2021 Toyota Avalon

The 2021 model year of the Toyota Avalon comes with two powertrain options. The front-wheel-drive variant is powered by a 301-hp V-6 engine while the all-wheel-drive option comes powered by a 205-hp four-cylinder engine. Uniquely, the Avalon lets you decide between the two at no added cost. Ranking high in the full-size sedan segment, the car comes with two years of complimentary maintenance that stands out in the segment. It goes up against its rivals such as the Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, and the BMW 3-Series.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon is available in a total of 4 trims; XLE, XSE Nightshade, Limited, and Touring. Only the base XLE and the Limited trim are now offered with an all-wheel-drive system. The XLE trim starts at $36,125 and gets a 9-inch touch screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated power outside mirrors, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and much more. Thus, while the Avalon has been priced a bit above the average, the extensive list of standard features does help it justify the higher price. 

The XSE Nightshade is the newest addition to the trim line-up and its costs $39,360. It adds features such as a moonroof, a wireless charging pad, exterior black accents, and synthetic leather inside the cabin. The Limited trim starts at $42,425 and key feature additions include ventilated leather-trimmed front and rear seats, head-up display, ambient lighting, and navigation. The range-topping Touring trim costs just $400 more than the Limited trim and it adds a rear spoiler, a sport exhaust, active noise control, and exterior black accents on the grille.

There are no additional packages available as of now to add more features to the trim you choose. The all-wheel-drive setup only comes with a 205-horsepower four-cylinder engine that is less powerful than the V6 engine. However, as you get to choose between an all-wheel drivetrain and a front-wheel drivetrain without any price difference, it makes this trim lineup truly unique.

Which Trim should you buy?

With the above-average pricing of the Toyota Avalon, the base trim shall provide you the best value. The XLE trim comes quite loaded with features and does not feel like a bare-bone version of the car. Along with that, it also gives you an option to choose between an all-wheel drive and a front-wheel drivetrain at no added cost.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon comes with two powertrain options which are bundled with the drivetrains. The all-wheel-drive version is powered by the 2.5-Liter four-cylinder engine that is capable of generating 205 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. It comes paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts through gears without a hiccup. Thus, the engine can skim through city traffic as well as cruise over highways all day long. However, the conservative nature of the engine does not match with the overall luxurious appeal of the car.

The other engine option is the 3.5 -liter V6 engine which is better suited for a car of its size. It develops 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque but is only offered with the rear-wheel drivetrain. It is capable of taking the Avalon from zero to 60 mph in about 6 seconds compared to the 7.7-second timing of the four-cylinder unit. It also comes paired to an eight-speed automatic gearbox but feels much more refined in comparison to the smaller engine.

Even with the more powerful V6 engine, the Avalon is slower than all its rivals when it comes to reaching 60 mph from a standstill. However, the difference is minute and it manages to regain some of its time in the quarter-mile run. Surprisingly, the Chrysler 300 S is the fastest car here as it strikes the best balance between power and torque figures.

How well does the 2021 Toyota Avalon ride and handle?

Being a large luxury sedan, the Toyota Avalon is tuned towards offering a comfortable ride. The suspension can soak up even the worst of bumps or potholes thereby keeping its passengers away from the aftershocks. It works silently and provides an extra layer of cushioning with real-time damping control at each of the four shock-absorbers. Thus, even at high speeds the car maintains its composure quite well and feels sure-footed.

In terms of handling, the steering provides a good feel and feedback. At slow city speeds, it remains light and gains adequate heft as the car picks up more speed. However, we cannot call the steering response razor-sharp. There is some amount of body roll as well but it always remains under an agreeable limit. Overall, the composed ride and the adequate feedback from the steering make up for a delightful ride and handling package. 

2021 Toyota Avalon Braking Performance

In terms of the braking, the Toyota Avalon gets 12-inch brake rotors at the front and 11.2 -inch brake rotors at the rear. This means that the Avalon stops within an average braking distance in order to come to a halt from 60 mph. The brake pedal sends good feedback to the driver’s foot and the brake bite feels progressive. In terms of the grip, the stock Bridgestone Turanza EL440 tires do a good job of maintaining a straight line.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon gets the smallest brake rotor at the rear which leads to a slightly longer stopping distance than average. On the other hand, the Chrysler 300 S offers the best braking prowess and is the only car here that manages to stop under 110 feet. But the Nissan takes almost 5-10ft more than the other cars and stop at 20ft. 

While it loses out to its rivals in terms of performance, the Toyota Avalon redeems itself when it comes to fuel economy. It offers 22 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 26 MPG combined figures. This means that while being a luxurious sedan, the Avalon is also quite a pocket-friendly car. Opting for the all-wheel-drive variant does not lead to a significant fuel economy drop thanks to the turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

In this comparison, the BMW 330i edges past all its rivals when it comes to fuel economy. Its lighter weight and compact dimensions help in achieving a combined MPG figure of 30. The 2021 Chrysler 300 S is the heaviest car here which translates into poor fuel economy figures. On the other hand, the Toyota Avalon’s small fuel tank means that there would be more than average fuel stops.

The interior of the Toyota Avalon features soft-touch materials and genuine aluminum or wood trim. It is a nice and spacious place to be in regardless of the row you are sitting in. The Synthetic leather upholstery which is now standard enhances the premium appeal of the cabin. With its waterfall-style center stack, the dashboard has been designed to cut out the clutter. All the buttons and knobs feel built to last and every switchgear falls within an arm's reach. Overall visibility is quite good, thanks to the large windscreen and door frames. 

The Avalon can seat 5 people on board in utter comfort thanks to its supportive seats. The front seats offer good bolstering and are well cushioned. The rear seats also offer good under-thigh support and give its passengers a lot of room to stretch out. There are ample storage spaces as well to store small items with a large and cooled glove compartment. While the steering feels like it has been carried over from some cheaper Toyotas, the overall cabin design is quite contemporary and exudes a certain level of sophistication.

In terms of the cargo area, the Avalon offers one of the biggest boots in its class. It can easily fit 6 to 7 carry-on suitcases with room to spare for a soft bag. That should be enough for the airport runs and occasional transfer of small household items. While the BMW 330i’s cabin is not as spacious as its rivals, it offers the biggest boot in its class. Key Interior features include:

• Two-zone Climate Control
• Push Button Start
• Ambient interior lighting
• Heated Rear Window 
• 8-Way Electric Front Seats w/Memory
• Valet Function
• Powered Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Adaptive Cruise Control 
• Remote Keyless Entry
• Air Filtration
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column
• Cruise Control w/Steering Wheel Controls
• Head-Up Display
• Illuminated Front Cupholder

What’s there to keep you entertained?

 The 2021 Toyota Avalon comes with a 9-inch infotainment touchscreen which might not be big enough for some users. It does not get a fully digital gauge cluster even as an option. Features such as an eight-speaker sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, Wi-Fi hotspot, Navigation, Amazon Alexa compatibility, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration are standard features. The interface is a bit on the cumbersome side and requires some time to get used to.

Key Infotainment features include:

• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• 9-inch infotainment touchscreen 
• Available 14-speaker JBL Audio System
• HD radio
• In-built navigation
• Bluetooth Wireless Phone Connectivity
• Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Wireless device charging

The Toyota Avalon comes with a lot of flair and sharp appeal in terms of looks. Its clean profile coupled with a hint of sporty elements keeps it away from looking boring. At the front, it gets a big grille with a mesh insert and sleek headlamps that give it a bold appeal. However, the grille gets even bigger on the Touring trim which looks a bit overstated. From the side, the long dimensions of the Avalon are evident but the car never looks out of proportion from any angle. At the rear, the Touring trim adds a spoiler that gives the sedan a touch of sportiness without going overboard with it.

The Avalon and the Chrysler 300 S are the longest sedans hee. The Chrysler is the biggest car here in terms of dimensions and thus offers the best road presence. The BMW on the other hand is the most compact sedan here in every way. However, it looks the most contemporary with its sporty design language. Exterior features include:

• 18” alloy wheels
• Light Tinted Glass
• Fixed rear window w/ defroster
• Speed sensitive rain detecting variable intermittent wipers
• Trunk rear cargo access
• Perimeter/approach lights
• Power Spoiler
• LED Brakelights
• Cornering Lights

The Toyota Avalon comes with a lot of safety features as standard. It offers a lot of active and passive safety features that its rivals charge extra for adding. The 2021 Avalon has been given 5 out of 5 stars by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in the side crash tests. However, it got four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has given the highest rating of Good in all six crash test categories to the 2021 model. Key safety features include:

• Forward collision warning
• Forward automatic emergency braking
• Rearview camera
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Reverse automatic emergency braking
• Adaptive cruise control
• Rear parking sensors
• Adaptive headlights

2021 Toyota Avalon vs 2021 Nissan Maxima SV

With its lengthy standard features list and a powerful V6 engine, the Nissan Maxima is quite a practical sedan. With a cheaper price tag, it aims to offer better value than its rivals. The Toyota Avalon offers a more spacious cabin along with better driving dynamics. Its cabin also feels more premium and it scores higher in terms of predicted reliability scores.

2021 Toyota Avalon vs 2021 Chrysler 300 S

The Chrysler 300 S offers quite a lot of grunt under its hood. It also comes with a spacious cabin and manages to provide a better infotainment experience. However, its firm ride and poor handling characteristics cannot match Avalon’s balanced ride. Its poor safety scores also affirm that the Avalon is a better choice. 

2021 Toyota Avalon vs 2021 BMW 330i

The BMW 330i is quite a sporty car in terms of character as well as looks. It comes with a more premium cabin and feels like a much more luxurious and refined car. However, it is priced above the Avalon and many features are optional extras with the BMW. Also, the Avalon is a much more spacious car on the inside. Thus, if you want a more performance-oriented ride, the 3-series is the car to get. But if comfort and value are what you are looking for, the Avalon will suit better into your lifestyle.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon is quite a practical as well as a luxurious sedan that lives up to its flagship tag. It offers potent powertrain options and an extensive features list without compromising on its premium appeal. With its comfortable ride and spacious cabin, the Avalon is sure to keep your family members quite happy. However, there are certainly better options available if you are looking for a full-size sedan that can be called a driver’s car.