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6th
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Reborn, but not
Flagship cars are just that: a company's shining star, the one every other model looks up to. Flagships are generally large saloons, built for comfortable cruising and packed with luxurious amenities. They are, after all, the best the company has to offer.
Well, Toyota's flagship has been “reborn” this year, according to them. While I was excited to see this rebirth of the Avalon, I can't say I was immediately taken with the results. As is common with Toyota products these days, the outside pleases, while the interior and drive came up short.
What is a Toyota Avalon?
The Toyota Avalon is a North American model, although it did spend a bit of time in Australia and the Middle East as well. First introduced in 1994, Toyota's full-size sedan was a brand new model for the company, at the time.
With two bench seats, the '95 Avalon offered up seating for six and a 3.0L V6 good for 192 horsepower. It was a long, large vehicle made for highway cruising and comfortable, long drives. And the Toyota Avalon only increased in size in the coming years and model generations, and eventually dropped the front bench feature in 2005. Still considered a flagship vehicle, the '13 model is every bit as large and “luxurious” as the original model was intended to be, it's just in a prettier package now.
Technicalities
The 2013 Toyota Avalon is available in two trim levels: XLE and Limited. A base XLE starts at $36,800 which is reasonable considering its amenities. However, once you get into the Limited area (which has a Premium option package) you're brushing the low-$40k zone with the Premium Package selected, and that's where Toyota loses me -- but I'll get into that in a moment.
Both 2013 Toyota Avalon models are equipped with the same 3.5L 6-cylinder engine good for 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. The front wheels handle all the power managed via a 6-speed automatic Super Electronically Controlled Transmission (Super ECT).
Driving the Toyota Avalon
There's no denying that the 2013 Toyota Avalon is a cruiser. It's not meant for fast, sporty driving, but don't be fooled; it can handle a corner or two. Thanks to a suspension that I found too stiff for comfort at times, the Avalon can hold its own when asked to. But make no mistake, this is still a heavy, lazy kind of car that is happier locked into cruise control on the highway.
The 3.5L V6 wasn't as thirsty as I thought it would be either, and I managed a decent 10L/100km throughout my week and 700km behind the wheel. I even popped it into “Sport” mode every now and then, which just made the throttle response slightly peppier and the revs hold longer.
Inside and Out the Toyota Avalon
As I mentioned before, the exterior of the 2013 Toyota Avalon is well done. I'm not entirely taken with the gaping, chrome-lined lower grille (reminds me a bit too much of Mazda's insane-asylum look), but the elongated, modular headlights that are echoed in the taillights have just the right amount of sophistication and design to them. This is a handsome vehicle.
Inside, it's much the same: We've been a bit harsh on Toyota's interior ergonomics as of late (the Sienna comes to mind), but they got it a bit more “right” in the 2013 Avalon and RAV4. With a centre console that's actually visible in the sunlight and dials I can reach as a driver, interacting with the HMI and HVAC settings was a breeze.
Where the interior fell short was in something that should have been a bonus: the rear sunshade. Part of the Premium Package, I was excited to use It as the summer months are upon us and my 17-month-old rides in the back. Stupidly, I assumed that a rear windscreen sunshade meant the rear passenger doors also had sunshades. They did not. And the rear shade in the back window was rather ill-conceived, not quite reaching the top of the window with support arms far enough into the screen material that they were distracting.
Comparing the Toyota Avalon
Here's where I get a bit down on the Toyota Avalon: For $350 less you can bring home a Lexus ES 350 (with a Premium Package), that will get you the same engine and a more upscale interior, plus the status symbol on the hood. Given that choice, I'm not sure I'd spring for the Avalon.
Outside its own company, the 2013 Toyota Avalon stacks up against the likes of the Hyundai Genesis and new Chevrolet Impala, both worthy adversaries offering much in the way of drivability and amenities.
Flagship cars are just that: a company's shining star, the one every other model looks up to. Flagships are generally large saloons, built for comfortable cruising and packed with luxurious amenities. They are, after all, the best the company has to offer.
Well, Toyota's flagship has been “reborn” this year, according to them. While I was excited to see this rebirth of the Avalon, I can't say I was immediately taken with the results. As is common with Toyota products these days, the outside pleases, while the interior and drive came up short.
 |
What is a Toyota Avalon?
The Toyota Avalon is a North American model, although it did spend a bit of time in Australia and the Middle East as well. First introduced in 1994, Toyota's full-size sedan was a brand new model for the company, at the time.
With two bench seats, the '95 Avalon offered up seating for six and a 3.0L V6 good for 192 horsepower. It was a long, large vehicle made for highway cruising and comfortable, long drives. And the Toyota Avalon only increased in size in the coming years and model generations, and eventually dropped the front bench feature in 2005. Still considered a flagship vehicle, the '13 model is every bit as large and “luxurious” as the original model was intended to be, it's just in a prettier package now.
 |
| Still considered a flagship vehicle, the '13 model is every bit as large and “luxurious” as the original model was intended to be, it's just in a prettier package now. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
Technicalities
The 2013 Toyota Avalon is available in two trim levels: XLE and Limited. A base XLE starts at $36,800 which is reasonable considering its amenities. However, once you get into the Limited area (which has a Premium option package) you're brushing the low-$40k zone with the Premium Package selected, and that's where Toyota loses me -- but I'll get into that in a moment.
Both 2013 Toyota Avalon models are equipped with the same 3.5L 6-cylinder engine good for 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque. The front wheels handle all the power managed via a 6-speed automatic Super Electronically Controlled Transmission (Super ECT).
 |
| The 2013 Toyota Avalon is available in two trim levels: XLE and Limited. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
Driving the Toyota Avalon
There's no denying that the 2013 Toyota Avalon is a cruiser. It's not meant for fast, sporty driving, but don't be fooled; it can handle a corner or two. Thanks to a suspension that I found too stiff for comfort at times, the Avalon can hold its own when asked to. But make no mistake, this is still a heavy, lazy kind of car that is happier locked into cruise control on the highway.
The 3.5L V6 wasn't as thirsty as I thought it would be either, and I managed a decent 10L/100km throughout my week and 700km behind the wheel. I even popped it into “Sport” mode every now and then, which just made the throttle response slightly peppier and the revs hold longer.
 |
| The 3.5L V6 wasn't as thirsty as I thought it would be. I even popped it into “Sport” mode every now and then, which just made the throttle response slightly peppier and the revs hold longer. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
Inside and Out the Toyota Avalon
As I mentioned before, the exterior of the 2013 Toyota Avalon is well done. I'm not entirely taken with the gaping, chrome-lined lower grille (reminds me a bit too much of Mazda's insane-asylum look), but the elongated, modular headlights that are echoed in the taillights have just the right amount of sophistication and design to them. This is a handsome vehicle.
Inside, it's much the same: We've been a bit harsh on Toyota's interior ergonomics as of late (the Sienna comes to mind), but they got it a bit more “right” in the 2013 Avalon and RAV4. With a centre console that's actually visible in the sunlight and dials I can reach as a driver, interacting with the HMI and HVAC settings was a breeze.
Where the interior fell short was in something that should have been a bonus: the rear sunshade. Part of the Premium Package, I was excited to use It as the summer months are upon us and my 17-month-old rides in the back. Stupidly, I assumed that a rear windscreen sunshade meant the rear passenger doors also had sunshades. They did not. And the rear shade in the back window was rather ill-conceived, not quite reaching the top of the window with support arms far enough into the screen material that they were distracting.
 |
| With a centre console that's actually visible in the sunlight and dials I can reach as a driver, interacting with the HMI and HVAC settings was a breeze. (Photo: Philippe Champoux) |
Comparing the Toyota Avalon
Here's where I get a bit down on the Toyota Avalon: For $350 less you can bring home a Lexus ES 350 (with a Premium Package), that will get you the same engine and a more upscale interior, plus the status symbol on the hood. Given that choice, I'm not sure I'd spring for the Avalon.
Outside its own company, the 2013 Toyota Avalon stacks up against the likes of the Hyundai Genesis and new Chevrolet Impala, both worthy adversaries offering much in the way of drivability and amenities.