Lexus, er… Toyota Avalon

When Toyota puts out a flagship vehicle like the Avalon, why would anyone need a Lexus? Don’t get me wrong, I’m a three time Infinity Q-45 owner. You don’t have to sell me on luxury and power. But when I bought my Q’s, these kind of options didn’t exist in “normal” line cars.

Ok. I’m going to give you that it isn’t that great looking, but it does 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds(!), gets 31MPG on the highway with a theoretical range of 571 miles on regular unleaded… and check out the stuff that comes in the Avalon:

• Dual zone climate control
• Reclining rear seats
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with auto leveling
• Dual heated color-keyed power outside mirrors with puddle lamps, turn signal indicators, memory and auto-dimming
• Acoustic noise-reducing front windshield
• Rain-sensing washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers
• Sport-tuned suspension
• Integrated front fog lamps
• Manually adjustable tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and climate controls
• Heated / Ventilated perforated leather-trimmed multi-adjustable power front seats with driver’s power lumbar support
• Power driver’s seat cushion extension
• Driver and passenger extendable visors with illuminated vanity mirror
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink universal transceiver
• Smart Key System with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry with puddle lamps
• Power windows with driver/passenger auto-touch up/down, jam protection and retained-power feature
• Voice-activated DVD navigation system with JBL 6-disc in-dash CD changer
• Dynamic Laser Cruise Control
• Dual zone automatic climate control with air filtration (with rear-seat vents)
• Dual 12V auxiliary power outlets
• Power rear sunshade

Avalon is IntelliChoice’s Best Overall Large Car Value of the Year, Highest Retained Value, Lowest Fuel Cost, Lowest Maintenance, Lowest Operating Cost, and Lowest Repair.

Now, if you try the Edmund’s powered Comparator, and pit the Avalon against the Lexus ES, Lexus GS and Infinity Q45, it will kick it’s ass in virtually every single category!

Bottom line is, this is one heck of a deal. If your friends give you a hard time because it ain’t that great lookin, just take them for a ride and tell them what you paid. It will start looking a lot better to them…