The Avia D Series Review - A TruckLocator Feature
Posted On: 10 July 2013
The Avia D120 2009 has a complex parentage. It was designed in the UK but the company is Czech. In the 90s, though, it was bought by Korean company Daewoo and then it was sold to the Indian company Ashok Leyland. Some might think that this would make the Avia trucks a bit of a mish-mash, but nothing could be further from the truth. The D series Avia has been steadily growing in popularity with UK operators and the 2009 version was particularly strong. It has been marketed in the UK in D75, D90 tractor and D120 formats, with gross vehicle weights rising from 7.7 through 9 and 12 tonnes.
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UK drivers will be very familiar with the engine that powers this range of trucks: it is the Cummins ISBe4. These units are tuned to produce 160 or 185 hp and give out either 602 or 700 Nm of torque between 1200 and 1700rpm. These power plants are married to a ZF 6S850 six-speed gear box with Albion rear axles, so there are some proven bits of kit in the Avia trucks.The D120 is available in many body types, including curtainsider. It also comes with the full range of cab types, including day, three star with roof pod, four star single bunk, five star dual bunk with sleeper cab and roof pod and six-person crew cab. Under the skin there is a robust ladder chassis and the cab is a proper full-width unit. Useful standard features include a differential lock, which can be a real boon for site work and a Thatcham H2 approved security system. These trucks were also sold with a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty. Although that period has obviously expired, it means that they should have been well looked after over the first few years of their lives.
The modern UK cab design is evident even from a first glance. The windscreen is arched and steeply raked to give an extensive glass area and it provides excellent visibility. A step has been integrated into the front bumper to allow for easy cleaning of this large windscreen and that highlights a general trend on the Avia D120
#&8211; driver-maintained components are all easily accessed and prominently sited to encourage more regular checks. Getting in and out of the cab is easy, which is another plus for multi-drop work. Once inside, the cab is light, spacious and airy. There are large, curved glass areas on the doors, which also increase visibility. Combined with the front windscreen, this arrangement gives the driver great low-level visibility, which will help with parking and in tight loading and unloading environments. Instruments are well laid out and the upholstery is wearing well.
Out on the road, the Avia D120 handles well and accelerates crisply. The four-stage engine brake works perfectly and the Avia D120 is excellent at manoeuvring in tight spots. The truck may be from an unusual background but the proven components work well and it is solidly put together. With little pedigree to inflate prices, the Avia D120 could work out to be a bargain.
UK drivers will be very familiar with the engine that powers this range of trucks: it is the Cummins ISBe4. These units are tuned to produce 160 or 185 hp and give out either 602 or 700 Nm of torque between 1200 and 1700rpm. These power plants are married to a ZF 6S850 six-speed gear box with Albion rear axles, so there are some proven bits of kit in the Avia trucks.The D120 is available in many body types, including curtainsider. It also comes with the full range of cab types, including day, three star with roof pod, four star single bunk, five star dual bunk with sleeper cab and roof pod and six-person crew cab. Under the skin there is a robust ladder chassis and the cab is a proper full-width unit. Useful standard features include a differential lock, which can be a real boon for site work and a Thatcham H2 approved security system. These trucks were also sold with a three-year unlimited-mileage warranty. Although that period has obviously expired, it means that they should have been well looked after over the first few years of their lives.
The modern UK cab design is evident even from a first glance. The windscreen is arched and steeply raked to give an extensive glass area and it provides excellent visibility. A step has been integrated into the front bumper to allow for easy cleaning of this large windscreen and that highlights a general trend on the Avia D120
#&8211; driver-maintained components are all easily accessed and prominently sited to encourage more regular checks. Getting in and out of the cab is easy, which is another plus for multi-drop work. Once inside, the cab is light, spacious and airy. There are large, curved glass areas on the doors, which also increase visibility. Combined with the front windscreen, this arrangement gives the driver great low-level visibility, which will help with parking and in tight loading and unloading environments. Instruments are well laid out and the upholstery is wearing well.
Out on the road, the Avia D120 handles well and accelerates crisply. The four-stage engine brake works perfectly and the Avia D120 is excellent at manoeuvring in tight spots. The truck may be from an unusual background but the proven components work well and it is solidly put together. With little pedigree to inflate prices, the Avia D120 could work out to be a bargain.