TRUST is the keyword being bandied about by Toyota executives with the launch of the latest edition of its European flagship model - the Avensis.

There's no denying the popularity of the car which has sold more than 1.7 million units since its launch back in 1997. And now it's in its third generation and has been given a fairly distinctive makeover.

Firstly on the design front, new Avensis has much sharper styling - there is a more elegant, prestigious and dynamic exterior. It's 40mm longer, features a more aggressively styled upper grille and new LED headlight clusters.

It has a new-look bumper with larger lower grille and a more elegant rear thanks to new lights, plus a chrome bar that helps to accentuate the wide and low stance of the car.

With 87 per cent of sales going to the fleet market comfort is a key factor when customers are clocking up those long motorway miles. With that in mind improved seats have been introduced and the cabin certainly has a more refined, modern and premium feel to it with plenty of built-in technology to be explored.

The Avensis is available in saloon or Touring Sports (estate) styles and Toyota has introduced some interesting new diesel engines sourced from BMW that offer carbon emissions from as low as 108g/km and combined fuel efficiency of up to 67.3mpg.

As well as the new 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel powertrains there is also a 1.8-litre petrol option although this is only likely to account for about 20 per cent of sales.

There are four trim levels - Active, Business Edition, Business Edition Plus and Excel - and prices start from £17,765 and rise to £28,440.

Even the entry level Active models come equipped with LED daytime running lights, cruise control, air conditioning, a six-speaker CD/radio sound system, Bluetooth and lots more.

Step up to Business Edition and the likes of Toyota Touch 2 Go multimedia and navigation system with eight-inch touchscreen, plus a reversing camera, 17-inch alloys, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, front fog lights and a host of extra safety kit is added.

Another move up to Business Edition Plus will see the introduction of improved upholstery, auto headlamp levelling, rear privacy glass and smart entry with push button start.

Finally, the range-topping Excel will bring with it a panoramic roof, adaptive front lighting, heated seats, 18-inch alloys and a 10-speaker audio system.

With the two Business specs expected to account for more than 80 per cent of sales, it was these models powered by both 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel engines that we tested out on demanding roads in Switzerland.

First impressions of the car are good with a much sharper and modern styling on the outside that is carried through to the interior where the quality of materials has clearly been upgraded to give the car a more sophisticated feel.

All dials and controls are well positioned for ease of use (although we did initially have to play "hunt the parking brake" as it was obscured from view by the steering wheel).

First up was the 2.0-litre diesel tourerl with six-speed manual transmission in Business Edition Plus trim. This car priced at £25,975 can reach from 0-62mph in 9.8 seconds and has a top speed of 124mph. According to official figures it can achieve combined fuel economy of 61.4mpg with carbon emissions of 120g/km.

Comfort levels within the new Avensis are excellent and there is ample room for three adults in the back. Storage capacities also impress with a massive boot capable of accommodating 1,105 litres which can be increased to 1,715 litres with the rear seats folded flat. Elsewhere there are a number of handy storage compartments and cup holders scattered throughout the cabin.

The driver benefits from excellent all-round visibility and out on the open road, the car cruised effortlessly as it moved with ease through the gears.

Toyota claims better insulation and the introduction of thicker materials has improved the sound proofing within the car and it's true that the engine and road surface noise was certainly stifled even when travelling at higher speeds. However, there is still quite a lot of wind noise at times.

In fairness to Toyota the road route was a punishing one and incredibly steep winding roads with numerous hairpin bends did mean plenty of changing down through the gears to maintain momentum.

Nevertheless, the car still performed quite capably and the downhill journey was an absolute breeze with the grounded and sure-footed presence proving most reassuring as the car swept along narrow mountain roads with nerve-wracking drops appearing at every turn.

Next up was the 1.6-litre diesel model in Business Edition Plus again in Sports Tourer style and again mated to a six-speed manual gearbox.

This car costs £24,975 and can reach 62mph from a standing start in 11.7 seconds and tops out at 115mph. It can deliver combined fuel efficiency of 67.3mpg with emissions of 110g/km.

Despite being less powerful than the first test car, this model was a delight to drive and the acceleration through the gears seemed much sharper and responsive.

Much of the road route in this model was taken up by large chunks of motorway driving and this is definitely where the Avensis shines.

It's comfortable, economical, practical, stylish and loaded with techno treats to keep occupants entertained during extra-long journeys.

Toyota is confident the latest model will be awarded the maximum five stars in the Euro NCAP safety tests and the car is loaded with new features.

A focus on active safety technology introduces the new Toyota Safety Sense system, fitted as standard across the model range. This features a pre-collision system with autonomous emergency braking. In addition lane departure alert, automatic high beam and road sign assist systems are standard on all but the entry level models.

All in all, the latest Toyota Avensis is a great car that quietly yet very efficiently goes about its business.

There are no airs and graces or bells and whistles, but instead buyers will be getting a car that is reliable, dependable, comfortable, feature-rich, economical and very cost-effective. Or as Toyota would say - a car you can trust.