Depreciation is the biggest burden, although it would lose money more slowly than a Mondeo or Vectra. Saloon is a poorer performer than the hatchback though. Major servicing is every 20,000 miles, although it’s worth visiting the dealer for an oil change and ‘health check’ at 10,000-mile intervals in between. Parts are quite cheap, crash repair parts especially so, meaning it falls into low insurance groups

Avensis is an environmentally friendly choice for green buyers. With an average of 174 g/km CO2 across the range, its emissions are quite low for a medium-sized saloon. However, it’s worth noting that the line up has a high number of diesel models, bringing the average down and giving buyers more choices of low-emission versions. Diesels typically produce less CO2 than petrol engines with similar power outputs.

Eco-conscious buyers should consider the 2.0-litre diesel, which is one of the greenest models in the range. The range is also fairly economical, averaging 41 mpg.

Toyota consistently tops build quality surveys (the company is top for reliability according to owners’ reviews at parkers.co.uk). Look after it and it should reward you with thousands of miles of trouble-free motoring.