The entire cabin of the Avalon could literally be lifted and dropped into any Lexus. The dash is lovely, classy even. It is ergonomically designed and assembled with care. The resistance of each button is exactly calibrated to feel expensive and are within easy reach of the driver or passenger. I will say that I am not too crazy about the "bright white" lighting of the HVAC controls. At night, they become a blur of white light.
The navigation and audio commands are hidden behind panels that retract or pop out. The JBL Synthesis sound system is impressive; the speakers generate a clear and rich resonance. The gu
idance system is controlled by clear and simple buttons that are instantly recognizable.
Visibility is good towards the front and sides. The large "A" pillars do somewhat cut into the lateral/front view. The rearward view is disturbed by a slight deformation at the bottom of the back glass and by the fact that the window is steeply raked. The warped glass distorts the distance between objects.
Technical
A single engine is offered. It is a new 3.5L V6 that develops 280 hp at 6 200 rpm and 260 lb/ft of torque at 4 700 rpm. There is one transmission available and it is a 5-speed automatic with a manual mode. The Avalon is a FWD vehicle with a fully independent suspension. The Touring has a standard sport tuned suspension. 4-wheel disc brakes and 17" alloy
wheels are also part of the list of basic features.
On the road
The new 3.5L engine is very strong and pulls very hard, yet always remains civilised. The motor feels like it has a switch; it can be docile and refined one moment and the next, be nervous and explosive. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of deal. Fuel consumption was fair with a returned average of 13.6L per 100 km.
The new Avalon could be considered the latest Q-Ship on our roads: it is unassuming, unpretentious, unadorned and just plain fast. Most people would never imagine that a Toyota Avalon, if they even know what it is, could move so quickly. It certainly is not the fastest car on the road but a 0-100 km/h of 6.5 seconds is as quick as the new 2006 BMW 330i with the new 255 hp 3.0L engine and a 6-speed manual transmission.
The automatic transmission shifts smoothly, almost invisibly. It seems as though it is tight like a drum; it never missed a beat even when driven as if it was a Celica GTS. The manual-mode shift is quick on the draw and adds another small dose of sportiness to the big car. This transmission and engine combination would, in the right circumstances, downshift from second into first gear and permit the wheels to spin for a second. Some
would-be sport sedans are simply unable to do this.
The brakes work quite well but the pedal is very soft and needs to be pushed really hard when stopping briskly. It is unfortunate that the pedal must be pushed so far towards the firewall to give the impression that the car will come to a full stop.
The navigation and audio commands are hidden behind panels that retract or pop out. The JBL Synthesis sound system is impressive; the speakers generate a clear and rich resonance. The gu
idance system is controlled by clear and simple buttons that are instantly recognizable. Visibility is good towards the front and sides. The large "A" pillars do somewhat cut into the lateral/front view. The rearward view is disturbed by a slight deformation at the bottom of the back glass and by the fact that the window is steeply raked. The warped glass distorts the distance between objects.
Technical
A single engine is offered. It is a new 3.5L V6 that develops 280 hp at 6 200 rpm and 260 lb/ft of torque at 4 700 rpm. There is one transmission available and it is a 5-speed automatic with a manual mode. The Avalon is a FWD vehicle with a fully independent suspension. The Touring has a standard sport tuned suspension. 4-wheel disc brakes and 17" alloy
 |
On the road
The new 3.5L engine is very strong and pulls very hard, yet always remains civilised. The motor feels like it has a switch; it can be docile and refined one moment and the next, be nervous and explosive. A Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde kind of deal. Fuel consumption was fair with a returned average of 13.6L per 100 km.
The new Avalon could be considered the latest Q-Ship on our roads: it is unassuming, unpretentious, unadorned and just plain fast. Most people would never imagine that a Toyota Avalon, if they even know what it is, could move so quickly. It certainly is not the fastest car on the road but a 0-100 km/h of 6.5 seconds is as quick as the new 2006 BMW 330i with the new 255 hp 3.0L engine and a 6-speed manual transmission.
The automatic transmission shifts smoothly, almost invisibly. It seems as though it is tight like a drum; it never missed a beat even when driven as if it was a Celica GTS. The manual-mode shift is quick on the draw and adds another small dose of sportiness to the big car. This transmission and engine combination would, in the right circumstances, downshift from second into first gear and permit the wheels to spin for a second. Some
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The brakes work quite well but the pedal is very soft and needs to be pushed really hard when stopping briskly. It is unfortunate that the pedal must be pushed so far towards the firewall to give the impression that the car will come to a full stop.