2021 Toyota Avalon: Review, Trims, Specs, Price, New Interior Features, Exterior Design, and Specifications

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2021 Toyota Avalon Review: Economical Comfort To a T

by Aiden Eksteen

Automakers typically offer their flagship cars with the best powertrains they have in their ranges and specify and equip them with creature comforts, conveniences, and technologies generously. But it's only now, coming into 2021, that Toyota's Avalon is being presented with a new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and, most notably, an all-wheel drivetrain, a first for the flagship nameplate. This is also the first year that the Avalon sedan comes standard with Android Auto functionality.

With these significant updates, the Avalon is more appealing than it's ever been before and is positioned favorably alongside competitors such as the Chevrolet Impala, Chrysler 300, and Dodge Charger. Toyota devotees now get to choose between the familiar 3.5-liter V6 unit dialed for 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque and the new 2.5-liter 4-cylinder unit that's dialed 205 hp and 185 lb-ft.

Read in this review:

Exterior Design 8 /10
Performance 7 /10
Fuel Economy 7 /10
Interior & Cargo 9 /10
Infotainment & Features 8 /10
Reliability 10 /10
Safety 9 /10
Value For Money 8 /10

8.2

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2021 Toyota Avalon Changes: What’s The Difference vs The 2020 Toyota Avalon?

Toyota implemented a handful of meaningful enhancements to the Avalon lineup for 2021. The most compelling of these is the option of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that's accompanied by an all-wheel drivetrain for the XLE and Limited trims. The brand has also finally decided to install Android Auto functionality, which now comes standard on every trim. Up-to-date USB-C charging ports have also been installed to every trim, too. There are new summer tire options and new exterior colors made available for the TRD, while the XSE Hybrid, Touring, and Limited get fresh interior hues. A new XSE Nightshade Edition has been added to the range, which is based on the XSE trim. It features blacked-out exterior bits such as the mirror caps, rear spoiler, grille, and unique badging, as well black-painted 19-inch alloy wheels.

Pros and Cons

Sublime handling and ride quality
Impressive fuel economy returns
Commodious and featureful interior
Practical and expansive trunk space
Good safety rating
Toyota-derived reliability expectations

Comparatively high price to entry
Polarizing, overly sporty aesthetic
TRD variant isn't very fulfilling

Best Deals on 2021 Toyota Avalon

2021 Toyota Avalon Limited

$36,490

37,793 miles

Fair Deal

Average price

2021 Toyota Avalon XLE

$27,988

49,456 miles

Fair Deal

Average price

2021 Toyota Avalon Limited

$38,998

36,799 miles

2021 Toyota Avalon Limited

$38,998

43,194 miles

Fair Deal

$3,200 above

See All Avalon For Sale

2021 Toyota Avalon Trims

See trim levels and configurations:

Trim	Engine	Transmission	Drivetrain	Price (MSRP)
XLE	2.5L Inline-4 Gas 3.5L V6 Gas	8-Speed Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive All-Wheel Drive	$36,125
Hybrid XLE	2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid	Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)	Front-Wheel Drive	$37,100
XSE Nightshade	3.5L V6 Gas	8-Speed Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive	$39,360
Hybrid XSE	2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid	Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)	Front-Wheel Drive	$39,600
Limited	2.5L Inline-4 Gas 3.5L V6 Gas	8-Speed Automatic	Front-Wheel Drive All-Wheel Drive	$42,425

See All 2021 Toyota Avalon Trims and Specs

2021 Avalon Exterior

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Dimensions

Length 195.9 in
Wheelbase 113.0 in
Height 56.5 in
Max Width 72.8 in
Front Width 63.0 in
Rear Width 63.6 in
Curb Weight 3,570.0 lbs

Exterior Colors

Celestial Silver Metallic
Midnight Black Metallic
Blueprint
Wind Chill Pearl
Ruby Flare Pearl
Harbor Gray Metallic
Supersonic Red
Opulent Amber
Ice Edge/Midnight Black Metallic
Wind Chill Pearl/Midnight Black Metallic

2021 Avalon Performance

Engine and Transmission

Engines

2.5L Inline-4 Gas, 2.5L Inline-4 Hybrid, 3.5L V6 Gas
Transmissions

8-Speed Automatic, Continuously Variable Automatic (CVT)
Drivetrains

AWD, FWD

2021 Avalon Interior

See All 2021 Toyota Avalon Interior Photos

Seating and Interior Space

Seating capacity

5-seater

Front Leg Room 42.1 in
Front Head Room 38.5 in
Rear Leg Room 40.3 in
Rear Head Room 37.9 in

2021 Avalon Trunk and Cargo Space

Trunk Volume

16.1 ft³

2021 Avalon Safety and Reliability

Warranty

Basic:
3 Years \ 36,000 Miles
Drivetrain:
5 Years \ 60,000 Miles
Corrosion:
5 Years \ Unlimited Miles
Roadside Assistance:
2 Years \ Unlimited Miles
Maintenance:
2 Years \ 25,000 Miles

US NHTSA Crash Test Result

Overall Rating
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Side Crash Rating
Rollover Rating

Verdict: Is the 2021 Toyota Avalon A Good sedan?

Despite its aggressively sporty aesthetic, the 2021 Toyota Avalon is to no extent a performance vehicle. Even in TRD guise is it just a pleasant and refined cruiser with no real level of sporting potential. It's more of a pragmatic 4-door family sedan that delivers a tranquil and luxurious ride quality and returns surprisingly good gas mileage. It presents occupants with a commodious cabin space brimming with fanciful creature comforts, conveniences, and advanced driver-assist features and safety equipment. This year, Toyota has conceivably sealed the deal by introducing Android Auto to the Avalon as standard fare, along with an AWD setup. To top it all off, the car boasts an outstanding crashworthiness and safety review for the 2021 Toyota Avalon from both the NHTSA and the IIHS. Many of Toyota's cars are very popular throughout the USA, and that's for good reason. The Japanese automaker simply packs a phenomenal amount of value into its cars and the 2021 Avalon upholds this assertion validly.

What Toyota Avalon Model Should I Buy?

If you admire the Avalon's design aesthetic and want to embellish on the macho sporty styling, then we'd suggest looking at either the XSE Nightshade edition or the TRD model. Otherwise, if you want to get the most out of the 2021 Toyota Avalon sedan's price, the Touring is the one to go for. It comes in at only $300 less than the TRD model, but instead of augmenting on the looks, it compounds on the Avalon's luxurious qualities. It comes equipped with an adaptive suspension that further improves its already plush ride quality, both front seats are installed with heating and ventilation functionalities, and the infotainment system is upgraded with a premium JBL sound system.