Toyota Avanza is the least popular model sold by Indus Motor Company (IMC) since 2011. After Suzuki APV it was the second 7 seater MPV to be offered in Pakistan by a local manufacturer, although the Avanza has been sold as an import ever since.
Initially IMC sold the first generation Avanza with a price tag of nearly PKR 25 lac, and since the beginning it has always been the priciest option in its class. Those first gen Avanza MPVs were mostly seen among the PIA fleet vehicles.
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In 2011 the second generation Avanza was introduced in international markets and it was made available in Pakistan a year later. Available with a 1.5 liter 2NR-VE engine good for 107hp, the 2ns gen Avanza comes with driver & passenger airbags, ABS with EBD, 3 point ELR seatbelts with pretensioner and force limiters, seatbelt warnings and engine immobilizer. Other features include a tilt adjustable multi-function steering wheel, MID display, power steering/ windows/ mirrors, dual air-conditioning, front fog lamps, 15″ alloy wheels, 2 DIN head unit, 4 speakers and rear windshield wiper etc.
The Avanza offers the finest built quality compared to its rivals available in the market, it’s even spacious than the 1st gen Avanza it replaced. It offers a refined interior, which is a huge improvement from the previous generation, has comfortable seats, practical 7 seat capacity and is backed by Toyota’s reliability. However it’s the price tag that keeps the buyers away. You can hardly spot a second generation Avanza on roads despite being here for more than 5 years now, on the other hand the newly launched Honda BR-V has become a regular sight on roads with sales constantly improving. Honda Atlas sold more than 4,400 units of BR-V last year which is a huge success for a newly launched vehicle.
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Last year when we did a comparison between four 7 seater MPVs available in our market, the Avanza was available for PKR 29.9 lac. However IMC has revised the price tag of the Avanza MPV which now cost a hefty PKR 34.5 lac, which is nearly 12 lac more than the hot selling Honda BR-V. It’s hard to understand why IMC keeps offering the Avanza with a high price tag despite zero sales, instead of replacing it with other successful MPVs such as the new Rush, Calya or the Sienta.
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7 seaters were never considered as desirable option in our market until the Honda BR-V came into the scene, which has somehow proven the fact that there is always a market for a right product in a right price. Do you think IMC should offer a reasonably priced MPV to rival Honda BR-V in Pakistan? Let us know with your comments.
A computer animation professional with over 23 years of industry experience having served in leading organizations, TV channels & production facilities in Pakistan. An avid car enthusiast and petrolhead with an affection to deliver quality content to help shape opinions. Formerly written for PakWheels as well as major publications including Dawn. Founder of CarSpiritPK.com
