Toyota Avalon Touring sedan
Cox News Service
August 25, 2006
The Toyota Avalon Touring sedan looks somewhat sedate, but this puppy moves. And it moves you and four passengers in comfort while getting good gas mileage. If you're beyond the minivan stage, but still have carpool duty, this is a great family car and a good value.
 Photo by Toyota
| |
|
2006 Toyota Avalon | |
|
ABOUT THE TOYOTA AVALON:
Body style: Sedan
Trim lines: XL, Touring, XLS, Limited
Price: MSRP of test vehicle is $30,904; XL starts at $26,775
Drive: Front wheel
Seating: Two in front, three in back
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6
Transmission: Five-speed automatic
Miles per gallon of fuel: 22 city, 31 highway
WHAT'S SPECIAL: It may be a bit much to say the Avalon is a sports car in sedan's sheet metal, but the 3.5-liter V-6 engine does have some giddyup. Expect to jump to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds. The car cruises comfortably at speeds suitable for the far left lane. And all the while getting better than 25 mpg in real-world driving.
WHAT WE LIKE: There is very comfortable seating for five adults. The Touring model offers supportive leather seats. There is nearly 6 feet of hip room in the back seat, and the back seats recline — there's something you don't see often.
WHAT ISN'T THERE: A plug-in jack for your iPod, an increasingly common feature, even in less costly cars. You must make do with a six-disc, in-dash CD changer. Rear visibility is somewhat limited. How about a parking assist system?
YOU OUGHTA KNOW: The top-of-the-line Limited trim of the Avalon offers adaptive cruise control and leather-trimmed, adjustable power front seats as options. A voice-activated DVD navigation system is also an option available in the Limited and the Touring models.
EXTRAS: The test Touring model featured optional ($1,090) vehicle stability control and traction control with a brake assist system that senses emergency braking situations and applies maximum pressure to shorten the stopping distance. A dual-zone climate control system is standard. The visual clutter of audio controls and such is hidden with push-to-open panels that give the dash a clean, elegant look.
AND ANOTHER THING: The speed-sensing, variable-assist, rack-and-pinion steering makes it nimble in parking lots. The turning circle diameter is less than 37 feet.
