The Toyota Avalon is a well-educated young hotshot of an executive family sedan, fresh out of college and ready to make its mark upon the world.  But it’s got some healthy, well-seeded competition from Buick, Oldsmobile, and Mercury.  Does the new kid on the block have what it takes?

Moving into the big family sedan market, long one dominated by American manufacturers, was a bold move for Toyota.  Introduced in late 1994, the Avalon faced familiar names like the Buick Century, Pontiac Grand Prix, and Mercury Sable, and the family sedan buyer is not one known to embrace things new and radical.  The Avalon did well, however, and for 2000 it received its first complete redesign.  The second-generation Avalon is the first Toyota to be classified as a domestic automobile, for those who are paying attention.  In addition to the new skin, the new car is wider and more spacious inside.  Finally, the Avalon can be considered the equal of its oh-so-very American competition.

The new exterior design is definitely eyecatching.  Compared to some of its conservative competitors, it seems a little over the top, even.   The angular face of the ECHO seems to have been stretched out and chromed up for the Avalon, which has a sharply vee’d nose and a toothy chrome grille up front.  The car has a high beltline, and the trunk is abruptly short, much stubbier than the Avalon’s competition.  The look takes some getting used to.  We didn’t really warm to it during the Avalon’s stay with us.

Inside, refinement is the Avalon’s watchword.  Wide, comfortable bucket seats greet driver and front passenger, and a black panel runs from wall to wall on the instrument panel, housing all of the instruments and displays.  The first car to pop to mind upon seeing the long strip of gauges and readouts is the ’93 Honda Prelude, with its UFO dashboard…but the second is a General Motors product from the Sixties.  Imagine ribbed and chromed stainless steel in place of that black plastic with and you’ll see what we mean.  The center console is large.  The multi-info display center in the middle of the dash has a large, easy-to-scan readout which gives the standard trip computer information.  The central placement makes it convenient for driver or passenger to use the display, as well.  Dual climate control, a double sun visor, and a JBL premium sound system are all par for the course in full-size sedans, and they’re present in the Avalon as well.  An interesting innovation is an AC outled in the back of the console.  A laptop computer or other electronic device can be plugged in, allowing back seat passengers to work on the road.

A short drive leaves us wondering why the Avalon isn’t a Lexus instead of a Toyota, in terms of refinement.  The Avalon is vault-quiet and solid on the road.  The 3.0 liter V6 makes 210 horsepower, which is just adequate for a car this size.  It doesn’t struggle to get up to speed, but it’s no closet racer, either.  Toyota’s Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i) valvetrain enables the engine to make the most of its power, by changing the amount of valve lift to increase power and fuel economy, but the Avalon is happiest once it’s up to speed.

The ride will stay as serene as possible, too.  Out of sight, special coatings and rocker panel trim have been designed to reduce stone clatter underneath the car.  Keeping the wheels on the road is the optional Vehicle Skid Control (VSC) system, which was never triggered during our stay.  The Avalon also features Toyota’s Brake Assist system, which automatically applies full braking power during emergency braking.

Available in XL and XLS models, the Avalon starts at $29,755.  About the only thing keeping it from being a Lexus is the standard equipment level, which is more in line with Mercury or Oldsmobile.  Stepping up to the XLS model, the JBL sound system becomes standard, and the option list widens.  Options on the XLS include a driver’s memory seat, a moonroof, the rear seat AC outlet, and a CD changer.  Our test car featured all of the above, and stickered for $34,242.

The Avalon knows how to be a Buick.  What it needs to do is learn how to be itself as well.  What’s present in the Toyota’s domestic competition but lacking in the Avalon is a hard-to-place sense of history.  Your father or grandfather never owned an Avalon, but he might have had a Buick or an Oldsmobile or a Mercury, and in a quiet little way that means something.  No matter how well-appointed, the Avalon still feels like the newbie of the group.  But with a few years, that will certainly change.\

Specifications:

All specs are for the 2000 Toyota Avalon XLS, which we tested.

Length:    191.9 in
Width:        71.7 in
Height:        57.9 in
Wheelbase:    107.1 in
Curb weight:    3439 lb
Cargo space:    15.9 cu. ft.
Base price:    $29,755
Price as tested: $34,242

Engine:    3.0 liter V6 with VVT-i
Drivetrain:     four-speed automatic, front wheel drive
Horsepower:    210 @ 5800 rpm
Torque:    220 @ 4400 rpm
Fuel capacity:    18.5 gal
Est. mileage:    21/29

6/2009 update:  The Avalon was definitely a hit, pragmatically if not aesthetically.  They’re solid cars–big Camrys basically–and they aren’t easy to find used.