It’s no surprise that the Avanza is currently the best-selling Compact MPV in the Philippines. It is after all, a Toyota. But after spending 3 years in the market, it’s starting to feel a bit old. Thankfully, there’s a new one that we’ll all love even more.
The most obvious updates are found on the outside. The entire front end is new, which comprises of the reshaped headlights, a much larger grille, and a more muscular bumper. Although it’s not that obvious at first glance, the 15-inch alloy wheels are also refreshed. This makes the 2015 Avanza move away from the ‘cutesy’ look of the old model to a more mature and athletic persona.
There are also several new features you’ll find inside the cabin. The first you’ll notice is the new interior color where the beige upholstery and panels are now replaced with a more attractive black hue (or brown/grey for the 1.5 G variants). Likewise, the gauge cluster is swapped out for a more modern unit that comes with an eco-indicator, while a new 6.2-inch LCD Touchscreen Audio System replaces the old 2-DIN head unit.
Not only does it have Bluetooth, USB, and AUX connectivity, but it can also playback videos and is Navi-ready. This feature, however, is only available in the top-of-the-line 1.5 G.
The biggest upgrade of the 2015 Toyota Avanza by far is the new engine line-up. Sure, you’ll still find a 1.3L and 1.5L 4-banger under the hood, but both now comes with Dual VVT-i instead of a regular VVT-i. This may not increase the hp and torque figures significantly, but Toyota claims that it should now yield better fuel efficiency.
And as far as safety is concerned, you should be happy to know that ABS with EBD is now standard equipment across all variants. The ISOFIX Child Restraint seats are also a big plus for growing families.
All in all, we’re quite happy to see how much Toyota has invested to improve the 2015 version of the Avanza. Because typical mid-cycle updates don’t normally come with so many new toys.
If you want one, the cheapest 1.3 J MT is listed at P667,000. The 1.3 E MT and 1.3 E AT, on the other hand, are priced at P756,000 and P797,000, respectively. And the top-of-the-line models, the 1.5 G MT and 1.5 G AT will set you back P869,000 and P910,000. That’s approximately a P30,000 price increase across the range.
Inquire, book a test drive, or buy the new Toyota Avanza through AutoDeal.com.ph.
