So i own a Avensis T22 and I really wanted to talk about the car, share to everyone about the car and more so here we go.
2001 TOYOTA AVENSIS T22 1ZZ-FE
So this is my Avensis. A very reliable car built to be like any other Toyota.. A ROCK. The car itself is from 2001 as seen in the title and it was bought in 2002. It spent most of its life used once or twice a week for 24 years. It only has 92.000 KM / 57.000 MILES TOTAL which is impressive for a 2001 car.
This Car is the reason I’m a car guy and love cars. I still remember when I was like 9 years old we went to a trip with this car and I saw the car parked next to a beach while we were getting ready to go swim. When I was 14 years old I started to really like this car and would post pictures of it on Instagram then slowly I liked the car more and more until I started begging my dad every week to go for a ride with it lol. When I was 16 years old we were thinking of selling this car which made me really sad because I thought I was never going to drive it at least one time. But luckily this car stayed with us until I was 18 years old and after 6 months of trying to get the driver’s licence I finally did it. It was like a dream come true.. The car that I grew up with and wished to drive since I was 14 was now ready for me to drive it.
HOW IT FEELS DRIVING THE CAR
-So this car has a incredibly heavy clutch, boat like shifter and a very sensitive throttle response. My first ride was really bad. I would rev the car to 3k rpms just to move it and my shifts were not smooth AT ALL. Now I had another car to drive which is a 2005 Renault Megane II 1.5 dCi 60kw It’s a really comfortable and easy car to drive literally makes you feel like your driving a cloud. But I decided to take the Avensis without my dad’s permission just to learn to drive it and master it. And after 2 weeks of driving it I finally mastered the clutch and gearbox. Right now I don’t drive the car much because it’s literally a TRACTOR (consumes 20% per 100 KM / 62 MILES in traffic) I just can’t keep spending 10 dollars to refill it every drive session But I’m happy that I mastered driving it. Now yes I abuse this car sometimes (High Rpms, quick shifts and jerks, skiding and more..) but it takes the abuse like nothing.
ENGINE
-So my Avensis has a very special engine. The 1ZZ-FE a 1.8 liter 16 valve VVT-I Petrol engine which produces a total of 129 HP and 170NM / 125 FT LBS.
-So this engine is so special because it was actually used in sporty models like the Celica GT / MR2 SPYDER / Corolla / Matrix and Avensis.
So in the Avensis the engine is detuned because it’s a family sedan but still it’s a very reliable and strong engine.
This is a Dyno run with the 1ZZ-FE engine from a MR2 SPYDER (Slightly better than the version on the Avensis but this is the most similar Dyno result I could find.)
ENGINE
A light weight and reliable engine from Toyota’s Compact line up.
BASICS
-Naturally Aspirated 1.8L Inline 4 16 Valve engine with VVT-I (VARIABLE VALVE TIMING INTELLIGENCE).
-Produced from 1998-2007.
-Found in Corolla, Celica, MR2 SPYDER, Matrix and Avensis.
-130-140 HP (129 HP for my Avensis).
-Compression Ratio: 9.6:1.
PERFORMANCE
-Smooth and Efficient Power Delivery.
-Rev Happy engine ideal for city and daily driving.
-Light weight design contributes to good handling.
APLLICATIONS
Used in Toyota’s Compact and sporty models (Corolla, Avensis, MR2 SPYDER, Matrix and Celica). It’s combination of reliability and efficiency made it a popular Choise for both commuters and enthusiasts looking for a responsive 4-Cylinder.
STENGHTS
-Light Weight and Compact
-Reliable and easy to maintain
-Smooth power delivery
-Efficient for daily driving
WEAKNESSES
-Limited Stock power output
-Stock internals not meant for tuning especially EXTREME TUNING
-Aging design in later years
FEATURE HIGHLIGHT
-The 1ZZ-FE uses an aluminum DOHC head with VVT-i (VARIABLE VALVE TIMING INTELLIGENCE), giving it good efficiency and responsiveness for a naturally aspirated engine of it’s era. Oh and it also has a metal timing chain.
LEGACY
-Known for reliability and efficiency, the 1ZZ-FE has become a favorite among tuners for light swaps and mild forced induction builds, as well as a dependable daily driver engine.
THE AVENSIS T22
Toyota Avensis T22 is the second-generation Avensis produced by Toyota. It was made between 1997 and around 2003 and was sold mainly in Europe and other markets (not North America).
It replaced the first-generation model and was designed as a family sedan with a focus on reliability, comfort, and practicality.
BODY STYLES
The T22 was offered in several body types:
Sedan / saloon
Liftback / hatchback
Wagon / estate
All versions have five seats and front-wheel drive.
ENGINE AND PERFORMANCE
The T22 came with a range of petrol and diesel engines:
Petrol
1.6 L (~101–110 hp) — entry-level, economical.
1.8 L (~110–129 hp) — mid-range choice.
2.0 L 16V (~150 hp) — more power and performance.
Diesel
2.0 D-4D (~110 hp) — common diesel option with better fuel economy.
Different markets had slightly different engine codes and options, but all were four-cylinder designs.
DIMENTIONS AND CAPACITY
Typical specs for the sedan/liftback models:
Length: ~4490 mm
Width: ~1710 mm
Height: ~1425 mm
Wheelbase: ~2630 mm
Fuel tank: ~60 L
Boot/trunk: ~500 L (varies a bit by body style)
PERFORMANCE AND ECONOMY
Performance varies with engine choice:
2.0 L petrol (~129 hp) will do 0–100 km/h in around 9.3–10.6 s with a top speed ~200–205 km/h.
Smaller engines are slower but more frugal.
Diesels typically return better economy (mid ~5–7 L/100 km range).
TRANSMISSION
Most came with a 5-speed manual
Some had 4-speed automatic options
There was no factory 6-speed in the original T22.
CHASSIS AND HANDLING
Front-wheel drive is standard
Suspension and setup aimed more at comfort and stability than sporty handling
Steering is generally described as precise for its class
RELIABILITY AND KNOWN POINTS
T22 is widely considered durable and practical for everyday use.
Older cars can show age-related wear (suspension wear, minor corrosion, maintenance needs), but there’s no widespread catastrophic design flaw noted.
Maintenance history matters a lot for longevity.
PRACTICAL USE
The Avensis T22 is typically viewed as:
A comfortable family car
Reliable and straightforward
Reasonable on parts and service costs for its era
Overall it’s a practical choice for someone who values durability, interior space, and straightforward engineering over high performance.
MY AVENSIS
So my Avensis is the T22 2001 with the 1ZZ-FE. The engine is technically brand new but the exterior is sadly faded and needs a lot of care.
BODY AND SIZE
-4490-4650 mm in length, 1710-1760 mm in width, and 1425 mm in height.
-Wheel Base 2630 mm
-Weight Approximately 1250+ KG / 2755+ LB
-Tire size 195/60 R15 88H
COLOR
So my Avensis has this black color which really makes it a cool car like in my opinion this is the best color for this Sedan because it makes it kinda mysterious and sometimes even turns eyes.
DRIVING THIS CAR
-So as I said now I can drive this car with no issues I’m used to it but still I sometimes stall because it’s just not that easy to remember even with muscle memory.
-People don’t really look at the car because it’s not the most interesting but I had some cool interaction:
-One time I raced two guys with a BMW. I didn’t pass them but I managed to keep up and even catch up to them. At a red light the guys lowered their window and asked me about the engine, I said it’s a 1.8 and they were kinda surprised because the car managed to catch up (I think that BMW had a Diesel or Economic engine) but they still found it impressive. The passenger of the BMW driver even said that he likes the car because his dad owns a Avensis (newer versions).
-Another Cool Story is when the car was still brand new in Romania (2002) My dad said Everyone would look at the car because at that time they only had Dacia’s and E46’s so the Avensis was basically considered a JDM because of how rare it was to spot one in Romania (Even tho it’s not JDM).
-The car itself is really responsive and reliable. I sometimes do pedal to the metal pulls on second gear just to hear that engine roar and it’s really nice.
-The interior is super comfortable and has a very strong leather smell which makes it feel like home.
GEAR RATIOS
-Toyota C250 5-Speed Manual Gear Ratio (That’s the gearbox on my Avensis)
Gear Ratio
1st 3.545
2nd 1.904
3rd 1.310
4th 1.031
5th 0.815
Reverse 3.250
Final drive 3.941
KM/H / MPH PER GEAR AND TOP SPEED
-So here is what total speed the car reaches in every gear at Redline:
1st: 57 KM/H / 35 MPH
2nd: 103 KM/H / 64 MPH
3rd: 150 KM/H / 93 MPH
4th: 180 KM/H / 111 MPH
5th: 210 KM/H / 130 MPH
TOP SPEED: 210 KM/H / 130 MPH
0-100 / 0-60 Around 11 Seconds or 10 Seconds for a perfect run
TORQUE
-170NM / 125 LB-FT at 4200 RPM
-129 HP (95 kW) / 6600 RPM TOTAL
-Fuel Type: Petrol
SOUND / HOW LOUD
-Idle (Warm Engine) Approximately 38-42 dB (1 meter behind the car)
-Redline Rev (6600-6700 RPM) Approximately 70-78 dB
-Pretty quiet car which is really great makes it feel premium
AVENSIS T22 ACCELERATION RUN (SHORT RUN) / 3RD GEAR ACCELERATION
-0-100 Run (Lost Traction At Launch)
-0-100 Run (11.5 Seconds Semi Perfect Run)
3RD Gear Run (6000 RPMS)
PICTURES
-The Car (Taken By Me {Sorry about the car being dirty and the photos taken at night time I just didn’t have enought time to do it at daytime and it was too late to wash the car})
INTERIOR
OTHER PHOTOS AND VIDEOS
-Oldest Pictures With The Car (2006)
-The Car Horn (Exotic Sound)
-Car dead battery still trying to start
-Taillights and Headlights
I have much more photos and videos but they’re just too many and not worth to post.
-Engine Sound
-Engine Sound (Cold Engine Higher RPM)
-Engine Sound 2
-Reverse Sound (Pure Whining)
-Engine Sound with Open Headers
-Mini Burnout (Can’t ruin the tires)
-RIP Clutch
-Car Key
-Rim and Spare Tire
-Cold Start (0° Celcius / 32 Degrees Fahrenheit)
-Better Pics With The Car
-Just Washed The Car (4.02.2026)
-Cool / Cinematic Photos
-This was a cool one T22 and T25
BONUS
Blueprint
The Interior And Sounds
-The Avensis Was Even Included In Top Gear
-Old Drawing I Made With The Avensis As A Supercar
-Memes With The Car
-The Car In Video Games
PICK UP EXPRESS
BEAMNG
-Diecast Models
-STATS If The Car Was Added To CC2 (Stats By ZOB)
Race Class: ClassD 59
Top Speed: 210 Km/h / 131 mph
Acceleration: 7.7
Braking: 11.6
Handling: 10.1
Price: 70,000
FICTIONAL STUFF / IF THE CAR WAS ALIVE (JUST FOR FUN)
-NAME: Avensis / Corona (Nickname).
-Male
-PERSONALITY: Calm, Strong and Patient.
-FRIENDS (Other Car Models): Fiat 131 Mirafiori 1982 (Male), Daewoo Cielo 1996 (Male), Daewoo Leganza 1999 (Female), Renault Megane II 2005 (Female), Renault Fluence 2010 (Female). (These are cars that my dad owned / still owm so that’s why the Avensis would have so many friends lol) ALL SEDANS.
-LOVE INTEREST: Daewoo Leganza 1999 (The Leganza was actually the second car my dad owned with the Avensis but sadly she was sold in 2009 RIP).
MORE MODELS OF THE AVENSIS (FAN MADE / FACTORY)
TOYOTA AVENSIS EVOLUTION
-MK1 (T220)
-MK1 FACELIFT (T22)
-MK2 (T25)
-MK2 FACELIFT (T25)
-MK3 (T27)
-MK3 FACELIFT (T27 FINAL VERSION)
-MK1 (1997-2003)
-MK2 (2003-2008)
-MK3 (2009-2018)
MORE COLORS OF THE AVENSIS
-Blue
-White
-Red
-Yellow
-Grey
-Green
I made this post because I just wanted to say No matter how old, rusty, broken, dirty your car is it’s still a part of you. Love your car and it loves you back, respect your car and it respects you back And most importantly Take care of your car and it Takes care of you in the road. Look at my Avensis it’s dirty, faded, has some body damage but it’s still running and driving and it’s my dream car. Even tho I don’t drive it much I still check it every week and take care of any issue it has if I can. So the moral is Cars Are Part Of Your Family Not Just Machines.
And That’s All About My Avensis. Hopefully you guys enjoyed this post and Thank you.
Post inspired By Mandar_Fahrren and his amazing 2000 Pontiac Firebird
Special Thanks to ZOB For Suggesting The Car For Me