4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
The Avalon is highly fuel-efficient and has a powerful response, making it a great contender in the full-size sedan segment.
While the 2011 Toyota Avalon is priced higher than its competitors, it is quite refined, well built, and a highly reliable full-size sedan. Full-size sedans have traditionally been offered by American carmakers, yet Toyota offers a highly well-engineered and refined offering in the segment. The car has a massive boot, huge luggage space, and a powerful and refined engine. The car stands up to competitors like the Buick LaCrosse and the Ford Taurus.
The 2011 Toyota Avalon is only available in two trims, namely the Base and the Limited. Either trim comes with the same 3.5L V-6 motor with a 6-speed automatic. The drivetrain is a front-wheel drive. Even the base trim of the Avalon has been well-decked in features akin to a luxury car. The price of the sedan starts at $33,195 and goes up to $36,435 for the top of the line Limited trim.
Trim |
Base |
Limited |
---|---|---|
MSRP |
$33,195 |
$36,435 |
Key Features |
17-inch alloy wheels |
Everything in Base + |
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Fog lights |
Xenon headlights |
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Auto-dimming rearview mirrors |
Automatic wipers |
|
Sunroof |
Keyless entry |
|
Automatic headlights |
Power passenger seat |
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Leather upholstery |
Heated and ventilated front seats |
|
Rear-view camera |
Driver memory functions |
|
Wood trim |
Power rear sunshade |
Cruise control |
12-speaker audio |
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Dual-zone automatic climate control |
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Reclining rear seat |
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Power driver’s seat |
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Power Driver’s seat |
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9-speaker stereo |
We Recommend
The higher trim of the Avalon is quite close to what is offered in the Lexus ES 350, which it shares a platform with. The base trim is well specced and saves you quite a bit, and this is the recommended trim. In the end, it all boils down to how you want to feel inside your sedan and accordingly can choose base trim or feature-laden Limited trim.
The Avalon with its large proportions and interior space looks well specced for a luxury executive sedan. The engine is a 3.5L V-6 which is rather well-engineered and quite responsive, although it makes a hefty bit of sound out from the exhaust.
The drivetrain is a front-wheel-drive, while the transmission is a 6-speed automatic. The engine manages to put out 268 horsepower and 248 lb-ft of torque.
Model |
Toyota Avalon |
Buick LaCrosse |
Ford Taurus |
---|---|---|---|
MSRP |
$33,195 |
$29,690 |
$27,620 |
Engine |
3.5L V-6 |
3.6L V-6 |
3.5L V6 |
Drivetrain |
FWD |
FWD |
FWD |
Transmission |
6-speed shiftable automatic |
6-speed shiftable automatic |
6-speed automatic |
Power |
268 hp @ 6200 rpm |
280 hp @ 6300 rpm |
263 hp @ 6250 rpm |
Torque |
248 ft-lbs. @ 4700 rpm |
259 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm |
249 ft-lbs. @ 4500 rpm |
0-60 mph (seconds) |
7.0 |
6.7 |
7.1 |
Quarter-mile (seconds) |
14.7 |
15.2 |
15.5 |
Top Speed (mph) |
147 |
152 |
146 |
The Avalon offers great straight-line speed, though it does not do so well in corners, where there is a hefty bit of body roll. The car is well outfitted for the competition and retains its speed over the range, which gives it a faster quarter-mile time than its competitors. The Buick LaCrosse offers the highest top-speed in the competition of 152 mph.
There is a single drivetrain in the Avalon, a front-wheel-drive, and a 6-speed automatic along with the 3.5L V-6 motor. The setup is quite well-engineered and the light frame of the car gives it one of the best fuel economies in the class. The sedan returns 20 mpg in cities, 29 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined.
Model |
Toyota Avalon |
Buick LaCrosse |
Ford Taurus |
---|---|---|---|
MPG (City) (mpg) |
20 |
17 |
18 |
MPG (Highway) (mpg) |
29 |
27 |
28 |
MPG (Combined) (mpg) |
23 |
20 |
22 |
Fuel Capacity (gallon) |
18.5 |
18.4 |
19.0 |
Range (City/Hwy) |
370/537 |
313/497 |
342/532 |
The car has a decent 18.5-gallon fuel tank, which gives it a range of over 450 miles, which also makes it the most fuel-efficient vehicle in the segment. The Buick LaCrosse is the least efficient of the lot, while the Ford Taurus is quite decent. When comparing the highway range, LaCrosse stands second to Avalon’s 537 miles by offering 532 miles.
The dashboard has a unique dual-cowl design, with the higher cowl covering the radio and climate controls. There is faux wood-grain trim on the interior along with large sturdy knobs and a centrally placed LCD.
The front seats are spacious yet quite flat with minimal side bolstering. The rear seats have great legroom even with the front seats pushed completely back. The rear seats offer a tilting backrest, while they also fold down to increase cabin space.
Model |
Toyota Avalon |
Buick LaCrosse |
Ford Taurus |
---|---|---|---|
Passenger capacity |
5 |
5 |
5 |
Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
38.9/59.4/41.3 |
38.0/57.4/41.8 |
39.0/57.6/41.9 |
Second (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.) |
37.6/58.2/40.9 |
37.3/56.0/40.5 |
37.8/56.9/38.1 |
Cargo Capacity (cu-ft) |
14.4 |
12.8 |
20.1 |
The Toyota Avalon has one of the best rear-seat spacing in the segment. The ride quality is quite comfortable and barely registers any jitters over bad roads. The Buick offers comparable space, while the Ford Taurus offers a tad bit better headroom. When comparing the cargo space, Taurus leads the pack with 20.1 cubic feet. Some important interior features are:
The base car has Bluetooth, steering-wheel controls, XM Radio, and USB connectivity. The Limited adds a more powerful 12-speaker audio system and some other features.
There is an optional touchscreen navigation system with traffic alerts available optionally on both trims. Some standout interior features are:
The Toyota Avalon has much to share with the smaller Camry. The car offers better interior space and a simpler spec-sheet. The sheet metal on the car is solidly made and durable.
The sides now have crisper stampings and wider shoulders than before. The headlamps have a gentle curve and slope shouldering the grille. The taillamps include LED C-shaped accents.
Model |
Toyota Avalon |
Buick LaCrosse |
Ford Taurus |
---|---|---|---|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
3572 |
4045 |
4015 |
Length (in.) |
197.6 |
196.9 |
202.9 |
Width (in.) |
72.8 |
73.1 |
76.2 |
Height (in.) |
58.5 |
59.2 |
60.7 |
Ground Clearance (in.) |
5.3 |
N/A |
N/A |
Wheelbase (in.) |
111.0 |
111.7 |
112.9 |
The Avalon has a pretty average wheelbase for its class, yet it manages to save a lot of weight as compared to its competitors. The sleek shape of the Avalon makes it the easiest car to maneuver amongst the lot. The Buick LaCrosse on the other hand is the heaviest and overcomes the Ford by a tiny margin. Some standout exterior features of the Avalon are:
The Avalon has a solid and durable build quality that people expect from the likes of Toyota. All Avalons get stability control, side airbags, rear-view camera. The NHTSA has not yet tested the 2011 Avalon, though the last model of the car was tested and earned a 5-star safety rating. The IIHS on the other hand awards the car a “Good” rating in every category and even picks the car as the 2011 “Top Safety Pick”. Along with these impressive ratings, the sedan keeps the sedan full of safety features. Some standout features include-
The Toyota Avalon is the target sedan offered by the Japanese Manufacturer. It includes acres of space and executive character to push it ahead of its competition. The car is well specced and offers a refined and quiet engine response. Overall the material and the quality of the cabin all seem highly durable and long-lasting. As such, the car is highly recommended in the full-size sedan segment owing to its value for money.