Toyota has long been blighted by a reputation for producing cars that are thoroughly reliable and absolutely competent, but actually quite dull - the company seems to know this, because with every new car that comes along it promises something that is much more interesting than what went before, something that will change the way the company is perceived.
Unfortunately this dullness seems to be ingrained in the company's culture, because whilst each new car that comes along is more interesting than its predecessor, these things are all relative - they are still quite dull. But then, not everyone wants a flashy car, and Toyotas sell very well precisely because they are machines that do their intended job properly.
You can see straight away looking at the Toyota Avensis that the car is sharper and more interesting now, and it is actually a fairly handsome vehicle. But despite being more attractive, it is still quite a soulless car - you could respect it, but you know you'll never love it.
The interior continues the theme - it's pleasant enough and ergonomically sound, but thoroughly functional. There is a decent amount of room inside, and the estate version is particularly capacious.
The Avensis is relaxing to drive, soaking up bumps, but it does lack feel - it is certainly more comfortable cruising on the motorway than hounding a B-road. But then that's the way it should be, because you can't imagine anyone buying an Avensis to go street racing. It lacks the prowess of a Ford Mondeo or a BMW 3 Series if you've got money to spend, but as a comfortable car it gets the job done.
There is a range of six engines available from the Avensis, all employing the latest fuel saving technology that Toyota has at its disposal. Of the two petrols and four diesels, our pick has to be the 2.0-litre D-4D diesel engine, with its 124bhp. Although slightly noisy, it does manage 55mpg.
The Avensis is certainly a step forward for Toyota and it does everything it sets out to do with efficiency if not panache. The fact remains, though, that there are a number of other cars on the market that do have style and panache and are engaging to drive at the same time. The Avensis doesn't really do enough to pull itself out of obscurity.