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- Competes with: Ford Taurus, Dodge Charger, Buick Lucerne
- Looks like: The Avalon’s elegant, if anonymous, styling is gone; now it’s an oversized Camry
- Drivetrain: 268-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 with six-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive
- Hits dealerships: Spring
Recalls aside, Toyota still appears to be bullish on the product front. Its latest effort is the restyled 2011 Avalon, whose nose adopts new bumpers and the Camry’s thinner headlights. Interestingly, the Avalon doesn’t take on the indented grille that Toyota has integrated across a few other models, like the Venza. The full-size sedan goes on sale this spring, and, like all other 2011 Toyotas, it will include a brake override system to mitigate unintended acceleration.
Toyota says the Avalon’s headlights, side mirrors and taillights are new. The interior has been restyled as well, with new gauges, an upgraded stereo with standard USB/iPod compatibility and an improved navigation system. Two trim levels — the base Avalon grade and uplevel Limited — replace last year’s XL, XLS and Limited. The sport-tuned Avalon Touring, which Toyota eliminated after 2008, will not make a comeback. (Given that Toyota had the gumption to build a sport-tuned minivan, we wonder why not.)
Even the base Avalon looks to be well-equipped, with standard leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, backup camera, moonroof and an eight-way power driver’s seat. Limited models add heated and cooled front seats, a JBL stereo and an eight-way power passenger seat.
The Avalon’s 3.5-liter V-6 and six-speed automatic transmission remain the same, but mileage is up 1 mpg to an EPA-estimated 20/29 mpg city/highway. Among large cars, that’s impressive. The 2010 Avalon was rated at 19/28 mpg.
Updated photos are posted below.
