Toyota Avalon

The Toyota Avalon is a fullsize car produced by Toyota in the United States and Australia, originally based on the platform of the then-current Toyota Camry. It is produced as a front wheel drive four-door sedan. The Avalon competes with the Mercury Sable, Buick Lucerne, Mercury Grand Marquis, Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus.

The Avalon filled the gap left since the cancellation of the Toyota Cressida in the American market in 1992. The new Avalon was a fullsize car, becoming Toyota's first fullsize car, whereas the Cressida was a midsize, was rear wheel drive, and had the 7M-GE I6 engine. The Avalon, however, was front wheel drive and had Toyota's 1MZ-FE V6 engine.

The first Toyota Avalon rolled off the assembly line in Georgetown, Kentucky on February 21, 1994 as a 1995 model. A second-generation model was released in the United States and Japan in 1999.

See Wikicars' comprehensive Toyota Avalon Review.

Recent Changes

 * For 2011, the Avalon receives its first mid-cycle facelift.

In Toyota’s flagship sedan, it’s technology that makes it so luxurious. Take the Limited’s heated and ventilated front seats, for example. They keep you warm in the winter, cool and dry in the summer. Toyota engineers embraced technology so that the driver could embrace the luxury that is the Avalon.

Styles and Major Options
There are currently four trims for the Toyota Avalon. The following are options available on each trim level:

Avalon XL Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)and Traction Control with Brake Assist
 * Power tilt/slide glass moonroof with sliding sunshade and indirect lighting
 * AM/FM Cassette/6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers, in-glass antenna and FM diversity reception
 * Anti-theft system

The Avalon Touring adds on the following to the Avalon XL:
 * JBL Synthesis® AM/FM Cassette/6-disc in-dash CD changer, 360 watts maximum output with 12 speakers including subwoofer, Radio Data System (RDS), in-glass antenna and FM diversity reception

The Avalon XLS adds on the following to the Avalon Touring:
 * Voice-activated DVD navigation system
 * Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control with Brake Assist with heated front seats

The Avalon Limited adds on the following to the Avalon XLS:
 * Dynamic Laser Cruise Control

Pricing
Today's actual prices for the Toyota Avalon can be found at CarsDirect.

Gas Mileage
As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:


 * City: 22
 * Highway: 31
 * Combined: 25

Reliability
In a review done by Autos.com, the Avalon came in second overall for "Comfort", amongst popular mid-size cars.

Australian built Avalons have a timing belt that needs to be changed every 150,000 kilometres.

RECALL ALERT: BREAKING: Toyota to recall 373,000 2000-2004 Avalon sedans in U.S. over faulty steering locks

Safety
A few of the STANDARD safety features on the Toyota Avalon:


 * 4-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
 * Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD)
 * Driver and front passenger airbags with Advanced Airbag System
 * Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side airbags
 * Front and rear side curtain airbags
 * Driver’s knee airbag
 * 3-point front seatbelts with adjustable shoulder anchors, driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and front passenger Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR)
 * Outboard front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
 * 3-point rear seatbelts with Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractors (ALR/ELR) for all passengers
 * Child-protector rear door locks
 * Child Restraint System (CRS) rear-seat lower anchors (in outboard positions) and tether anchor brackets (in all rear seat positions)
 * Front and rear crumple zones and side-impact door beams
 * Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column
 * Separate, adjustable headrests in all seat positions
 * Head-impact protection structure
 * Engine immobilizer and Anti-theft system
 * Battery-saver feature -- deactivates interior lights after 30 minutes
 * Internal trunk-release handle
 * Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control with Brake Assist - optional on all trims

Colors
Avalon colors vary by trim but include from the following:

Exterior
 * Blizzard Pearl
 * Titanium Metallic
 * Phantom Gray Pearl
 * Desert Sand Mica
 * Cassis Pearl
 * Silver Pine Mica
 * Blue Mirage Metallic
 * Indigo Ink Pearl
 * Black

Interior
 * Ivory - leather or fabric
 * Light Gray
 * Graphite - leather or fabric
 * Dark Charcoal

Main Competitors

 * Mercury Sable
 * Chrysler 300
 * Mercury Grand Marquis
 * Nissan Maxima

Hybrid Models
With the release of the highly anticipated Camry Hybrid and fuel efficient Yaris, Toyota has no plans to create another hybrid for the 2007 model year. The current Toyota model line features nine vehicles that average 30 MPG or higher.

Criticisms

 * "Touring uses same tires as other models, but firmer suspension registers some pavement imperfections other Avalons ignore." - Consumer Guide
 * "...simulated panic stops induced noticeable nosedive." - Consumer Guide

Third Generation (2005–present)
The 2005 Avalon is a complete redesign from the previous generations. It is Toyota's largest, most luxurious, and most expensive sedan model sold under its own nameplate. The Avalon features a 3.5L 280-hp V6 engine and a myriad of advanced technological features (2GR-FE). The engine is as in previous generation shared with Lexus ES350. The Avalon is now about the same size as its large-sedan competitors (e.g. the Buick Lucerne and Mercury Grand Marquis), but continues to compete with the Nissan Maxima. The new Avalon, introduced to the public at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, offers more distinctive styling than previous generations, which were known for their conservative styling. This redesign also dropped the availabilty of a front bench seat. The current Avalon is available in XL, Touring, XLS, and Limited trim levels. Due to new SAE specifications power has dropped to 268-hp and torque has dropped to 248 ft·lbs. for the 2006 model year. Stability control is also expanded to the XL and Touring models, and a keyless remote start is standard for Limited models.

Second generation (2000-2004)
The second generation Avalon grew larger in almost every respect. The Avalon was still based on the stretched Camry platform and had a 3.0L V6 shared with the Toyota Sienna, Lexus RX300, Lexus ES300 and the Toyota Highlander, making 210-hp and 220 ft·lbs. of torque (1MZ-FE). However, its size was similar to the Camry. This second generation US-made Avalon has been exported to Japan's domestic market where it was labelled as the Toyota Pronard. Due to poor sales, Toyota will not export the third generation Avalon to Japan and thus, the Toyota Pronard has been discontinued.

This Avalon was available in two trimlines: the basic XL and the upscale XLS.

This second generation Avalon featured a built-in 115V AC power inverter, the first car to ever offer this as standard or optional. This feature also disappeared in the third generation Avalon, yet recent Toyota Matrix and Scion cars now offer this feature.

In 2003, the Avalon went through a minor restyle. The design of the grille and taillights was altered.

First Generation/Origins (1995-1999)
The 1995 Avalon was a completely new model built in the same plant as the Camry. It was positioned higher than the Camry, making it Toyota's flagship. The Avalon was based on a stretched Camry platform and had a 3.0L V6 engine making 192-hp and 210 ft·lbs. of torque (1MZ-FE). For 1998, Toyota made minor updates to the front and rear fascias and updated the power rating to 200-hp and increased torque to 214 ft·lbs. The Avalon also offered an available front bench seat for full six passenger seating.

Worldwide
The Toyota Aurion will replace the Toyota Avalon in Australia and will be built at Toyota's Altona plant in Victoria, alongside the Toyota Camry. The Aurion was designed with the Australian large car market in mind and Toyota hopes to make more sales with the Aurion than the relatively unsuccessful Avalon. The Aurion will have an Australian-tweaked version of the 2GR-FE V6 engine currently powering the export Avalon. A special supercharged version will also be available on some models.