2021 Toyota Avalon

The entry-level Avalon XLE has LED headlights and taillights, 17-inch painted alloy wheels, and heated side door mirrors with a manual adjustment and integrated turn signal indicators. The XSE adds 19-inch alloy wheels and a power moonroof. A new XLE Nightshade model arrived for 2021 and has a blacked-out grille, a black spoiler, and black badging. You can also step up to the Limited, which has 18-inch chrome wheels, or to the TRD, which builds on the XSE with 19-inch matte black wheels, a rear diffuser with red accents, a black front splitter, and black side-skirts. The Avalon Touring has an adaptive suspension, and it comes with active noise control.

The front-wheel drive Avalon has a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that makes 301 horsepower and works with an 8-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is now available for the 2021 Avalon and comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine that develops 205 horsepower.

The ride in the Avalon is smooth and comfortable, and with the new all-wheel drive option, it offers better traction on slippery roads. The standard V-6 engine has plenty of power to efficiently get the large car up to cruising speed, and the 8-speed does an excellent job moving through the gears. The TRD model's lower ride height and stiffened suspension add a sporty feel while keeping the comfort.

Inside, the Avalon's roomy cabin fits five passengers, and everyone has space to spread out. The trunk has 16.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and the rear seats feature a 60/40 split and fold down if you need to haul long items. You'll get suede inserts for the seats in the XSE trim, with leather upholstery added to the Limited and above. Heated front seats come in all trims with heated rear seats added to the Limited, which also has a heated steering wheel. Standard technology features in the 2021 Avalon include a 9-inch touch screen display, satellite radio, Toyota's infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa, and an 8-speaker stereo system. A Wi-Fi hot spot is available for the XLE, and you can also get a 14-speaker JBL stereo and wireless charging.

Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 suite of advanced safety features comes standard in all Avalon models. It has a pre-collision system with automatic braking and pedestrian detection, a lane-departure warning feature that includes steering assist, and automatic high beam headlights. A full-speed adaptive cruise control system is also part of Safety Sense. Bumping up to the Limited adds the option for the Advanced Safety Package with a surround-view camera, rear cross-traffic braking, and front and rear parking sensors.