Toyota has spent years building up its Lexus luxury brand to the point that it’s now one the best-known makers of upscale vehicles. But if you want a nice car and are resistant to moving up the brand ladder, Toyota also a lot to offer in its largest sedan, the Avalon.
This full-size car moves into 2018 unchanged wearing styling introduced at a mid-cycle refresh two years ago and featuring the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of active safety features that became standard in 2017.
Behind Avalon’s prominent grille is a 3.5L V6 engine whose 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque work with a six-speed automatic transmission lend the car the kind of smooth, strong acceleration that befits a large sedan. It also promises respectable fuel consumption with estimates of 11.4/7.7 L/100 km (city/highway).
The Avalon front-wheel drive Avalon (there is no AWD option) competes in a small field that includes cars like the Kia Cadenza, Ford Taurus, Buick LaCrosse and Chevrolet Impala. It’s based on the same platform as the Camry but with a stretch between the front and rear axles to add some rear-seat legroom.
This is one of the smoothest, quietest car you’ll find outside of an upscale brand with a soft ride we most closely equate with the kinds of cars Buick is now working so hard to distance itself from.
Value is strong here, the base Touring trim coming standard with niceties like navigation, satellite radio, driver’s seat memory, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather seating with electric eight-way driver and four-way front passenger adjustments and passive keyless entry. The Safety Sense P suite comprises pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, lane departure alert with steering assist, radar cruise control and automatic high beams.
The only option is a Limited package that adds an 11-speaker stereo, three-zone climate control, premium leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats with eight-way front passenger adjustment, heated rear seats, ambient lighting, rear power window sunshade, auto-dimming side mirrors, LED daytime running lights and blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
