2007 Toyota Avalon

Welcome to the Driving Range with Dave Jordan - Your Auto Guide to the South Shore of Nova Scotia. All you need to know about Nova Scotia's South Shore Auto scene.

This week, Dave Jordan checks the 2007 Toyota Avalon:

Every day there are consumers looking to purchase luxury cars. Their typically larger size, abundance of creature comforts and long-range driving appeal capture the interest of those wanting to be pampered during their daily commute. In the past, certain trade-offs would have been expected by those buying luxury vehicles. A smooth quiet, ride usually meant poor handling in the corners. Their larger size meant larger engines and hence, poor fuel mileage. And styling used to be, well, boring. The “old man’s car” was how many luxury vehicles of yore were described. Well, that was then and this is now. Today’s luxury cars combine those expected creature comforts with, in many cases, decent road dynamics and a satisfying driving experience. Names such as Lexus, BMW, Audi and Cadillac automatically come to mind when one thinks of luxury vehicles, although they tend to be on the higher end of the price range. Some vehicles, however, just seem to fall under the radar. Whether it’s because of the styling, minimal market panache or lack of promotion by the parent company, there are cars that just don’t get the recognition they deserve. The Toyota Avalon is one such vehicle and the subject of this report. Thanks to O’Regan’s South Shore Toyota for the opportunity to test this extremely luxurious and surprisingly competent vehicle.

The Avalon has been in production since the mid-1990s, with the current model being the third generation of Toyota’s only luxury car offering. Successive models were more luxurious and technologically advanced with progressively higher output engines and drivetrain improvements. Original styling was criticized by some as being rather innocuous, but the early Avalons offered excellent value and famed Toyota quality. Today’s Avalon is a vast improvement over the first 1995 model and offers even more than the style, driving dynamics and luxury accoutrements one expects of a car in this class.

The minute I sat in the Avalon, I had sudden déjà vu. I remember my first experience in a Lexus many years ago (I think it was 1993), as I marvelled at the quality of the interior. My memory of the striking colour combinations, material fit and finish, interior layout and overall sense of being in a high-end environment were repeated sitting in the driver's seat of the Avalon. The wood and leather steering wheel, the leather-clad seats and the mixture of different materials and textures creates a wonderful atmosphere from which to go about your driving task. The multi-adjustable driver's seat and tilt/telescoping steering wheel make it easy to find an excellent driving position, with the door and centre console armrests positioned ideally to create a very relaxed atmosphere while cruising along. The back seat is simply cavernous with an exceptional amount of legroom and the ability to recline the rear seatbacks — a neat benefit for those seeking that fully stretched-out position. The trunk as well is huge, offering 14.4 cu. ft. of cargo capacity. All minor controls work with a smooth, assured precision and the first-rate ergonomics ensure ease of operation and functionality. The redundant steering wheel controls allow for easy adjustment of the climate control and audio systems so you can focus on the task of driving with minimal distractions. Refinement is the name of the game once under way, with the Avalon’s exceptionally quiet interior allowing for hushed conversation or unimpeded enjoyment from one of the three available audio systems.

Although a smooth and compliant ride is part and parcel for a luxury car, what surprises with the Avalon is how well it handles itself on curvy secondary roads. This Toyota is surprisingly stable and well-mannered in the corners and absorbs rough and undulating surfaces with nary a hint of unsettling. Adding to the equation is the very refined 3.5-litre V6 DOHC engine with VVT-i (Toyota speak for variable valve timing with intelligence). The 268 horsepower and 248 lb. ft. of torque propel this not so light (3,560 lb curb weight) sedan to 60 MPH in a scant 6.5 seconds. Helping to achieve this is the well-matched five-speed automatic providing crisp upshifts under hard acceleration and barely noticeable transitions from gear to gear when progressing at a more normal pace of advancement. I scoffed at the pretentiousness of the sequential multi-mode shifter when first driving this car but after a couple of days behind the wheel I came to appreciate a whole new dimension and alter ego in the Avalon. Manually shifting through the gears, especially on winding secondary roads, combined with the powerful V6 engine and well-tuned suspension, made this large Toyota feel a lot smaller and more agile than its luxury car intentions would imply. To top it all off, highway fuel ratings come in at 7 L/100 km (40 mpg), which is exceptional for a car of this size.

Toyota has traditionally penned fairly conservative designs for its sedans and the Avalon falls under this category as well. The subdued elegance of the exterior styling is pleasing from all angles, with the front 3/4 view especially appealing. I think some Lexus stylists may have sat in for the Toyota guys a few times as the side-on profile could be mistaken for the current Lexus LS at a glance. Not bad company to keep.

Toyota has kept this Canadian model fairly simple for 2007 with the status quo for '08 as well. One trim level — XLS — is available with two premium packages to be had that offer JBL audio system enhancements including, and unusual by today’s standards, a cassette player on the first-tier upgrade and a DVD-based navigation system for the top-line unit.

In conjunction with these audio system upgrades is the addition of a wood and leather steering wheel and rain-sensing wipers. Of course, a myriad of convenience and safety features come standard such as the dual-zone AC; heated front power seats; cruise; power group; a tire-pressure monitoring system; heated outside mirrors; a moonroof; keyless entry with security; front, side, side-curtain and even driver's knee airbags; and a stability and traction control system. Basically the Avalon is loaded. There are lots of additional accessories you can add to your Avalon if you want to spruce things up a bit and personalize your vehicle.

Two interior colour schemes — ivory or graphite — are available depending on which of the seven exterior colours you select. Mine was the Cassis Pearl — kind of a deep burgundy — over the ivory leather. A nice combination.

When I picked up this car the salesman said he had only showed one Avalon in the past couple of years. That’s too bad since this means a lot of people purchased other luxury or near-luxury cars without the benefit of experiencing a real hidden jewel in this segment. And at a starting price of just over $41,000, the Avalon is quite a bargain.

Dave’s Auto Archive – 1957 was the year Toyota established a North American sales division and imported from Japan its Crown passenger car as its first U.S. vehicle.