It also shared a platform with the Allion and Premio and was available at Japanese dealership network Toyota Netz Store.

The car was actually an extensive facelift of the previous generation Carina E, with the platform and engines carried over, and a restyled body.

The first generation Avensis had the option of four engines (1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol and a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel) and three body styles (saloon, hatchback and estate).

The engines were fitted with variable valve timing, satellite navigation was included as a standard feature along the range and the sporty Avensis 2.0 L SR (with body kit and tuned suspension) was added but overall sales remained low.

The second generation Avensis was launched in February 2003, in an all new format; this time it offered more in the way of driver involvement and visual appeal.

Following the withdrawal of the Camry in 2004 (2005 in Switzerland), the Avensis became the largest Toyota saloon sold in Western Europe.

[citation needed] In the 2004 European Car of the Year contest, the Avensis came in fourth place behind the Fiat Panda (winner), Mazda3 (second) and the Volkswagen Golf (third).

Exterior cosmetic changes include a slightly redesigned logo, a new front grille with double concave lines (including a new darker grille treatment on higher trim levels), new headlamps and rear combination lamps, revised front bumpers and front fog lights, door mirror with turn signals adoption, new tyres, a new wheel design (in two colours) and a new wheel cap design, and five changed body colours.

[4] Toyota describes the cosmetic changes as strengthening the family connection with the Corolla and Yaris, and allowing the Avensis to maintain a premium look while giving it a sportier appearance.

[4] The central screen containing the information of the on-board computer has been removed in favour of a compartment (as on the previous entry-level) and is now integrated into the meters facing the driver.

[4] This, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, has lowered fuel consumption, emissions, and gives a quoted 0–97 km/h (0–60 mph) time of 10.5 seconds.

[6] The 1.6-, 1.8- and 2.0-litre petrol and 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engines were carried over from the previous Avensis, and the 2.4-litre four-cylinder from the Camry was also added to the range.

Other design goals were to create the most comfortable suspension in its class while still offering sporty handling.

The Avensis wagon began being imported again to Japan in mid-2011, with 2.0-litre 4-cylinder engine and CVT transmission in Li and Xi variants.

The changes were first shown in September 2011 at the Frankfurt Motor Show[12] before sales started in January 2012.

This included a revised front grille, rear view, headlamps and taillamps and a new interior.

[18] Series organiser TOCA, which would fully introduce the new low-cost NGTC technical regulations in 2011, said that the Japanese manufacturer would supply a donor car and a new body shell to the programme.

It was partially replaced by the slightly larger XV70 series Camry, which is based on the TNGA-K platform.