2011 Toyota Allion Review

Detailed Review

The Toyota Allion was introduced to the market in 2001 together with the Toyota Premio. They are technically the same with differences being in body styling and interior. The Toyota Premio is marketed as a luxurious, upscale saloon whilst the Allion is marketed as a sporty, no frills saloon. The Allion is more maneuverable and responsive than the Premio due to lower body weight.

Highlights

• Good fuel economy
• Sporty design
• Comfortable interior
• Luxurious finish
• Superb handling

Engine Specs
The 2011 Toyota Allion T260 is available with 3 engine variants: The 1.5Litre 1NZ engine, the 1.8Litre 2ZR engine and the 2.0Litre 3ZR engine. All are mated to an automatic CVT transmission. The Allion is available in 2WD and 4WD options. The 4WD option only comes with the 1.8L engine.

2011 Toyota Allion Grades

1. The Toyota Allion A15: This is the base level grade that comes with the 1.5 Litre 1NZ-FE engine, CVT Transmission and 2WD.
2. The Toyota Allion A18: This comes with the 1.8 Litre 2ZR-FE engine, CVT Transmission, 2WD/4WD options.
3. The Toyota Allion A20: This is the premium grade version that comes with the 2.0 Litre 3ZR-FAE engine, CVT Transmission and 2WD. Its got many other extras such as Alloy Rims as standard, fog lights, navigation, and a sunroof option.

Interior & Exterior

The dashboard is made of a synthetic leather like material with wood finished plastic while the dials are simple and easy to read. The seats are well padded and made of soft fabric with good legroom on both rows.

The exterior is sporty and targeted towards a younger and upscale market but buyers of all ages find it appealing. The sharp LED headlights and optional alloy rims enhance this aggressive sporty look.

Cabin Storage
There are storage compartments throughout the car including 4 cupholders, a storage shelf below the dashboard, a glovebox and the center box. For the 2nd row, the only storage is the seat jacket pockets for keeping things like phones, books and other small items.

2011 Toyota Allion Boot Space
The boot space for the 2011 Toyota Allion is typical of any saloon car. The boot can carry medium sized luggage such as suitcases and groceries. The rear seats are foldable to create extra space. However, it cannot carry bulky or oversized luggage that station wagons would typically carry.

Other Extras: Double Din Stereo, Navigation(Optional), Reverse Camera, Auto Headlamps, Keyless Entry

2011 Toyota Allion Fuel Tank Capacity: 60 Litres

Fuel Economy
Generally, Toyotas are known for their fuel economy. The 2011 Toyota Allion is no exception. It runs on a Valvematic engine improving fuel consumption significantly compared to previous models.

2011 Toyota Allion A15 Fuel Consumption: 18.6 km/L (On Average)
2011 Toyota Allion A18 Fuel Consumption Fuel Consumption: 17.0 km/L (On Average)
2011 Toyota Allion A20 Fuel Consumption Fuel Consumption: 15.6 km/L (On Average)

Handling
The 2011 Toyota Allion handles fairly well and feels stable under normal driving conditions. However aggressive cornering is not advisable especially at high speed.

2011 Toyota Allion Acceleration
2011 Toyota Allion A15 accelerates from 0-100 km/h in 10.5 secs.
2011 Toyota Allion A18 accelerates from 0-100km/h in 9.7 secs.
2011 Toyota Allion A20 accelerates from 0-100km/h in 9.4 secs.

2011 Toyota Allion Ground Clearance
The Toyota Allion has a ground clearance of 6.4Inches(165mm) when unmodified. This height may not be a problem if the vehicle is lightly loaded. However, when fully loaded the vehicle may not clear some speed bumps on Kenyan roads. In this case, you many need to increase ground clearance. Read our guidelines here on how to safely increase a vehicle’s ground clearance.

Service Intervals
Minor Service: At 5,000 km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, and Engine Oil
Major Service: At 10,000km. Requires Air Cleaner, Oil Filter, Fuel Filter, ATF Filter, Cabin Filter, Plugs, Front Brake Pads, Rear Brake Pads, ATF Oil, and Engine Oil

Spare parts are relatively cheap and readily available in the market. In Nairobi, most spare shops in Industrial area and Kirinyaga road stock these spare parts. You can get listings for these shops here follow this link.

Cost of Ownership
Purchase Price: See Latest Toyota Allion Prices here
Comprehensive Insurance: Average Ksh. 34,000/ per annum- Or
3rd Party Insurance: Ksh. 7,000/- per annum
Change of Tyres(If neccessary) Ksh. 20,000/- for 4 Tyre

Resale Value : Very Good
Toyota Allion Competitors: Mazda Atenza, Nissan Sylphy, VW Passat, Audi A4, Subaru Legacy and Mercedes C180.

What We Like

• Beautiful exterior and interior
• Comfortable cabin
• Ample space
• Great fuel consumption
• Smooth handling

What We Don’t

• Exaggerated prices

Conclusion
There’s no doubt that the 2011 Toyota Allion is a beautiful car. It handles well and is very reliable. Additionally, it holds its value well in the Kenyan market compared to its competitors. It’s a great purchase if you’re looking for an affordable and yet comfortable family car.