2011 Toyota Avalon

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is known for its spacious interior, abundant luxury features and refined ride. Although this year’s model brings a refresh with some new styling (front/rear ends and instrument panel), more standard features and a reduction in trim levels from three to two, the 2011 Avalon is otherwise similar to the one that debuted six years ago. That’s fine with us, as there is so much to recommend the Avalon.

And then there is the car’s remarkable combination of performance and fuel efficiency. The standard 268-horsepower V6 engine accelerates the Avalon more rapidly than similarly powered competitors while still returning impressive fuel mileage estimates of 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon now faces more competent rivals like the Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus. And even with this year’s styling tweaks, the Avalon may look a bit too bland for some buyers. A past gripe involving the Avalon’s pricing has been partially addressed this year as the base model comes more generously equipped but with no increase in price. Still, some budget-minded buyers may wish there was a more basic, lower-priced model. While the 2011 Toyota Avalon remains at the top of its game and is easy to recommend, it does have some worthy competition that’s worth consideration.

2011 Toyota Avalon Limited Sedan

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is a full-size sedan available in base and Limited trim levels. Standard equipment on the base Avalon includes 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, auto-dimming driver and rearview mirrors, heated mirrors, a sunroof, automatic headlights, leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped wheel and shift knob, a back-up camera (mounted in the rearview mirror), wood trim, cruise control, full power accessories, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a power driver seat, a reclining rear seat, Bluetooth and a nine-speaker stereo (with six-CD changer and USB/iPod jacks).

The Limited adds xenon headlights, automatic wipers, keyless ignition/entry, additional power driver seat adjustment, a power passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, driver memory functions, a power rear sunshade and a more powerful audio system with 12 speakers.

The front-wheel-drive 2011 Toyota Avalon is motivated by a 3.5-liter V6 rated at 268 hp and 248 pound-feet of torque. The EPA’s fuel mileage estimates for the Avalon stand at 20 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, making it one of the most fuel-efficient full-size sedans available.

Standard safety equipment on the 2011 Toyota Avalon includes antilock disc brakes, stability and traction control, active front head restraints, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags and a driver-side knee airbag.

In government crash tests, the Toyota Avalon earned a perfect five stars in all frontal- and side-impact categories.

The Toyota Avalon’s interior feels upscale and inviting thanks to its glowing gauges, attractive and ergonomic control layout and high-quality materials. The rear seats are very comfortable as well.

Not surprisingly, the 2011 Toyota Avalon is at its best on the open highway. Additionally, a tidy turning circle makes the Avalon feel unexpectedly maneuverable on tight city streets.