Today we’ll get in and drive the 2011 Toyota Avalon and see if it’s as smooth as the ad says.
When the Avalon is first started, the engine is so quiet that it’s hard to tell if it’s on or not. We’ll go into detail tomorrow and look at the 3.5-liter V-6 that comes standard on the Avalon. The instrument panel has easy to read white-on-black with white pointers and immediately comes on with the ignition.
The engine is quiet, but it delivers has plenty of power. After stepping hard on the accelerator pedal, there is some engine noise but that’s to be expected. It’s almost silent under normal operation, though. On the road, the ride is like the ad says, it’s smooth and comfortable. The suspension is tuned for comfort, not a sporty driving experience.
This isn’t the car to test on a tight mountain road, although it doesn’t wallow around like the big sedans from the 70’s. The Avalon feels a bit heavy when driven fast into a corner, and could use some more side bolstering to keep the driver from sliding around. But when looking through the eyes of its target buyer, the Avalon will not be driven like I pushed it this week and its hard to argue with its driving dynamics. Going full throttle from a dead stop probably isn't a recurring habit for most buyers of this car.
Driving on I-70, on a road trip to Glenwood Springs, the Avalon performed like expected. The Avalon’s suspension setup works well with a smooth and sufficiently powerful 3.5-liter V-6. Its 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque motivated the Avalon effortlessly and quietly over Vail pass, with no excessive effort.
The Avalon's six-speed automatic is also a good match for the 3.5-liter engine, with very smooth, almost imperceptible shifts. The Avalon managed 24.6 miles per gallon during the week. The EPA's official rating is 20 mpg city/29 mpg highway, and very solid for a vehicle of the Avalon's size.
Driving the Toyota Avalon is a nice experience. In short, the Avalon is big, quiet and easy to operate. It makes commuting a more pleasant experience, and it will make long family trips feel short. There's much to like about the Avalon. Driving enthusiasts would say it's too soft, but then they are not the ones interested in this car, anyway. The Avalon is competent, pleasant to drive, and never leaves you tired.
Tomorrow we’ll take a look at the engine and mechanical features.
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