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2013 Toyota Avalon Review: First Drive
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2013 Toyota Avalon Review: First Drive

·
February 20,2013
·
3 min read

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Abu Dhabi, UAE - We test drove the 2013 Toyota Avalon UAE today. Each car had two drivers so we stopped briefly to make driver changes. The whole drive took 3 hours and included city as well as highway driving. Here are our initial impressions:

 

Drive Performance

The new Avalon has 273 HP which is slightly more than the previous generation Avalon 268 HP. This is also a lighter weight car and shorter by 60mm in height, which means greater aerodynamics and improved fuel economy. The dynamic lines and aggressive styling also add to the machismo which we like very much. 

We drove the SE version which is the second level of 4 trim levels. This version has only one drive mode while the last two versions have three drive modes, Eco, Normal and Sport. 

The drive, as expected from a 3.5L V6 engine was smooth, comfortable and quick. The steering is impressively responsive and acceleration torque is very good too, so you accelerate when you want to, not when the car wants to!

Is it the most exciting 3.5L V6 we have driven? Close but not quite, we found Nissan Maxima and Ford Taurus SHO to be slightly more exciting in terms of drive feel. We recommend improving the braking system for the next update as we found the brakes to be quite low on the foot radar so it required somewhat greater effort to apply them than expected. 

Acceleration from 0-100 km is below 7.0 seconds as is the expected standard from this engine size. 

Fuel economy combined is around 9.5 L / 100 km which is good but not the best. 

 

Interior

 

 

The Avalon combines elegance and sportiness in the interior with a mix of curvy styling and solid finishing. 

All versions come with leather seats, and the top two versions come with "premium leather". Finishing is comparable to the best in class. In terms of technology, all the important features can be found such as Bluetooth, iPod, USB, etc.

There is no lane detection system which could be a plus point for 2013 Honda Accord who introduced the Lane Watch camera for right hard shoulder lane changes. 

However, entertainment is on the cards with 8 speakers in base and mid versions and 11 speakers in top two versions. 

The best thing about interior is all versions get 10 airbags which is a much needed attitude that other brands should follow.

Safety should not depend on the amount of extra money you can pay to get a higher version. Safety should not be treated as an option. Safety is a requirement for everyone and should be standardized across features. This is what Avalon has done so all versions get equal treatment on virtually all safety features. 

 

Verdict

Practical, elegant, powerful, it's a great choice for families seeking a premium car. Being Toyota, you can expect great resale value too. Yes, the brakes are not the best but they will suffice for everyday driving completely. Definitely worth a test drive. 

 

Check Out:

- 2013 Toyota Avalon Versions, Prices, Specs

- Launch Report: 2013 Toyota Avalon

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