Around The Web
a six-speed automatic transmission that is a paragon of smoothness
Automobile Magazine »
this combination of engine and transmission is so buttery smooth that its gears could well be lubricated by cholesterol.
New York Times »
handles competently, though without a hint of sportiness
Consumer Guide »
The wheel turns easily with a light touch; it feels like it's attached to a giant ball bearing that's been lathered in WD-40.
Cars.com »
The Avalon feels heavy and tall when thrown into a corner with anything approaching verve
Autoblog »
PERFORMANCE | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
a six-speed automatic transmission that is a paragon of smoothness
Automobile Magazine
this combination of engine and transmission is so buttery smooth that its gears could well be lubricated by cholesterol.
New York Times
handles competently, though without a hint of sportiness
Consumer Guide
The wheel turns easily with a light touch; it feels like it's attached to a giant ball bearing that's been lathered in WD-40.
Cars.com
The Avalon feels heavy and tall when thrown into a corner with anything approaching verve
Autoblog
While the 2011 Toyota Avalon looks like a cushy luxury cruiser, it can perform—at least on the straight. The 3.5-liter V-6 puts out 268 horsepower with a little more pronounced sound than an Avalon ever has, and feeds it out to the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. It's a familiar recipe, found across the Toyota lineup from the Venza crossover to the Sienna minivan and in the Camrys as well. Here, the transmission's a little more jerky than in previous iterations; there's a manual-shift mode, but this isn't the sort of car where you're going to use it much.
The Avalon's the rare Toyota with decent on-center steering feel. It's light from that point to any point on the arc, but that's precisely what attentive but unengaged drivers need. The cushy suspension, though, is at odds with any need to quickly change direction, and there's lots of body motion.
Conclusion
The 2011 Toyota Avalon is confident and quick when accelerating or passing, but when the road turns curvy it's clear that comfort was favored over handling.