2017 Toyota Avalon

"The 2017 Toyota Avalon is an all-around great car, with its powerful V6 engine and composed handling." U.S News

The 2017 Toyota Avalon is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 268 horsepower and a six-speed automated transmission. The Avalon is available in a Hybrid variant which is moderately fast and surprisingly efficient, with 200 hp from a blend of motors, batteries, and an inline-4. It gets 40 mpg on the EPA combined scale.

The 2017 Avalon comes in five trims: XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Touring, and Limited. The standard Avalon trim is priced at $33,300, while the top-of-the-line Limited trim costs $41,100. Forward-collision warnings with automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-departure alerts are all standard on 2017 Avalon as part of the standard Safety Sense P suite.

XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Touring, and Limited are the five trim options available for the 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan. The base trim starts at $33,300 and goes up to $41,000 for the Limited trim. The 3.5L V6 engine and 6-speed automatic transmission are shared by all five models.

Proximity key, remote start, a 7-inch touch screen, navigation, a USB port, Bluetooth, Siri Eyes Free, and leather upholstery come standard on the base model of the 2017 Avalon. The Toyota Avalon Touring adds woodgrain detail and luxury leather upholstery to the inside, as well as a smoother suspension. HID headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, tri-zone automatic temperature control, and perforated leather upholstery are all standard on the Toyota Avalon Limited.

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Out of all the trims, the XLE trim is the wisest choice of all. You will land a more functional car with a sunroof, and a plethora of features without tearing your wallet. Then again if you are willing to spend more, you will surely get the top-trim treatment with the Limited trim.

"The Avalon’s competent road manners and velvety-smooth V6 are made all the more attractive when coupled with the Touring trim’s stiffer suspension setup." - Kelley Blue Book

The Avalon is equipped with the potent 3.5L V6 engine which is shared among all the trim levels. The V6 is gutsy and cranks out a maximum power of 268 hp and 248 lb-ft of torque. The engine is backed with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Though the power is sufficient it's not the best in the market, the competitors like Dodge Charger, Kia Cadenza, and Buick LaCrosse are better performers in the class. The LaCrosse is a better car that is offered at a low price and delivers more power.

2017 Toyota Avalon Acceleration

The V8\u2019s power propels the car to high speeds in no time. The car attains an acceleration of 60 mph from a standstill in 6.4 seconds. The quarter-mile runs follow a 14.8 sec acceleration time.

The competition is filled with better accelerating cars, the Dodge Charger wins this battle with its 4.6 seconds acceleration followed by the 5.8-second performance by the LaCrosse. The Kia Cadenza and the Avalon are the potential lagers in the lot.

2017 Toyota Avalon Ride and Handling

The handling on the 2017 Avalon is not that enjoyable, the huge size makes it difficult for city maneuvers and forgets about parking this car in the subcompact zones. Still, the light steering makes delivers predictability and makes up for the size. As a daily driver, the car is approachable, you will feel right at home with it.

2017 Toyota Avalon Braking

Braking on the 2017 Avalon is nice and decent, the pedal is neither confident nor too soft, something you will get used to it in no time. Overall the braking mechanism is decent and has a good bite. O the highway the car will not disappoint with any fishy odd motion on a heavy push. The car comes on a grinding halt from a speed of 60 mph in 126 ft.

Though the car weighs lighter than the competition the Toyota forgot to cash in the advantage. The Avalon features 126 ft. of braking distance which is nothing compared to the competition. Where the LaCrosse and Cadenza display similar braking dynamics the Dodge Charger is the best amongst the lot.

For a Sedna of this stature the Avalon does pretty well. Its 21 mpg of city and 30 mpg of highway mileage is pretty impressive. Practically its better than any car in the compact-car class.

The Avalon might be mediocre in other sections but efficiency is where the Toyota has worked hard on. The Avalon\u2019s 24 mpg of combined mileage is the best in the class, even the performer like Dodge Charger has fallen behind the Toyota.

"A big effort to improve materials quality and modernize the Avalon is obvious. Soft-touch leather adorns most surfaces, depending on trim level, and tasteful styling touches are present throughout 2017 "- Edmunds

2017 Toyota Avalon Seating and Comfort

There are some cars in the class that claim to be 5 seaters but are comfortable only for 4, gladly the Toyota is not one of them. The Avalon features a roomy cabin with 38.5 inches of headroom and 42.1 inches of legroom space for the front seats. The rear seats are an inch shorter than the front cabin.

The Kia Cadenza is just an inch or two larger than the Avalon and other cars in the competition, other than that all cars feature similar cabin space.

2017 Toyota Avalon Infotainment

Sitting inside you will notice the layers of chrome, carbon, and wood stretching from the left all the way to the middle where the 7-inch touchscreen display awaits your attention. The Toyota  Entune infotainment system doest need an introduction, it's intuitive and responsive, you won\u2019t struggle a bit. The menu placement is quite simple and logical, but the tech geeks might bemoan as the Apple car play and Android Auto is absent on the Avalon. Other features include:

• 11-speaker JBL audio system
• Bluetooth Audio
• Voice Command
• USP Ports
• Real-Time Weather
• Real-Time Traffic

Cargo volume

Just like other cars in the class, the 2017 Avalon is quite practical and spacious. The car offers a lot of utility in small-item storage. But the real value is put to test when you pack heavy. The decent 16 cubic ft. of space is enough to swallow 5 suitcases and is quite logical too.

Though it's commodious, the competition does it a little better. The cargo space on the Dodge Charge is slightly better than the Avalon. The Kia Cadenza comes with an identical cargo space but the LaCrosse is a little shorter.

Stylists in California and Michigan drew latest Avalon with the well-to-do tastes of older-middle-age empty-nester America in mind. It's a brisk lane-change from the previous Avalon, not quite up to the effortless panache of an Audi A7, but completely removed from the Camry's wake- The Car Connection

2017 Toyota Avalon Dimensions and Weight

The 2017 Toyota Avalon is quite sizeable, the car mirror the dimensions of most of its rivals in the class. As for the numbers, the car measures a fine 195.3 inches in length and 72.2 inches of width. The height of the car is billed at 57.5 inches, so it\u2019s a big car, enough to accommodate passengers and luggage. The ground clearance is a nice 5.5 inches enough to endure tricky pavements.

The Toyota Avalon resembles the same dimensions as the as other cars in the class, so there is no sense of competition here.

The Toyota didnt back down on safety, they equipped the Avalon with active safety features which were previously reserved for the higher models. Features like Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic high-beams, forward collision warning come standard on the 2017 Avalon. But these features are just to back the core safety which is shown through the crash test. The NHTSA and IIHS have given the Avalon an all-star rating crowning the Avalon with the safety crown.

Safety Features

• Star Safety System includes Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), and Smart Stop Technology (SST)

• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) with Track Mode

• Hill Start Assist Control (HAC)

• Six airbags includes driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger outboard seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags

• Three-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger belts

• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats and tether anchors on all rear seats

• Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS)

2017 Toyota Avalon Vs. Kia Cadenza 

The Kia Cadenza is known for the series of features it comes with. The makers have infused the car with better smartphone integration by keeping features like Apple Car Play and Android Auto standard on the 2017 Cadenza. On the other hand, the 2017 Avalon delivers better driving dynamics and handling. But if you talk about power, the Cadenza is much powerful.

So, if you are looking to blend comfort with power the 2017 Kia Cadenza is the car you are looking for.

2017 Toyota Avalon Vs. Buick LaCrosse 

The Buick LaCrosse is the more affordable car in the class. You get more power at a lesser price also the extra 3 gears in the transmission is not just for show, they actually make driving fun and enjoyable. The Avalon, on the other hand, wins the safety battle as the car is equipped with active safety features which the LaCrosse lacks.

Come to think of it, the LaCrosse is a car with more potential, power, and precision, if you seek these features, the Buick LaCrosse is a more practical car.

2017 Toyota Avalon Vs. Dodge Charger 

The Dodge Charger is one of the strongest cars in the class. With more power and incredible drivability, the Dodge charges on the competition with ferocity. It is a more muscular car where the Avalon brings comfort and drivability to the table.

If you are looking for a more performing car go for the Charger, the choice becomes more obvious as the charger comes $4,000 short.

The 2017 Toyota Avalon is the embodiment of comfortable driving and predictability. The Toyota didn\u2019t alter its winning recipe and focused more over presentation. The Avalon\u2019s cabin is a better place to be in than any of the competitors. But frankly there is not that value with the $33,000 price tag, you will find a better car in the competitor\u2019s showroom.

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2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan FAQ's

How much does the 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan cost?

The 2017 Avalon comes in five trims: XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Touring, and Limited and starts at a base price of around $33,300. 

How reliable is the 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan?

The 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan has an above-average 81 out of 100 for the J D Power reliability rating and a further 87/100 for the Quality and Reliability marker from J D Power. 

What is the engine option available for the 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan?

The 2017 Toyota Avalon comes standard with a 3.5L 6-cylinder engine coupled to a 6-speed automated transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

Is the 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan expensive to maintain?

The projected five-year cost of gasoline, insurance, maintenance, and repairs for the 2017 Toyota Avalon is around $25,300. The sedan is quite reliable and has minimal issues. 

What are the main updates for the 2017 Toyota Avalon Sedan?

For the 2017 Avalon, Toyota has included its Safety Sense P driver assistance and safety suite as standard. It includes lane departure warning and prevention, automatic high-beam headlights, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection.