For the lowest Toyota Avensis Touring Sports running costs you’ll be wanting to choose the 1.6 D-4D diesel engine. It returns up to a claimed 67.3mpg on the combined fuel economy cycle if you have 17-inch alloy wheels. It’s cheaper to insure too, at the time of writing sitting in insurance group B.

The 2-litre isn’t much worse, though, capable of a claimed 61.4mpg and sitting in group C or D depending on wheel size. Petrol power means a penalty, with manual cars capable of 46.3mpg and automatic CVT cars doing 47.1mpg. Insurance groups are E or F for the petrol car.

Once again, multiple rivals offer a more compelling package in this respect in terms of fuel economy and CO2 output, which translates to taxation for both private and company car drivers.

The best Toyota Avensis Touring Sports emissions – in terms of CO2 at least – come from the 1.6-litre D-4D diesel engine with 16-inch wheels, emitting 109g/km. Moving up to 18-inch wheels will increase this, and so will picking the 2-litre D-4D engine, which emits at least 120g/km.

Best avoid the petrol version if emissions are a concern; with 140g/km the lowest on offer, it’s a way behind the diesel engines.

As with all cars from this company, Toyota Avensis Touring Sports reliability should be exemplary. The firm has a brilliant reputation for building strong, resilient cars and has myriad fail-safes on its production lines to ensure nothing is missed.

We’ve no reason to suspect any of the engines and gearboxes will be a problem – there have been no major recalls for this car for many years.

The cabin feels solid and built of decent materials.