2006 Toyota Avanza review from Malaysia

Squeaky rear hatch when being opened. Rectified under warranty.

Very occasional blinking of the "overdrive" light on the instrument pod by itself.

Reliable and tough as nails. Very simple car and hence very little to go wrong.

Poor refinement. Noisy. Harsh and choppy ride.

Build quality is fine but hard-wearing interior trim makes it look low-rent.

Acceleration from the 1.3 fuel injected 16 valve motor is just about sufficient with the very short gearing (4 speed automatic in my case), which affects cruising ability and fuel economy at high speeds.

No airbags nor ABS.

As a 7 seater MPV, it is spacious for passengers considering its size, but poor boot space with the third row seats in use.

Good for urban use, but can wear you out on long distance trips.

Treat it like a white good or appliance and you'll be fine. Just don't expect refinement nor driving excitement.