Touring Sports vs Avensis rear space for family.

[W1P30UT]

Hi,

I am considering purchasing a Touring Sports for a family of five (three kids) and a dog. I was always concerned that the car may not be big enough in the rear for a three boys (two of which are teenagers). However I came across the video from a Toyota official who remarks its the same size as an Avensis. I've owned an Avensis and thought the space was fine.

Anyone else with a large family using a Touring Sport, or anyone who had an Avensis and moved to a Touring Sport who can comment?

Thank you.

[TonyHSD]

I have neither of these but I can tell you that Corolla is smaller than avensis in every dimension. Same been said about new golf that has the same space as Passat but that’s also a myth. On paper  all these cars maybe very similar but in reality they are two different classes and so there is a slight difference.  Perhaps best to visit the dealer together all family and try for yourself to see how comfortable you will feel on the rear seats. 👍

[W1P30UT]

14 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

 Perhaps best to visit the dealer together all family and try for yourself to see how comfortable you will feel on the rear seats. 👍

My local dealer hasn't been particularly helpful, and I am trying to avoid travelling with the whole family for an hour to the next dealer. 

[TonyHSD]

I think Corolla might be a bit smaller as a family car for 5 and a dog. Rav4 I can only thing off , much bigger car, a lots of interior space , more powerful engine, it’s a better car by all means. 👍 But again, only visit to a dealer that has in stock rav4 and Corolla so you can seat in and compare. My recent visit to the dealer was a good experiencе, and tbh the car that I liked the most was exactly the rav4., even smells better than other Toyotas. 👍

[Bozz]

I recently travelled about 200 miles in my TS with four adult passengers 2 large and 3 small suitcases plus a multitude of other bags and stuff. Had to remove the parcel shelf, mesh screen, luggage compartment storage box and put the floor on its lowest setting to accommodate. There were no complaints from the luggage! 

[Swanthecat]

Can comfortably fit my two grown up kids (now both in their 20s) in the back of my Corolla TS and two very large Greyhounds in the luggage area. Without the kids and with the rear seats down the Greyhounds are in the lap of luxury as they can lie down full stretch. The retractable luggage net fits onto the back of the reclined seats and still leaves room behind the front seats for all the paraphernalia which accompanies the dogs.

[FROSTYBALLS]

2 hours ago, TonyHSD said:

I can tell you that Corolla is smaller than avensis in every dimension.

Not quite - the Corolla TS/saloon, Prius and Avensis share the same size wheelbase (2700mm).

[TonyHSD]

8 minutes ago, FROSTYBALLS said:

Not quite - the Corolla TS/saloon, Prius and Avensis share the same size wheelbase (2700mm).

If you park avensis estate and Corolla estate one next to the other and you will see major difference in interior and exterior sizes. Avensis is an upper class car similar to mondeo, Passat, accord, c class , 3 series bmw where Corolla is a class below similar to Astra, focus and golf estates, they all have slightly longer wheel base than their hatchback siblings but this doesn’t make them as large as the next segment cars. 

[FROSTYBALLS]

The Mondeo and current Passat saloon, like the Avensis, have ended production. The current Passat estate continues til next year. The Focus finishes in 2025 .....

[TonyHSD]

Another car can be added to the list if rav4 is too large or too expensive, Toyota Prius Plus, it’s a 7 seater size wise similar to avensis but has 3 independent seats on the rear and a large boot if the extra two seats are folded down. Very popular with taxi and private hire and perfect family car. This car has higher roof line and tons of interior space. I know these models are discontinued but because we compare avensis which also is discontinued perhaps op will look onto used car market. There are still some examples for sale, although maybe expensive. 👍

[Cyker]

That's basically a hybrid Verso, but they are very good cars; The interior seating flexibility is great and something I wish they kept in the Yaris (All 3 rows of seats have independent sliding and tilting!)

It's not exactly sprightly and the mpg isn't anything to write home about, slightly worse than the diesel models but unlike the diesels you can drive it in a city without getting fined daily  

My parents have a 1.8L non-hybrid Verso and I must admit I do like it a lot; It has all that Toyotaness that's missing in the newer cars, e.g. the seat flexibility, ridiculous amounts of storage everywhere, even tray tables for the rear passengers  Is much nicer to be in for long journeys than my Yaris!!!

If they updated its drivetrain to the newer HSDs it'd be much better but sadly they decided to kill it off instead  

One thing: If you do try to get a Prius Plus - BE CAREFUL!!!! There are *lot* of import versions on the 2nd hand market which are almost identical, but are actually japanese imports and most toyota dealers won't service them as Toyotas but as 3rd party cars (e.g. like if you took a Ford to them to be serviced), plus you can run into the same problem the Estima owners do with trying to insure them due to their import status.

Try and get an actual UK homologated Prius Plus if you don't want the hassle!

Otherwise I think the Corolla estate will be fine - The biggest annoyance with the Hatchback is they made the boot far too large, so the rear passenger space is a bit underwhelming and less than the Auris HB had despite being a larger car!

This is better in the estate version as they pushed the passenger seats back a bit so people who aren't tiny japanese people and also have actual legs can sit there comfortably now, and it still has a decent-sized boot.

It's one design decision I wish they'd change in the Yaris and Corolla - Shrink the boot and make the rear passenger space bigger! (Watching my mates try to get in the back of my new Yaris, one who is tall and the other wide, is both amusing and a bit painful  They both agree the Mk2 I had before was MUCH MUCH better than the Mk4 for rear passenger entry and leg room!)

 

[forkingabout]

6 minutes ago, Cyker said:

One thing: If you do try to get a Prius Plus - BE CAREFUL!!!! There are *lot* of import versions on the 2nd hand market which are almost identical, but are actually japanese imports and most toyota dealers won't service them as Toyotas but as 3rd party cars (e.g. like if you took a Ford to them to be serviced), plus you can run into the same problem the Estima owners do with trying to insure them due to their import status.

Try and get an actual UK homologated Prius Plus if you don't want the hassle!

 

 

My managers 2019 Prius + is meant to be due for replacement within the next 12 months & its a proper UK spec car. 

Unfortunately with the current vehicle supply issues / shortages the company are running the current leases on longer. 

[TonyHSD]

The Japanese plus has better and more comfortable seats than the 3 independent ones. The 3 seats are very versatile but lack a bit of comfort and offer bench (bus like ) seating position which is not ideal for long journeys, where the Japanese ones seats are as comfy as Camry and split 60/40. Either of these will be a killer family car for passenger and luggage. I manage to squeeze two 4 person families in on few occasions for a very short trips to the local pub, hahah 8 seater. My kids also enjoyed a lot. 

[Cyker]

Yeah the seats in their Verso are quite hard and slab-shaped, but still somehow more comfy than my Yaris seats!!