Provided by:
Find at new and used cars at CarsDirect.com
Driving Impressions
The Toyota Avalon is big, quiet and easy to operate. Driving it is a tranquil experience. Indeed, the Avalon approaches serene, but it isn't numbing in a way that allows a driver to forget he or she is operating a motor vehicle. Some driving enthusiasts would say Avalon is too vanilla. We'd say it's competent, pleasant to drive in all circumstances, and never aggravating, and that last bit can be important on hectic days.
The foundation for Avalon's smooth demeanor is its powertrain. On paper, its 3.5-liter V6 engine might seem a bit small for a relatively large car. In fact, the Avalon is surprisingly peppy. The dual overhead-cam V6 generates a substantial 268 horsepower and 248 pound feet of torque, and it moves the Avalon with authority. Moreover, thanks to variable valve timing and a dual-stage variable intake manifold, the power isn't the least bit peaky. It flows smoothly and evenly from idle to the engine's 6200-rpm limit, whether you're accelerating casually from a stop sign or flooring the gas pedal to merge onto a crowded freeway.
The V6 has enough torque to create a bit of torque steer when you floor it from a slow speed. Torque steer usually manifests itself as a slight tug on the steering wheel under hard acceleration. In the Avalon, it's nothing that will disturb the typical driver, but it's enough to let that driver know that there's a powerful piece under the hood. The Avalon will easily accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than eight seconds, and while that's no-longer sports car performance, it's anything but lethargic, especially in a large car that carries five people and their luggage with lots of room to breathe inside.
Fuel economy is among the best in its class, with an EPA-estimated 19/28 City/Highway mpg. Those numbers are more than respectable in a car this big and roomy. This is thanks in part to its six-speed automatic transmission.
The six-speed automatic uses the latest electronic controls and a unique mounting system designed to minimize the transfer of shift shock into Avalon's cabin. It does a great job of tapping the horsepower available, and it almost always knows the best time to shift, whether it's up or down. The shifts are reasonably quick, but they're also exceptionally smooth, even at full throttle. Light-throttle upshifts are barely noticeable.
The top gear is a tall overdrive, so the Avalon cruises in relaxed fashion on the freeway, with the engine spinning quietly at relatively low speed. We tried the transmission's manual shift feature on a swoopy two-lane road, tapping the sequential shift lever between second and third and keeping the spinning up near its redline. We discovered in the process that Avalon can be almost sporty to drive.
Still, this sedan is built primarily for comfort, and that's obvious in the suspension settings. The ride is silky smooth in nearly all circumstances, and rarely does a road shock ruffle the occupants. The softly tuned suspension means Avalon wants to lean over in faster turns. Yet the body movement is well controlled, and the Avalon doesn't feel floating or disconnected. Its steering falls on the light side, with a lot of power assist, but it responds directly to movement of the wheel. We might call Avalon cushy but good. It's well balanced front to rear, and it holds its line nicely when driven reasonably quickly through a series of curves, whether the road surface is smooth or bumpy.
The Touring model is equipped with firmer shocks and springs than the other models, with stickier (and stiffer) tires. It has the quickest reflexes. It turns into a corner more aggressively, and its front tires aren't as quick to start sliding. Still, the handling comes at the expense of some ride comfort and noise control (the tires again). If you're not sure which suspension you want, then you probably don't want the Touring. If you think the Avalon might not be sporty enough for you, check out the Touring model.
The Avalon's brakes are stronger than ever, thanks to an increase in the size of the brake rotors and calipers for 2008, and they stop the car with authority. The brake pedal feels a little softer than we'd like, but it's linear in operating and it makes it easy for a driver to smoothly apply stopping force. Its effective anti-lock brake system keeps Avalon on an even keel during panic stops and allows the driver to maintain steering control.
In short, the Avalon is up to whatever the typical driver might encounter or dish out. Yet its trademark might be the peaceful stillness inside. At a stoplight in the city center, the whirring hubbub outside the Avalon sounds like a muted purr to its driver and passengers. At 75 mph on the expressway, about the only sound you'll hear is a soft crack from the tires as they slap over pavement joints and 15 percent volume with some soft music will take care of that. The Avalon is exceptionally smooth, too, especially for its price. At freeway speeds, you'll feel less vibration through the steering column, seat bottoms or floorboards than you would in some luxury cars that cost $20,000 more.
The optional Vehicle Stability Control system, which includes Traction Control and Brake Assist, is an active car-control system that hovers in the background until computers and sensors detect a problem, measured by sliding tires. VSC can help keep a skidding vehicle on the road by instantly braking one or more wheels, individually. We were able to activate the traction control by hammering the throttle from a standing start, with one front wheel on pavement and the other on a sandy shoulder. Sure enough, no wheelspin and no wiggling. Just a smooth departure. Real world data suggest such systems reduce highway injuries by reducing the number of collisions to begin with. We can't imagine an Avalon buyer who wouldn't want or need VSC, and similar electronic stability programs are increasingly included in the base price on cars that cost substantially less than Avalon. We urge Avalon buyers to choose VSC, even though Toyota wants extra for it.
There's not much we don't like about Avalon. It makes commuting a more pleasant process, and if shortens long family trips.
Read Review at NewCarTestDrive.com