The Avalon saw very few changes from the 2021 model to the 2022 model.
Toyota recently announced that the 2022 model year will be the last of production. The Touring trim is the fourth of the six trims available, carrying a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $43,525.
The 2022 Avalon received a 5-star Overall Safety Rating from NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating. It scored 4 stars in the Frontal Crash and Rollover categories, and 5 stars in Side Crash categories.
Engine Performance
Toyota Avalon is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine capable of 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque. It is partnered with an 8-speed Direct Shift automatic transmission, and sport-tuned front and rear suspensions keep the vehicle firmly on the road.
With this powertrain, the Avalon can sprint 0-60 in 6.0 seconds.
According to the literature, the Avalon was estimated to average between 22 to 31 mpg for gas mileage. However, on our trip to the coast we averaged 35 mpg.
The trip was exciting to say the least, with rainstorms most of the way south on I45 between Dallas and Galveston. But thanks to the excellent suspension and superb driving helpmates, we reached our beachfront destination safely.
Interior
A broad “waterfall-style,” center stack between the driver and front seat passenger is well positioned and easy to use. The storage area is nice and deep, with a top shelf for smaller objects.
The SofTex Ultrasuede heated/ventilated front power seats were positioned just right for the 10-inch color Head-Up Display (HUD). I would have preferred a little more room in the seats and not so much firmness in the hips area.
The infotainment system features a 9-inch center touchscreen that was easily read, and also amenities such as JBL 14-speaker sound system, Dynamic Navigation, Bluetooth connectivity, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Wi-Fi Connect hotspot, and Amazon Alexa compatibility are a couple of noteworthy extras.
Some areas like the dashboard are made of plastic, but the material is of good quality. The back seat has a good amount of room. The trunk provides a notch more than 16 cubic feet of cargo space. Folding rear seats with 60/40 split allow for flexibility, especially when large items are concerned.
Exterior
Avalon Touring rolls on 19-inch machine-finished alloy wheels. Illumination is provided by a full suite of LED head, tail, and daytime running lights. Gloss black heated outside mirrors, rear spoiler, and sport sound tuned dual exhaust with quad chrome tips make for a beautiful car with a sporty attitude.
Safety and convenience
Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert is standard on all trims. Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ extends the standard safety technology bundle with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beam, Road Sign Assist, and Lane Tracing Assist.
The Avalon was the car for our drive last week to the coast. It rained all the way from Dallas to Galveston, so it took us nine hours to make the trip we usually make in half that time. Accidents construction, and road closures were frequent.
The Avalon sits very close to the ground, so it’s not really a good choice for flooding freeways and off ramps. However, Avalon stayed the course, often passing vehicles sitting much higher than we were but stranded. We had to keep moving, or we could have become involved in a crash.
Warranty and Maintenance 3 years/36,000 miles Basic Warranty 5 years/60,000 miles Powertrain Warranty 5 years/unlimited miles Corrosion Perforation Warranty
Durhl Caussey writes a car column read around the world. He may be reached at this newspaper or [email protected].
