2000 Toyota Avalon Review

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Review:

RAMONA, Calif. -- This is a car designed for Sunday afternoons. Monday through Friday, it does duty as the cocoon to protect drivers along the byways; Saturday it does duty as the grocery and errand machine with spacious seating and good storage. But when the road opens up and schedules are dispensed with, the Avalon is a great companion for family -- or just the two of you.

A roomier, sharper Avalon is now available. Gone is the soft-shouldered first generation Avalon: in its place is a more refined, formal vehicle that continues to be the sole "big American" car offered by a mainstream Japanese nameplate in the U.S. Its competition includes the Mercury Grand Marquis, Buick LeSabre or Park Avenue, the new Chevy Impala, and the Chrysler Concorde/300M.

The Avalon is more than a Camry with an extra-roomy rear seat. With the midsize segment growing, the company sees the Avalon as a premium move-up vehicle. The EPA designates the Avalon as a large car; this is based on its large interior volume, greater than most cars with a smaller shadow, even though it's built on a stretched Camry platform.