Is the Avalon as daring as they say?
TOYOTA’S TAGLINE FOR their 2019 Avalon is ‘Daring In Any Direction You Take It’. You’ll agree that’s a bold claim for what has traditionally been a nice, but somewhat run-of-the-mill saloon. We definitely had some questions having tried models from the past. And then we got behind the wheel of the latest incarnation. Approaching the sleeker vehicle, it certainly looked better than we’d expected – almost as if the brand had taken inspiration from their luxury Lexus arm. In fact, sitting inside after recently testing a new Lexus ES, we found more than a few interior similarities too. Is the Avalon a rebadged slightly cheaper Lexus, we thought? Well, if the up-market marque is synonymous with delivering a supremely smooth ride and a high-end feel, then yes, this Avalon is. How daring! Is it really that nice inside? Yes. Its leather and wood trim, enormous technology-advanced looking central control touch screen and easy driving style make it feel stately. That’s not something we often say about a Toyota. Okay there’s a bit of plastic here and there but it takes a backseat to the more premium materials and, sat in the driver’s seat and surveying the landscape, you’d swear you were in something more expensive. It’s a surprising development.
Okay they must have compromised on the ride? Another monosyllabic answer – nope. With three driving modes: Normal, Eco and Sport you even have the luxury of choice depending on whether you wish to make that tank of gas stretch a little further or get to your destination quicker. We enjoyed the Eco mode. Whatever acceleration it reduced, it made up for with the car’s innate aerodynamic design providing a planted, firm, yet elegant ride.
How does it stand up performance-wise?
The 3.5-litre V6 engine does well, producing 298hp. That’s plenty for what you need this car to do. Even with five passengers in Eco mode, we had no issues with performance. Of course, it’s not blisteringly quick (although in Sport, it’s faster than you’d expect), but you won’t want for anything. The Avalon is an efficient, premium, five-door car. It does exactly what you expect it to.
We suppose there’s a lot of safety features…
You’d suppose correctly. There’s an invaluable blind spot monitor, a car approach warning system if you’re reversing and someone comes flying towards you; and a lane departure alert, which we’re not huge fans of, but may serve as a reminder for those with poor lane discipline – which is worth its weight in gold.