You would never have rushed out to buy the original Toyota Avanza for its looks or driving dynamics, but that never stopped it from making a fair dent on the sales charts.
You can't really go wrong when you're selling a cheap means of transport for seven people, complete with a Toyota badge - even if the vehicle is technically a rebadged Daihatsu.
Now there's a new Avanza on the block and it looks to be an improved formula in just about every respect.
That's the good news. The bad part is that contributing to the global population boom is no longer an affordable pastime. The original range started below the R100K mark in late 2006, but this one will set you back from R155 900, which includes a sauna-like weight-loss programme valid in the summers, compliments of its air conditionerless cabin.
BIGGER, BETTER
Granted, the new Avanza has taken a swim upmarket with a more mature design and increased cabin space.
Not only did its designers increase the dimensions (length by 20mm and width by 25mm) but they also created seats with thinner seatbacks to increase knee room in the second and third rows.
Toyota says this new Avanza offers ample room in all three seating rows while still leaving enough space for a fair amount of luggage - the boot area having been extended by 18mm.
It's also more versatile, with the second-row seat on SX and TX models boasting a 60mm sliding function that allows its occupants to stretch out a bit more when the third row is empty. This bench seat also has a one-touch tumble feature.
NOT A DRINKER
However, engineers stopped short of making any improvements under the bonnet, the 1.3- and 1.5-litre petrol engines being carried over from the previous range. There should be a slight improvement in performance, though, with the Avanza's overall body weight having been reduced by 20kg.
This, and the adoption of low rolling resistance tyres, improved air conditioner regulation and electric power steering are said to have reaped a decent improvement in fuel economy. Toyota claims overall consumption of 7.7 l/100km for the 1.3 and 7.2 l/100km for the 1.5.
The 1.3-litre 16-valve, variable valve timed engine puts out 67kW at 6000rpm and 117Nm at 4400rpm and the similarly endowed 1.5-litre is good for 76kW at 6000rpm and 136Nm at 4400rpm.
As before, the engines are paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, but an automatic gearbox is now optional in the 1.5 SX - albeit it's an old fashioned four-speeder.
Strangely, Toyota claims that both the 1.3 and 1.5 manual variants take the same time to get from 0-100km/h at the coast (11.9 seconds - a 0.2 second improvement over the old version) but that the bigger engine offers better in-gear acceleration.
With its top-heavy design and rear-wheel drive configuration, the previous Avanza was not known for its stability, but the 25mm-wider stance, wider wheels and revised suspension should improve the situation.
The suspension, with a McPherson strut set-up at the front and four-link design with a lateral control rod at the back, has been revised to improve ride quality and suppress swaying when changing direction.
On the subject of safety, all models are fitted with dual front airbags and ABS brakes.
ALL NOT BORN EQUAL
There are three specification levels - S, SX and TX - but the former is on the basic side, not even including air conditioning. It does, however, pack an alarm, remote central locking and electric windows.
SX sweetens the deal to include air conditioning, sliding middle-row seat and colour coded mirrors and TX splashes out with a four-speaker USB/Aux sound system with steering wheel controls and dual-zone climate control with rear roof vents.
TX also replaces the 14-inch steel wheels of the S and SX with 15-inch alloys.
DEAR BANK MANAGER
1.3 S - R155 900
1.3 SX - R168 800
1.5 SX - R175 500
1.5 SX AT - R189 600
1.5 TX - R202 200
In typical Toyota fashion, a four-year/60 000km service plan included in the price (service intervals are 15 000km) and the warranty is valid for three-years or 60 000km.