Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    Chicago Auto Show: 2016 Toyota Avalon

      A Mild Refresh for the Toyota Avalon


    Toyota's big sedan, the Avalon has gotten a mild refresh for the 2016 model year. The updated sedan, which debuted today in Chicago gets a number of small tweaks a new trim level.

    The tweaks begin outside with LED accents for the head and taillights, along with an enlarged front grille. All trim levels get new wheel choices. Inside, new trim pieces and a revised Entune infotainment system on XLE models and up.

    Powertrains for the Avalon remain unchanged. That means a 3.5L V6 for the standard Avalon, while the Avalon Hybrid goes with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system. What has changed is suspension tuning. Most Avalons will come with a suspension tune that provides a more comfortable ride. The new Touring trim will come a more aggressive suspension tune to provide more sport.

    The 2016 Avalon arrives at dealers this fall.

    Source: Toyota

    Press Release is on Page 2


    First Look in the “Second City:” The Refreshed 2016 Toyota Avalon Premium Mid-Sized Sedan

    • Updated Styling
    • Retuned Suspension for Enhanced Comfort
    • New LED Headlights and Taillights
    • Upgraded Convenience Features

    CHICAGO, Feb. 12, 2015 – Call it a trio of firsts in the Second City as the refreshed Toyota Avalon and sporty Camry and Corolla Special Editions made their world debuts at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show. The three models rode into Chicago with a head of steam as the Avalon, Camry and Corolla are each the sales leaders in their respective segments, a first for Toyota. All three vehicles are 2016 models and will go on sale later this fall.

    Refreshed 2016 Avalon

    Unveiled as all-new in 2012, the fourth-generation Avalon was the first vehicle to meet Toyota President Akio Toyoda’s challenge to create cars that spark people’s emotions. Toyota mixed its legendary Quality, Durability and Reliability (QDR) with a strong dose of emotion through fresh new styling, improved performance, and high-tech features. They proved to be winning ingredients as Avalon quickly grabbed the attention of mid-size premium car buyers in segment leading numbers.

    Five distinct grades on the V6 models will give customers a wide array of choice (XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Limited and Touring). Hybrid customers can choose from three separate grades, adding luxury features and technology options as they move up the chain from XLE Plus to XLE Premium and Limited.

    Two unique suspension systems were developed for the 2016 Avalon to better align with diverse customer preferences. One retuned suspension prioritizes a comfortable ride for the XLE through Limited grades. The other, provides a more dynamic and responsive driving experience for the Touring grade.

    Both of these suspension tunings are new and represent significant improvements over the current production Avalon.

    The refreshed 2016 Avalon adds more refinement with an array of styling, performance and technology enhancements. New features on all Avalon grades will include:

    • Wider lower front grille with narrow upper grille design
    • Newly-designed turn signals (replacing fog lights)
    • Refined LED taillights
    • Chrome rear bumper accent
    • New gray accent stitching with light gray interior

    Additional new standard features on the XLE and XLE Plus grades include:

    • Redesigned 17-inch alloy wheels
    • 7-inch Entune Audio Plus screen
    • Premium woodgrain dash ornamentation
    • Tire-specific Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

    Technology upgrades are added to the Avalon XLE Premium grade as it receives Entune™ Premium Audio with Navigation and App Suite and the Qi Wireless Charging as standard equipment. The performance-tuned Avalon Touring grade adds to its sporty styling with new standard features that include:

    • Redesigned 18-inch dark gray painted alloy wheels
    • New sporty front fascia
    • New LED headlights with LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)
    • Unique “Touring” badge

    The top-of-the-line Avalon Limited rounds out the updates with the addition of new 18-inch alloy Super Chrome wheels on gas models, and new 17-inch alloy Super Chrome wheels on the Limited hybrid (also optional on gas Limited). The Limited adds optional advanced safety features including automatic high beam headlights, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, and Lane Departure Alert.

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    I don't know what they are thinking w/ these huge grilles..the current one is bad enough..tasteless.   At least in 2 plate states, the license plate improves the looks, but here it's all exposed..

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The updated lower front fascia is not an improvement.  It just brings it more in line with the ugly new Camry.  Compared to the homely Camry, though, the Avalon is a thing of beauty.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Answers to a question nobody asked. Why they felt the grille needed to be made any larger is beyond me. This thing looks like it's getting ready to puke it's guts out all over the road and is truly ugly.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Community Hive Community Hive

    Community Hive allows you to follow your favorite communities all in one place.

    Follow on Community Hive
  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Congrats! I can't wait to only hear the good things about this vehicle! Hahaha
    • Nice looking Kia there! Congrats on finally making the EV jump!
    • So did my first high speed charging at the Electrify America charging station near my house. Was very easy to use with the account on my phone. Pretty much, I backed into the open spot, plugged in the charging cable and then tapped my phone to the NFS point and it did the handshake and started charging. Since this station is near a Target, I went and did our grocery shopping while it charged, got back with a few minutes left on charging and then disconnected and drove away. Easy Peasy.
    • Back in December 2023 my wife mentioned to me that she was getting a little tired after 15 years of the Voom Voom Voom of her SS. The sound of the Borla factory exhaust was not what she wanted to hear in a daily driver. I had originally bought this in 2008 for her when after our kids had finished college, she wanted to fulfill her life dream of getting an advanced education. She started her college career driving our Escalade ESV to the University of Washington campus and finding that a full-size SUV was hard to park in the garages of compact parking spaces with minimal regular parking spaces. Let's put this all-in perspective, the Escalade ESV has 345hp, 380 lb.-ft of torque with V8, 14 mpg average, curb weight of 5,911lbs, 10 inches of ground clearance, 79.5 inches wide, 75 inches tall, 221.4 inches long and a wheelbase of 130 inches. A comfy road quiet auto that is just big but makes driving very comfortable. 0 to 60 mph of 6.2 seconds. I replaced it with a Trailblazer SS, Corvette inspired powertrain that makes 390hp, 400 lb.-ft of torque with V8, 12 mpg average, curb weight of 4,496lbs, 7.8-inch ground clearance, 74.7 inches wide, 67.8 inches tall, 191.8 inches long and a wheelbase of 113 inches. An auto designed for performance with a Borla exhaust that lets folks know you are here. 0 to 60 of 5.9 seconds. Kia EV9 Land AWD Long Range edition with relaxation package has 379hp, 516 lb.-ft of torque electric, 80 MPGe average, curb weight 5,886lbs, 7.8 inches of ground clearance, 77.9 inches wide, 70.1 inches tall, 197.1 inches long and a wheelbase of 122 inches. 0 to 60 of 4.4 seconds. Relaxation package adds heated and cooled seats to the second row along with calf leg support on both the first and second row seats allowing for lazy boy reclining comfort. The differences of the EV over the SS are as follows: 11hp less, 116 lb.-ft of torque more, 1,400 lbs. heavier, 3.2 inches wider, 2.3 inches taller, 5.6 inches longer, wheelbase is 9 inches longer along with 1.5 seconds faster. The EV comes with the following driving modes, eco, normal, sport, snow and custom. You can clearly tell that the suspension tightens up in Sport mode, much tighter than the SS ever was even though both had 20-inch rims with identical size tires. The longer wheelbase here allows the EV to still have a very comfortable ride while being spirited in driving, back in Normal mode, it rides on par with my Escalade that has magna ride. What does that give me, a more comfortable ride, roomy interior with space for 6 adults compared to a tight fit of 5 adults. The relaxation package which I did not realize it had till I was being taken over the auto after the deal closed is nice as it goes from just having the heat and cooling of the front seats to the middle row of seats having heat and cooling plus all 4 captain chairs have the lazy-boy approach of cafe support that comes up, chair will straighten out and give you a very comfy sleep capable setup. The wireless android auto is great, while the system has a high encryption security system, when you get in based on your fob you would have to punch in a pin to actually get the EV started, if you have Kia Connect on your smartphone and place it on the wireless charging pad, it will allow you to start the auto without having to enter your pin. I am pleasantly surprised on just how much bigger the interior is of the EV9 over Kia's Telluride which is very nice for an ICE auto as my son traded in his Jeep Grand Cherokee on one. They are pretty much the same width, length, height and ground clearance and yet the interior space is so much more on the EV9 especially behind the 3rd seat for storage. Yes, the EV9 has a Frunk and while some might consider it not useful, it is bigger than many out there but not as big as a Mach e. It can hold 44lbs @ 1.8 cubic feet of space. I am looking at what Kia recommends the ChargePoint+ 80amp hardwired Level 2 charger for my garage. This gives a 10% to 80% charge in 3hrs and 45 min. I will be trying at the end of the week the 110 Volt charger that came with the EV9. While I still have plenty to learn on this EV, I will say that I love the lighting of the auto inside, the layout of the dash is great. Turn signals have a circle that pops up on the dash showing you the side of your auto so you can make sure not to hit anything on the side. The 360-surround camera system is outstanding and clear, even in heavy rain, have ended up leaving it set to have the rear-view mirror run in camera mode all the time as it is better than a traditional mirror. Ask any and all questions, happy to answer them. For all pictures check out my gallery. DFELT First EV - 2024 Kia EV9 - Vehicles - Cheers & Gears (cheersandgears.com) View full article
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search

Change privacy settings