2020 Toyota Avalon TRD Review: Sporty Sedan Styling Meets Daily Driver Comfort - HotCars

When the very first Avalon rolled off Toyota's Georgetown, Kentucky based assembly line in 1994, it hit the streets as the brand's flagship model. While previous higher-end models such as the Cressida came with rear-wheel-drive and a straight-six engine, this new replacement arrived with front-wheel-drive and a V6 engine, a recipe still being used to this day. The current-gen Avalon rides on a platform shared with the Lexus ES and is poised to be a comfortable, affordable alternative to its more luxurious sibling.

That's where this week's tester comes in, the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD makes a complete departure from everything we've understood the fancy sedan to be. With its enormous front grille, black 19-inch multi-spoke wheels, and optional TRD exhaust, it's aiming to be a sporty sedan that's also a practical daily driver. But is a new look, some shiny red paint, and a couple of TRD badges enough to justify it's $45,410 as-tested price and make it one of the coolest Toyotas ever made? Let's find out.

A Fresh New Face

The first thing that strikes you when walking up to the Avalon TRD is its massive front grille. While brands such as BMW have been criticized for producing some of the largest front grilles ever, this sporty Toyota seems to escape the haters as a result of its excellent execution. There are so many sharp lines in this front bumper that it almost looks like something we'd expect to see on a Lexus F product. The headlights have a black housing and sharp edges which help tie them into the rest of the bumper.

The good looks continue in the rear where a pretty sizable rear diffuser flanked by the tips of the TRD exhaust system continues the sporty motifs. On top of the trunk, you will find a small black lip spoiler that creates a more aggressive look. Down the sides of the Avalon, you'll find side skirts which extend a sizeable bit away from the doors and are met at each end with a set of black multi-spoke 19-inch TRD wheels.

It would be easy to assume then that a sporty sedan would use that front grille as a massive air intake, but you'd be mistaken. If you look closely, you'll see that most of the grille is blocked off, with only the top part allowing air to pass through to the engine. There is a very good reason as to why the Avalon TRD does not need any additional airflow and that could be down to the fact that under the hood resides a very familiar engine.

A Familiar Drivetrain

Under the hood of the 2020 Avalon TRD resides the same 3.5-liter V6 you'll find in the standard Avalon. Sadly, it also produces the same 301 horsepower, meaning all of this extra bark is not backed up with extra bite. Attached to the familiar powerplant is the same 8-speed automatic you'll find in the standard car as well. Its efficiency and comfort tuning is evident the second you take the Avalon TRD on a spirited drive. The shifts are smooth in automatic mode but slow when shifting manually.

Unique to the TRD model however are the springs which lower the ride height by a small margin, further accentuating the sporty aesthetic. This is actually one of the highlights of the TRD package as they managed to lower the car without affecting the overall ride quality. While it is certainly not sporty, it is most definitely not as floaty or as plush as the standard car.

Upfront you'll find larger 12.9-inch brake rotors with red-painted calipers which serve to provide a bit of extra bite when driving quickly. Although we did not get to push the Avalon to its absolute limits, the brakes felt more than competent for everyday driving and did not feel as intense as some other big brake kits can end up feeling.

Leather, Suede And Tons Of Red Stitching

The interior of the Avalon is certainly one of its highlights seeing it is as quiet, comfortable, and well thought out as all past generations of the flagship sedan. The seats appear to be a reupholstered version of the standard seats now including suede inserts, red stitching, and red accents throughout. The benefit here is that while they may have adopted a sporty appearance, they have not lost any of their overall comforts. The red seatbelts are a nice touch and give the interior a bit of flair to match that of the exterior. It must be noted however that our particular tester had a pretty nasty rattle that persisted during our week of testing, giving us the impression that the interior build quality could be improved.

The rest of the cabin is well-appointed and very easy to navigate. In the center console, you'll find a 9-inch touchscreen display which includes Apple CarPlay connectivity. The integration of the screen into the rest of the dashboard is perfectly executed, making it all appear as if it were one solid piece. The only downside of the screen layout is that it can be a bit difficult to use when on the move without any type of controller mounted down low by the shifter. Granted, this is only a minor issue as there are plenty of buttons on the steering wheel with which to manage your media.

Easily Misunderstood

While the Avalon TRD is certainly not one of the fastest sports sedans you can buy in 2020, it carries an ace up its sleeve, and that is that it's comfortable. So many sports sedans get wrapped up in lap-times and stiff suspension setups to the point where they make horrible daily drivers. The Avalon TRD however, offers you a very sporty aesthetic without having to break your back in the process, and while yes, it won't outrun many things, if your goal is to arrive comfortably and in style, then the Avalon TRD is for you.

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About The Author

Gabriel Vega (15 Articles Published)

When he's not obsessing over air-cooled Porsche 911s, Gabriel is test driving cars. You can watch and read his exclusive reviews and features on HotCars.com