There are a few things in life that are certain. Death, taxes, that Woolworths unbranded clothes will last longer than the latest fashion item and that the plain white Y-Fronts your gran bought you for Christmas will be the most comfortable and enduring underwear you own.

In the up and down world of new vehicles, Toyota are always a constant and with the market going crazy at about the hundred grand mark it is warming to know that the Japanese Giants have got involved with some true contenders.

At around 89 grand the Toyota Yaris T1 is a front-runner in the small sedan pack, and for those that want a bit more seating the Avanza fights the way for Toyota in the small MPV world.

Avanza starts out at R99 000 for the 1.3 S and tops out at R139 700 for the 1.5 TX. We got our hands on this top dog for a test.

In TX format the external visual is not all that bad and the awkward upright appearance is broken by some well-fitting 15-inch alloys, a rear tailgate spoiler and chrome horizontal grille lines. While it might look suitably dimensioned, the tallness versus narrow track equation does seem to create an uneasy ride.

A high centre of gravity gives the Avanza some good lean angle and undulations in the road cause a wallowy feeling not dissimilar to worn shock absorbers. Steering input is also a bit vague and although power assisted not confidence inspiring. But for general town driving and the school run these issues are barely noticeable.

A 1500 VVT-i motor, of Daihatsu origin, powers the mom's taxi. It is a good revvy motor and with a top speed of 165km/h is comfortable maintaining the speed limit on any national road. A quick change from fifth to fourth will handle most overtaking situations.

Peace of mind is also on the top of the list when you buy a vehicle in this category and obviously with Toyota’s local backing reputation and a three-year/100 00km warranty together with a four-year/60 000km motorplan in tow you can’t put many feet wrong here.

Careful thought sees to it that the cabin is comfy. Aircon comes standard on the TX and the likes of electric windows and mirrors, a remote fuel flap opener and tailgate control allow the occupants to stay seated throughout a journey. Interior design is not the Avanza strong point and although it is brilliantly functional it falls way short when it comes to the choice of décor.

Beige, ribbed material looks and feels as if it comes from my grandmother’s sun faded lounge suite while the hard plastic wouldn’t be out of place at a Tupperware party. Why Toyota opted for hearing aid beige as their dash colour of choice instead of a black or grey is baffling.

Another interior gripe is the non-adjustable steering column. Finding an optimum driving position proved impossible. In order to get my legs far enough away from the pedals I had to move the seat all the way backwards. This meant that my arms became too short for the sharply angled steering wheel and I had to stretch forward to feel in control.

However even with the drivers seat in this far back position, the amount of rear legroom was still adequate. Four adults, three kids and some luggage will comfortably fit into the Avanza, and this is what makes it so good. It truly delivers on its criteria, namely an affordable, quality product that gets the job done when it comes to being a daily runabout and people mover.

As a driver's car there is about as much passion as the trusty Y-fronts but as a practical, economical and wise decision the Avanza is a winner. The best compromise would be to use the Avanza daily but to keep a sleek European model in the garage for those special days. Page: 1 of 2 - next