Toyota Avanza 2nd Gen (2011 - 2021) Expert Review

Practical MPV Design

The second-generation 2011-2021 Toyota Avanza never tried to pretend it was a sports car, and frankly, that is probably for the best. Its design is fundamentally about carrying people, luggage and the occasional assortment of things that somehow always ends up inside a family car.

The tall body, relatively short overhangs and upright cabin give the Avanza a practical appearance. The 1.5L versions generally look more substantial than the smaller-engine models, particularly in higher grades with alloy wheels, chrome detailing and larger exterior equipment.

The 200mm ground clearance is particularly useful in Bangladesh. Dhaka's speed breakers are not known for respecting suspension geometry, while uneven roads and occasional broken patches are simply part of everyday driving. The Avanza's relatively tall stance gives you useful protection against scraping.

The rear design is deliberately upright, which helps cabin space and luggage practicality. It is not particularly dramatic, but it has aged reasonably well.

Where the exterior falls short is sophistication. Newer MPVs have sharper LED lighting, more aggressive bodywork and more aerodynamic profiles. The Avanza looks older because, well, it is.

Still, the exterior has an important advantage: it prioritises function. You get a compact seven-seat vehicle that remains reasonably easy to manoeuvre through crowded Bangladeshi streets.

Seven Seats and Practical Space

Inside, the Avanza is much more convincing than its modest exterior suggests. The cabin's greatest trick is simply using its dimensions intelligently.

The driving position gives you a commanding view over Dhaka traffic, while the upright dashboard and large glass area make the vehicle relatively easy to place on narrow roads. The second row offers useful family space, and the third row transforms the Avanza from an ordinary compact vehicle into genuine seven-seat transport.

The third row is naturally better suited to children and shorter adults than large adults on very long journeys. That is not an Avanza-specific crime; it is what happens when you attempt to fit seven humans into a compact MPV.

Interior materials are mostly functional rather than luxurious. Hard plastics dominate, but Toyota's emphasis on durability makes sense for a vehicle designed to handle family life. Higher grades add nicer steering-wheel finishes, touchscreen equipment and additional convenience features.

Storage spaces, cup holders and foldable seating make the cabin particularly useful for family trips. The ability to reconfigure the rear seating is more valuable in real life than decorative dashboard trim.

What the interior lacks is modern sophistication. Compared with newer Toyota MPVs, the infotainment, dashboard design and safety technology feel dated.

But for Bangladesh, there is something appealing about this simplicity. Fewer complicated systems can mean fewer expensive surprises as the vehicle gets older.

Practical Technology Rather Than Luxury

The Avanza's equipment depends heavily on the model year and grade, but the 1.5L versions can provide a useful collection of everyday features. Higher-specification examples can include touchscreen infotainment, Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel audio controls, USB connectivity, parking assistance, keyless entry, push-button start, digital air conditioning and multiple power outlets. These are exactly the sort of features you actually use rather than features designed purely to decorate a brochure. The air-conditioning system is particularly important in Bangladesh. A family MPV carrying seven people needs effective cooling, and rear ventilation is useful when travelling with a full cabin. The 1.5L engine is also a sensible match for the Avanza's equipment and size. It does not transform the vehicle into something exciting, but it provides more useful flexibility than the smaller 1.3L engine when carrying passengers. However, technology is where the second-generation Avanza's age becomes obvious. Wireless smartphone charging, modern smartphone integration, connected services, sophisticated digital displays and advanced driver-assistance systems are largely absent. There is also no meaningful collection of modern ADAS technology. You should not expect adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking or lane-keeping assistance. That sounds like a criticism, because it is. But the Avanza's strongest features are still its practical ones: seven seats, useful storage, air conditioning, straightforward controls and an easy-to-understand cabin.

Basic Protection With Limited Modern Assistance

Safety is one area where you need to understand the Avanza's generation rather than judging it against a brand-new MPV.

Depending on model year and market, the second-generation Avanza can provide important fundamentals such as ABS, EBD, Brake Assist, dual front airbags, seatbelt protection, ISOFIX child-seat mounting and electronic stability-related equipment on later versions.

These systems provide a useful safety foundation for everyday driving.

But the safety technology is not comparable with newer vehicles. Side and curtain airbags are not universally available, while advanced systems such as forward-collision warning, autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance and blind-spot monitoring are generally absent.

That matters more today because newer cars increasingly use electronics to prevent accidents rather than simply reducing injury after an accident has happened.

For Bangladesh driving, the Avanza's predictable handling, elevated driving position and manageable dimensions are nevertheless useful. ABS is especially valuable when roads are wet, while stability control on equipped versions can help when traction becomes inconsistent.

The biggest safety consideration when buying a used Avanza is therefore condition. A car with properly functioning airbags, ABS, brakes, tyres, suspension and seatbelts is vastly preferable to one with neglected safety systems.

The Avanza can be a safe practical family vehicle, but you should not confuse its dependable fundamentals with modern five-star-style active safety technology.

Comfortable Family Driving

The Avanza 1.5 is best understood as transportation rather than entertainment. It is not going to make you reconsider your life choices at the next set of traffic lights.

The 1,496cc 2NR-VE engine produces around 102 hp and 134 Nm, which is perfectly adequate for normal urban driving. The 4-speed automatic is smooth and simple, but its age is obvious. Modern CVTs and six-speed automatics can keep engines in their useful power range more effectively.

In Dhaka traffic, the Avanza's strengths become obvious. The upright driving position gives good visibility, the steering is manageable and the dimensions are small enough to navigate crowded streets without feeling like you are piloting a bus.

Load all seven seats with adults, add luggage and point the car toward a highway, however, and the engine begins working rather harder. Overtaking requires planning, particularly at higher speeds or on inclines.

Ride comfort is generally good for a compact MPV. The suspension is tuned around family practicality rather than aggressive handling, and the long wheelbase helps provide a reasonably settled ride.

The RWD layout also gives the Avanza a distinctive character compared with many modern front-wheel-drive MPVs.

Fuel economy is respectable rather than miraculous. In Bangladesh, around 8–10 km/L in heavy city traffic and 12–14 km/L on highways is a realistic expectation.

For long family journeys, easy controls, useful space and predictable behaviour are more important than speed. On that basis, the Avanza does its job very well.