By Abigail Baldwin × Vaughn Lowery
Los Angeles traffic is a sea of homogeneity and it’s hard for your car to stand out amongst the sprawl of uninspired sedans and low-performance hatchbacks. The 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD is the perfect, unique commuter car that’s practical while also making a standout statement. The sleek, high-performance vehicle is perfect for a youthful executive with a small family in tow. It’s red accents, curved tail lights, and high-speed performance variants set it apart from the dull monotony of the commuter car market.
Design
The design of the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD is sleek and vigorous. It’s low to the ground, and 1.8 inches longer than a Toyota Camry, giving it a sporty look. Driving the Avalon TRD makes a visual statement with a massive grill. The taillights are elegant and concave, above TRD exhaust tips, and the side-skirts feature a unique red pin-striping detail.
Toyota has continued its uses of the push-button start and keyless entry features with the Avalon TRD. The car also features a remote start by holding down on the unlock button on the key, allowing you to start your car from inside the house on a cold day. The key also includes a trunk button that gracefully opens the exceptionally spacious trunk.
The interior of the Avalon TRD is airy and luxe. The black leather features red contrast stitching to match the vibrant red seat belts, red piping accents on the seats, and the exterior pinstripe. No one has to fight for shotgun because the back seats have ample legroom, two charging stations, and a convenient center armrest that has a drop-down cup holder for everyone’s Starbucks…
The attention to detail includes the front seat door panel, which is padded leather with classic window and mirror controls. The red piping and cloth inserts make the heated front seats sporty and comfortable. The red contrast stitching is incorporated throughout the interior of the vehicle, including the steering wheel. The dashboard and gages have a simple, uncluttered look. The center console matches the sporty aspect of the car and doesn’t skimp on handy features: four USB charging stations, a Qi-compatible wireless charging station, two cup holders, and a button parking brake below the shift. A large sunroof set into the dark leather ceiling completes the luxurious interior.
Technology
The state-of-the-art technology enhances the commodious interior of the Avalon TRD. The Avalon TRD features cruise control on the steering wheel and a back-up camera with multiple angle options. The media center is a touch screen and provides voice activation Bluetooth for handsfree calling and music control. The voice control button is placed on the steering wheel for easy access. The Audio Plus system includes eight speakers for surrounding sound. The media center has an audio jack and a USB 2.0 port. The car is Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa compatible, as well as Scout®, GPS Link, Siri®, and HD Radio™ compatible. This model also offers an HD radio with a SiriusXM® 3-month All Access trial.
Performance and Safety
What’s most unique about the 2020 Avalon TRD is that it’s a commuter sedan with multiple performance variants. The car includes eco, normal, and sport modes. The Avalon TRD has an incredibly luxurious and sporty feel. It is an 8-speed automatic with the option of manual gear shift, using steering wheel tabs or the traditional stick shift.
The car has an almost silent start and minimal road noise. It has a responsive, natural feeling throttle and fast acceleration. The 2020 Avalon has two-piston brake calipers. The breaks are smooth with a gradual bite and require that you push halfway down to get a more dramatic break. The 2020 TRD has a lower center of gravity and stiffer springs than the previous Avalon model. It features 19-inch rims, lighter than the standard, s, and the car has updated, track-tuned suspension. Also, the special suspension accompanies a 15.8 gal fuel tank capacity, a 3.5 L V6 engine, and a horsepower of 301 hp. With a curb weight of 3,638 lbs and an MPG of 22 city/31 highway, the Avalon’s features are space and resource-efficient. The steering is a bit heavier than the previous Avalon but still exceptionally light, allowing for flat turns with a great grip.
The Avalon TRD has great visibility, with additional trunk windows on either side. The car’s protective system offers fast response times and enhanced vehicle stability control for a safe drive you can trust. It includes ten airbags: driver and front passenger Advanced Airbag System, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, rear seat-mounted side airbags, and front and rear side curtain airbags. Additionally, the 2020 Avalon has front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones, a blind-spot monitor, and rear cross-traffic alert.
Overall, the 2020 Avalon TRD is a unique, luxury vehicle with safety and security you can feel, and style you can see.
Pricing
The 2020 Avalon TRD goes for $45,000 before market adjustment, making it a competitor for Audi and BMW models. The suggested retail price or MSRP starts at $42,375. The TRD, however, is larger than the competition, with a more spacious and luxurious interior, and its own sleek, red-accented look. Additionally, the TRD comes with a memorized steering wheel position and a higher fuel economy when compared to the 2020 Nissan Maxima.
For updated pricing details and a closer look at the model, visit Toyota’s website.
