First Drive: 2016 Toyota Avalon
Story and photo by John LeBlanc
GATINEAU, Quebec — While stopping for a much-needed shot of java at a coffee shop along our drive route, the nice young lady behind the counter asked what kind of “sharp-looking” car we were driving.
“It’s a Toyota Avalon,” I said, not boring her with the details that the current version had been out since 2013 and this was the refreshed-for-2016 model.
“Avalon? They still make those?”
Yes, Virginia or Giselle or whatever your name was, at a time when crossovers and SUVs dominate the sales charts, Japan’s Toyota still makes its self-described “flagship” Avalon full-size sedan. In fact, they’ve been making the front-wheel-drive, five-passenger, V6 four-door since it replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida back in 1983. And while it’s good to hear that a young barista can think of the big Toyota sedan as looking “sharp,” the numbers suggest you’d have to be old enough to remember the Cressida to still be a potential Avalon customer.
As crossovers and SUVs have taken over new car showrooms, the traditional big American (or Japanese or South Korean) sedan has become an acquired taste. Through to the end of October in Canada, sales in the Large Car segment (where big four-doors like the Avalon, Chevrolet Impala and Dodge Charger reside) are down on a year-to-year basis over 20 percent. And Avalon sales mirror this trend, with sales off by just over 17 percent, to only 696 copies sold so far in 2015.
Since the current, fourth-generation Avalon arrived two years ago on a new platform shared with the pricier Lexus ES, Toyota has made minimal updates. The 2016 Avalon, though, is getting the typical nip-and-tuck midlife refresh, with the most obvious changes being external.
Up front, there’s a wider front grille, flanked by vertical turn signals that replace last year’s fog lights. The 2016 Avalon’s headlights have also been redesigned, with new LED daytime running lamps that look like they were stolen from an Acura parts department. Out back, there’s a bit more chrome trim and new taillights — and that’s about it.
Inside the 2016 Toyota’s roomy interior, the changes can be filed under “minimal.”
Toyota says the 2016 Avalon gets new “premium wood grain” on its dash, and some of the instrumentation has been “intuitively adjusted to maximize ergonomics.” Still, I had not consumed enough of my dark roast to notice any differences from the circa-2013 Avalon. If there were, Toyota, I am truly sorry.
In fact, with only some minor changes to its suspension tuning to improve ride comfort, the 2016 Avalon’s mechanicals are identical to the outgoing version.
While a gas-electric hybrid and three levels of base-model XLE Avalons are available for U.S. buyers, Canadians make do with the higher trim $38,990 Avalon Touring and $43,770 Limited models.
As a “flagship” sedan, even the Avalon Touring comes loaded. Among a long list of standard fare, highlights include a nine-speaker audio system, navigation and leather throughout.
The more expensive 2016 Avalon Limited only ups the luxury factor even more, piling on such niceties as a JBL Audio system with two more speakers, a portable device wireless charger, heated rear seats and a power rear window shade. The Limited also gets you Toyota Safety Sense, a package that includes a pre-collision system, lane departure alert, dynamic radar cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights.
Of course, one of the biggest selling points of a large sedan is its added rear seat room, of which the Avalon does not disappoint.
Unlike midsize sedans (or crossovers and SUVs, for that matter) rated for three in the back, the big Toyota sedan can accept a trio of rear passengers graciously. Compared to the smaller Toyota Camry, those in the back can enjoy more hip-, shoulder- and legroom in the Avalon.
Less impressive is the Avalon’s rear trunk space. Not only does a Chevrolet Impala offer more room (532 litres versus 453), the Chevy’s rear seats fold down for longer objects, whereas the Toyota’s are fixed.
Whatever 2016 Avalon you are interested in, all get a carryover 3.5-litre six-cylinder gas engine and six-speed automatic transmission — a powertrain that can be found in a slew of Toyota/Lexus products.
With only 268 horsepower and 248 lb.-ft. of torque, the Avalon’s V6 trails many of its more powerful V6 Large Car rivals on paper. However, its six is remarkably smooth. And rated for a combined 9.7 L/100 km city and highway rating, the inverse benefit to the Avalon’s lack of mojo is best-in-class V6 fuel economy.
Still, the Toyota’s zero-to-100-km/h time of just over six seconds is very competitive.
During our brief one-hour coffee run behind the wheel of a top-of-the-line 2016 Avalon Limited, I found the big sedan remains one of the better-driving vehicles in its class. Despite the suspension changes to improve more ride comfort, the four-door still delivers well-controlled body motions.
Albeit, one of the biggest reasons big four-doors like the Avalon have gone out of style in Canada is the lack of traction at all four wheels. It’s also why crossovers and SUVs have jumped in popularity.
So while the mass appeal of the Large Car has dropped off considerably, for the few remaining new car buyers who don’t need the practicality of a minivan, SUV or crossover, the 2016 Toyota Avalon offers a lot of value in what is admittedly a shrinking segment. My advice: Get one while you can.