The following review is for a 2021 Model Year. There may be minor changes to current model you are looking at.

Introduction

The 2021 Toyota Avalon is a large four-door sedan that tops Toyota's lineup. It comes in basic versions, as a Hybrid, and in sporty XSE and TRD models. 

The Avalon is a relaxed cruiser, and performs best out on the highway and long road trips. Its highly composed ride is its best dynamic quality. The XSE and TRD have a firmer ride, with bigger wheels and stiffer shocks. 

For 2021 the Avalon gains standard Android Auto, as well as some new color choices. The Hybrid adds lithium-ion batteries. All-wheel drive has been added as an option on the XLE and Limited. 

The styling is sleek and sober, with a tapered roofline and rounded shape. The headlights and taillights are tidy, and the mesh grille is tall. 

A 9.0-inch portrait-style touchscreen gives the cabin a modern look; the Limited has gorgeous wood trim, while the XSE wears aluminum ribbons. The interior space is vast, with very comfortable front seats wrapped in synthetic or real leather, with heating and cooling. 

There are two engines, a quick 301-horsepower V-6 or a 215-hp hybrid 4-cylinder that delivers 43 miles per gallon. 

The EPA rates the V-6 Avalon at 22 mpg city, 31 highway, 25 combined; the XLE with smaller wheels and tires gets slightly more, 22/32/26 mpg. The Hybrid soars to 43/43/43 mpg, or on the XLE, 44/43/44 mpg. 

Safety-wise, it gets five stars overall from the NHTSA, with four stars for front passengers. The IIHS scored it a Top Safety Pick+ for 2019. Standard safety equipment includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, active lane control, automatic high-beams, and adaptive cruise control. 

Lineup

The base price of $36,830 Toyota Avalon XLE includes a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, power heated front seats, synthetic leather upholstery, and five USB ports. All-wheel drive costs nothing extra. 

The $44,255 Avalon Limited Hybrid is the most expensive model. It gets a plusher ride through softer suspension tuning, a leather-and-wood interior, JBL audio, 18-inch wheels, and cooled front seats. It's a Lexus ES in all but name. 

Toyota's warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles, with two years or 25,000 miles of free maintenance. Hybrids have an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on battery packs. 

Walkaround

The Avalon is refined, toned and even a bit muscular. The XLE and Limited sedans have a cohesive, clean look with a tall grille that flows into smoothly curved fenders and a tapered roofline, with slim taillights at the rear. 

The XSE and Touring sedans have a much larger grille with a mesh insert; it seems overstated. 

The TRD wears aerodynamic bits that are striking, but seem out of character. 

Interior

The Avalon seats five comfortably. It's big and roomy, with high-quality interior materials like those found on a more expensive car. The base XLE has synthetic leather and black plastic, but the higher models have real leather, with either aluminum trim or wood that's made by Yamaha. 

The front seats offer the kind of support that makes trips of hundreds of miles easy. The seats have good bolstering for curvy roads, and even the base models have power adjustments, making it easy to find the right driving position. 

There's a good 40 inches of rear leg room. The rear bench easily holds three people, and can be folded to open up to the 16-cubic-foot trunk, making a ton of cargo space. 

Most models are supremely quiet inside, although the XSE and TRD get engine noise piped into the cabin. 

Driving Impression

The 3.5-liter V-6 makes 301 horsepower, which is a very healthy output; mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, it tugs with authority. The acceleration is urgent, and it brings a happy growl. 

The Hybrid's 176-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 teams with an electric motor for a net 215 horsepower, mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The acceleration is moderate at best, and the Hybrid can feel winded climbing hills. But we still think it's the right powertrain for the personality of the Avalon. That 43 miles per gallon matches the personality of the car much better than 301 horsepower. And out on the flat freeway it's not difficult to maintain an easy 70 mph. 

The Avalon comes with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. All versions have a strut front and rear multi-link suspension that delivers good wheel control and a composed ride. The Touring adds adaptive dampers, which adjust the ride through a drive-mode selector that ranges from comfort to sport settings. 

The Avalon is basically gentle and soft, with hefty steering that can make it entertaining in curves; it's not so comfortable making canyon runs. However the harder-edged TRD moves in that direction, with 19-inch wheels and a louder exhaust. The TRD rides more stiffly, while sacrificing casual composure. 

Summary

The 2021 Toyota Avalon reaches for all kinds of best-ofs, and nails some of them. Best large-car gas mileage? Best rear seat? Where else are you going to get a roomy, sweet-riding sedan that gets 43 mpg?

 

-by Sam Moses with driving impressions by The Car Connection.