Toyota shoppers looking for something a bit bigger and more upscale than the Camry have the Avalon sedan as their premium midsize sedan option, and for 2016 the brand has updated its flagship with some mild changes to keep buyers happy … very mild changes you can read about here.
Hopefully those buyers were already happy with the look of the Avalon, as the changes basically amount to flipping the front grille upside-down and adding some new headlights — and that’s it. You’ll be hard-pressed to visually identify anything else that’s changed about the new Avalon, as most of the rest of the changes are limited to trim package combinations and a new base model interior color.
Toyota has updated the Entune multimedia system as well, but aside from that the 2016 Avalon is nearly the same as the outgoing 2015.
Some of the changes for the Avalon can’t be detected with the car sitting on a stage display. Toyota has retuned the Avalon’s suspension, even giving it a sportier Touring suspension option, but we were not able to test the effects of these changes at the car’s unveiling at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show; that will have to wait for a later date.
Thankfully, Avalon was already one of Toyota’s best offerings, with truly attractive styling, a high-quality interior, plenty of room and a surprisingly enjoyable driving experience. It doesn’t need much to get it to its next major update a few years from now.
