Toyota Avensis

There are two standard routes to facelifting a car - you either alter the looks, or you change the chassis/engines. Rarely do the two schools of thought cross, and the new Avensis is little different.

Toyota will tell you that the looks have been 'restyled', but you'll struggle to notice. For the really nerdy, if you spot a car with the indicators mounted in the mirrors, you've just seen a new Avensis.

The most notable news is the 2.2-litre diesel (£21,515). This is the same engine that has been available in the Verso for the last few months, and you've got 175bhp and 295lb ft under your right foot.

This latest common-rail unit is as refined as any other modern diesel and there's none of the rattle that you expect, and got, in the previous generations of Toyota oil burners.

It's reasonably punchy at speed and the comfy ride means this will make a good motorway muncher. Toyota claims it's made the steering sharper too. Pity it couldn't have broken the face-lifting mould and improved the looks as well.

Piers Ward