2018 Toyota Avalon NH
When you talk or think about full-size luxury sedans, there are few that really stick out and hold up to their reputations. The Chevrolet Impala has made a come back, the Nissan Maxima is a classic, but one of the best names in the industry is the Toyota Avalon.
The 2018 Avalon was ranked #1 in large cars according to US News and World Report, with the 2018 Avalon Hybrid coming in at #2. It’s your standard 5-passenger vehicle with plenty of leg and head room for any size passenger you may have in the car with you.
Though there weren’t any major differences between the 2017 and 2018 models, this car still holds some fantastic features. This is all starting at $33,500 MSRP.
Safety
So let’s start by talking about safety. Something that Toyotas are known for is the amount of safety features that they have standard in their vehicles. They are some of the safest cars on the roads today, and will only continue to follow that trend as the years continue to go on. The Avalon received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, which makes complete sense when you look at what comes standard in each one.
Let’s take a look at some of the safety features. You get adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning with steering assist, automatic high beams, forward collision warnings, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning with rear cross-traffic alerts (which is available on all of the trims EXCEPT the XLE and XLE Plus). The lane departure warning option is a great feature.
It is designed to help you to stay in your lane with a specialized camera, which helps to detect the visible, painted markings on the road. If you do start to drift, it will start beeping and display an indicator light not the dashboard so that you can take safe measures to correct the action.
Another great feature is the automatic high beams. This greatly enhances visibility when driving at night, which is a great feature to have when you are heading home after a long night celebrating the holidays with family, because you know that it will be a safe ride home. They are designed to detect oncoming vehicles up to 2000 ft away and automatically switch off, depending on the circumstance. Once it’s clear, they switch back on.
This is a fantastic feature if you sometimes forget to turn off your high beams as a car is approaching, or you get blinded by a car that has their high beams on. There is also dynamic radar cruise control, which automatically adjusts your speed to maintain a preset distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Trim Levels and Features
There are 5 trim levels in the 2018 Avalon line, but 8 if you count the hybrid options. You have the XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Touring, and Limited. The hybrid options comes in the XLE Premium, Touring, and Limited trim levels.
You get the standard exterior features from the 2017 model, with the addition of heated power side mirrors that have integrated turn signals. You also get smoked LED tail lights, and dual chrome exhaust pipes.
As one of the higher trim levels, you’ll pretty much get what you expect from the Touring. In the 2018 edition, it does receive some upgrades. There are upgrades to the LED lights and a unique chrome front grille with a piano black insert. This makes for a very stylish and customized look to the front of the vehicle. It also comes with 18-in wheels and a stiffer, more sport-tuned suspension. This allows for more precise power-assisted “rack-and-pinion” steering availability, giving you a sportier driving experience.
Speaking of customized looks, the Limited and Hybrid Limited trims come with rain-sensing windshield wipers, auto-dimming side mirrors and 18-in super chrome alloy wheels, giving it a more high-end appearance.
Features
As mentioned before, the 2018 Avalon has a slew of safety features that it comes with. It also has an insane amount of interior features that will make you lust after it even more. Each trim comes with a multi-informational display, including HD radio with predictive traffic. This helps you avoid traffic jams before they happen with real time updates on accidents, traffic, and construction. That’s huge, especially for those living in a metropolitan area. It’s all displayed on the Integrated Navigation system in the center console.
You also get the option of the EnTune App Suite (standard in the Limited model), which gives you access to Pandora for music, OpenTable and even MovieTickets.com. So just in case you encounter a traffic jam, you can make a dinner reservation and buy movie tickets for the Friday night premiere, all from your vehicle. You can also get the updates on game scores, stocks, weather, and fuel prices. If you have a QiCompatible phone, there is an area in the console for you to wirelessly charge your phone, too. All you have to do is place your phone on the non-slip surface in the integrated eBin and you have the capability to charge wirelessly.
Let’s talk a little more about some of the standard entertainment features. Each model comes with a standard 7-in touch screen which gives you the ability to control the climate as well as the audio in the car. There is an air filter and rear seat vents, as well as 3-zone climate control and Sirius XM radio - just to name a few. You also get a leather trimmed, tilt-telescopic steering wheel that comes equipped with audio controls, Bluetooth connectivity, hands free phone controls and voice commands all at the push of a button. The Limited trim also comes with a JBL premium audio system, which houses 11 GreenEdge speakers in 9 locations, a subwoofer and an amplifier.
Speaking of “the push of a button,” all models are equipped with the Toyota Smart Key System. This will detect the key fob within feet of the car and automatically turn on the interior lights, and allow the front door and trunk to unlock, just by touching the door handle (in the XLE model, it only has the option to unlock the driver’s side door). Once inside the Avalon, the engine can be started with a push start button.
Performance
One of the more exciting features of the Avalon, is the fact that it has both hybrid and non-hybrid options. But even more exciting than that is they’re both fairly powerful and get great fuel economy, given the size of the vehicle. It does come in close to comparison to its slightly smaller cousin, the Toyota Camry.
Non-Hybrid
All of the non-hybrid trims boast a 3.5 liter V6 engine with 268 hp and 248 lb-feet of torque. They all have a 6-speed transmission, steering wheel mounted paddle shifters, which drives the Avalon via the front wheels. The V6 goes from 0-60 in under 6 seconds, which is insane given the sheer size of the car. You will get some timing differences depending on what trim you are driving. There are also three driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Whichever mode you choose, the car adjusts the transmission shift points and throttle responses.
The Eco helps improve fuel efficiency, where the Sport allows for a little bit more of aggressive driving. The average mpg of 21 city/30 highway/ 24 combined. The V6 does a great job moving the car steadily along with power when on the highway and you’re merging or passing or driving on steep inclines.
Hybrid
The hybrid trims have the same Hybrid Synergy Drive System shared by all Toyota hybrid vehicles. Toyota mentions that the Avalon is the only full-size luxury sedan that has a hybrid option - which is obviously great for them. The hybrid trims have a 2.5-liter Atkinson cycle 4-cylinder engine and high torque electric motor. It generates a total 200 hp and runs on electric alone when driving short distances and speeds up to 20 mph, before the gas engine kicks in.
It also connects to the continuously variable transmission (CVT) and the fuel economy comes in at an impressive 40 city/39 highway/40 combined mpg. Naturally, it doesn’t have the same performance as the V6, and this is one of the downfalls of the hybrid variant. Not only is it a little sluggish, but the CVT can sometimes be loud at high speeds.
Get a New Avalon at Our Toyota Dealership in NH!
So, the 2018 Avalon packs a punch. It has a smooth ride and responsive handling - all thanks to a well-tuned suspension. This places it ahead of the curve and is not a vehicle to overlook.
View New Avalon Inventory