Photo: Toyota
After teasing the Avalon TRD like there’s no tomorrow, Toyota now prepares to roll out the sportiest version of the full-size sedan. The order guides reveal a starting price of $43,255 including destination charge, making the go-faster model $200 more affordable than the Touring.
Cars Direct reports the Limited is $200 more affordable than the TRD, and for once, Toyota is onto something here. But on the other hand, it’s worth remembering the Avalon TRD comes exclusively with front-wheel drive, an eight-speed automatic transmission, and an e-brake.
Slapping the TRD badge is one thing, but Toyota Racing Development could’ve done a lot better for the money. The Camry TRD is also supposed to reach dealership lots this fall as a sporty mid-size sedan, priced at $35,000-plus given the positioning of the Camry XSE in the range.
Both the Avalon XSE and Avalon TRD share a 301-horsepower V6 with natural aspiration, and if you can live without the look-at-me bits from Toyota Racing Development, the XSE makes a lot more sense given the $4k pricing difference. The more exciting of the two comes with a cat-back exhaust, two tailpipes, embossed seats, lighter wheels, and matte-black trim.
Differences over the XSE include the bigger braking calipers and discs, springs that lower the car by 0.6 inches, thicker braces for improved rigidity, and lots of aerodynamic trickery that might seem too much given the humble character of the Avalon. Looking at the bigger picture, Toyota won’t sell too many of these babies because most Avalon buyers aren’t the TRD type.
Two of the closest rivals for the Avalon TRD come from Lexus and Ford, namely the ES 350 with the F-Sport Package at $46,375 and Taurus SHO at $44,070. The latter develops 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet thanks to turbocharging technology, and all-wheel drive is also featured.
Ford announced in April 2018 that the Taurus would be discontinued at the end of the 2019 model year in order to focus on trucks and SUVs. The final example of the breed rolled off the Chicago assembly line in March 2019. Toyota and Lexus, however, don’t plan on pulling out of this segment.
Slapping the TRD badge is one thing, but Toyota Racing Development could’ve done a lot better for the money. The Camry TRD is also supposed to reach dealership lots this fall as a sporty mid-size sedan, priced at $35,000-plus given the positioning of the Camry XSE in the range.
Both the Avalon XSE and Avalon TRD share a 301-horsepower V6 with natural aspiration, and if you can live without the look-at-me bits from Toyota Racing Development, the XSE makes a lot more sense given the $4k pricing difference. The more exciting of the two comes with a cat-back exhaust, two tailpipes, embossed seats, lighter wheels, and matte-black trim.
Differences over the XSE include the bigger braking calipers and discs, springs that lower the car by 0.6 inches, thicker braces for improved rigidity, and lots of aerodynamic trickery that might seem too much given the humble character of the Avalon. Looking at the bigger picture, Toyota won’t sell too many of these babies because most Avalon buyers aren’t the TRD type.
Two of the closest rivals for the Avalon TRD come from Lexus and Ford, namely the ES 350 with the F-Sport Package at $46,375 and Taurus SHO at $44,070. The latter develops 365 horsepower and 350 pound-feet thanks to turbocharging technology, and all-wheel drive is also featured.
Ford announced in April 2018 that the Taurus would be discontinued at the end of the 2019 model year in order to focus on trucks and SUVs. The final example of the breed rolled off the Chicago assembly line in March 2019. Toyota and Lexus, however, don’t plan on pulling out of this segment.
Google News