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2012 - 2013 Toyota Avalon

494 messages,  Last post on May 22, 2013 at 2:34 PM

You are in the Toyota Avalon Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Avalon, Toyota, Sedan

    

Messages Page 38 of 51

#362 of 494 Re: Avalon vs Lexus E 350 [douglas1] by djrc08861

Feb 07, 2013 (11:58 am)

Replying to: douglas1 (Feb 07, 2013 10:21 am)
exactly

#363 of 494 Re: Avalon vs Lexus E 350 [djrc08861] by tjc78

Feb 07, 2013 (12:47 pm)

Replying to: djrc08861 (Feb 07, 2013 11:58 am)
In all honesty all three are essentially the same car. The Avalon (and now ES) just rides on the stretched version of the platform (2" longer wheelbase).

#364 of 494 2013 Avalon... or Honda by fin

Feb 07, 2013 (10:05 pm)

With the recent discussion on new car comparisons..... A check on a website with 2013 auto power and other measurements shows that the 2013 Avalon is stunningly similar to the 2013 Honda Accord... The Accord has slightly more HP, more torque and better highway mileage. The Avalon is 4 inches overall longer and has a 2 inch longer wheelbase. The Avy has 1" more rear headroom but all other interior dimensions are almost the same, under 1 inch difference, the Honda has a bit more here, the Avy a bit more there. The Avalon trunk is 3% larger and the total interior volume measurement is within 1%.
 
No argument that the Avy has more style, better finish, etc., than a 2013 Honda Accord sedan... but if you are buying basic quality transportation, the Honda is 5k less loaded with V6, nav, etc., and is just as dependable. Add in the V6 Camry and... what are they thinking with Avalon?
 
But I did park next to a '13 recently, the grille is not as bad I had expected from close up and the body style and interior materials are impressive. Now all I need is a test drive!

#365 of 494 Re: 2013 Avalon... or Honda [fin] by nvbanker

Feb 11, 2013 (11:19 am)

Replying to: fin (Feb 07, 2013 10:05 pm)
Drive them both (which I do), and you'll find, as usual, the Honda is noisier, harsher, and rides much stiffer than the Avalon. Hondas are wonderful, well built cars - but NVH has never been their strongest suit, compared with a Toyota. The Avalon will be smoother, quieter, and nicer to drive.

#366 of 494 Re: 2013 Avalon... or Honda [nvbanker] by ncee

Feb 11, 2013 (12:39 pm)

Replying to: nvbanker (Feb 11, 2013 11:19 am)
Having owned both, and a son who owns an Accord, I can tell you, there is a BIG difference between these 2 cars.
 
While the Honda is a very well built car, it is not even in the same class as the Avalon.
 
Skip

#367 of 494 Toyota VS Honda Products by ushy66

Feb 11, 2013 (9:07 pm)

I would have to agree with nvbanker and ncee, the exception being the MDX.
 
Jake

#368 of 494 Avalon --> Lexus by iamknott

Feb 12, 2013 (7:11 pm)

I have owned two Avalons, most recently a 2011. Both great cars. I was excited about the 2013 until I saw the front grill(s). Every other side of the car is very nice. I test drove the '13 LTD and I liked the ride, which I found to be just slightly firmer than my '11. I liked the interior too, although the angles of the dash might take a little getting used to. I noticed that the interior seemed a little less spacious than the '11, but I believe that this is mostly an illusion created by the roof line and the aforementioned dash. As I recall, the vital dimensions (leg and head room) are not significantly different from the old model.
 
Were it not for the front end, I'd be driving the new Avalon right now. Instead, I got a new ES350 for a few more $ per month. I judge its ride to be just slightly firmer than the new Avalon and perhaps a little more agile in cornering. It does feel smaller inside, due to the width of the center console. On the other hand, the Avalon's radio sounded better and was certainly easier to operate than the one in the Lexus (you have to go to a seriously high trim level in order to get the premium radio).
 
Another reason that I went with the ES is that I believe that the Toyota Mothership knows what it wants that model to be -- entry-level luxury, whereas they are searching for an identity for the Avalon. My concern was that, because the Lexus division already exists as their luxury brand, the only other direction they can go with the Avalon is to make it more sporty. I've already been through that when Nissan took away my Infiniti I30 /I35 in order to concentrate on making the G series into street racers and the M series into God knows what.
At my age, I enjoy comfort more than sporty.

#369 of 494 Re: Avalon --> Lexus [iamknott] by fin

Feb 12, 2013 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: iamknott (Feb 12, 2013 7:11 pm)
Interesting you mention the M series Infinity and your impression... We test drove one some time ago, pure luxury. But I have never driven a luxury car that rode as absolutely stiff as the M. We gave up after 5 minutes on a major street, the rough ride was not what we expected. Our Honda at the time was more comfortable over bumps. Premium car, terrible ride.... maybe the latest model is better?

#370 of 494 Re: Avalon --> Lexus [fin] by iamknott

Feb 12, 2013 (8:39 pm)

Replying to: fin (Feb 12, 2013 7:55 pm)
fin,
 
I had the exact same experience with the Infiniti M's rough ride, plus I noticed that the gearing was all for acceleration. Even in the top gear, it was turning about 800 rpm higher at 65 mph than similar cars. I can't recall whether it was FWD, RWD, or AWD, but the width of the transmission hump and console made the front seat claustrophobic. That was six years ago (when I switched to Avalons), so I have no idea what the current M is like. I don't see many Ms on the road, but the G series sells very well. Net-net, in terms of total cars sold, it was probably a good move on Nissan's part to ditch the I series, but I felt like they abandoned me.

#371 of 494 Re: Avalon --> Lexus [iamknott] by tjc78

Feb 13, 2013 (6:58 am)

Replying to: iamknott (Feb 12, 2013 8:39 pm)
ditch the I series
 
The Maxima moved upmarket and pretty much negated the need for a FWD (Maxima based) Infiniti model. I looked at the I when I got my 03 Avalon. It was a nice car, but the Avalon rode better.

Messages Page 38 of 51

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