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Palatial rear-seat space and smooth powertrain performance define the Avalon, and on those points it's the best of a class of big front-drive sedans.
The new Volkswagen Passat has equivalent rear-seat space and better handling, plus 43-mpg highway fuel economy in its turbodiesel TDI version, but the Avalon comes across as more upscale and more comfortable.
The Hyundai Azera will be replaced by a new model for the 2012 model year, and styling gets much more daring, along the lines of the latest Sonata.
Chevrolet's Impala is due for a redesign as well, but gets a new V-6 this year in advance of the new 2014 model.
Ford's Taurus lacks the rear-seat space of the Avalon, but its styling is more assertive, and so is performance from its turbocharged SHO model.
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 2012 Toyota AvalonBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Chevrolet ImpalaBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Ford TaurusBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Hyundai AzeraBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Volkswagen PassatBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | ||||
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A classy, comfortable near-luxury sedan, the 2012 Toyota Avalon has a more modern look but traditional big-car handling and smooth performance. |
The 2012 Impala has a dated design and lacks excitement, but a stronger, smoother powertrain should make its simple layout and excellent interior space more palatable. |
The 2012 Ford Taurus is handsome, safe, and well-equipped, but it's not as big inside as its big-car exterior suggests. |
With real design appeal, confident performance, and a true luxury-car ambiance, the new 2012 Hyundai Azera brings far more sophistication to the showroom, but doesn't lose its carry-over attributes of comfort and value for the money. |
A massive rear seat and better-than-hybrid highway fuel economy mask the slight loss of refinement and nimble road feel in the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. |
| MSRP From | ||||
| $33,195 | $25,760 | $25,555 | $32,000 | $20,590 |
| Gas Mileage | ||||
| 19 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 18 MPG City / 30 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 28 MPG Hwy | 20 MPG City / 43 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | ||||
| Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas I5 |
| EPA Class | ||||
| Large | Large Cars | Large Cars | Large | Mid-Size |
| Style Name | ||||
| 4-Door Sedan (GS) | 4-Door Sedan LS Retail | 4-Door Sedan SE FWD | 4-Door Sedan | 4-Door Sedan 2.5L Manual S PZEV |
| Drivetrain | ||||
| Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | ||||
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | ||||
| N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Body Style | ||||
| 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | Sedan | 4 Door Sedan | 4 Door Sdn |
| Transmission | ||||
| Automatic | Automatic | Automatic w/manual shift | Automatic w/manual shift | Manual |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | ||||
| 2012 Toyota Avalon vs. 2012 Chevrolet Impala | 2012 Toyota Avalon vs. 2012 Ford Taurus | 2012 Toyota Avalon vs. 2012 Hyundai Azera | 2012 Toyota Avalon vs. 2012 Volkswagen Passat | |
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