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By Scott BurgessDetroit Newspapers
October 4, 2008
The 2009 Toyota Avalon didn't wow me -- at least not at first. The interior is soft and needs an upgrade. The exterior is as nondescript as a glass of water and the performance is soft and squishy. So why was I starting to like this car after a few days of short trips? The Avalon is a comfort-food kind of vehicle. It's not flashy or spicey or exotic. It doesn't turn heads as it zips along the road leaving a backwash of noise and rustling leaves. It's mashed potatoes and mac and cheese. It wins you over by leaving you satisfied at that primitive level -- the one where you realize you've been driving the Avalon for seven years and maybe you should finally get the oil changed. My first inkling that I was starting to like the Avalon came while accelerating onto the highway. The 3.5-liter V-6 kicks in with 268-horsepower and 248-poound-feet of torque to barrel past the semi trucks on I-75. The Avalon doesn't show off, it just does. There's a reassurance there when you're behind the wheel. While I prefer a car with a stiffer suspension, the softer tuned Avalon made the ride comfortable and smooth. (The large sedan is frighteningly quiet on the road and when stopped, it's difficult to know if the car is even running.) The body will roll heavily if you try to make the Avalon into a sports car. It prefers to walk down the hill instead of run. But adjusting to the Avalon's sense of the road is easy. Slow down a little and it will glide through the turn. The steering, which feels slightly disconnected from the road, also needs some driver adjustments. But the soft feel feels fine and it remains constant no matter how you're driving. The resistance the steering wheel provides could be better, especially on long sweeping turns; it feels more like the steering on a video game than a real car. But for the person who sees the destination as more important than the trip there, the Avalon won't disappoint. There's nothing offensive about the top Toyota. You can quibble over the car's lack of vision or its ordinariness, but there's nothing wrong with it either. For many people, cars are not their heart and soul; they're the things they leave the box of newspapers in for two months that they're "going to drop off at the recycle bin tomorrow." The Avalon's cabin is simple and complete. You want for nothing. The dash looks like a wave moving slowly across from the driver to the passenger. The controls are easy to reach from the driver's position. The black-faced gauges and well-lit numbers make it easy to watch your speed. Covers close storage cubbies and conceal the stereo. With everything closed, the interior looks cold and dated. However, it does prevent the passenger from changing radio stations. The standard JBL Synthesis audio system (in the Limited) blasts 360 Watts through 12 speakers lets you listen to the world outside. The seats are like Mama Bear's recliner -- a little too soft for my liking, but just right for someone who wants to drive from the command position of a Barcalounger. Five adults fit easily in the cabin, each with a comfortable place with lots of legroom. (There is 41.9 inches of legroom in the front and whopping 40.9 inches in the back.) If the conversation goes quiet, the people in the back have probably fallen asleep -- between the quiet ride and the rocking, cradle-like ride. The Sand Man will find easy victims in the second row. There's also lots of room in the truck, which offers 14.4 cubic feet of space -- leaving more than enough room for a full cart of groceries and all that other junk in the trunk. The exterior offers no inspiration. The rounded-off front end and big openings below the bumper have a faux stately look. The gentle curve of the roof leaves enough head room in the back while making it slice through the air. Aerodynamics and comfort rule the design. There's something about its profile that seems disproportionate. The long wheelbase (111 inches) provides lots of space inside the cabin and helps smooth out the ride. But due to the car's size, the small 17-inch tires and long overhang in the front and back, the Avalon looks as if its equilibrium is thrown off. Look at it long enough, and you'll start to get dizzy. This car is not for everyone. It's certainly not caviar, but nowadays meat and potatoes seem to be on a lot more people's menu. If you're hungry, you don't need to be wowed, you need to eat. And the Avalon offers a very satisfying meal. Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. His reviews run every Wednesday and Saturday. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com. 2009 Toyota Avalon Price: $27,845 (does not include $720 shipping) Engine: 3.5-liter V-6 Horsepower: 268 Torque: 248-pound-feet Transmission: Six-speed automatic EPA gas mileage: 19 mpg city / 28 mpg highway Suspension: Front: MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar Rear: Dual link MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar Steering: Power-assisted rack-and-pinon Turning circle: 36.9 feet Dimensions (inches): Wheelbase: 111 Length: 197.6 Width: 72.8 Height: 58.5 Ground clearance: 5.3 Seating capacity: 5 Interior (inches): Front / rear Headroom: 38.8/37.5 Legroom: 41.3/40.9 Shoulder room: 59.4/58.2 Hip room: 55.8/56.2 Trunk space: 14.4 cubic feet Curb weight: XL: 3,505 pounds XLS: 3,585 Limited: 3,625 Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile Comprehensive 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain 5-year/unlimited-mileage Corrosion Perforation Source: Toyota Motor Corp.
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