It is safe to choose the 2018 Toyota Avalon. In addition to having excellent safety ratings, the full-size sedan is also a sensible choice because it has little style and lots of substance.
Toyota changed the “2017” stickers to the “2018” ones this year. Stated otherwise, the two models are identical. There will be a new Avalon in 2019.
On our overall scale, we rate the Avalon 7.2 out of 10. We give it high marks for comfort and safety.
A variety of safety technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane-departure warnings, and forward-collision warnings with automated emergency braking, were standard on the Avalon last year. This should provide consumers who frequently want to pack a lot of people into the spacious Avalon with peace of mind.
Two powertrains that extend the interval between fuel pump visits are offered by Toyota, and one of them can make the large cruiser one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available today.
A powerful and smooth 3.5-liter V-6 engine with 268 horsepower and a 6-speed automated transmission is the standard engine. The EPA rates the combo at 24 mpg, which is comparable to its competitors.
The optional inline-4 engine and batteries only provide 200 horsepower, yet the combined fuel economy is 40 mpg. We have seen good fuel economy and respectable acceleration in a number of Avalon Hybrid drives.
The basic safety features of the Avalon set it apart from full-sizers like the Hyundai Azera, Ford Taurus, and Chevy Impala and serve to partially justify its price when compared to its competitors. Active safety features are usually reserved for top models by automakers, if they even provide them. Toyota, however, puts them standard on all Avalon models, even the base Avalon XLE, which starts at $34,385.
The Avalon is as close as we can find to a modern vehicle that embodies the land yachts of the past. Despite being large, roomy, cozy, and silent, it maintains a certain level of control that those battleships from the 1970s lacked.
