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Road Test Review: 2012 - 2015 Toyota Avalon
Car Reviews

Road Test Review: 2012 - 2015 Toyota Avalon

·
June 15,2013
·
5 min read

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Avalon, Toyota's flagship sedan has been completely redesigned for 2013 and we were anxiously awaiting spending a whole week with it. At 4960mm, it surely fits into the large premium sedan category and offered more room than a crammed studio in Deira. The 2013 Avalon sports an oversized hexagonal shaped grille which does look very similar to the one's you'd find on a Ford Taurus or Toyota 86. It was also saddening to find the Avalon came equipped with only 17" wheels because quite frankly they are much too small for a car of its size. Although our test car came equipped with beautiful day time running lights integrated into the headlamps, I feel the 2012 Avalon was a lot more appealing, visually at least. 

 

Interior

The same cannot be said for the interior though. It is clear that Toyota's interior designers no longer looked at the Camry for inspiration but something a lot more premium, a Lexus perhaps. The massively improved interior is home to ample chrome, plenty of wood and so much leather that an animal rights activist would have a heart attack at just the sight of it! The seats not only look good but are also uber comfortable and the brilliant seat coolers and warmers are an added bonus. The driver receives a 10 way power adjustable seat with memory function and the passenger has almost as many controls with an 8 way power adjustable seat. I was also very pleased to find that all trim levels come with 10 airbags as standard. It's great to see that the Japanese manufacturer doesn't believe in providing the most safety only for top of the line model buyers and for this, I salute you Toyota!

Toyota has been innovative and that is clear. The stunning centre console houses numerous capacitive touch switches which are used to operate the A/C and the multimedia system. Though the lack of physical buttons feels a little strange initially, the more time I spent in the car, the more fond I grew of the new capacitive touch buttons. The Avalon is also fitted with a mood lighting system whereby the cup holders and door armrests illuminate, enhancing the elegance. To further enhance the mood when cruising with a special someone, a simple touch of a button and the wonderful 11 speaker JBL sound system begins to work its magic. 

On the downside, the Avalon did pack in a few unpleasant surprises as well. For instance, the plastic side step was so flimsy that I was afraid if I dusted my shoes before entering it may just crack. Another major issue with the interior was the chrome strips around the speed-o-meter. These reflected the sun right into the drivers eyes and on numerous occasions I found myself having to physically take my hand and cover the chrome to avoid squinting while driving. It was also shocking to find Toyota's flagship sedan lacked a CD player and offered only manual steering adjustment - I really don't know what they were thinking!

 

Drive

The 3.5 litre V6 packed in 273 horsepower and 346 Nm of torque. This meant the Avalon would propel you from a standstill to 100km/h in under 7 seconds - very impressive! Drivers can choose from an Eco, Normal or Sport driving mode, however keep in mind that only the steering is affected. Although the Avalon packed in significantly less horses than its rival the Nissan Maxima, the Avalon felt more willing and the acceleration was definitely a lot better, thus making it more fun to drive. 

Since the Avalon is fitted with a dual VVT-i (Variable Valve Timing - intelligent) system, it does quite a good job of being fuel efficient. We managed to achieve a reading of 11 litres / 100km after driving it in a variety of situations. With MacPherson strut suspension fitted on the front and rear, the drive is very smooth and you barely feel any road imperfections while driving - you really do feel like you're sitting in a premium sedan. 

In terms of the drive, there were a few shortfalls as well. For starters, there was a lot more wind noise than you'd like or expect in a premium luxury sedan. The sensors attached to the front bumper are best left off because when they are on, they have a mind of their own and are so loud they actually distract more than assist. Lastly, it was shocking to discover the traction control kept switching itself back on even if you wanted it off. It almost felt like the Avalon was sending out a message - I'm sophisticated, stop trying to make my wheels spin at every opportunity you get. 

 

Verdict

So now that the review has come to an end, you're probably wondering what the Avalon costs. Our test car which came in the SE+ trim will set you back AED 149,000. Though this is AED 20,000 more than the Nissan Maxima, the price just seems more justified. Some others may even consider spending AED 20,000 more than the Avalon and going in for the Lexus ES. Quite frankly, I'd rather roll in a flagship Toyota than an economy Lexus. 

 

Check Out

- 2013-2014 Toyota Avalon Prices and Specs

- Spec Comparison: Toyota Avalon vs Nissan Maxima

- Spec Comparison: Toyota Avalon vs Chevrolet Impala

- Launch Coverage: Toyota Avalon

- First Drive: Toyota Avalon

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