The brakes were equally up to task, four-wheel discs, of course, and ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution) enhanced in
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| Four-wheel discs brakes, ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake-Force Distribution) are included in standard trim. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
standard trim. They hauled the big sedan down from a fast pace quickly, and in doing so hardly ruffled anyone on board. Smooth and linear is the Toyota way, which is fine by my standards. Brake Assist (BA), which like the name implies "assists" the driver during panic situations, is only available on the XLS model upgraded to the Premium package, but not on the base car or upgraded, sportier Touring version. Go figure? While this stuck me as odd, being that BA would normally be a standard feature on any trim level in the $40-something price class, traction and stability control, the latter an even more critical safety feature than BA, are not available in the Avalon's base XLS or Touring trim level either? Say what!? It's true, and this point baffled all of my comrades as well. After all, compact vehicles that start under $20,000 are now including traction and stability control as standard, as well as the majority of the Avalon's $30,000 plus rivals. Incredibly, those who want the attractive Touring model can't even get these critical driver aids. Stability control, which effectively helps to maintain optimal directional control in slippery conditions or when attempting
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| Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is available with the base XLS but not with the upgraded, sportier Touring package. (Photo: Toyota Canada) |
to avoid an accident, is now considered one of the most important safety breakthroughs of the new decade, rivaling ABS brakes for preventing potential accidents. No doubt the feature was axed in an effort to keep the car's base price as close to the $40,000 mark as possible, but the loss of such a vital safety feature seems like a stiff price to pay. Of course, Toyota's Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) is available in the base XLS, as is traction control (TRAC), BA and a host of other luxury and convenience features. Of course, the XLS can be enhanced with options to cost quite a bit more than the sporty Touring model, but before I go into a detailed account of what is optional, it might be a better idea to take a look at a short list of the Av's long menu of standard features.
