Toyota Avalon Overview

The Avalon full-size near-luxury 5-passenger sedan receives a mid-cycle styling refresh for 2011 and is now offered in 2 trim levels: the base model and the upscale Limited. The sole engine choice is a 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 engine shared with several other Toyota models, mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. Fuel efficiency is quite good for the full-size segment at 20 city/29 highway mpg. The Avalon bridges the gap between the Camry at one end and Lexus models at the other, featuring such available luxury features as a navigation system with real-time traffic, a 12-speaker premium audio system, and heated power-adjustable front seats.

The Toyota makes no safety compromises with standard features including traction and stability control, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags for both rows and a driver-side knee airbag. Pricing starts at $33,195 for the base model and $36,435 for the Limited.