £20,410 on the roadEngine: 1,986cc, four cylinders, petrolPower: 150hpTransmission: Six speed manual, front wheel drivePerformance: 0-62mph in 9.3 secondsTop speed: 124mphEconomy: 40.9mpg on combined cycleCO2 emissions: 164g/kmLength: 4,765mmWeight: 1,525kgInsurance group: 10Servicing: 10,000 milesWarranty: Three years/60,000 miles