Standard safety features include a stability system, side-impact airbags for the front seats, side curtain airbags for both rows, active front head restraints and a knee airbag for the driver.
You can look at the Toyota Avalon in one of two ways: Either it's a non-luxury car with a luxury-car price tag, or a luxury car without the luxury badge. If you do decide to hold the Avalon up against a similarly priced luxury car, like the Lexus ES 350, it fares pretty well. The Avalon gives you more room, better gas mileage and just as much luxury. I think I've chosen sides: The Toyota Avalon is a luxury car for those who don't care about luxury badges.
Before considering an Toyota Avalon, ask, do I enjoy turning corners vigorously? It's still mechanically based on a stretched Camry platform, with adequate power and loads of space. At nearly 200-inches long and 73-inches wide, the Avalon provides a big body to stuff people and cargo into, although at 14.4 cu. ft. the trunk isn’t as big as you might expect. Should you need space for longer items, however, the 60/40 split-folding rear seat accommodates those needs.The gauges are well organized and clear, and the Toyota Avalon has one of Toyota’s more well-laid-out dashboards.
As you might expect, standard Toyota Avalons come with a long list of luxury items like a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable heated and ventilated leather seats, keyless entry, a nine-speaker audio system, dual-zone climate control and wood-grain trim everywhere. The more expensive Limited gains a power rear sunshade, a JBL audio upgrade, keyless ignition and ventilated front seats. Direct gasoline injection and low-rolling resistance tires help it achieve 20-mpg in the city and 29-mpg on the highway.
Thanks to some serious work with sound-deadening, aerodynamics and soft bushings, the Toyota Avalon is quiet as a tomb. Toyota Avalon pricing starts at $32,595, while the Limited rings in at $35,835. That’s decent value compared to other big front-drivers, but the aging Hyundai Azera tops out at only $29,570.
