QUESTION: If you were asked to prepare a job specification for an estate car, what descriptive would you opt for?
Well, wagons do come in all shapes and sizes, but to rank among the top players in the various segments, for starters, a shooting brake needs to boast a manoeuvrably roomy and thoughtfully versatile interior, well stacked with standard kit.
A handsome exterior, with no hint of add-on at the rear, can always be guaranteed to help the model do better in the marketplace while the practicality of a flat-sided bootroom and accommodating loading height will win high marks in the load-lugging department.
But, above all, to occupy a top spot in the class and be right for the job, an estate car has to provide a refined roadway performance and be just as satisfying to drive as its hatchback or saloon stablemates.
So, how does the Toyota Avensis Tourer rate in the box-ticking department in a sector hotly contested by quality load-lugging competition from the likes of the Vauxhall Vectra, Volkswagen Passat, Ford Mondeo, et el?
British-made at Toyota's Manufacturing UK plant at Burnaston in Derbyshire, the Avensis comes in a trio of body styles, Saloon, Hatchback and Tourer.
A quintet of engine options are offered for all three derivatives, three petrol and two diesel, and the five specification grades, T2, T3-S, T3-X, T4 and T Spirit offer a wide choice of standard kit.
In today's estate of the art world, both looks and size most definitely count and the Avensis Tourer does not disappoint here, shaping up handsomely on the tarmac, its stylishly sleek lines proving good to look at judging by the bystanders' head-turning test.
The Avensis Tourer is also practically roomy with goodly amounts of space for occupants' well-being in all parts while the bootroom is family size volumewise, capable of swallowing some sizeable loads, plus, there are two additional intrusion sensors in the luggage area.
A section of the load floor can also be lifted to uncover a hidden storage tray which can even accommodate the luggage cover when required, while the boot floor also folds to create separate storage areas, tailor-made to keep the results of your shopping trip to Tescos under control.
The boot loading lip is user friendly and, while the cargo bay is not quite symmetrical, due to a little wheel arch intrusion, the area is still easy to Hoover out after the dog has been in residence.
A car which is fashioned very much in the family style must not be denied its quota of storage spaces and the Avensis is no exception, boasting plenty of places in which to "lose" things including a rear box which doubles as an armrest and holds ten CDs, plus other receptacles which have been thoughtfully fitted with damped lids and push-open features.
Standard kit lists on all models are hugely generous and the top spec T Spirit included dual zone climate control, eight-speaker sound system with CD and steering wheel controls, electric multi-adjustable front seats, electric windows all round, powered and heated door mirrors, cruise control, sat nav with Electronic Traffic Avoidance and the rest.
Safety, too, has been well addressed with his and hers airbags, front side airbags, driver's knee airbag and full length curtain airbags. Seating is comfortable and the optimum driving position, which should suit most people, is easily arrived at.
Although nowhere near as frugal as the diesel alternatives, the two-litre VVT-i petrol engine spins sweetly, belying the potency of its 145bhp which can ease you from 0-62mph in marginally over nine seconds, en route to a maximum, where legally allowable, of 130mph.
Everything about the performance of the Avensis Tourer has that easy rider feel about it, from the smooth-slotting five-speed manual gearchange, through the communicative Electric Motor assisted power steering and good chassis response when stringing together a series of twisty bits, to its high quality motorway cruising credentials and superbly laid-back ride quality.
Braking, too, is good courtesy of ABS with Electronic Brake Force Distribution plus, Traction Control, Vehicle Stability Control and Brake Assist are also on hand to assist the unwise and the unwary.
Overall, the Toyota Avensis Tourer is an admirable example of the estate car genre, a well built, generously equipped, spacious and competitively priced shooting brake, a true car for all reasons.
FAST FACTS
Toyota Avensis Tourer 2.0 VVT-i T Spirit
Price: £20,845
Mechanical: 145bhp, 1,998cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 5spd manual gearbox
Max speed:130mph
0-62mph: 9.1 secs
Combined mpg: 34.9
Insurance group: 9
CO2 emissions: 193g/km
BiK rating: 24%
Warranty: 3 yrs/ 60,000 miles; 12yrs anti-rust; 3yrs paint