Toyota Allion 1st Gen (2001-2006) Expert Review

Conservative, Clean And Surprisingly Timeless

The first-generation Toyota Allion arrived in 2001 as Toyota's replacement for the Carina, and you can immediately see what Toyota was trying to accomplish.

It isn't dramatic. It isn't aggressive. It doesn't have enormous grilles or enough fake vents to make a fighter jet jealous.

It is simply a sensible Japanese sedan.

The long 2,700 mm wheelbase, relatively narrow 1,695 mm body and 4,550 mm length give the Allion a balanced executive-sedan proportion. It looks larger than many compact Japanese cars without becoming difficult to manoeuvre.

That is useful in Bangladesh.

The body is relatively easy to judge from the driver's seat, while the narrow width is helpful when navigating tight roads, markets and crowded parking areas. The generous glass area also gives decent visibility.

The facelifted versions, particularly the later 2004–2006 cars, look more modern with revised exterior details. Toyota's later A15 G Package stretched the overall length slightly to 4,565 mm.

The problem is age. There is no escaping it.

Modern LED lighting and sharper bodywork make the first-gen Allion look old-fashioned.

But here's the Clarkson-style verdict: I'd rather have an honest old design than a new car designed by someone who has discovered the triangle tool.

For Bangladesh, the exterior remains understated, practical and easy to live with.

The Allion's Secret Weapon Is Space

Open the door and you discover the real reason these cars became popular.

The Allion is not particularly exciting inside, but it is remarkably usable.

The 2,700 mm wheelbase creates generous passenger space, particularly in the rear. Four adults can travel comfortably, and even five passengers can manage normal journeys without everyone having to negotiate for legroom like it's a United Nations summit.

The dashboard is simple and functional. Controls are easy to understand and the driving position is straightforward.

Toyota also used sensible materials rather than covering every surface with questionable shiny plastic.

But age is again the problem.

Compared with a modern car, the Allion's interior technology is positively prehistoric. There is no factory Apple CarPlay, no Android Auto, no giant digital instrument display and no fancy connected-car ecosystem.

The good news is that Bangladesh's enormous aftermarket ecosystem means owners can add Android head units, reverse cameras, Bluetooth systems and USB chargers.

The bad news is that some examples have been modified so enthusiastically that the original Toyota interior has effectively disappeared.

When buying a used Allion, I'd therefore look for an original, clean interior rather than one covered in aftermarket screens, LED strips and questionable leather.

The Allion interior isn't luxurious.

It is simply comfortable, spacious and practical, which is arguably more important.

Basic By Today's Standards, Practical By Old-Car Standards

The Allion A15 was never designed to compete with today's technology-heavy cars.

Toyota focused on things people actually used.

Depending on grade, you could get full-auto air conditioning, power windows, central locking, fog lamps, split-folding rear seats and optional navigation or upgraded equipment.

And the air conditioning matters enormously in Bangladesh.

A 20-year-old Japanese car with a properly functioning AC system can still be wonderfully pleasant. A neglected one can turn your morning commute into a sauna.

The practical equipment is therefore more important than the specification sheet suggests.

The biggest weakness is connectivity. Modern buyers expect Bluetooth, USB, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The original Allion doesn't offer those things in the modern sense.

Fortunately, aftermarket upgrades are easy.

A sensible modernisation package would be:

• Android touchscreen
• Reverse camera
• Bluetooth
• USB charging
• Dash camera
• Tyre-pressure monitoring

But don't go mad.

One of the worst things about buying an old Japanese import in Bangladesh is finding that twelve previous owners have all "improved" it.

The Allion's original equipment was modest, but the fundamentals were good.

Good AC, working power windows, functioning electrical systems and an original dashboard are worth more than ten cheap aftermarket gadgets.

Decent Fundamentals, But Don't Expect Modern Protection

Safety is where the first-generation Allion shows its age most clearly.

The A15 did have important safety equipment. Toyota lists driver and passenger airbags, ABS, brake assist, EBD, three-point rear belts, pretensioners and a reinforced safety body structure.

That is respectable for an early-2000s Japanese sedan.

But compare it with a modern car and the difference is enormous.

There is no factory autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, blind-spot monitoring or modern collision-warning ecosystem.

The Allion essentially says:

"Here's ABS and airbags. Now please pay attention."

In Bangladesh, that's actually useful advice.

Road conditions, motorcycles, pedestrians, rickshaws, CNGs and unpredictable lane changes mean defensive driving remains crucial.

The biggest safety concern when purchasing one today isn't necessarily the equipment Toyota installed in 2002.

It's what happened to the car afterwards.

A 2001–2006 Allion may have spent years on Bangladeshi roads. It may have been crashed, repaired, converted to CNG, fitted with cheap tyres or modified electrically.

Therefore, inspect the airbags, chassis, brakes, suspension, tyres and structural repairs carefully.

The safety verdict is straightforward:

Good fundamental safety for its era, but nowhere near a modern car's active-safety capability.

Smooth, Comfortable And Not Remotely Interested In Racing

The A15 is powered by Toyota's 1NZ-FE 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 109 PS and 141 Nm. Toyota paired it with a four-speed Super ECT automatic.

And it is exactly what you expect.

The engine is smooth. The automatic transmission is relaxed. The steering is light. The suspension prioritises comfort.

In Dhaka traffic, this is a perfectly sensible combination.

You don't need 300 horsepower when you're travelling at 14 km/h behind a bus.

The 1NZ-FE isn't particularly exciting, but it is predictable and economical. Around 9–11 km/L in city driving and 13–15 km/L on highways is realistic for a healthy example.

On long journeys, the Allion is considerably better than its age suggests. The spacious cabin, comfortable suspension and long wheelbase make highway driving relatively relaxed.

The weakness appears when you demand rapid acceleration.

With around 109 PS and a four-speed automatic, overtaking requires some planning. A fully loaded car with five passengers and luggage isn't going to leap past a truck like a modern turbocharged sedan.

But that's not why you buy an Allion.

You buy it because it starts, cools the cabin, carries the family, doesn't terrify the fuel budget and keeps going.

And after twenty years, that is a rather impressive achievement.