2019 Toyota Avalon
07-18-17, 08:49 PM
#16
I test drove a 2017 Avalon a few weeks ago. I immediately ruled it out... not enough drivers leg room. With that extra car length you think they would give a little to the driver? Heck no, same leg room as a Camry.
Otherwise it was a nice car with lots of superflous toys. The ride in the rx450h I ended up buying is much nicer.
Otherwise it was a nice car with lots of superflous toys. The ride in the rx450h I ended up buying is much nicer.
07-19-17, 12:00 AM
#17
Lexus Test Driver
Looks promising. The body shape appears brawny, athletic, and substantial. The only things that could ruin it is an overly-obnoxious grille ontop of an already obnoxious grille, a dumpy butt/no trunk (appears to be okay here), or another out of place tabletop dashboard similar to the one today. Note only two of the exhaust tips are dirty, hinting fake pipes or flaps that haven't opened up d a whole lot.
Very much looking forward to this and the new ES. Toyota/Lexus is one of the last brands offering us sedans that look like sedans and not cheapened hatchbacks... I greatly want to support the company.
Very much looking forward to this and the new ES. Toyota/Lexus is one of the last brands offering us sedans that look like sedans and not cheapened hatchbacks... I greatly want to support the company.
07-19-17, 05:28 AM
#18
Lexus Fanatic
I'm sure it will be a nice car, does Toyota have any plans on targeting a younger buyer? Also, unless people don't know/don't care (BMW says this about the X1), imho there are serious limitations to FWD cars so there should be a cap on what someone would pay for one (I think maybe 31k, 35 tops). Having never owned a Toyota or a Honda, I would like to own one. That's why it's disappointing to finally have seen the new Camry and Accord come out.
07-19-17, 07:13 AM
#19
Pole Position
This isn't the 1990s. Kia has made enormous advances in the last 15-20 years, and, today, is turning out some the best products available for the money, especially in exterior/interior hardware, fit/finish, and the solid way they are screwed together. In fact, IMO, cheap lightweight interior plastic hardware was one of the major problems of the last Avalon redesign, for 2014 (along with a too-stiff-ride for most of its typical buyers)...but Toyota addressed at least some of that with the 2016 mid-generation refreshening.
Yes, I'd say about 10 years or so ago was when Hyundai and Kia products finally got their act together. But, at least from my experience in reviews, the improvements actually started in the late 90s and early 2000s....between 15 and 20 years ago. That was basically what I was referring to. Today, I'm actually more impressed with them, in a number of ways, than I am with Toyota or Honda....the traditional quality-leaders.
07-19-17, 08:08 AM
#20
Pole Position
In the U.S., of course (and perhaps some other countries), it gets competition from its own brother Lexus ES....which handily outsells it.
This isn't the 1990s. Kia has made enormous advances in the last 15-20 years, and, today, is turning out some the best products available for the money, especially in exterior/interior hardware, fit/finish, and the solid way they are screwed together. In fact, IMO, cheap lightweight interior plastic hardware was one of the major problems of the last Avalon redesign, for 2014 (along with a too-stiff-ride for most of its typical buyers)...but Toyota addressed at least some of that with the 2016 mid-generation refreshening.
This isn't the 1990s. Kia has made enormous advances in the last 15-20 years, and, today, is turning out some the best products available for the money, especially in exterior/interior hardware, fit/finish, and the solid way they are screwed together. In fact, IMO, cheap lightweight interior plastic hardware was one of the major problems of the last Avalon redesign, for 2014 (along with a too-stiff-ride for most of its typical buyers)...but Toyota addressed at least some of that with the 2016 mid-generation refreshening.
07-19-17, 08:19 AM
#23
Pole Position
We we didn't intend to buy all LG everything, rather it just sort of turned out that way.
07-19-17, 08:31 AM
#24
Lexus Fanatic
Not really. Toyota has done very well that the last 25 years. They are pretty much a "full line" manufacturer in the United States. I think they sell about 2.5 million vehicles. GM is around 3 million I believe. Hyundai/Kia are around 1.5 million but the prices are nowhere near the asking price of some Toyota, Lexus, or GM products.
07-19-17, 08:37 AM
#25
Lexus Champion
I test drove a 2017 Avalon a few weeks ago. I immediately ruled it out... not enough drivers leg room. With that extra car length you think they would give a little to the driver? Heck no, same leg room as a Camry.
Otherwise it was a nice car with lots of superflous toys. The ride in the rx450h I ended up buying is much nicer.
Otherwise it was a nice car with lots of superflous toys. The ride in the rx450h I ended up buying is much nicer.
07-19-17, 10:54 AM
#26
07-20-17, 02:07 AM
#27
^ I don't think Honda is falling behind with their mainstream Honda products(except in styling IMO, but that hasn't effected sales) Acura is a different story though, they're way behind the times in terms of luxury cars IMO.
Anybody who has driven the new Civic loves the way it drives, the tight build quality, great handling. The real game changer for the new Civic though is all the extra room, the refinment/quietness, and its actually quick, something that could never be said of past Civics.
Getting back on topic, for the new Avalon, I'd like them to make it a bit more traditional, a bit boxier, don't go for that stupid sloping rear roof line that compromises rear headroom, makes the back glass/package tray way too huge, and makes the trunk opening tiny. Boxier, more upright doesn't have to be boring IMO, get creative here. Everybody else is doing swoopy fastback nonsense that compromises room, buck the trend here Toyota.
I still think the best Avalon was the 2000-2004 2nd generation. Staggering amounts of room in that car, front seat, back seat, trunk, great visibility, huge windows, plus it was whisper quiet and rode like whipped cream. Quality was great as well, interior was nicer than the crap 3rd gen car that replaced it, IMO the interior in that 2nd gen Avalon is still nicer than the current car in a lot of respects.
Anybody who has driven the new Civic loves the way it drives, the tight build quality, great handling. The real game changer for the new Civic though is all the extra room, the refinment/quietness, and its actually quick, something that could never be said of past Civics.
Getting back on topic, for the new Avalon, I'd like them to make it a bit more traditional, a bit boxier, don't go for that stupid sloping rear roof line that compromises rear headroom, makes the back glass/package tray way too huge, and makes the trunk opening tiny. Boxier, more upright doesn't have to be boring IMO, get creative here. Everybody else is doing swoopy fastback nonsense that compromises room, buck the trend here Toyota.
I still think the best Avalon was the 2000-2004 2nd generation. Staggering amounts of room in that car, front seat, back seat, trunk, great visibility, huge windows, plus it was whisper quiet and rode like whipped cream. Quality was great as well, interior was nicer than the crap 3rd gen car that replaced it, IMO the interior in that 2nd gen Avalon is still nicer than the current car in a lot of respects.
Last edited by Aron9000; 07-20-17 at 02:12 AM.
07-20-17, 06:54 AM
#28
I think a comparison between the Avalon and the new Accord will be interesting. The new Accord has 2" more leg room than the current one so it should be close to the Avalon in space. They have similar fastback rooflines so headroom issues are likely to be similar. Honda says they have improved interior quality, and the Touring even has wood trim on the dash. No V-6 for the Accord, but it does have a 10 speed auto.
Steve
Steve
07-20-17, 07:06 AM
#29
Lexus Fanatic
07-20-17, 07:15 AM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
Wow....Sharp, what a blast from the past, they were at one time on top of the game with Aquos. Panasonic? On top with VHS. No offense if it turns out nobody even knows what that acronym is for. Because if you asked around in an office today, I would say up to about 50% have never used a CD, although more than 50% of that group will say their parents have them.