Good seat adjustment and both reach and height adjustment for the steering means getting a comfortable driving position in the Avensis is pretty easy, although the seating position still feels quite high. The ‘Optitron’ permanently back-lit dials help give the interior an up-market feel, but the dashboard itself with ventilation and audio controls that look like they’ve been lifted from an expensive home audio system.

Visibility is good all-round.

The Avensis should accommodate five adults with decent leg room and shoulder room. Tourer body eliminates the headroom problems that taller rear passengers might find in the saloon or hatchback versions. Air conditioning is standard across the range and electric front windows. Noise levels are also respectably low.