Of all the companies that you might have imagined to be caught up in a quality scare, Toyota would have been at the bottom of the list.

This marque regularly succeeds in quality surveys. Its cars are rock solid in the public’s eyes and Toyotas have won a reputation for being a safe set of wheels.

They appeal to older drivers who admire the more conservative models while still drawing younger drivers drawn by Toyota’s sporting credentials.

One thing they all tend to agree on is that Toyotas are dependable. It’s that sentiment which has propelled this marque to be the world’s biggest car manufacturer.

Here we have the Avensis Tourer, a car which captures the essence of Toyota. In simple terms, it’s a fine, well-built car which you imagine would run for ever. It’s solid, spacious and drives reasonably well. It’s built in Derbyshire which, by my reckoning, makes it Bradford’s most locally-produced car.

It isn’t the best looking estate car on the road, but neither is it ugly. Putting everything together, it’s difficult to find a better model.

As an everyday machine, the Avensis saloon is all you could reasonably ask for, so plumping for the even more practical Tourer version means you’re ready for anything.

There’s a case for the Tourer being more attractive than the saloon. They share the strong grille and sweeping headlight design, but the Tourer takes that one step further with a strong and attractive curve that runs right along to the tailgate. It’s not a controversial design, but neither will you lose it in the car park among a host of other mid-sized estates.

Where the Toyota really makes its mark is in the cabin. This is a company which is regarded alongside BMW and Mercedes-Benz in terms of reliability, and it’s easy to see why. The cabin is a delight. The doors shut with a solid quality ‘thunk’ and the cabin is both logical and interesting.

It’s a car which is very easy to get to know. Some people struggle to fathom some hi-tech models, but the Avensis is built for real people, not techies.

You’ll also be relaxed, thanks to the generous interior space. The expected improvements in cabin room over the old car are welcome, and the Avensis can happily accommodate five adults.

As a family car, it has all the boxes ticked, and in Tourer guise the huge rear load area means there are few situations where you’ll be struggling for space. Features like the electric tailgate are welcome, and sit comfortably with Toyota’s ease-of-use ethos.

Higher specification models have the keyless start feature, which makes getting in and going as painless as possible. The wide range of adjustment for the seats and steering wheel allows drivers of all shapes and sizes to get comfortable, and while ensuring a strong bodyshell for safety, the relatively slim pillars mean good all-round visibility too.

There’s a wide choice of engines in both saloon and Tourer guise, but those seeking to utilise all of the load space will be most interested in the diesel options. The 2.2-litre D-4D version offers the most horsepower and torque and yet brings with it the exceptional economy that makes for low running costs, even in a car of this size. With a six-speed manual transmission as standard, the impressive flexibility of the engine can be fully exploited.

Driven normally and with one eye on the fuel gauge, the generous low-down torque makes short work of pulling away, even with heavy loads on board.

The slick gearbox and light pedal actions means heavy traffic is far from hard work, and you can be lazy with the gearlever and still pull away comfortably. A thrifty approach will result in economy figures of over 50mpg, yet this is no low-powered economy special: if you’re in more of a hurry, then the Avensis will oblige, and an athletic blast through the gears will complete the 0-62mph dash in just over ten seconds and run on to a heady 131mph.

The low-stress approach continues until your journey’s end. The Avensis offers a very high level of refinement, through the smoothness of the controls, the lack of noise from the engine and the soothing ride.

By its own design, the Avensis may not offer the most invigorating of driving experiences, but for the majority of drivers this is of secondary importance, and even for those who are seeking the ultimate driving experience, the truth is that most of the time covering the miles with little fuss is actually the priority.

It’s a shame that the word sensible should have any negative connotations, because the Avensis Tourer is undoubtedly a sensible purchase. When you’re spending thousands of pounds, it pays to choose wisely, and for a car that can turn its hand to almost any situation and demand so little in return, the Avensis deserves serious consideration.

Toyota Avensis T Spirit 2.2 D4D Tourer: PRICE: £27,086. Range starts at £17,860.

ENGINE: 2.2 litre diesel engine generating 148bhp via front-wheel drive.

PERFORMANCE: Top speed 131mph in 10.8 seconds.

COSTS: Average 50.4mpg.

INSURANCE: Group 21.

EMISSIONS: 152g/km.

WARRANTY: Three years, 60,000 miles.

Steve's ratings: Performance: 4/5 Ride/Handling: 4/5 Space/Practicality: 3/5 Equipment: 4/5 Security/Safety: 4/5 OVERALL: 4/5