Simple pleasures

Singapore — The Toyota Avanza is a common sight in many parts of South-east Asia and is finally on sale in Singapore. Its arrival is somewhat counter to marketing trends — what with high COE prices — but its appeal is quite clear nonetheless.

What’s it like?

The Avanza looks, feels and is simple, but that’s not to be mistaken for fragile or cheap-feeling. It’s not fast by any means (0-100kmh comes in a leisurely 15s), but the 1.5-litre engine with 99bhp provides adequate poke for daily driving.

It helps that the car is light too, at just 1,105kg, although the four-speed automatic gearbox does feel a bit antiquated and rough around the edges.

It’s easy to manoeuvre, thanks to its compact size and small turning circle, while the ride and refinement are reasonable. More importantly, it seats seven people, and while it offers few features, it doesn’t skimp on the most important ones: Space and separate air-conditioning for passengers.

should I buy one?

Cynics will point to the Avanza’s retail price here, which is almost four times its costs in Malaysia (after currency conversion).

Still, you can hardly fault the car for that, and since it’s a Toyota, it will give you peace of mind. Ben Chia

Toyota Avanza

Engine: 1,495cc i4, 99bhp & 136Nm

Performance: 165kmh, 0-100kmh 15s, 7.6L/100km, 178g/km CO2

Price: S$129,888

+ : Easy to drive, practical and fuss-free

- : Slightly ancient technology, a bit too simple for some

Also consider: Suzuki APV, Proton Exora