So Toyota has launched one of the most economical 7 seater entry level MPVs ever with Avanza. Produced in Indonesia and assembled in Malaysia, the Avanza was first introduced globally in 2003 and is also sold as Daihatsu Xenia. It arrives in UAE after strong sales abroad, particularly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Phillipines and South East Asian markets. Unlike these markets, the Middle East region customers generally prefer bigger engine cars, however the unparalleled success of cheap'n'cheerful cars like Renault Duster and Ford EcoSport have spurred manufacturers to bring low cost, underpowered cars to the Gulf. I had an opportunity to test drive the Avanza and here are my two fils:

Style

Honestly it's a very plain looking MPV with no real styling chops. It does come with front fog lamps and a rear spoiler but who are we kidding? This is not meant to be a stylish car and there are no complaints as well. Most customers of Avanza would not even think about styling when looking for cheap MPVs. It's plain vanilla and it's expected to be so no surprises there. Let's move on.

Interior Material and Finishing

Unlike the Yaris Hatchback where still some semblance of quality can be seen, the Avanza is a shining example of how ultra cheap plastic can be utilized to the maximum. Let's just say this is a purely functional car with no aesthetics involved unless a shiny orange odometer counts as aesthetic. Then again, what do you expect? This is an economical car. This is a car that is almost the same price as the Yaris Hatchback. So for that low a price, the interior is a small yet bitter pill to swallow.

Interior Space and Visibility

This is the biggest selling point of Toyota Avanza. For a large family, the Avanza offers 7 seats. For a small family, the Avanza offers lots of luggage room with several adjustment options. The seats can be folded at 50:50 split and the second row can be adjusted by 60mm for added space. The front and rear head room and leg room is quite adequate, making this a great family road trip MPV.

Interior Features and Options

As an entry level 7 seater, it may not be the most equipped but many bare essentials do get covered. For example, it does come with front dual airbags, anti lock brakes (ABS), central locking, power windows, audio controls on steering wheel and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) as standard. There is even a basic multi information display, though the sound system is quite ordinary. Importantly, rear parking sensors will come as standard to compensate for comparatively less visibility compared to sedans. Rear A/C vents are included, very important for family road trips in this climate. In addition, Toyota T-Connect and Bluetooth will be included as standard offerings as well. Not bad, however as a 7 seater, I would gladly pay an extra few bucks to have side and curtain airbags for the rear passengers. This will bolster safety credentials and something we recommend for the next Avanza upgrade.

Drive Experience

The Avanza comes with the same 1.5 SE engine installed on the Yaris Hatchback. For a seven seater, the 1.5 liter engine is quite underpowered, to say the least. So expectedly the drive is not a lot of fun. The ground clearance of Avanza is 20 cm which is good enough to negotiate gravel and uneven surfaces. This is great if you need to buy a commercial purpose MPV with the intention of driving in Sharjah or RAK Industrial areas where there is lots of gravel. Moreover the turning radius is 4.7m which makes maneuvrability easier, an important aspect to consider for a 7 seater MPV. If only it had more power! The power steering helps keep things sane and the lack of cruise control keeps the leg muscles working so you burn more calories!

Verdict

Starting at 54,900 AED, this 7 seater screams budget! A lot of companies may want to buy the Avanza for hauling luggage and furniture, basically using it as a two seater with lots of luggage capability. For such companies, the Avanza makes a lot of sense as it's cheap and has enough features to get the job done. For budget conscious families, the Avanza is a good low cost option, though they must be aware that the drive is quite underpowered and the interior is not the most comfortable.