Toyota Avalon flagship sedan revamped for comfort and safety
Bob Plunkett
Date Posted: 5/10/2005
|
DALLAS, Tex. -- Driving down Oak Lawn Avenue through a trendy commercial district of Dallas with its multi-lane congestion and multiple stoplights impeding our forward progress, linear movement seems like only an incidental concern while encased in the velvet comforts of Toyota's ultimate sedan, the Avalon flagship.
Its ride quality feels so smooth, the comforts stack so deep and the quiet factor resonates so keenly that steering and braking and other physical acts of automotive propulsion diminish as simply so many rote distractions.
But that's the Toyota car magic working on Avalon, Toyota's biggest sedan, which has been restructured and rebuilt for the issues of year 2000 with concerns for personal safety and passenger comfort foremost in mind.
As Toyota's expansion idea drawn from the mid-size Camry, America's favorite four-door, the Avalon delivers more of every asset inherent in Camry -- more room, more comforts, more security, even more power. With seats for as many as six riders inside and a big back seat with plenty of legroom, the Kentucky-built sedan expands the structure of Camry and shares some components, including a V6 engine.
Changes for the new issues at first blush appear subtle, yet time behind the driver's wheel reveals a refined sedan with substantial improvements that elevate this Avalon to the threshold of luxury.
The generational make-over for year 2000 results in improved performance, more safety gear aboard and fresh exterior styling points applied.
Powerplant in the new Avalon adopts an intelligent variable valve timing system to produce more muscle but also improve fuel economy and lower emissions.
The 3.0-liter V6 now delivers 210 hp with an increase of ten hp, and as much as 220 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm.
Fuel economy estimates reach to 21 mpg for city driving and 29 mpg on the road.
A new electronically controlled Active Control Mount (ACM) cradles the engine and reduces idle vibration.
When linked with superior insulating properties of dense materials that surround Avalon's passenger compartment, the noise and vibration control system effectively isolates the cabin and delivers a caliber of quietness which approaches that of the Lexus brand, Toyota's upscale line.
That factor of quietness is beguiling: It's such a muted environment inside the Avalon that you could easily forget you're encased in an automobile that's thrust into the tumult of traffic and urban street confusion.
No other automaker has mastered the control of noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) quite like Toyota, thanks first to the lessons learned in developing the Lexus cars and now apparently applying the same techniques and controls to the lead Toyota sedan.
Fresh styling for the exterior package with streamlining also contributes to Avalon's quality of quietness, as the car is so sleek it cuts through air with better efficiency.
With the cab-forward format, Avalon's windshield was moved forward and canted back to create an acute slope up to the raised roofline, as the A-pillars were smoothed, side mirrors reshaped for better aerodynamic efficiency and front wiper blades recessed below the hoodline.
The sealing system for all doors gained insulating elements in the redo, as the glass for side windows was thickened to provide a larger layer of insulation against external noise from wind and traffic.
Toyota's big car was also expanded slightly in size for the new models.
The overall width grew by an inch, which brought a little more space for shoulders of passengers inside and on the outside added linear breadth to the styling.
Further, the roof was raised to gain almost an inch more headroom.
With a taller vertical structure for the passenger compartment, seats could be set higher to enhance the position of riders. You end up sitting in an erect position, which feels more comfortable but also improves visibility beyond the car.
For the rear seat, the bench was pushed back by half an inch to boost legroom.
At the front of the cabin, the instrument panel moved forward by four inches. This opened up the front area and allowed instruments to be reset in a better position in front of the driver so less eye movement is required to shift focus from the road ahead to the gauges at hand.
Safety systems to protect Avalon's occupants also increased in quantity and quality with the new design.
Passive safety measures include a reinforced structure with crumple zones to absorb and diffuse energy from a sudden impact along predictable paths but also deflect the force away from the passenger compartment.
Dual frontal air bags plus side-impact air bags are installed for both front seats, along with seatbelts that contain force limiters and pretensioners.
An optional new mechanical device also relates to safety because it can correct bad pavement behavior automatically without steering or braking assistance from a driver. The vehicle skid controller, which connects to anti-lock brakes and a traction regulator, blocks potentially dangerous understeer or oversteer of the vehicle during a sharp turning maneuver by applying selective braking to one or more wheels to bring the car back into a safe and stable forward line.
Both of Avalon's trim levels, XL and XLS, may be equipped with either twin front bucket seats or a three-person front bench with the seatback split in half.
Deluxe standard equipment on both editions ranges from new dual controls for the climate system to a premium JBL audio system and one-touch up and down power movements for the driver's window.
New convenience features include power door locks with automatic locking function, revamped cupholders for front and back seats, a center console for models with bucket seats that has more interior space plus a 12-volt power point, an automatic trunk release in the revamped glove compartment, and a small pass-through door tucked behind the back bench's folding armrest that allows extra long items like skis or fishing rods to fit inside the vehicle.
Avalon's new price structure extends from about $26,000 to $34,000, with the XLS listing for $30,105 and a package of plush features like leather upholstery and heated seats running close to $2,000 more.
|
| 2000 TOYOTA AVALON VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS |
| Description: |
Full-size sedan
|
| Model Options: |
Full-size sedan
|
| Wheelbase: |
107.1 inches
|
| Overall Length: |
191.9 inches
|
| Engine Size: |
DOHC 3.0-L V6
|
| Transmission: |
Auto/4
|
| Drive: |
Front
|
| Braking: |
Power 4-disc/ABS
|
| Airbags: |
2 (front) + 2 (side)
|
| Gas Mileage: |
21/29 mpg
|
| MSRP Price: |
$ 26,000 to $ 34,000 |
|
|
|
The Big Lot! is dedicated to privacy, security, and service. Read our Privacy Policy.