2014 Toyota Avalon vs. Its Competition

Bengt Halvorson Senior Editor

The Avalon takes on a relatively long list of cars, but its most direct rivals are the Buick LaCrosse and Hyundai Azera.

The Hyundai Azera may be its closest rival; feels very refined, has an attractive design, and rides well, but it's surprisingly tight on headroom in the back seat and it's only offered with a non-hybrid V-6.

The Kia Cadenza is mechanically identical to the Azera, but it's a bit more appealing, we think, due to its trim and materials choices; its ride and handling are also a notch better.

The LaCrosse comes with a standard eAssist mild-hybrid powertrain, and it's very comfortable and quiet like the Avalon, but its EPA ratings don't come anywhere close to those of the Avalon Hybrid.

The Ford Taurus may look like a solid rival on the outside, but its interior is a packaging disaster, somehow feeling more like a compact sedan inside; in terms of features and performance the Taurus is a contender, though, and nobody else in this class offers something quite like the MyFord Touch infotainment system.

The Chrysler 300 is primarily rear-wheel drive, and its back seat isn't as spacious as most of these other models; yet its rather ornate, upright interior stands out in the crowd, and it's one of the best performers in this class—even if you don't get the V-8.

The LaCrosse, Taurus, 300, and S80 are all offered with available all-wheel drive, whereas the Avalon isn't.