Pros: All the luxury I need at a "non-luxury" price.
Cons: Avalon's are so popular that dealers will not bargain much.
The Bottom Line: I knew exactly what I wanted in a new car. The Toyota Avalon XLS delivers performance, safety, and style - with no unwelcome surprises. Drive On!
Unlike many males "of a certain age", I am not enamored of cars. Generally, I consider an automobile simply a mode of transportation to get from point A to point B. My attitude, however, changed in 2001 when we purchased a silver spruce Avalon XLS for Mrs. G. [http://www.epinions.com/content_6864211588]. I have been green with envy ever since.
We recently traded in my failing 2000 Chevrolet Impala on a phantom gray pearl Avalon XLS for yours truly. Now my automotive gray skies are blue!
When I decided to retire my Impala, I began a cursory on-line investigation of new cars. This was not a very rigorous study, as I knew what I really wanted. [I even did some test drives with Lexus and Jaguar but my heart kept coming back to Avalon.] I did, however, spend a lot of on-line time researching the area's available Avalons. [The manufacturer's page at http://www.toyota.com and www.AutoNation.com were especially useful.] The Toyota Avalon comes in an XL model and a more luxurious XLS. This opinion concentrates on the XLS.
EXTERIOR
Size: Like many, our garage is home to lots of stuff that has little to do with cars. A refrigerator for pop and beer and an upright freezer take up serious room! Consequently, exterior dimensions were a consideration for us. With an overall length slightly under 192", Avalon just qualifies as a full-size sedan. Like Mrs. G's 2001, my XLS is slightly less than 72" wide and fits snuggly next to hers in our garage. [Moreover, its tight 35' turning radius makes it very maneuverable even in congested metropolitan Washington, DC driving conditions!]
Eye Appeal and Comfort: This 2004 Avalon is a full-size sedan that has changed little in the past four years. [That, from our perspective, is a good thing!] Avalon has modest curb appeal somewhere between the Gen Xers sportier cars and the staid luxury models of some "Boomers" even older than I am. The 16" aluminum alloy wheels add a nice visual touch as well as contribute to smooth handling.
Color: Avalon comes in nine exterior colors; Aspen Green Pearl, Cassis Pearl, Desert Sand Mica, Diamond White Pearl, Lunar Mist Metallic, Phantom Gray Pearl, Silver Spruce Metallic, Stratosphere Mica, and Black. We eyeballed all the color combinations but finally settled on the Phantom Gray Pearl. Cassis Pearl (a near-burgundy red) was our second choice.
INTERIOR
Size: The front legroom extends to nearly 42" and the rear a little less at 40". Mrs. G and I sampled both forward and back seats and were comfortable in each. Headroom is generous even when I leaned back to gaze out the moon roof. [The Avalon has a rated seating capacity of five - but I would not want to occupy the center rear for very long.]
Eye Appeal & Comfort: The XLS is a most pleasing ride. We hose the leather front buckets and these provide very adequate lumbar support for my surgically repaired spine. [A bench seat is also available.] The controls are easily accessible and the instruments gentle on my deteriorating vision. I came to appreciate the compass and air temperature indications on Mrs. G's Avalon. Now I am thrilled to have them on my own dashboard. The steering wheel {with tilt adjustment} is leather-wrapped with a wood grain insert that matches that of the dash. Toyota continues to provide the split zone front air conditioning and climate control. This is especially useful for riders with different temperature tolerances. There are also adjustable rear AC/heat vents. The JBL audio system is well equipped with AM/FM system, 6-disc CD, cassette, and seven speakers. Audio quality was superb from every seat.
Color: There are still only three choices of interior color, Ivory, Stone, and Taupe. Your body color will further limit your interior selection. Mrs. G's Avalon is Silver Spruce with Ivory. Over time, that interior has remained both appealing and easy to maintain. So I also selected Ivory to go with my Phantom Gray exterior.
PERFORMANCE
Engine: A 3.0-liter [24-valve DOHC V6] is the only engine available. Toyota claims that the engine delivers 210 HP at 5800 RPM and provides 220 foot-pounds of torque at 4400 RPM. As a driver, I find that the Avalon accelerates cleanly and I had no problem passing vision-blocking trucks on the beltway. With 350 plus miles on the odometer, I am averaging a credible 24.3 MPG.
Control: We took several different cars for test drives. Being already very familiar with the Avalon, Mrs. G only took the wheel once. I put each car through a routine of backing, rapid braking, and parallel parking. We also racked up 10 to 12 miles of combined city and highway driving with each vehicle. Not surprisingly, all the cars were steady on the uptake and smooth in stopping. The Avalon XLS comes with anti-lock brakes and we opted for the available Vehicle Stability Control with Traction Control.
SAFETY FEATURES
Air bags (driver and passenger) as well as side air bags are on both the XL and XLS. Variable-speed, intermittent wipers are standard. There is even an option for rain-sensing, variable intermittent windshield wipers but that seemed unnecessary to us. As I mentioned earlier, 4-wheel anti-lock disc brakes are standard and we added the Vehicle Stability Control and Traction Control with Brake Assist. Front and rear crumple zones and side-impact door beams add to crash protection.
Our XLS came equipped with front fog/running lights, heated outside mirrors, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The well-developed security system - that includes engine disable - enhances security and lowers insurance premiums.
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