Avalon behind competition

[FordMan]

MARK PHELAN: Interior issues put Avalon XLS behind its rivals

A fallen dashboard dial detracts from the sedan's virtues

March 24, 2005

BY MARK PHELAN
FREE PRESS COLUMNIST

Pieces are not supposed to fall off new cars.

avalon_inset.jpg
ED HAUN/DFP
Problems with the new Toyota Avalon include a dashboard dial that popped out of the instrument panel.
Particularly not new Toyotas.

That's the reason people buy Toyotas. The company's mission statement is practically "the pieces stay where we put them."

Mission not accomplished.

The all-new $34,629 2005 Toyota Avalon XLS full-size sedan I recently tested had a roomy, attractive interior and a powerful engine, but several quality defects -- including a dial that fell out and left a hole in the dashboard -- leave it trailing the competition.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

2005 Toyota Avalon XLS

TWO STARS out of four

Front-wheel-drive five-seat full-size sedan

Reasons to buy: Interior room, backseat comfort; powerful engine and smooth transmission.

Shortcomings: Quality defects; price; lack of some common features.

The Avalon is the largest car Toyota sells in the United States. It marked the company's first direct assault on the traditional six-passenger full-size market when the first model of the car debuted in 1995.

The front-wheel-drive car shares its basic structure and many of its major systems with the smaller midsize Camry, and it's built alongside the Camry at Toyota's assembly plant in Georgetown, Ky.

Toyota sold 36,460 Avalons in 2004, down from 50,911 in 2003.

Avalon prices range from $26,350 for the base XL model to $30,800 for the top-of-the-line XLS. All prices exclude destination charges. The Avalon is Toyota's most expensive car.

The well-equipped XLS model I tested had a long list of standard features, including rear seats that recline up to 10 degrees, seven air bags, a power sunroof and antilock brakes. Options included a voice-activated DVD navigation system, a 360-watt JBL stereo with a six-disc in-dash CD changer and traction and stability control.
SPECS
2005 Toyota Avalon XLS

Vehicle type: Front-wheel-drive five-seat full-size sedan

Base price: $30,800 (excluding destination charges)

As tested: $34,629

Standard equipment: Antilock brakes with electronic brake distribution, dual-stage front air bags, front-seat side air bags, curtain air bags, twilight sensing headlights, full-size spare, sunroof, dual exhaust, dual heated sideview mirrors with auto-dimming driver's side, leather seats, power front seats, reclining rear seats, AM/FM/cassette stereo with in-dash six-disc CD changer, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, dual zone climate control with air filtration, power windows and locks, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter knob, Homelink remote control for garage door.

Options: Traction control, electronic stability control, emergency brake assist, voice-activated DVD navigation system, JBL 12-speaker 360-watt stereo, heated front seats, carpeted floor mats and trunk mat.

Specifications as tested

Engine: 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC variable valve timing V6

Power: 280 horsepower at 6,200 r.p.m., 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 r.p.m.

Transmission: Five-speed automatic

Fuel economy: 22 m.p.g. city/31 m.p.g. highway

Wheelbase: 111.0 inches

Length: 197.2 inches

Width: 72.8 inches

Height: 58.5 inches

Curb weight: 3,560 pounds

Where assembled: Georgetown, Ky.

Comparative base prices

(not including shipping charges)

(with leather upholstery)

Buick LeSabre Custom ... $28,845

Chevrolet Impala LS ... $26,085

Chrysler 300 Touring ... $27,270

Ford Five Hundred ... $25,040

The interior is roomy and lovely, 106.9 cubic feet of leather-wrapped passenger space trimmed with the most attractive ersatz wood I've ever seen, a honey-blond plastic that mimics the finest bird's-eye grain.

By comparison, the Buick LeSabre has 107.6 cubic feet of passenger room, the Chevrolet Impala has 104.5, the Chrysler 300C 106.6 and the Ford Five Hundred 107.5.

In addition to its wide-open spaces and reclining rear seat, the Avalon has a flat floor in the rear, making the car much more comfortable for middle-seat passengers.

Toyota built a six-seat version of the previous Avalon, but that model accounted for only about 8 percent of sales. The all-new 2005 comes only with front bucket and rear bench seats.

Unfortunately, the interior's many virtues were undone by several quality problems.

The dial to adjust the brightness of the instrument panel lights fell out of the dashboard the first time I touched it. The result was a hole the size of your index finger and the certainty of a visit to the service department.

Any quality defect is shocking in a Toyota, but the Avalon had a few more surprises in store for me.

The ceiling-mounted buttons for the front dome lights squeaked, and they were made of what felt like the thinnest, cheapest plastic I can ever recall in a Toyota.

The spring-loaded drawer that holds the controls for the navigation system never came all the way open on its own, and several pieces of colored trim on the dash and doors did not quite align.

The real shame of it is that the big, complicated and expensive pieces of the Avalon performed brilliantly.

The 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and five-speed automatic transmission provide strong, confident acceleration and smooth shifts. The disc brakes are powerful and progressive and the steering is precise and predictable.

Antilock brakes are standard equipment, but electronic stability control and traction control are options, as are memory seats.

Given the Avalon's hefty $34,629 price, I think all those features should be standard equipment.

The Avalon's suspension absorbs bumps well, and road and wind noise are barely noticeable, even at high speeds.

The ride and handling are tuned much more for comfort than sportiness, but that's exactly what Avalon buyers want and expect.

The exterior styling is attractive and consistent with other Toyota models, but neither striking nor memorable.

The Avalon has a lot going for it, but in the final analysis the quality problems drop the big Toyota to barely average among full-size sedans.

Contact MARK PHELAN at 313-222-6731 or phelan@freepress.com.

[nsap]

Already Posted.

[SVT2888]

I hadnt read it though. Very interesting.

[yoblues]

Toyota will jump on the quality issue quickly so it will not be a long term issue. This car will sell.

[gmwsag]

Delete this post moderators...

[gmwsag]

Toyota will jump on the quality issue quickly so it will not be a long term issue. This car will sell.

Correct...the Avalon will mainly sell to older demographics...just like the last-gen Avalon did. Plus, I personally don't think this is fair for him to compare it...just look:

The Avalon has 30 more horsepower than its leading competitor....

vs. Chrysler 300 Touring (250 hp V-6) 30
vs. Ford Five Hundred (200 hp V-6) Avalon has 80 more horses!
vs. Impala LS (200 hp V-6) 80
vs. LeSabre (200 hp V-6) 80

No wonder its more expensive...hopefully this Free Press crap can get this bias thought out of their heads...

[AdmiralViscen]

Why is the Avalon's leading competitor the Chrysler 300 Touring? The Avalon's price goes all the way up to 37,000 dollars, easily putting it into 300C's pricing area.

The Five Hundred's top price is ten grand below the Avalon's price. This puts them in two different strata, despite their similar size. Considering the FH is only missing a handful of luxury features of questionable usefulness (laser-assisted cruise control, etc), I don't think this is such a big deal.

I REALLY don't know why the 25,000 dollar or so Impala LS is listed as a competitor for this thing. Are you serious? After rebates, it's half the cost of an Avalon. And when the rebates fall away when the 2006 Impala is introduced, you will have a 303hp engine at 30,000 dollars or so.

You have a point with the LeSabre, but it is getting replaced next year. The base Lucerne is a joke. This is the ONLY car you listed that fairly competes with the Avalon.

[griswold44]

This was already posted. So the guy who posted this also had an Avalon with quality issues? Now it's for sure this guy and the guy who posted the other one are just trying to make Toyota look bad.

[griswold44]

Originally Posted by AdmiralViscen

Why is the Avalon's leading competitor the Chrysler 300 Touring? The Avalon's price goes all the way up to 37,000 dollars, easily putting it into 300C's pricing area.

The Five Hundred's top price is ten grand below the Avalon's price. This puts them in two different strata, despite their similar size. Considering the FH is only missing a handful of luxury features of questionable usefulness (laser-assisted cruise control, etc), I don't think this is such a big deal.

I REALLY don't know why the 25,000 dollar or so Impala LS is listed as a competitor for this thing. Are you serious? After rebates, it's half the cost of an Avalon. And when the rebates fall away when the 2006 Impala is introduced, you will have a 303hp engine at 30,000 dollars or so.

You have a point with the LeSabre, but it is getting replaced next year. The base Lucerne is a joke. This is the ONLY car you listed that fairly competes with the Avalon.

The LeSabre will still be around for 06 I heard. Just like the Century is in MY 2005.

[AdmiralViscen]

Mainly for rental fleets. And I only spoke about it in the last three sentences of my post.