2005-2007 Toyota Avalon

maxhonda99

From the thecarconnection.com spy pics you can also tell the high creases which run into the grille are similar to the B&W picture posted above in a earlier post.

reliability

alan_s,

Taking a second look at that picture and the TCC link/Picture(Camoflauged), that was the the new(2005/2006) Avalon I saw back in August merging onto the 110 FRWY-South. The picture I saw did not detail the rear end as much as it did the front end. But in retrospect, that is the car isaw in a Silver color that day!!!

dmorthole

Everywhere I read, I see that the Avalon's rear seat legroom is about 40 inches. Also, I always see the LS's is about 37.5 inches. Everywhere I'm reading about the new Avalon, it says the rear seat legroom will grow to the LS's.

Increasing from 40.1 inches to 37.6 inches?
Assuming the front seats are in the "default" position.

fin

You are not the only person to read of these inconsistent measurements. Best to actually sit in both cars to see for yourself. First, adjust the front seat so it is comfortable for you. Then move to the rear seat behind it. Try this in both cars and the legroom comparison will be obvious. It does not matter how tall you are.

Answer: The current model Avalon wins. You are right.....

toycash

That black and white picture is accurate. Dealers were shown the car at the national dealer meeting earlier this week.

mcardle

Any indication of msrp? I'm hoping this car doesn't creep too high...

toycash

Similarly equipped they shouldn't go up much, but the '05 is going to offer a lot more options, and new trim levels.

gijoe2

looking at the black and white photo, that is a wood steering wheel. A dealer I know confirms he saw the wood steering wheel at the Vegas meeting, and that the car will be offered with perforated leather heated and cooled seats.

pmcb48

Was that B&W picture from an internal Toyota communication? I hope the Nav system is more viewable and doesn't need that awkward remote to operate it. On the whole, I like the styling very much; the younger crowd can stampede to the new Chrysler 300A/B/C if they want to.

fndlyfmrflyr

This almost senior citizen Avalon owner likes the 300C, especially the Hemi. Roomy like my Avalon and drives well too. Like the added cargo room of the Dodge version (Magnum is a Wagon body). If the new Avalon is as big inside (the trunk too) as my old Avalon and the nav unit is voice activated it will probably be my first choice.

johnclineii

But, if you really like the added cargo volume in the Dodge Magnum, you probably ought to check out the Ford Five Hundred as well. The trunk of that thing holds EIGHT golf bags. And the back seat is cavernous!

alpha01

the Ford Five Hundred comes not even close to the next Avalon or the Dodge offerings. Style is also lacking, IMO, but thats purely subjective. The Avalon will likely have a more nicely appointed interior, I think the Five Hundreds is step in the right direction for Ford.... but not really better than the Accord EX V6 or Camry XLE interiors. Ford skimped on cutting edge instrumentation, as well providing cloth/leather inserts on the doors, for example..

~alpha

fndlyfmrflyr

The 500 is bigger on the outside than my old style Avalon and does not appear to perform as well. The Dodge has an eye catching style to me, and plenty of power in the hemi version. I like having a 'way back' for the dog.

If the new Avalon performs better than mine (it should), is at least as roomy (probably), just as comfortable and economical to operate, and has voice activation (nav, radio, and A/C system) similar to the Prius it will be hard not to replace my Avalon with a new one.

alan_s

Guys, purleeeeze. Not disrespecting anyone - you are all entitled to your opinion, but Chrysler has taken a 25-year step backward with it's latest brick-on-wheels, not to mention it's disposable transmissions that self-destruct at 37K miles and general reliability or lack thereof that doesn't even come close to Toyota's - Benz bits or no Benz. I speak with unfortunate experience! Toyotas may be boring but they generally don't fall apart after 3 summers.
I think the new Infiniti M35 may be an interesting competitor for the new Avalon as well as the new GS300 with it's 250hp 3 liter... Hopefully the Avalon will be less expensive than either.

motownusa

Excellent point. My personal hunch is that within 2 to 3 years you will be able to buy a Chrysler 300C for around 25K. Just like the new Ford T-Bird, people are going to go Ooh and Aahh for a couple of years; after the novelty wears off, they will be sitting in the dealer's lot gathering dust. Daimler Chrysler's long term reliability is a joke.

Kirstie_H

Please stick to discussing potential future Avalons - there are plenty of News & Views topics in which to speculate about the future of Chrysler.

jp48

Want to have a little fun "rampant speculation"-wise? Go to www.autozine.kyul.net/html/Toyota4.htm
and scroll down to "Toyota Crown." Have a look at the front ends of the two Crowns shown ("Athlete" and "Majesta"). Scroll down further to the profile shot of the Athlete. Then, pull up "The Car Connection" spyshots of the new Avalon, adjust your windows to provide a side-by-side comparison, and enjoy. Maybe you're all ahead of me with this; but I found the comparison interesting and instructive. Draw your own conclusions.

cove148

Here is additional pictures of the Toyota Athlete,
if you scroll through the specs, you can get great pictures of the cockpit, inside and front and rear views. It does fit the outline of the car connection spyshots.
http://www.batfa.com/new_car_toyota_crown_athlete.htm
Thoughts?

rctennis3811

While the Avalon spy shots do look like the Crown Athlete, I am almost certain it is not the same vehicles.

First, the front door panels do not match those on the Crown Majesta or Athlete.

Second, there is significant front overhang in the Avalon spy photo indicating that it is FWD, yet the Crown Majesta and Athlete are both RWD.

Third, the Crown Majesta and Athlete would cost about the same as the upcoming Lexus GS300/400 - a car that's based on the same platform, drivetrain, powertrain, and center console as the Crown Majesta and Athlete.

future1

I am going to trade my Maybach for an 05 Avalon -- no one would know the difference. :-). For the price difference, I could probably buy this entire web site!

cfulton1

Does anyone know what safety features (like head air bags) will be on the 2005 Avalon? Also will they be standard or an option on the car?

lexi4life

Normally, Toyota isn't very concerned about offering standard side and head airbags and other expensive safety features like that (just think about the Sienna that has side airbags only on the most expensive version XLE, and the CE and LE can't be ordered with some even in option, I think, compared to Honda's Odyssey which has standard side airbags). But since the Avalon is a kind of luxury car, there probably will have all kinds of safety features standard, I suppose.

307web

It's too early to ask that question. The info is not available.

alpha01

I really would recommend that if youre not sure about something, not to propogate what might be misinformation. The most expensive version of the Sienna is the XLE Limited, not XLE. The CE and LE are both offered with three row side curtain airbags, and in all regions, LEs with this option are VERY easy to find. CEs, however, are not as easy to find with the side curtain packages, though I have seen them.

As far other "expensive safety features"- Toyota made ABS and VSC standard on all its SUVs (as in, all 5 of them, starting from $18,000)starting in the 2004 model year. Honda has yet to dot his. So, while it is correct that Toyota has not yet made side curtains standard in its models, the company has NOT turned a blind eye to safety.

I would be utterly shocked if even the basic Avalon didnt have side curtains and airbags standard.

~alpha

lexi4life

Sorry, I didn't say I talked about the Canadian Sienna; (american and canadian siennas offer different options and safety features) the CE can't be ordered with side curtain airbags even in option, the LE can (but they're still not standard!) and VSC is an option on CE and LE. Just compare to the Odyssey in terms of STANDARD safety features; its got side curtain airbags standard on all its models, even on the cheapest one. But I recognize that a car that has a bigger number of safety features or airbags over another perhaps won't be the safest in the 2. Many other things can influence.

a_l_hubcaps

Wow, that Avalon really does look like a Maybach. Almost enough to make me suspect it's a photoshop, but I don't think it is. Enough details are different. The resemblance is striking, though!

-Andrew L

toycash

The new Avalon will have side curtain airbags standard on all models and it also has a driver's knee airbag.

jdelong

Any information on availability of the bench seat on the 05 model?

ederzawiec

My Wife really likes the Bench seat on the 2004. Means you have to go with a steering collar shift which some may think is less sporty, but certainly provides extra room up there.

future1

Ok, here is a summary of the 25 pages of speculations so far:

-- Will be known as 2006 Toyota Avalon
-- Lexus GS platform
-- 3.5L engine with 270 hp
-- 5 speed or CV transmission
-- Slicker body
-- Dual tail pipes
-- Thicker glass
-- Newer type of outside door handles
-- Dynamic Laser Cruise Control
-- Better positioned Nav system :-)
-- Reclining back seats
-- Heated and cooled front seats
-- Fingerprint ignition
-- Driver's knee airbag

rctennis3811

I think we can safely say that it won't be on the Lexus GS platform. The GS/Crown platform is RWD while the Avalon is based on the Camry platform which is FWD. Other than that, the list looks about right. :-)

lexi4life

Right, Avalon's platform is a stretched version of the Camry's. If not, the Avalon would become a direct competitor to the GS.

ederzawiec

270 HP and I assume Premium gas. I wonder what the mileage will be, particurarly with a CVT? Toyota always seems to do a great job with MPG.

Anyone know when full details will be available?

rctennis3811

Since the new Avalon will debut in January, we could get some specs out by December.

gteach26

They give out nothing about their new vehicles. They may feel they are building buzz, or protecting the current avalon's sales, but all they are doing with me is putting me to sleep.

C'mon Toyo... how about an official bread crum or two? Geesh!!!

teereeves

Toyota says it will release further details on the new Avalon in January but declines to specify whether the vehicle's unveiling will take place at the Los Angeles or Detroit auto show.

The '04 Avalon will continue to be sold until February, when the '05 model is slated to go on sale.

For the remainder of the '04 model year, Toyota says it will expand Vehicle Stability Control to the XL trim level. It previously was offered only on Avalon's XLS grade.

toycash

Those things are mostly correct, except for a few things. As far as is known right know, it will still be a 2005. It's not a GS platform, and it will be a 5-spd. automatic. I don't think there will be any type of smart ignition.

solaryellow

Toycash is correct, as usual. There will be no CVT and it is not based on the GS platform. It will not have a fingerprint ignition but will offer Smart Start / Smart Entry (probably only on the XLS Limited model). The seats will not be cooled but they will be ventilated. Everything else on Future1's list is accurate.

Also, there will be no bench seat model. As usual, premium fuel will probably be required to reach 270 hp but it'll run just fine on lower octane fuel.

ednovak

Just wondering if anyone knew whether any form of all wheel drive will be offered. Seems AWD is being more frequently offered as an option on many "near luxury" cars these days.

clarkington

Please help me understand! Why do you say the new Avalon will run just fine on lower octane fuel when premium is recommended?

ederzawiec

I should probably let someone more knowledgeable with Toyota engines answer, but generally, higher Octane gas is required on high compression engines. High compression engines permit you to get more HP for a particular displacement (ie 3.0L) because you can get more Air/fuel into the cylinder.

The higher Octane is required so the gas doesn't "ignite" prematurely in the higher pressure. If it were to ignite prematurely, you would get "pinging". Modern computer controlled engines have ping sensors and can adjust spark timing (and in the case of Turbos, boost pressure) to eliminate the pinging. The result is no ping, but lower horsepower.

Not sure if a non-turbo would be OK with regular, but maybe. I doubt Toyota would go to a Turbo.

toycash

Toyota's current V6 engines will run fine on regular, but they can get slightly improved performance on premium because they are able to adjust the ignition timing based on input from the knock sensors.

There is no AWD currently planned.

The Touring and Limited models will have HID headlights. The Limited will have the Smart Key system, power rear sunshade, heated and ventilated front seats, and adjustable cushion length on the driver's seat.

fin

You are on the right track. With higher compression the fuel is simply compressed into a smaller space. But.. somewhat technical here... you can only get so much "energy" out of a particular fuel, no matter what the compression ratio. And, in reverse, using a fuel with more "energy", say, aviation gas in an Avalon, than the engine can effectively use, is very wasteful and produces nothing good.

Current Avalons will run fine on regular 87 octane. They run better, possibly, on 89. My '03 XL does. These boards suggest that on 92 grade premium you are wasting money unless you pull a trailer, are fully loaded or are in the mountains.

The really big question: Will the nexgen Avalon deliver all 250+ hp on regular? My guess is "yes", somehow they will do it. Too many potential buyers would be disappointed at "premium fuel only" Avalons.

john609

Agree w/ cawiles; the fleet sales person in our Houston dealership said the new style would be similar to the LS 430 body. Engine options will include a V-6 and V-8 (like the 2004 4Runner). Time will tell.

motownusa

That sounds a bit optimistic. I can't imagine Toyota making a FWD V8.

wesg

I'd like to see All Wheel Drive on the new Avalon. Winter travel is comfortable..and improved handling would seem to make an ideal touring car with the AWD feature. Plus...I'd sure like to know the new features in order to place my order with my dealer. Thanks..

mcardle

Ditto. The lease will be up on my AWD Highlander, and living up here in America's Dairyland, I like having power at all 4 wheels. It wouldn't be a make-or-break for me, but AWD would be very nice.

wesg

I'd like to see All Wheel Drive on the new Avalon. Winter travel is comfortable..and improved handling would seem to make an ideal touring car with the AWD feature. Plus...I'd sure like to know the new features in order to place my order with my dealer. Thanks..

ednovak

I hope the HID lights are going to be an option on the high end models but I suspect they are going to be standard. Personally, I hate the damned things and understand that in some areas they are equivalent to putting a large "steal me" sign on the window of the car. Worse yet, they are VERY expensive to replace and thieves frequently do far more in indidental damage in trying to extract them than the cost of the units themselves. Granted, Avalon's aren't exactly a primary theft or vandalism target but many hundreds of dollars worth of HID lights may be very attractive to folks who otherwise wouldn't give Avalon's a second glance.

future1

Reflections on the recent messages in this thread: