Ann Arbor, Mich. - While it may carry the name of an Asian automaker, the 2013 Avalon premium mid-size sedan was designed, engineered and is built in North America, with special emphasis here in the Midwest. The tony enclave of Ann Arbor is home to Toyota's ultra-modern Technology Center and a design/research facility. Both played a critical part in Avalon's all-new third-generation effort.
The Big 10 college town 40 miles west of Detroit also served as a launching point for a day-long test drive of the 2013 Avalon, due in sizeable quantities to Chicago area Toyota dealers just as Santa begins his annual ritual towards the end of December 2012 (can you say intriguing stocking stuffer?)
Toyota's largest and most opulent sedan continues based on a streeeeetched Camry platform. It's qualifies as a 'large mid-size' in the same breath as a Chevrolet Impala or Ford Taurus. For shoppers who've grown up with or driven Camrys (a vast number since Camry has ranked at or near the top of America's best-selling car annually for nearly two decades) Avalon qualifies as an aspirational vehicle. Yes, Toyota has a wide assortment of luxury sheet metal within the walls of its Lexus luxury division, but many folks simply enjoy the comradary of specific brands (and cars shoppers tend towards a brand-loyal bunch). For this lot, the nicely refined 2013 Avalon delivers.
"With its captivating combination of stunning design, sensational performance and comfortable hi-tech interior, the new Avalon will be seen in a different light by consumers and become a benchmark for the segment," according to Bill Fay, Group Vice President and General Manager, Toyota Division.
The front-wheel-drive 2013 four-door Avalon comes with four trim level offerings: XLE, XLE Premium, XLE Touring and up-market Limited; a slight tweak from 2012 where two trims were available. Helping to simplify the transaction process, only the Limited trim offers option packages with a select number of a-la-carte options in the remaining trims. All come with Toyota's well tested 3.5-liter V-6 engine cranking out 268 horses connected to an advanced six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy falls in the 21 mpg city, 31 highway, a nice tweak upward from the 2012's 19 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
Starting price for an XLE is $30,990, about $2,200 less than a base 2012 edition. In addition to more leg room than Camry, the 2013 Avalon is the first Toyota sedan to offer blind spot monitoring with cross traffic alert.
Also for 2013, the new third-generation effort is the first to offer a gas-electric hybrid edition. This design never needs wall socket plug-in assistance since the battery pack continually self charges through an in-vehicle generator. This hybrid model also provides a bit more engine punch since dual technologies work in tandem (with a net horsepower of 200). While it may seem counter intuitive, hybrid engines accomplish more than just fuel savings. These systems actually increase performance especially at lower speeds. The hybrid model (with a smaller, 2.5-liter four cylinder gas engine combined with a 244.8-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack) is projected to generate 20 percent of Avalon's anticipated total sales of 70,000 units in 2013. The fuel estimate of the 2013 Avalon hybrid is 40 mpg city, 39 mpg highway.
Avalon Hybrids comes in three trims with the entry XLE Premium starting at $35,555. This marks one of the smallest price differences between a base V-6 model and its hybrid derivative in the entire Toyota lineup.
Assembly takes place at Toyota's sprawling assembly campus in Georgetown Kentucky near Lexington. Avalon, designed specifically for U.S. tastes, gets delivered to a limited number of export markets including the Middle East and South Korea. Japan's largest automaker also assembles the Camry sedan and Venza five-door hatchback in Georgetown.
Deservedly so, the
2013 Toyota Avalon remains in contention as one of 11 remaining cars for the prestigious North American Car of the Year given out every January at the start of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
"The interior team at the Kentucky plant will handcraft the instrument panel on sewing machines to create tailor-made stitching for an upscale look and feel," Fay added. Push-button start comes standard. The ventilation system encompasses what Toyota dubs 'IntelliTouch switches," a pressure-touch sensitive layout with flat surfacing not unlike the controls on most microwave ovens. The stretched Camry generates more leg room in back, so three adults can easily fit. Ten air bags now come standard.
Another new feature especially attractive to tech-heads or anyone with ever shrinking portable electronics is Avalon's Electronic Storage Bin (aka. eBin) below the IntelliTouch vent controls that's home to cell and smart phones with nearby audio jack and USB ports. Best of all, the unit slides forward out of sight, when so desired.
Fair or not, Toyota has developed a reputation (at least with family sedans) of tending towards a conservative; some call it 'vanilla' flavor of exterior styling. This third-generation effort, however, sports a more sculptured exterior when compared to the more stately first-generation incarnation debuting in 1995. Toyota predicts this athletic expression theme will bring the average age of Avalon buyers from its current mid 60s range down to a target demographic between 40 and 60 years of age, 10 years younger than the segment average. Another marketing first for Avalon is it's the first Toyota vehicle utilizing the new division tag line "Let's Go Places," replacing the "Moving Forward" theme.
The side belt line for 2013 is lowered and joins a longer flowing roofline. Overall length is reduced by about an inch from 2012 while front and rear overhangs have also been trimmed a bit. The new exterior reduces the coefficient of drag, helping fuel economy and road stability. In front, the bottom air dam increases in size while the traditional grille is narrow with an elongated "V" design. Narrow headline housing sports a stepped, eagle-eye design. Nine different exterior colors are available. Long, deep trunk space with the conventional V-6 engine absorbs 16.0 cubic feet (up from 2012). The fuel tank holds 17 gallons of regular, 87-octane fuel.
Avalon qualifies more as a luxury riding vehicle rather than a lower-to-the-ground sports sedan. While behind the wheel of the V-6 gas version, it became apparent that Avalon handles well while cornering aggressively, flattening around turns while minimizing driver and passenger body lean. The unibody construction is 12 percent more ridged overall than the outgoing model thanks in part to a higher percentage of high-tensile steel.
With its stretched mid-size Camry platform, the 2013 Avalon (gas version) is also staking a new claim, for the first time, in the prestigious livery and chauffeured transportation market. This is an untapped market for Toyota, but with the recent retirement of Ford's long-running Grand Victoria sedan, a favorite of the industry, Avalon foresees a potential of an additional sales and allure finding itself in competition with such rivals the Lincoln MKT, Chrysler 300 and Cadillac XTS.
2013 Toyota Avalon
Starting price: $30,990
Wheelbase: 111.0 inches
Length: 195.2 inches
Width: 72.2 inches
Height: 57.5 inches
Engine: 3.5-liter V-6
Horsepower: 268
Curb weight: 3,461 pounds
Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000
City/Highway economy: 21 mpg city, 31 mpg highway
Assembly: Georgetown, Kentucky