Toyota's Avalon flagship is a sensible, roomy sedan that straddles the divide between high-end midsized sedans and true luxury cars. It's a large, comfortable cruiser and -- as our $42,000 Avalon Limited proved -- can be quite upscale. The Avalon scores among the better large sedans in the category and has been consistently reliable.
Toyota tried to inject some excitement into the current generation Avalon with more dynamic styling and more engaging handling. But those changes also came with a much stiffer ride, one that was totally unbecoming to this class of sedan. For 2016 Toyota rectified that shortcoming, restoring the Avalon's comfortable ride.
There is no shortage of readily available power in the Avalon. Toyota's ubiquitous 3.5-liter V6 engine and six-speed automatic delivers smooth, punchy, and unobtrusive motivation. And yet, fuel economy of 24 mpg overall is quite commendable. If you're willing to forgo some acceleration and a little bit of space from the roomy trunk, the 200-hp, 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine and continuously variable transmission will get you a terrific 36 mpg overall.
Now that the comfortable ride is back, the Avalon has regained its position as a cultured long-distance companion. It filters out bumps well, all the while remaining calm and collected. It doesn't, however, possess the steady composure of the Chevrolet Impala, due to its more noticeable rocking and pitching on some surfaces. The cabin is quiet, approaching levels of luxury sedans.
Clearly, the Avalon is not going to be your first choice of a car to tackle a curvy, hilly switchback. While it corners soundly and securely, the car doesn't have the athletic ability that fills drivers with confidence and puts a smile on their faces. Both the Impala and Chrysler 300 are more engaging to drive.
Semi-luxurious amenities festoon the cabin, such as a cushion extender for the driver's seat in Limited trim and a power rear sunshade. Unfortunately, a power adjustable steering wheel is not available and, making matters worse, the column doesn't telescope far enough toward the driver. This ends up compromising the driving position. Another omission is the lack of a heated steering wheel, a feature that can be had on some much lower-priced cars.
Some of the controls take a bit of time to get acclimated to, such as the touch-sensitive buttons on the dash. But in the end, nothing is particularly difficult to use. Rear-seat room is very accommodating and getting in and out of this upright sedan -- both front and rear -- is very easy. The Avalon's large, well-finished trunk facilitates long trips. Too bad there is no fold-down rear seat for hauling large cargo; long items can fit through a center armrest pass-through.
Ultimately, the Avalon is a semi-luxurious, very pleasant sedan that will surely deliver plenty of power, refinement, room, comfort, and years of headache-free ownership. Don't expect any excitement, because that just isn't part of its repertoire.