Sleekness, smoothness spur Toyota Avalon

 

The 2015 Toyota Avalon Touring sedan shows off a sleek exterior. (Bud Wells photo)
The 2015 Toyota Avalon Touring sedan shows off a sleek exterior. (Bud Wells photo)

Since its redesign two years ago, the Toyota Avalon has established one of the leading sales paces among large cars in the U.S. today.

Competing with such comfortable sedans as Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus and Kia Cadenza, the Avalon gains favor for a high-quality interior with lots of rear-seat space, a quiet and powerful V-6 engine and smooth ride.

The Avalon XLE Touring SE model, with 268-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 and 6-speed automatic transmission, offers the driver a choice of normal, eco or sport drive modes. The sport setting tightened the steering and seemed to respond perfectly with the Avalon’s agility in handling.

The Avalon carries a good EPA fuel-mileage rating of 21/31; I, though, averaged only 21.5 miles per gallon, with about half my miles in town. A year ago, I averaged 26.8 overall with an Avalon Limited sedan.

The Avalon shares a front-wheel-drive platform with the more luxurious Lexus ES series. The grilles are a separator of the two, though, from far away. The Avalon sports a thin grille atop a large air dam, while the ES uses Lexus’ familiar elliptical form.

An intended result of the Avalon’s sportier exterior design is to lower a bit its average age of buyer. At 64, it is one of the older averages on the market.

The Avalon has been Toyota’s flagship for 20 years. It was introduced to the U.S. market in 1995 as successor to the Cressida.

Dark-blue-stitched leather-trimmed seats, navigation/premium audio with nine speakers and

Bluetooth, rearview camera and paddle shifters for the transmission are among features included in the sticker price of $37,995 for the Avalon Touring four-door.

The Avalon rides on 18-inch black-painted wheels wrapped with Michelin tires; suspension is MacPherson strut in front and dual-link independent strut at rear.

Among amenities are power moonroof, blind-spot monitor, quadrabeam headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control and push-button start.

Here are the specifications for the 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE Touring sedan:

  • Capacity 5-passenger four-door
  • Wheelbase 111 inches
  • Length 195.3 inches
  • Width 72.2 inches
  • Height 57.5 inches
  • Curb Weight 3,583 pounds
  • Track 62.6 inches front, 62.2 rear
  • Ground Clearance 5.5 inches
  • Turn Circle 37.4 feet
  • Drivetrain Front-wheel-drive
  • Engine 3.5-liter V-6
  • Horsepower/Torque 268/248
  • Transmission 6-speed automatic
  • Steering electric power
  • Suspension MacPherson strut front, dual-link independent strut rear
  • Fuel mileage estimate 21/31
  • Fuel mileage average 21.5
  • Fuel Tank 17 gallons, regular
  • Wheels 18-inch
  • Tires Michelin P225/45R18
  • Cargo Volume 16 cubic feet
  • Warranty 3 years/36,000 miles basic, 5/60,000 powertrain

Competitors Lincoln MKZ, Buick LaCrosse, Chrysler 300, Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima

Assembly Plant Georgetown, Ky.

Parts Content N.A.

Base Price of Lowest Model $33,110; Base Price of Review Model $37,170; Destination Charge $825; Sticker Price $37,995.