New for 2015
The Toyota Avalon gains an XLE Touring Sport Edition, which pairs Attitude Black paint with a dark blue interior trim and stitching. Also added for 2015 are paddle shifters for all models, the latest Entune infotainment system, and a standard blind spot monitor for XLE Touring and XLE Hybrid Touring models.Vehicle Overview
The Toyota Avalon is a full-size semi-premium sedan that is surprisingly fun to drive, making it a bit of a standout in the automaker’s line of sedans. A hybrid model is also available, helping the Avalon to appeal to a wider audience. The Avalon sits above the Camry as the biggest sedan in the Toyota lineup.
Summary
The 2015 Toyota Avalon is powered by a 268-hp 3.5-liter V-6 that produces 248 lb-ft of torque, which is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 21/31 mpg city/highway. Buyers hoping for a few more miles out of their gallon of gas should look no further than the Avalon Hybrid, which pairs a 2.5-liter I-4 with an electric motor for a net 200 hp that is transferred to the front wheels through a CVT.
The
Toyota Avalon comes pretty close to Lexus levels of luxury with
available features including heated/ventilated leather seats, heated
rear seats, three-zone climate control, ambient lighting, a power rear
sunshade, hands-free keyless entry with push-button start, dynamic radar
cruise control, blind spot monitor with cross traffic alerts, and an
automatic headlight system that control the high beams of the HID
Quadrabeam system.
The 2015 Toyota Avalon
received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA (out of a
possible five stars), and is considered a 2015 Top Safety Pick by the
IIHS.
What We Think
The Toyota Avalon is full of surprises for those unfamiliar with the changes made to this model when it was introduced for 2013. Who could have imagined a big Toyota sedan, which formerly focused almost completely on comfort over sport, with paddle shifters? The 2015 Avalon takes those paddle shifters and makes them standard equipment across the line, further solidifying the impression of sportiness.
In a Driven review of a 2013 Toyota Avalon
we noted “the Avalon's stance correctly suggests prowess that was
previously lacking. It's entertaining to throw around this
16.2-foot-long car on a mountain road; body roll is well controlled
despite a suspension that's hardly state of the art. Losing 120 pounds
has helped the Avalon. Ride quality -- another eye-opener -- is happily
on the firm side. Sitting in the driver's seat of a Limited model,
looking at the three attractive display screens and tri-color dashboard,
and holding the nice steering wheel, we found the word ‘Toyota’ falling
from our consciousness.”
While all models
now have paddle-shifters, we pointed out that “the V-6 is muscular and
produces a healthy exhaust note, the Hybrid's four-banger sounds
embarrassed and slightly distressed.” We did complain of the hybrid’s
driving character, but the positive side is that the system is
well-packaged, minimizing “space, weight, and price penalties.” Worth
noting in the comfortable interior, with far more supportive seats than
previous models, are the capacitive switches for climate control and the
sound system, which worked well.
