IF THERE’S a recipe for success in the car industry, then Toyota surely has it. Overtaking GM as the world’s largest car manufacturer is no small feat, particularly as the US giant had a 30-year head start. Which is why, as a private or fleet buyer, a Toyota is far from being a risky purchase.

As a catch-all, everyday machine the Avensis saloon is all you could reasonably ask for, so plumping for the even more practical Tourer version means you’re ready for anything. There’s a case for the Tourer being more attractive than the saloon too: they share the strong grille and sweeping headlight design, but the Tourer takes that one step further with a strong and attractive curve that runs right along to the tailgate. It’s not a controversial design, but neither will you lose it in the car park amongst a host of other mid-sized estates.

Where the legendary Toyota reputation really starts to make its presence felt is once you climb inside. The door shuts behind you with a solid ‘thunk’, and easing yourself into the driver’s seat you find a cabin layout that is instantly understandable. There’s very little in the way of complicated controls or confusing buttons, despite being very well equipped. Even with sat-nav fitted, you can jump straight in and not have to negotiate any fiddly controls.

You’ll also be relaxed thanks to the generous interior space. The expected improvements in cabin room over the old car are welcome, and the Avensis can happily accommodate five adults. As a family car it has all the boxes ticked, and in Tourer guise the huge rear load area means there are few situations where it you’ll be struggling for space. Features like the electric tailgate are also welcome, and sit comfortably with Toyota’s ease of use ethos.

Higher specification models have the keyless start feature, which makes getting in and getting going as painless as possible. The wide range of adjustment for the seats and steering wheel allows drivers of all shapes and sizes to get comfortable, and while ensuring a strong bodyshell for good safety, the relatively slim pillars mean good all-round visibility too.

There’s a wide choice of engines in both saloon and Tourer guise, but those seeking to utilise all of the load space will be most interested in the diesel options. The 2.2-litre D-4D version offers the most horsepower and torque and yet brings with it the exceptional economy that makes for low running costs even in a car of this size. With a six-speed manual transmission as standard, the impressive flexibility of the engine can be fully exploited.

Driven normally and with one eye on the fuel gauge, the generous low-down torque makes short work of pulling away, even with heavy loads on board. The slick gearbox and light pedal actions means heavy traffic is far from hard work, and you can be lazy with the gearlever and still pull away comfortably. A thrifty approach will result in economy figures of over 50mpg, yet this is no low-powered economy special: if you’re in more of a hurry then the Avensis will oblige, and an athletic blast through the gears will complete the 0-62mph dash in 9.2 seconds and run on to a heady 131mph.

The low-stress approach continues until your journey’s end. The Avensis offers a very high level of refinement, through the smoothness of the controls, the lack of noise from the engine and the soothing ride. By its own design the Avensis may not offer the most invigorating of driving experiences, but the truth is that for the majority of drivers this is of secondary importance, and even for those who are seeking the ultimate driving experience, the truth is that most of the time covering the miles with little fuss is actually the priority.

It’s a shame that the word sensible should have any negative connotations, because the Avensis Tourer is undoubtedly a sensible purchase. When you’re spending thousands of pounds it pays to choose wisely, and for a car that can turn its hand to almost any situation and demand so little in return, the Avensis deserves serious consideration.

FACTS AT A GLANCE Toyota Avensis Tourer T4 2.2 D-4D T £22,985 Engine: 2.2-litre diesel unit delivering 148bhp and 250 lb.ft of torque Transmission: Six-speed manual transmission driving the front wheels Performance: Top speed 131mph, 0-62mph in 9.2 seconds Economy: 50.4mpg combined Emissions: 150g/km