Toyota Avensis Saloon (2009 - 2018) 1.8 V-matic T4 Nav 4d CVT Auto Owner Review

I previously owned the earlier model 1.8 Avensis auto, which was pretty much bulletproof and felt really solid. I hoped the new version would be similar - or better, but no ! It 'feels' flimsy, nothing like the old model. The electric handbrake button is in an awkward place which you can't always see. The automatic door locking is annoying in the extreme and there seems no way of disabling it. I've had the car for two months now and am still trying to get comfortable for long trips - not enough legroom for the driver or insufficient adjustment on the steering wheel. Rear space is pretty good though, although I'd like the whole car to be a bit higher. CVT box is acceptable once you're used to it, but mine has 'paddles' which are surely a waste of space for a car like this! If you switch over to manual it doesn't readily change up automatically, unlike the old auto box which would 'look after itself' and revert to auto if you forgot to do it yourself. On the new model the cvt will stay in the same gear right up to the red line before changing up, unless the driver intervenes.. I don't understand why Toyota didn't follow-up the enormously successful old Avensis with just an up-date and refinements. I guess they're aiming to ditch it and force the medium/larger saloon buyer into their Lexus range at twice the price.