2020 Toyota Avalon Unlimited Review - A Kick in the Gas

As I wrote in April, the Toyota Avalon has taken great strides in moving from being a snoozer to a touring sedan with a bit of spice up its sleeve.

That was in reference to the hybrid. Try the gas-engine Avalon for a truly transformed experience.

Much of the overall hybrid experience remains true in models carrying the gas-only powertrain – the Avalon is sportier and rides more stiffly, though it remains more of a highway cruiser than a true sports sedan – yet the trade-off of a bit more power for a bit less fuel economy livens the car up even more.

The 3.5-liter V6 adds over 100 lb-ft of torque over the hybrid, and while 267 lb-ft of torque isn’t a ton, it’s enough to make an appreciative difference. The hybrid has enough guts for merging successfully, so add 104 lb-ft, and the extra grunt won’t go unnoticed. All told, the power numbers are 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, and the engine mates with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Avalon is front-wheel drive.

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Otherwise, it feels like the hybrid, just stiffened and tightened slightly for just a bit more of a sporty response. It’s not so stiffly sprung that it becomes a chore to pilot during commuting duty.

Others on staff have carped about misbehavior from the eight-speed transmission, but it was generally well-behaved during my time with the car.

Toyota has responded well to criticism of both the Avalon and the Camry as being “too soft.” The last Camry I drove was a well-balanced machine that gave up some fun-to-drive factor to its Honda and Mazda rivals, while this version of the Avalon also strikes a nice balance between comfort and enjoyable engagement.

That’s the good news. The bad news is that the interior design, like many Toyota products these days, disappoints. While most touchpoints are class-appropriate, the infotainment switchgear feels cheap for a car priced in the mid-$40Ks, and the screen itself looks so outdated that if you have an iPhone, you’ll be racing to plug it in and launch Apple CarPlay ASAP. The center stack just looks tacky.

Comfort is no issue, at least, although the amount of passenger space felt a bit tight for such a large car. Cargo space is, predictably, not a concern.

Outside, the Avalon’s looks are far more aggressive than in years past, although not so much that the car won’t blend into traffic, even with its big, gaping maw of a grille.

Safety is taken care of, thanks to a standard suite of driver’s safety aids such as pre-collision with pedestrian detection, radar cruise control, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert.

Other standard features included 18-inch wheels, LED headlights and DRLs, dual chrome exhaust tips, navigation, Bluetooth, premium audio, USB, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, heated and cooled front seats, wireless cell phone charging, and a head-up display.

Options included a safety package with sonar, 360-degree birds-eye-view camera, and rear cross-traffic braking, carpeted floor mats, and illuminated door sills.

All told, the price tag was nearly $45K.

I still can’t figure out who the Avalon buyer is – not when the Camry is cheaper and doesn’t give up much in size, and when the Lexus ES is just a bit pricier and offers more luxury.

That said, those who do buy this vehicle will find a nice balance between comfort and sport, in a sleekly styled package that sheds the old-man stigma of before.

Toyota’s Avalon is finally a well-rounded large sedan. Just in time for crossovers to dominate the market.

[Images © 2020 Tim Healey/TTAC]