Although the Toyota Avalon has always been known as a pretty dependable sedan, it has always appealed to the older crowd more, while younger drivers have sought a vehicle with more edge in its appearance and its performance. Now Toyota has taken some steps to change this fact for drivers, and the result of their efforts is a decidedly more appealing car to look at, and to drive.
The Altered Interior
Most of the interior changes have been for the sake of improved style, rather than improve functionality. The roof has been lowered slightly making it a little more cramped to climb into, but there is still plenty of headroom after you are inside the vehicle. The rear seat has been slid forward slightly to accommodate for a lower sloped roof in the back of the vehicle, but although you lose a marginal amount of foot space, you are going to gain that space in your trunk which will make storage even better than it was before.
The interior is also more appealing to look at, with a high quality leather, and faux leather finish that gives it an upscale appearance. Even the cup holders, and parts of the dash are coated in faux leather. The bright halo light gauges and touchscreens add a nice modern touch to the Avalon while also allowing more control over technology while you are driving. It is possible to connect a cell phone via the Bluetooth function to talk to other people over your radio. It is also possible to use your smartphone apps right on the media screen within the Avalon.
Another nice feature of the 2013 Avalon is just how whisper quiet it is to operate while driving down the road. All of the engine noise, as well as the exterior noises have been dampened nicely, so you can enjoy your favorite CD without being disturbed.
Improved Performance
Although the Avalon sticks with the same engine that previous models have come with, it still performs much better than previous editions of the vehicle. Not only has the gear system been modified to make accelerating and switching between different gears a smoother process, but the overall handling of the vehicle has been improved as well. The electrically boosted steering system is snappier than it was before, and makes taking sharp corners enjoyable in the new Avalon.
There are three different performance modes in the new Avalon, and they allow you to achieve a higher level of control in your car than you would have had before. The Eco mode will reduce the responsiveness of the throttle so that you speed up slower and boost fuel economy. It also throws you into high gear earlier than the other modes, and reduces overall AC compression to boost fuel economy as much as possible. The sport mode will make the throttle even more responsive than normal so that you will feel like the vehicle is faster than before. The car will stick to lower gears more often, and the steering will tighten up to give you a feeling of more control than before.
Overall the new Avalon looks more modern, more powerful, and it is much more enjoyable to drive than it was before. It is no longer a vehicle that will be skipped over by the younger generation, and that is a good thing for Toyota.
