SINGAPORE – For some reason, when the Toyota Avanza showed up at CarBuyer HQ, it aroused the curiosity of many in the office. It is bizarre, given that the Avanza is essentially a back-to-basics, no-frills people carrier that is probably the anti-thesis of everything we look for in motoring entertainment.

But perhaps it is exactly because of that, that the Avanza has garnered our attention. After all, in a market saturated by premium models equipped with the latest technology, a car like the Avanza comes across as a breath of fresh air, with its simplicity and honesty in delivering what it was designed to do, and nothing more.

For those unfamiliar with the Avanza, a little background. Designed by Toyota specifically to be built and sold in developing nations such as Indonesia and Malaysia (a seven-seater Vios if you like), the Avanza promises to offer motoring for the masses on the cheap. Simple engineering, the basic necessities, and quality that is built to last ensured that the Avanza is now a common sight wherever you go in South East Asia.

With the exception of Singapore, of course. Our market is the anomaly in the region, and our buyers are arguably more demanding with regards to their automobile. No surprise, of course, given the exorbitant amounts we pay for cars here, and with COE prices costing even more than this car costs in total across the border, you’d imagine something like the Avanza wouldn’t really work here.

Still, that hasn’t stopped local Toyota distributor from bringing it in, somewhat belatedly, perhaps sensing the maybe buyers are ready for a change from the BMWs and Mercs that now flood our roads. It will have a tough task if it is to attract buyers though, given that the Avanza costs the better part of 130 grand here, inclusive of COE. For comparison, in Malaysia the car retails for about RM66,000, or less than a quarter of its Singapore selling price.

For that money, you get a fairly spacious seven-seater, a radio, air con, and erm…that’s about it. Okay, there are a couple of nice surprises, like steering-wheel audio controls, a USB port, and air con vents for the rear passengers (obviously a vital addition for our region), but otherwise the Avanza is as simple as you get. There is plenty of room for seven, it must be noted, and the seats fold down with just one simple pull of a lever, instantly converting the Avanza into a handy goods van. (In fact, according to a Borneo spokesperson, the Avanza has received strong interest from a number of small companies looking for a versatile car that can ferry both goods and people legally)

Given the way it drives, some would argue that the Avanza is indeed a van. There’s some truth in that, given its body-on-frame construction, but to be honest, there’s no shame in that. In fact, the Avanza excels in being easy to drive, as well as being easy to park, given its small turning circle, and that would count as a boon to many drivers surely.

Of course, with a 1.5-litre engine producing merely 99bhp, mated to an antiquated four-speed automatic gearbox, you can’t expect the Avanza to outrun most modern cars. But, again, that’s not its intended purpose in life, and for what it’s worth, the powertrain is well capable, in that it is fairly smooth, reasonably refined, and most importantly, bomb-proof. With barely any weight to carry around too (the Avanza weighs just 1,105kg), the car is also incredibly frugal, with a quoted average fuel consumption of 7.6 litres per 100km. Not bad for a seven-seater.

For most people at the end of the day, all they seek is a car that is easy to drive, fuss-free to maintain, and doesn’t break down. The Avanza adds practicality to the mix, and it’s easy to see why it’s been such a hit around our region. It does have its work cut out here given its somewhat inflated asking price, but that’s really through no fault of the car, and if you’re the type of person who seeks no demands out of your ride other than functioning as mere family transport, then the Avanza is well worth considering actually.

NEED TO KNOW
Engine 1,495cc, 16V, in-line 4
Power 99bhp at 6000rpm
Torque 136Nm at 4400rpm
Gearbox 4-speed automatic
Top Speed 165km/h
0-100kmh 15.0 seconds
Fuel efficiency 7.6L/100km
CO2 178g/km
Price $130,988 with COE
Availability Now

Also Consider: Proton Exora, Suzuki APV

Photos by Gerald Yuen