2019 Toyota Avalon Gets More Aggressive, Boasts New Tech at Detroit

TopSpeed

By Mark McNabb

Published Jan 15, 2018

The Avalon moves from sleepy to sultry

Toyota has undoubtedly heard cries from customers and journalists alike bemoaning its boring sedans. But no more. The 2019 Avalon is following in the 2018 Camry’s footsteps by going sporty. The new Avalon ditches the dull styling for some excitement as it moves into its fifth generation.

Toyota calls the Avalon its “mid-premium sedan” and has packed the car with loads of luxury features, more technology like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and made its Toyota Safety Sense P suite of active safety systems even more powerful. Improved powertrains include a reworked 3.5-liter V-6 and eight-speed automatic transmission, along with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with Toyota’s newest hybrid system and CVT transmission.

There are four trim levels available: the XSE, Touring, XLE, Limited. Hybrid models come in XLE, Limited, and XSE grades.

The swankier trims, the Touring and Limited, come with real wood and aluminum interior accents and fancy stitching on the leather seating. The latest Entune 3.0 system now includes a Wi-Fi hotshot, Toyota Remote Connect with smartwatch and Amazon Alexa connectivity, and the return of the Qi wireless charging system. An available JBL sound system pumps 1,200 watts through 14 speakers over a 7.1-channel surround sound system.

Toyota also addresses the Avalon’s fun-to-drive factor. Adaptive dampers are standard (a Toyota first) and offer variable control over the suspension’s movements in conjunction with drive moves.

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The 2019 Avalon rides on the same Toyota New Global Architecture as the 2018 Camry, but is larger for more interior room. Compared to the outgoing Avalon, the 2019 model has a 2.0-inch longer wheelbase, is 0.8-inches wider, and has shorter overhangs by 0.4 and 1.0 inches in the front and rear, respectively.

As for the Toyota Safety Sense suite, it includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross Traffic Alert, and Back Guide Monitor. Optional safety equipment includes the Panoramic View Monitor (360-degree bird’s eye camera view) and Rear Cross Traffic Braking.

Toyota hasn’t announced pricing for the 2019 Avalon, but we expect it to start around $34,000. It will begin arriving in showrooms in the late spring of 2018.

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