The Toyota Avanza compact MPV which is immensely popular in Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia and Philippines, has been launched in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The 7-seat MPV which slots below the Innova in Toyota's global portfolio targets the UAE's budget conscious families that are looking to upgrade from a small sedan. The car will be sold through Al-Futtaim Motors, the exclusive distributor of Toyota Vehicles in the region and has no direct competitors from recognized brands operating in the UAE.
The Avanza is 4.14 m long, 1.66 m wide and 1.69 m tall. The MPV is powered by a 1.5-litre petrol motor which generates 102 hp and 127.4 Nm of torque. The engine is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission.
In terms of equipment, the UAE-spec Avanza comes with dual front airbags, ABS, EBD, dual blower AC and sliding second row seats. The MPV is fitted with low rolling resistance tyres to improve the fuel economy.
The Toyota Avanza is priced at AED 54,900 (around INR 8.92 lakhs) and is available in six exterior color options - silver, gray, dark steel, light blue, beige metallic and white. According to Al-Futtaim Motors, the MPV segment in the UAE grew by 28% in 2013, and the Avanza would take care of the entry level market.
Given that the Toyota Avanza is being manufactured only at Daihatsu's Indonesian plant, the UAE-spec car is imported from the Southeast Asian nation.
Even though the compact MPV market in India is lucrative (the Honda Mobilio is the next entrant of the segment), Toyota Kirloskar Motor has often cited the unavailability of a diesel option and the region-specific character of the Avanza as deterrents for its local launch. Moreover, the performance of its premium MPV, the Innova, has been excellent with an average sale of 4,452 units per month from Jan-May 2014.
