2021 Toyota Avalon TRD
By Larry Rust
The Avalon, with its first US production in 1994, is Toyota's flagship sedan. Since its introduction, the Avalon is now in its fifth generation of design. In 2019, for the 2020 model year, the TRD version was introduced. TRD stands for Toyota Racing Development. The TRD packages were first offered for the Toyota trucks. With many auto manufacturers abandoning the sedan from their lineups and going all out on SUV's, I assume that Toyota brought the TRD design influences to the Avalon as a means to increase sales in a declining market. The Avalon TRD model includes a V-6 engine with a sportier suspension and exhaust. There is also special badging on both the exterior and interior trim.
As this was my first experience with the Avalon, I was not sure what to expect. My first impression was that this was just a sedan with some racing type upgrades. The body is low to the ground and I had a little struggle to get my large frame through the door opening. Once inside, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the front bucket seats, making me feel snug and secure. The interior and exterior features, along with great handling, provided proof that "first impressions can be deceiving".
The exterior is sporty looking, low to the ground with matte black 19" wheels, red painted brake calipers front and rear, and TRD badging on the body as well as the stainless exhaust tips. The massive front grill looks as if the car could scoop up anything in its path and send it out the back through its dual exhausts. The exterior color of my test drive was called "Ice Edge". It is one of three colors available on the TRD; the other two being "Midnight Black" and "Wind Chill Pearl".
For the interior, the color is midnight black with red TRD stitching on the head rests. The stitching continues on the red seat belts as well as the racing style brake and gas pedals.
The power plant in this sporty sedan is a 3.5 L V-6, DOHC, 24-valve engine spitting out 301 HP@ 6,600 RPM and 267 Lb-Ft. of torque @ 4,700 RPM. Coupled to this V-6, is an eight speed shiftable transmission with front wheel drive.
The exhaust does give you a throaty sound as you put it through its paces, adding to the sports car feel. Fuel economy is rated at 21 MPG city and 30 MPG highway for a combined rating of 25 MPG.
The TRD comes well loaded with a number of standard features such as sun/moonroof, power mirrors, adaptive cruise control, heated front power seats, keyless start, universal garage door opener, climate control, remote trunk release and a remote start feature.
Safety abounds in this Avalon with backup camera, cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, ABS brakes with brake assist, tire pressure monitor, stability and traction control all offered as standard features. Air bags are situated throughout the cabin including driver front, head, side, and knee. Front, head and side air bags provide protection for the front passenger, with head and side air bags protecting those in the rear seat.
The standard audio system for the TRD is called "Audio Plus" and features a 9-in. touch screen, eight speakers, USB media port, four USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability, as well as music streaming with Bluetooth wireless technology. The system is compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Elexa. There is also a three month trial period for SiriusXM. The TRD that I test drove had the optional upgraded audio system called "Premium Audio". At an additional list price of $1720, the package includes a JBL system, with 14 speakers, a subwoofer and a 1200-watt amplifier. Plenty of power to belt out the tunes!
This Avalon TRD listed out at a base of $42,875.00. The upgrade to the premium audio system, optional illuminated door sills, and an all-weather package, plus delivery, brought the MSRP to $46,297.00.
The Avalon TRD was fun to drive! It was responsive, had excellent braking, and plenty of power. Unfortunately, my test drives were happening during the worst week of snow and winter cold. I can only imagine what my experience could have been on a nice spring or summer drive. However, if a sedan is in your picture and you want some sport to go along with it, I would recommend that you give the Avalon TRD serious consideration. It will be well worth a look!
As this was my first experience with the Avalon, I was not sure what to expect. My first impression was that this was just a sedan with some racing type upgrades. The body is low to the ground and I had a little struggle to get my large frame through the door opening. Once inside, however, I was pleasantly surprised by the comfort of the front bucket seats, making me feel snug and secure. The interior and exterior features, along with great handling, provided proof that "first impressions can be deceiving".
The exterior is sporty looking, low to the ground with matte black 19" wheels, red painted brake calipers front and rear, and TRD badging on the body as well as the stainless exhaust tips. The massive front grill looks as if the car could scoop up anything in its path and send it out the back through its dual exhausts. The exterior color of my test drive was called "Ice Edge". It is one of three colors available on the TRD; the other two being "Midnight Black" and "Wind Chill Pearl".
For the interior, the color is midnight black with red TRD stitching on the head rests. The stitching continues on the red seat belts as well as the racing style brake and gas pedals.
The power plant in this sporty sedan is a 3.5 L V-6, DOHC, 24-valve engine spitting out 301 HP@ 6,600 RPM and 267 Lb-Ft. of torque @ 4,700 RPM. Coupled to this V-6, is an eight speed shiftable transmission with front wheel drive.
The exhaust does give you a throaty sound as you put it through its paces, adding to the sports car feel. Fuel economy is rated at 21 MPG city and 30 MPG highway for a combined rating of 25 MPG.
The TRD comes well loaded with a number of standard features such as sun/moonroof, power mirrors, adaptive cruise control, heated front power seats, keyless start, universal garage door opener, climate control, remote trunk release and a remote start feature.
Safety abounds in this Avalon with backup camera, cross traffic alert, blind spot monitor, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, ABS brakes with brake assist, tire pressure monitor, stability and traction control all offered as standard features. Air bags are situated throughout the cabin including driver front, head, side, and knee. Front, head and side air bags provide protection for the front passenger, with head and side air bags protecting those in the rear seat.
The standard audio system for the TRD is called "Audio Plus" and features a 9-in. touch screen, eight speakers, USB media port, four USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability, as well as music streaming with Bluetooth wireless technology. The system is compatible with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Elexa. There is also a three month trial period for SiriusXM. The TRD that I test drove had the optional upgraded audio system called "Premium Audio". At an additional list price of $1720, the package includes a JBL system, with 14 speakers, a subwoofer and a 1200-watt amplifier. Plenty of power to belt out the tunes!
This Avalon TRD listed out at a base of $42,875.00. The upgrade to the premium audio system, optional illuminated door sills, and an all-weather package, plus delivery, brought the MSRP to $46,297.00.
The Avalon TRD was fun to drive! It was responsive, had excellent braking, and plenty of power. Unfortunately, my test drives were happening during the worst week of snow and winter cold. I can only imagine what my experience could have been on a nice spring or summer drive. However, if a sedan is in your picture and you want some sport to go along with it, I would recommend that you give the Avalon TRD serious consideration. It will be well worth a look!
2017 NISSAN MAXIMA SR
"Performance in Disguise" by Bob Kroupa
Many consumers reminisce about the early days of their lives 'BC' (before children) when their special mode of transportation had a performance V-8 under the hood. Times have certainly changed for most of us...or have they?
In October 2016 I had the opportunity to test drive a 2017 Nissan Maxima SR, their top of the line 4-door sedan. Production for 2016 is estimated to reach the 70,000 vehicle mark.
The big surprise for me was under the hood of our Maxima where I found their standard 3.5 liter DOHC 24 valve V6 engine pumping out 300 HP and 261 lb.-ft. torque mated with a CVT transmission. The CVT is engineered for both the enthusiast and economist featuring dynamic shifting, wider gear ratio coverage and a adaptive shift controller. The results: more distinctive shift points, a more connected, spirited driving experience and increased fuel economy - it can hardly get better than this! For those looking for manual control, paddle shifters were conveniently located on the steering wheel.
Our initial drive on a clear open road found us testing the Drive Mode Selection placing it in the Sport Mode and the 'WOW factor!' kicked in. Throttle response got sharper, steering got tighter, shifts got quicker and the engine response came alive! Performance statistics have been reported at 0-60 in 5.9 seconds. Not bad for the family sedan!
Place the Drive Mode Selector in the normal mode and you are back to a super-smooth, super-refined and fuel efficient family ride (and nobody but you has to know about your wild side!).
At a glance the curb appeal of our Black Midnight Edition Maxima with 19" Gloss Black Alloy Wheels was an indication this was not your 'run of the mill' family sedan.
Maxima's 'floating' roof appearance and the aeronautical influence interior design was crystal clear. Nice touches included a modest rear spoiler, dual exhaust, chrome tips and a conventional grill with chrome trim and the Nissan logo.
From an interior perspective, Nissan's bolstered leather sport seats were heated and cooled as well as being comfortable and positioned for easy access to buttons, switches and dials on the instrument panel.
The cabin was loaded with cutting edge technology including an 8" multi-touch screen, navigation, Bluetooth, Bose sound system with 11 speakers and Sirius XM Satellite radio. And let's not forget the heated steering wheel, one of our favorites.
Safety features include the standard array of air bags, Forward Emergency Breaking and Blind Spot Warning with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Our test vehicle has a base price of $37,820. Adding the Midnight Edition, trunk and sport mats, splash guards and destination charges brought the final price to $40,300.
Fuel economy was reported at 21 City, 30 Highway for 25 MPG combined.
BOTTOM LINE: For those looking for a functional performance sedan, be sure to check out the Nissan Maxima SR in all its modes at your local Nissan dealer.
"Performance in Disguise" by Bob Kroupa
Many consumers reminisce about the early days of their lives 'BC' (before children) when their special mode of transportation had a performance V-8 under the hood. Times have certainly changed for most of us...or have they?
In October 2016 I had the opportunity to test drive a 2017 Nissan Maxima SR, their top of the line 4-door sedan. Production for 2016 is estimated to reach the 70,000 vehicle mark.
The big surprise for me was under the hood of our Maxima where I found their standard 3.5 liter DOHC 24 valve V6 engine pumping out 300 HP and 261 lb.-ft. torque mated with a CVT transmission. The CVT is engineered for both the enthusiast and economist featuring dynamic shifting, wider gear ratio coverage and a adaptive shift controller. The results: more distinctive shift points, a more connected, spirited driving experience and increased fuel economy - it can hardly get better than this! For those looking for manual control, paddle shifters were conveniently located on the steering wheel.
Our initial drive on a clear open road found us testing the Drive Mode Selection placing it in the Sport Mode and the 'WOW factor!' kicked in. Throttle response got sharper, steering got tighter, shifts got quicker and the engine response came alive! Performance statistics have been reported at 0-60 in 5.9 seconds. Not bad for the family sedan!
Place the Drive Mode Selector in the normal mode and you are back to a super-smooth, super-refined and fuel efficient family ride (and nobody but you has to know about your wild side!).
At a glance the curb appeal of our Black Midnight Edition Maxima with 19" Gloss Black Alloy Wheels was an indication this was not your 'run of the mill' family sedan.
Maxima's 'floating' roof appearance and the aeronautical influence interior design was crystal clear. Nice touches included a modest rear spoiler, dual exhaust, chrome tips and a conventional grill with chrome trim and the Nissan logo.
From an interior perspective, Nissan's bolstered leather sport seats were heated and cooled as well as being comfortable and positioned for easy access to buttons, switches and dials on the instrument panel.
The cabin was loaded with cutting edge technology including an 8" multi-touch screen, navigation, Bluetooth, Bose sound system with 11 speakers and Sirius XM Satellite radio. And let's not forget the heated steering wheel, one of our favorites.
Safety features include the standard array of air bags, Forward Emergency Breaking and Blind Spot Warning with Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
Our test vehicle has a base price of $37,820. Adding the Midnight Edition, trunk and sport mats, splash guards and destination charges brought the final price to $40,300.
Fuel economy was reported at 21 City, 30 Highway for 25 MPG combined.
BOTTOM LINE: For those looking for a functional performance sedan, be sure to check out the Nissan Maxima SR in all its modes at your local Nissan dealer.
2015 Volvo S60 / V60 ‘Drive-E’
By Jim Jackson
Volvo looks to the future with a new family of small engines they dub “Drive-E”. Not to be confused with electric power, “Drive-E” is a new wave of 4-cylinder powertrains that maximize ‘Drive Efficiency’ and fuel economy without sacrificing performance. Drive-E will replace the brand’s current 4-, 5- and 6-cylinder engine lineup as those are phased out of production over the next 24 months.
Volvo’s Drive Efficiency 4-cylinders come turbocharged and supercharged to deliver more power and torque than their larger displacement counterparts. The Drive-E engine lineup is featured in the front-drive 2015 Volvo S60 sedan, 2015 Volvo V60 sports wagon and 2015 Volvo XC60 crossover vehicle. All-wheel drive is available across the model line.
Vehicle badging adds intrigue as the Swedish automaker keeps the established “T5” nomenclature from its turbocharged 5-cylinder engine and “T6” (turbocharged 6-cylinder) for Drive-E model distinction even though there is a 4-cylinder only engine under each hood. The outgoing T5 has 226 horsepower while the T6 generates 276 hp. With Drive-E, the T5 will pull 240 hp from a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine while the T6 ramps 302 hp. from a combination turbo/supercharged 2.0L powerplant.
I tested the 2015 Volvo V60 T5 sports wagon and 2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E variants. Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with stop/start function for combined city/highway fuel economy of 29 and 28 miles per gallon respectively. Highway mileage achieves 37/35 mpg in respective order.
My road test of the Volvo V60 and S60 Drive-E eclipsed several hundred miles of blacktop across the desert southwest, driving away impressed with their comfort, functionality and competent road manners. Ride quality is excellent with precise steering control and handling over twisty road surfaces while a tuned suspension irons out harsh pavement imperfections.
The Volvo V60 T5 styling is the poster child for future mid-size sports wagon design with curvy contours and high beltline that draws the eye across its athletic raked-roof profile. When unoccupied the 40/20/40 split-rear seat of the V60 sports wagon folds down to provide 43.8 cubic feet of cargo space.
Up front, cabin amenities abound with easy to operate switch gear and supple contoured seats that transport five occupants in comfortable style.
New technology includes available Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Auto Brake that detects and automatically brakes for pedestrians or cyclists moving into the path of the rearward approaching Volvo vehicle.
The 2015 Volvo V60 T5 sports wagon starts at $35,300 followed by the Volvo S60 T6 sedan for $38,150. Add $950 for freight.
By Jim Jackson
Volvo looks to the future with a new family of small engines they dub “Drive-E”. Not to be confused with electric power, “Drive-E” is a new wave of 4-cylinder powertrains that maximize ‘Drive Efficiency’ and fuel economy without sacrificing performance. Drive-E will replace the brand’s current 4-, 5- and 6-cylinder engine lineup as those are phased out of production over the next 24 months.
Volvo’s Drive Efficiency 4-cylinders come turbocharged and supercharged to deliver more power and torque than their larger displacement counterparts. The Drive-E engine lineup is featured in the front-drive 2015 Volvo S60 sedan, 2015 Volvo V60 sports wagon and 2015 Volvo XC60 crossover vehicle. All-wheel drive is available across the model line.
Vehicle badging adds intrigue as the Swedish automaker keeps the established “T5” nomenclature from its turbocharged 5-cylinder engine and “T6” (turbocharged 6-cylinder) for Drive-E model distinction even though there is a 4-cylinder only engine under each hood. The outgoing T5 has 226 horsepower while the T6 generates 276 hp. With Drive-E, the T5 will pull 240 hp from a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine while the T6 ramps 302 hp. from a combination turbo/supercharged 2.0L powerplant.
I tested the 2015 Volvo V60 T5 sports wagon and 2015 Volvo S60 T6 Drive-E variants. Both engines are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with stop/start function for combined city/highway fuel economy of 29 and 28 miles per gallon respectively. Highway mileage achieves 37/35 mpg in respective order.
My road test of the Volvo V60 and S60 Drive-E eclipsed several hundred miles of blacktop across the desert southwest, driving away impressed with their comfort, functionality and competent road manners. Ride quality is excellent with precise steering control and handling over twisty road surfaces while a tuned suspension irons out harsh pavement imperfections.
The Volvo V60 T5 styling is the poster child for future mid-size sports wagon design with curvy contours and high beltline that draws the eye across its athletic raked-roof profile. When unoccupied the 40/20/40 split-rear seat of the V60 sports wagon folds down to provide 43.8 cubic feet of cargo space.
Up front, cabin amenities abound with easy to operate switch gear and supple contoured seats that transport five occupants in comfortable style.
New technology includes available Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection with Auto Brake that detects and automatically brakes for pedestrians or cyclists moving into the path of the rearward approaching Volvo vehicle.
The 2015 Volvo V60 T5 sports wagon starts at $35,300 followed by the Volvo S60 T6 sedan for $38,150. Add $950 for freight.