Automotive writers have secrets. We try not to keep them. When we get together, they come pouring out. But somehow, there are opinions almost all of us share that the car shopping public seems to have missed (you’re saying that this means no one listens to us, aren’t you? That’s beside the point). Perhaps the greatest of them is this: The best sedan in America might be the 2021 Toyota Avalon.
“The Toyota what?” you say.
Exactly.
Quietly Discontinued
Somehow, Americans seem to barely be aware of a frankly outstanding car built by one of the world’s largest automakers. There’s a Toyota dealership in nearly every town. There are Avalons sitting on its lot, seething in their brilliance, unsold. Toyota asks just under $36,000 for them, which is a steal given what they can do. But they’re virtually unknown.
And that has killed what may be the best sedan for sale today. “While Avalon will be discontinued after the 2022 model year,” a Toyota spokesperson says, “Toyota remains committed to the sedan segment and we encourage customers to stay tuned for future developments.”
“So, what is this marvel,” you ask?
Quietly Excellent
The Avalon sits on the same chassis as the Camry and the Lexus ES. That gives it a magically smooth ride in traffic. Previous models were known for their marshmallowy suspension tuning (one of our editors may have once had an uncomfortable dinner with a Toyota engineer after calling an older Avalon the best Buick Toyota ever made). But the latest Avalon has solved that problem.
Get it a bit worked up, and the Avalon can handle with some athleticism. Top-of-the-line Touring editions have an adaptive suspension borrowed from Lexus, so you can set them to a sportier mode. There’s even a tauter, racier TRD model.
The standard engine is a 301-horsepower V6 that feels like you’re getting away with something. Yes, you can get more power in a V8-equipped Dodge Charger, but no one expects your big Toyota sedan to get from 0 to 60 mph in six seconds. This one does.
All-wheel-drive models get less power, with a 205-horsepower 4-cylinder engine, but added grip. A hybrid variant, meanwhile, earns up to 44 mpg.
Staid Looks Recently Radicalized
It doesn’t look dowdy, either. The last redesign gave the Avalon a big, angry maw, which looks great in the blacked-out Nightshade edition. The TRD model even sits a bit lower and features aerodynamic enhancements like a front splitter.
Inside, the Avalon has learned from Lexus. The touchscreen is a bit small at 9 inches. But otherwise, the cabin feels like something at a higher price. The offset gear shifter and part-leather-wrapped steering wheel lend a sports car feel, but the rear seats are roomier than any midsize car.
Big Sedans a Dying Breed
It’s fair to say some luxury sport sedan buyers would be happier in a well-equipped Avalon. Or so automotive journalists say when we get a drink or two in us. But those days are nearly over. We get just one more year of Toyota’s sleeper.
Why? Because Americans barely get any big sedans anymore. Cars are disappearing. We now buy more SUVs than cars and pickups combined. And automakers are retooling their lineups to accommodate our tastes. Large cars are the first to go because anyone shopping for a lot of space is more likely to end up in a Kia Telluride than something like the Ford Taurus, the Hyundai Azera, or any of the other recently canceled large sedans you don’t remember.
But, for one more year, the Avalon is an option. We’d encourage anyone shopping for a large car to test drive it. At the moment, they’re selling a little below sticker price, even at a time when most buyers are paying the full listed price for a new car. Now that the news is out, their prices may even fall. Dealers are often willing to take a lower offer for a car that is being phased out…even one that’s better than anyone seems to know.
