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THE
success of the Toyota Tamaraw FX and Revo from the 1990s
to the early 2000s left mass-transit owners and
operators wondering if Toyota could cook up an
entry-level multipurpose vehicle that could be used as a
for-hire public transport. Yes, there was the Innova,
but that model was designed more as a family vehicle
than as a better alternative to the Metro Rail Transit,
the jeepney, the bus or the passenger car taxicab.
That is,
until the arrival of the Avanza in late 2006.
But is
its arrival too late in a new (and some say,
economically harsh) period for four-wheeled commonalty
carriers?
Step
inside and you’ll discover
Toyota’s
recent fondness for tan or beige colorways and simple
dashboard layouts. Everything is within easy reach of
any and all occupants, the only exception being the
defogger button under the leftmost aircon vent. The
audio entertainment system is serviceable but not
exceptional, and the Kenwood head unit that came with
the test vehicle (a 1.5L G VVT-i A/T) has indicators
that are hard to read. The interior lighting is also
serviceable but not bright. Speaking of the air
conditioning, the Avanza totes a dual-zone setup, but in
Manila’s heat and humidity, both front and rear blowers
must constantly be set at the “two” setting to get
decent cooling.
Seating
is good for five to six people, but toss in seven to
eight people and they will find seating—knee room,
especially—tight for those in the third row. Ingress and
egress for passengers to and from the third row is easy,
thanks to the second row’s folding and tumbling ability.
Simple and subtle.
The Avanza’s
front-occupant insides have all knobs, buttons, gauges
and receptacles within easy reach, highlighted by a
beige and tan colorway.
Storage
is great for a vehicle of this setup, as there are
numerous places within the cabin for placing small items
and liquid vessels. Storage for huge cargo is also
great, swallowing two to three balikbayan boxes with the
third row tumbled forward and the second row backrests
folded flat. The only problem was that the third row
folding and tumbling latches are hard to find, for they
are in the same tan and beige color as the seat covers
and interior.
Exterior-wise, the vehicle conveys itself as a people
(or people-plus-cargo) carrier with a Jekyll-and-Hide
complex. At the front, the Avanza borrows a few
attractive styling cues from its Innova sibling, but the
rear section looks like the designers simply hurried
their work and didn’t give much thought to the creative
process.
Hit the
road and the Avanza engine drones out sound from the
radio or any inside conversation. Problem is, there’s
little low-end response, and decent acceleration is only
achieved with a 3,000-rpm-and-onward launch. Not helping
much, either, is the inscrutable four-speed A/T, which
tends to linger too long in any gear before taking
action. The result is expected: a 157-kph tested top
speed and 8.76 km/l on eight days of mixed driving.
As
expected of a primary city-only, multipurpose vehicle (MPV),
handling is somewhat boat-like (but more stable than any
midsized SUV) and traction from the Dunlop 185/65R15s
breaks early (60 kph, with plowing at 70 kph). However,
there’s pronounced body roll and the front wheel discs
have little bite. The good news is that the steering is
light (but blunt), and the exterior lighting is bright.
Despite
a number of quirks, the Avanza is a vehicle good enough
for a middle-class family of four to six, or those who
wish to turn it into an urban commonalty carrier. Just
make sure that the unit rarely gets driven hard, is
given an additional fuel supply (such as an attached
liquid petroleum gas tank) and that it remains strictly
in urbanity. |
