In the late 1990s, Toyota embarked on a joint project with its subsidiary Daihatsu to build a multipurpose vehicle (MPV). The result of this collaborative project was the introduction of the Toyota Avanza/Daihatsu Xenia.
The Toyota Avanza (Daihatsu Xenia) is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) marketed by Daihatsu as Daihatsu Xenia and by Toyota as Toyota Avanza. The Avanza is mainly produced in Indonesia and was developed as an entry-level MPV.
There are three generations of the Avanza, with the current third-generation model introduced in 2021. Here we are going to take a brief look at these three Avanza generations and learn how they have evolved so far. Please follow through.
2003 – 2010
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The first-generation Toyota Avanza was unveiled in 2003 for the 2004 model year. It was available in two trims; the J and G trim, with their main difference being the engine.
The Avanza is a five-door MPV with a front-engine rear-wheel-drive (FR) layout. Its facial features a short hood with a chrome strip where it meets the small grille with a Toyota emblem at the center. Underneath it’s fitted with a large bumper with an air intake at the center and fog lights on either end.
Inside, Avanza’s cabin is spacious. The front captain’s seats are comfortable and supportive, while the rear bench seat can comfortably accommodate three passengers making the car a five-seater. There is also enough head-, leg-, and foot room. At the rear, the cargo room is large enough to accommodate a small refrigerator, and if you need extra space to accommodate long items, you can fold the rear seat.
In 2006, the Avanza received a mid-life facelift. The changes were mostly cosmetic, they included a new interior, a redesigned grille, a redesigned front and rear bumper, and redesigned headlights and taillights.
The Avanza received another facelift in late 2008. Interior changes included a new ceiling with grooves for better airflow, a new four-spoke steering wheel, and an updated interior. Exterior changes included a mesh grille on the bumper, a chrome accent in the rear window, and fog light adornment.
Under the hood, the 2004 Avanza came fitted with a 1.3-liter (K3-DE) petrol engine with 92 hp found on the J trim and a 1.5-liter petrol (3SZ-VE) engine with 109 hp found on the G trim. These engines were mated with a 5-speed manual transmission.
In 2004, a special edition Avanza was introduced. This model came fitted with a 1.3-liter (K3-VE) VVT-i engine mated with an automatic transmission. Only 200 units of this model came out of the production line.
As part of the 2006 facelift, the Avanza came fitted with a new 1.5-liter (3SZ-VE) 16-valve DOHC VVT-i petrol engine.
2011 – 2020
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The second-generation Toyota Avanza was unveiled in 2011 for the 2012 model year. It was available in three trims; the J, E, and G trims.
Exterior changes on the second generation Avanza included an even and wider bumper, a large air intake opening on the bumper, redesigned headlights, new alloy wheels design, and more.
In 2015 the 2012 Avanza received its first mid-cycle facelift with changes including upgraded front and rear facias, interior color, and head unit, with ABS/EBD now standard.
In 2019, the Avanza received its second mid-cycle facelift. The front fascia and rear fascia were touched again with the front fitted with thin split-styled LED headlights as standard and the rear receiving an update as well. Other changes included the introduction of a shark fin antenna, redesigned alloy wheels, digital AC control buttons, keyless entry, and new interior color.
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Under the hood, the 1.3-liter and 1.5-liter engines used in the previous model were carried over. The J and E trims came fitted with the 1.3-liter engine while the 1.5-liter engine was fitted on the premium G trim.
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In 2015 the Avanza was facelifted, and as part of the facelift, a new 1.3-liter (1NR-VE) Dual VVT-i petrol engine was introduced to replace the previous 1.3-liter K3-VE engine, and the 1.5-liter (3SZ-VE) petrol engine was replaced by a 1.5-liter (2NR-VE) Dual VVT-i petrol engine. These engines were paired with either a 4-speed automatic or 5-speed manual transmission.
2021 – Present
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The third-generation Toyota Avanza was unveiled in 2021 for the 2022 model year. Unlike the previous models that were based on the front-engine rear-wheel-drive (FR) layout, the 2022 Avanza is based on the front-engine front-wheel-drive (FF) layout built on Daihatsu’s New Global Architecture (DNGA), supported by a full monocoque frame, unlike the previous “unibody” frame.
This 2022 Avanza is more modern than its predecessors, with plenty of modern features on all fronts.
dimensions of the 2022 Avanza have grown, longer by 205 mm (8.1 in) and wider by 70 mm (2.8 in), the wheelbase has been increased by 95 mm (3.7 in),
The exterior design has changed significantly, the styling is impressive, and it surely is a head-turner Exterior changes include new LED headlamps, a large lower grille, a large redesigned bumper, shark fin antenna, and 15-inch alloy wheels. The Avanza is now 7.7-inches longer, 2.8-inches wider, and the wheelbase is 3.7-inches longer.
The cabin of the 2022 Avanza is roomy, thanks to the car’s exterior dimensional growth. This model is a seven-seater with seats arranged in a 2:3:3 configuration. The seats are comfortable and supportive, and they provide enough leg-, knee-, foot-, and shoulder room. Unlike the previous model whose seat could not fold flat and had gaps in between, the 2022 Avanza’s rear seats can fold flat with no gaps in between creating an enormous amount of space for cargo.
Features found on the top-spec Avanza include an 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto.
Safety-wise, the Avanza comes with dual airbags, Antilock Braking System (ABS), and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) as standard, while top specs come fitted with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS ) technology which incorporates several safety and driver assistance technologies, such as the Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and Lane Departure Alert with Steering Control.
The 2022 Avanza is powered by either a 1.3-liter or 1.5-liter inline 4 Dual VVT-i 16V DOHC petrol engine. These engines are paired with either a 4-speed automatic, 5-speed manual or dual-mode CVT transmission.
These new engines provide more power, better handling, better fuel consumption, and suppressed levels of NVH.
Conclusion
The Toyota Avanza is a compact and efficient multipurpose vehicle that can be used as a taxi, adventure car for large families, shopping basket for offices, and school shuttle. For all the years that it has been around, the Avanza has proved to be versatile, durable, reliable, and a true people mover.
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I am a Telecom & ICT specialist with a career spanning over 15 years in the demanding Tanzanian telecom industry.
I am also an avid DIYer with a good knack for everything technical and a wealth of vocational skills, with automotive being the top, and here I am writing about cars.
In 2017 a guy created a WhatsApp group called MyCar for the sole purpose of members helping each other with all matters regarding cars. I joined this group in 2018, and with my enormous wealth of knowledge regarding cars, and my readiness to share the knowledge with others, I became a top contributor, and that didn’t go unnoticed, as one member thought I was a potential writer and had contacts with Be Forward Japan who were looking for writers then. Fast forward to January 2020, I began writing for the Be Forward blog with 2024 being my fourth year.
As far as I can remember, I love cars, and growing up in the farming and tourist city of Arusha Tanzania in the ’80s and ’90s, I ended up being drawn to the Ranger Rover Classic for leisure and Land Cruiser 70 pickup as a workhorse. These were tough cars then, cars that could take you anywhere any time no matter the weather.
