Toyota Avensis vs Honda Accord

Nobody can afford to stand still in the hugely competitive family car market. Just ask Toyota. A raft of new arrivals has raised the bar in the sector, and with such formidable opposition, the trusty Avensis has plummeted down the pecking order.

Bosses are hoping to redress the balance with the latest model. Both four-door saloon and five-door Tourer versions will be available from launch, and the practical load-lugger has most to gain in the less crowded estate end of the market. The model we test here has an economical 2.2-litre D-4D diesel engine to go with its user-friendly bodystyle. Flagship T-Spirit trim also brings luxuries such as a panoramic glass roof, dual-zone climate control and leather. Competition comes from another Japanese car with premium aspirations. The latest Honda Accord Tourer has sacrificed some of its predecessor’s practicality in the name of style. But in EX trim it’s generously kitted out, and the excellent 2.2-litre i-DTEC engine is one of Auto Express’s favourite diesels.

These cars look evenly matched on paper. But can the Avensis make home advantage count on the roads around Toyota’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire, where the first models have recently rolled off the production line?