Class Leading Avensis Continues Low Cost Of Ownership Trend From Toyota

• Class leading fuel economy and lower emissions
• Extended service intervals
• Competitive replacement crash parts mean lower insurance
• Competitive maintenance parts keep running costs low
• Improved performance with all-new VVT-i and Direct Injection petrol engines
• Three year/60,000 mile warranty
• Only car in the sector with running costs below 30p per mile

The reinvigorated Avensis continues the low cost of ownership trend from Toyota at a time when the upper medium segment is more competitive than ever. Toyota, recognising that competitive running costs are as vital as a high standard specification in the fleet market, has made the Avensis a class leader. Leading fleet car experts predict that the new Avensis running costs will be less than 30p per mile.

The introduction of new high technology VVT-i and Direct Injection petrol engines, as well as the improved 2.0 litre common rail Direct Injection diesel, brings mechanical refinement to the range with lower emissions, better fuel economy and longer service intervals. Add in lower service and repair parts costs, and the Avensis now leads the field in refinement and overall cost of running.

Class leading fuel consumption and consequently low emissions also mean lower cost taxation for the new Avensis, a key factor for company car users.

LOW EMISSIONS FOR LOW TAX BURDEN

With CO2 emission figures as low as 155g/km (for the 2.0 D4-D) the Avensis is likely to prove very attractive to company car drivers in search of a well-specified high performance saloon that is kinder to both the environment and their tax bill.

The Avensis 1.8 VVT-i Saloon returns 39.2mpg beating all the key competitors from Ford, GM and Volkswagen. Company car drivers will be impressed with the class leading CO2 emissions at 172g/km.

Equally impressive CO2 emissions are produced by the Direct Injection 2.0 petrol engine. At 181g/km it also returns 37.1mpg on the combined fuel cycle. Only the Ford Mondeo comes close in fuel consumption terms at 35.3mpg (but has higher CO2 emissions).

The improved common rail Direct Injection diesel engine in the Avensis 2.0 D4-D is very competitive on fuel economy returning 48.7mpg on the combined cycle, ahead of the Ford Mondeo 1.8 TD and the Nissan Primera 2.0 TD.

The Avensis 2.0 D4-D CO2 emissions beat most of its contemporaries in the diesel sector at 155g/km, only 1g/km behind the Peugeot 406.

NB Full fuel consumption and CO2 emissions data is listed in the technical specification tables attached.

EXTENDED SERVICE INTERVALS

As with all of Toyota’s recently introduced VVT-i engines, those in the new Avensis do not require a first, one thousand mile service. Full services are only required every 20,000 miles or two years, (the out-going petrol Avensis required a service every 9,000 miles or one-year).

Every 10,000 miles or 12 months, Toyota recommends a ‘Health and Safety’ check for an oil and filter change and safety items check. These checks make the new petrol Avensis significantly cheaper to maintain over a three-year/60,000 mile period than the previous petrol models.

The new 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre petrol engines use a timing chain and tappets that are maintenance free and will run on ordinary mineral grade oil rather than more expensive semi and fully synthetic oils. Toyota’s direct ignition system does not require adjustment either, and the spark plugs only need to be replaced every 40,000 miles on the 1.6 and 1.8 litre engines but only every 60,000 miles on the 2.0 D4 engine.

Even the 2.0 D4-D common rail diesel engine only requires a 10,000 mile or 12 month health check with a major service at 20,000 miles or two years.

Items inspected during the Health and Safety check include:

• Oil and filter (changed every 10,000 miles or one year)
• Air filter
• Brake pads and discs
• Tyres and lights

During a full service at 20,000 miles or two years the following is replaced/replenished:

• Oil and filter
• Clutch fluid
• Brake fluid

Plus an inspection is made of the following:

• Air filter
• Spark plugs
• Drive shaft boots
• Exhaust pipes and mountings
• Air conditioning filter
• Fuel tank filler cap lines, connections and vapour control
• Brake pedal and hand brake
• Brakes, pads and discs
• Brakes, hoses and pipes
• Front and rear suspension
• Power steering system and fluid
• Steering wheel, linkage and steering gear box oil
• Ball joints, dust covers, tyres and lights

The cost benefit of increased service intervals is 3.2% over three years compared to the already economical Avensis model.

COMPETITIVE SERVICE PARTS PRICING

Toyota has improved cost of maintenance parts dramatically with Avensis maintenance parts a significant 63% less than the outgoing model. Maintenance replacement parts compare positively within the sector with Avensis parts costing 36% less than the equivalent Vauxhall Vectra and almost 16% less than the Volkswagen Passat.

COMPETITIVE CRASH REPAIR PARTS PRICING AND LOWER INSURANCE

Replacement crash repair parts costs are significantly cheaper for new Avensis compared to many of its contemporaries, as well as the outgoing model, which in turn allows for low insurance groups at 7E-12E.

The new groups remain competitive within the segment and continue to benefit from a group reduction due to the standard security systems fitted to Avensis – Thatcham approved alarm and window etching for example – despite class leading performance with the new engines.

After a frontal impact crash, front replacement parts on a Nissan Primera would cost £268 or 36.8% more than the equivalent parts for the new Toyota Avensis. Likewise front crash parts are a considerable 12% more for a Peugeot 406 and 8.2% more for the outgoing Avensis model.

Overall replacement parts for new Avensis are 21% cheaper than the equivalent Nissan Primera, more than 5% less than the Ford and Vauxhall and almost 10% less costly than the outgoing Avensis model.

NB Full parts pricing comparison data is listed in the following table.

AVENSIS PARTS PRICING COMPARISON

NB All prices are recommended retail, exclude VAT and are correct at time of printing

Sources: Thatcham Parts Analysis and Stratagem Marketing & Business Services

LOW OVERALL RUNNING COSTS

Toyota Fleet has given the data on the new car to Emmox Carcost to produce the following results when calculated over a typical three-year/60,000mile period.

(Fuel price used – £3.86/gallon or 85p per litre.)

Data supplied by EMMOX CARCOST (31 July 2000)

*Service Maintenance and Repair

The superior fuel economy of the new engines, as well as Toyota’s traditionally strong residual values, combine with the low servicing costs to give Avensis the lowest monthly costs of all these key fleet players. Indeed, only Avensis comes in under the 30 pence per mile barrier.

AVENSIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

ENDS