We’ve got the good stuff before the all-new iteration officially launches here
TOYOTA MOTOR Philippines (TMP) is clearly off to a flying start in 2022 as it prepares to unbox another new vehicle. Last Tuesday, the company shared that the all-new iteration of its popular Avanza MPV will be unveiled to the public next month — on March 7, to be exact. This closely follows the high-profile launch of the Raize crossover, which already carries with it high expectations (think 1,000 units a month in sales).
So yes, it seems there is no rest for the Japan-headquartered car maker, which must be feeling buoyed even more these days as it secured the industry’s vaunted “Triple Crown” (which means leadership in passenger car, commercial vehicle, and total sales) for an incredible 20 years straight.
With its most recent update happening back in 2019, the Avanza still managed to move 4,411 units last year, according to TMP. That’s not a number to sneeze at, but still reflective of quite a precipitous drop from the model’s peak sales here of 15,463 examples in 2017. We’re curious to see the kind of monthly sum TMP anticipates when it rolls out the all-new version.
The auto industry is replete with category straddlers and crossers, so much so that many of yesterday’s stereotypes and assumptions aren’t slam dunks anymore. Sometimes, it even appears that the decision of categorization is made on both the designer’s tablet and the marketing chief’s laptop.
Having said that, TMP is packaging the Avanza as a vehicle that will “redefine the family car anew.” It continued in a release, “With the continuous rise of the local demand for commercial vehicles (CVs) particularly versatile carriers for family use, Toyota Motor Philippines is once again set to reinvigorate the market with a full update of one of its most popular compact multi-purpose vehicles.”
While the official launch will be on March 7, TMP said that you can inquire and reserve at your favorite Toyota dealership as early as tomorrow.
“Our mobility requirements are rapidly evolving, especially after the disruptions caused by the pandemic, but one thing remains constant: Filipinos will always need a reliable car that can offer ample, comfortable space for the family, including extended family members,” opined TMP First Vice-President for Vehicle Sales Operations Sherwin Chualim in a statement. “This has always been the strength of the Avanza, but for this 2022 release, expect even more value-for-money features on top of its striking style upgrades inside and out.”
Through a reliable source, we got our hands on advance information on the all-new Avanza that might interest you.
The people mover now stretches 4,385 millimeters, 205mm more than the previous generation. It is also 70mm wider (at 1,730mm) and 5mm taller (1,700mm) over the model it replaces; ground clearance grows to 190mm (from 180mm). Happily, the larger dimensions only translate to a five-kilogram weight gain (1,705kg). These numbers should be attractive ones — particularly to the critics (this writer among them) who thought the old Avanza looked too lanky and slender a vehicle. Based on the photos we’ve seen, the MPV looks like it has bulked up quite nicely. It sports a higher nose and, we dare say, an almost Lexus-like grille, and gets a high-mount stop lamp, reverse-linked wiper, and LED rear combination lamp in the back. The G and E grades receive a fin-type antenna, and power-adjustable, auto-retracting side mirrors. The G will roll on 16-inch alloys.
Speaking of looks, the Avanza will come in five colors: Dark Red Mica Metallic, White, Silver Metallic, Black Metallic, and a new hue called Greenish Gun Metal (which will be exclusively for the G and E variants).
TMP is pretty confident about the interior virtues of the all-new three-row MPV through its key selling propositions. The Avanza seats can now be configured into a “long sofa mode” to add flexibility. Add to this “superior accessory pockets” and Apple CarPlay and Android connectivity, which clearly bring the MPV to the here and now in terms of its suite of appointments.
Returning to power the Avanza are its familiar 1NR-VE and 2NR-VE mills, which Toyota appears to have tweaked for a bit more juice. The 1.3-liter engine now generates 97hp and 122Nm (from 95hp/121Nm), while the 1.5-liter puts out 105hp and 138Nm (from 103hp/136Nm).
There will be four variants available and, yes, we have the pricing right here: 1.3 J M/T (P813,000), 1.3 E M/T (P928,000), 1.3 E CVT (P984,000), and 1.5 G CVT (P1.039 million).
We must make mention of the fact that the photos you see here are from the Toyota Astra Motor website in Indonesia. There may be some slight differences with our domestic model.
Overall though, it’s easy to glean the aspirations of Toyota in the all-new Avanza. Remember the category crossing we mentioned? The Avanza seems to be blurring the lines between the polished, more sophisticated sedan, and the traditionally spartan workhorse that is the MPV.
All good.
