2021 Toyota Avalon TRD: The Brand’s Quasi-Performance Full Size Sedan

 

Highlight: The Avalon TRD is the Avalon’s near performance version of the Dodge Charger.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $43,870 (Base MSRP: $36,870)

Seating Capacity: 5 passenger seating

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; all-wheel drive; a vehicle stability system; a traction control system; hill start assistance; a pre collision braking system with pedestrian detection system; a lane departure alert system with steering assist; a lane tracing assist system; automatic high beams; a radar activated cruise control system; an electronic blind spot monitor; a brake hold feature; back up camera; and a tire pressure monitoring system

2020 Toyota Avalon Limited: The Brand's Fullsize Near -Luxury Sedan

Highlight: It’s the only non premium hybrid fullsize car available.

Test Vehicle’s MSRP: $44,180 (Base MSRP: $36,830)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a vehicle stability system; a traction control system; a pre-collision braking system with pedestrian protection; a radar activated cruise control system; an automatic brake hold feature; a blind spot monitor with a rear traffic alert system; a hill start assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

2019 Toyota Avalon XLE Hybrid: The Brand’s Fifth Generation Flagship Car

Highlight: The redesign fullsize hybrid price has been reduced by $975 due to a sunroof being an option, as opposed to being standard equipment as was the case on the fourth generation XLE trim.

Test Vehicles MSRP: $39,328 (Base MSRP: $37,420)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a vehicle stability system; a traction control system; a pre-collision braking system with pedestrian protection; a radar activated cruise control system; a blind spot monitor with a rear traffic alert system; a hill start assist system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

2018 Detroit Auto Show: 2019 VW Jetta And 2019 Toyota Avalon

The 2019 VW Jetta will be available in the second quarter powered by gasoline engines only. While its priced $100 lower than the outgoing model, it offers a longer wheelbase and more exterior space.

New for this year ventilated front seats, a new canter storage console, which holds an iPad, and an oversized sunroof will be available. 

The vehicle will be available by the second quarter. Two new powertains are available: a 6-cylinder gasoline and  a 4-cylinder hybrid are available,  enhancing both the horsepower and mpg.

2018 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited

Highlight: The Avalon hybrid, which is considered a lone ranger, is the only green vehicle in the large car segment.

Test Vehicles MSRP: $44,697 (Base MSRP: $38,395)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a vehicle stability system; a traction control system; a pre-collision braking system with pedestrian protection; a radar activated cruise control system; and a tire pressure monitoring system

Detroit's North American International Auto Show: Toyota, Chrysler And Chevy

Rob McConnell, a senior design engineer at Toyota, poses with the 2016 Avalon. As a design engineer, McConnell along with a team of others are responsible from turning a car designers' concept vehicle to an actual production road-ready vehicle. McConnell has his hands in a number of Toyota products. The Avalon was one of the vehicles McConnell had a hand in making a production ready vehicle.

The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica returns with an all-new look and name. While many would know this as a Town and Country, this minivan looks more like a crossover. The new Pacifica will be available as a plug-in hybrid, too with an expecting driving range of 80 miles with just the electricity alone. And a gasoline model will be available too. The new minivan were designed by two women. And the overall design direction of the new minivan was led by Ralph Gilles, the black man responsible for the Chrysler 300.

The 2017 Chevy Cruze Hatch just added an extra door. This hatchback will go up against the Mazda and Honda hatchbacks.

For additional coverage, drive over to Ebony.com.

And for a virtual radio show experience covering the auto show, tune in Saturdays this month to Auto Trends with JeffCars.com on 1280kxeg.com. The show airs at 2:15 p.m. EST/11:15 a.m. PCT.

Toyota Recalling 119,000 Avalons

Report Receipt Date: MAR 27, 2014 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V147000 

Potential Number of Units Affected: 119,140 

Manufacturer: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

SUMMARY

Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Avalon 
vehicles manufactured June 5, 2002, through December 20, 2004. 
In these vehicles, the supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits
are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create 
an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can damage the 
circuits. This could result in an inadvertent deployment of the front 
air bags and/or seat belt pre-tensioners.

Toyota's Manufacturing President Will James: Talks Career, Success, Pressure And Running The First American Plant Slated To Build A Lexus (Video Interview)

JeffCars one-on-one exclusive interview with Toyota's President Wilbert James

Wilbert James oversees what some would consider a small city, Toyota's largest automotive assembly plant in North America. James, who serves as president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Georgetown, Kentucky, is the first and only African American to serve in this role for the Japanese automaker. Ironically, when taking a snapshot of the entire auto industry, only a handful of African Americans have served in the role.

Rob McConnell: Toyota's Young, Bright Shining Star (Video Interview with the Editor)

McConnell is standing next to a tricked-out DUB edition Toyota Avalon.

The editor's one-on-one interview with McConnell

Rob McConnell is one of Toyota's hidden talents. The 35-year old Michigan-based senior design

engineer works at Toyota Technical Center.Yes, he's a senior engineer in his thirties. Just imagine where he'll be in a decade.

The 2013 Avalon Remake: Cool, Sexy And Stylish

 The 2012 Avalon (l) and the 2013 Avalon (r).

Avalon’s Highlights:

The fourth-generation Avalon has been redesigned for the 2013 model year. This is the first Toyota vehicle to be both designed by Americans and built in America. It’s obvious based upon the sexy Sonata-like side exterior profile, which was also designed by an American car designer. This is the first Toyota product to truly offer a wow factor -- as it relates to both style and pizzaz.

2013 Avalon Sheds Conservative Design

3-Year Projected Resale Value of Four Redesigned 2011 Vehicles

At the end of three years, the 2011 Infiniti QX56 is expected to be worth 56%of the original sticker price. Conversely, the average vehicle in the luxury SUV segment is expected to retain 43% of its value at the end of three years.

2011 QX56 MSRP: $56,700- $59,800*

2013 Projected Used Vehicle Value: $20,412-$33,488*

At the end of three years, the 2011 Ford Super Duty  is expected to be worth 49% of the original sticker price. Conversely, the average Heavy-Duty truck is expected to be retain 40% of its value at the end of three years.

2011 Super Duty MSRP: $31,505-$49,055*

2013 Projected Used Vehicle Value: $15,437-$24,037*

At the end of three years, the 2011 Toyota Avalon  is expected to be worth 49% of the original sticker price. Conversely, the average fullsize car is expected to be retain 38% of its value at the end of three years.

2011 Avalon MSRP: $32,445-$35,685*

2013 Projected Used Vehicle Value: $15,898-$17,486*

At the end of three years, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee  is expected to be worth 46% of the original sticker price. Conversely, the average Midsize SUV is expected to be worth 39% of its value at the end of three years.

 2011Grand Cherokee MSRP: $30,215-$41,910*

2013 Projected Used Vehicle Value: $13,899-$19,278*

*Pricing does not include options or destination cost.

Sources: Carprices.com and ALG