2012 Toyota Avalon Overview Change Vehicle

2012 Toyota Avalon overview with specifications, fuel economy data, safety information, reliability ratings, a photo gallery, and The Vehix View

The 2012 Toyota Avalon is a full-size, front-wheel-drive sedan with seating for up to five passengers. Two well-equipped versions are offered, both powered by a smooth V6 engine. Competitors include the Buick LaCrosse, the Ford Taurus, the Hyundai Azera, and the Volkswagen Passat.

One year after receiving a number of updates, the 2012 Toyota Avalon arrives virtually unchanged. Serving as the brand’s largest and most upscale sedan, the Avalon is offered with a number of luxurious standard and optional features.

Toyota offers the 2012 Avalon in two trim levels, starting with the well-equipped base version. In keeping with its premium aspirations, this iteration features standard leather upholstery and interior trim, a dual-zone climate control system, aluminum scuff plates, 17-inch alloy wheels, an auto-dimming interior mirror with a rearview display, power-adjustable front seats, woodgrain accents, fog lights, a power moonroof, and power exterior mirrors with integrated turn signals. Audio components include an iPod-compatible USB port, Bluetooth connectivity, XM satellite radio, and steering wheel-mounted controls. Among the available options are a 660-watt sound system and a voice-activated navigation unit.

One click up the luxury ladder takes you to the 2012 Avalon Limited. Buyers opting for this variant will enjoy the booming 660-watt audio upgrade as standard equipment, as well as perforated leather upholstery, rain-sensing wipers, a push-button ignition system, heated and cooled front bucket seats, HID headlights, and a powered rear sunshade.

Every 2012 Avalon makes its way down the road courtesy of a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift control delivers that output to the front wheels, and EPA fuel economy estimates register 20 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

For decades, a strong record of reliability has been at the heart of Toyota’s success. According to Consumer Reports, the status quo is safe and sound, as the Avalon earns that publication’s coveted Recommended status, despite recording only average dependability. In its most recent round of reliability predictions, J.D. Power and Associates was more optimistic, ranking the Avalon well above average in terms of predicted reliability.

If new owners should encounter an issue with their new ride, Toyota backs them with a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a two-year/25,000-mile free-maintenance plan that includes 24/7 roadside assistance.

Another topic of utmost concern to potential buyers is vehicle safety, something the 2012 Avalon has covered with seven airbags, four-wheel-disc antilock brakes with brake assist and electronic brake-force distribution, and stability and traction control systems. Crash test results are incomplete at this time, though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported 4 out of 5 Stars for the Avalon’s ability to resist rollover, and its worth noting that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named Toyota’s full-size sedan a Top Safety Pick in 2011.

One of the primary reasons shoppers consider cars like the Avalon sedan is space, for both passengers and their stuff. So, we thought it might be helpful to see where the Toyota ranks in comparison to the Buick LaCrosse, the Ford Taurus and the Volkswagen Passat:

Cargo Capacity

Ford Taurus: 20.1 cubic feet

Volkswagen Passat: 15.9 cubic feet

Toyota Avalon: 14.4 cubic feet

Buick LaCrosse: 13.3 cubic feet

Front Head Room

Ford Taurus: 39 inches

Toyota Avalon: 38.9 inches

Volkswagen Passat: 38.3 inches

Buick LaCrosse: 38 inches

Rear Leg Room

Toyota Avalon: 40.9 inches

Buick LaCrosse: 40.5 inches

Volkswagen Passat: 39.1 inches

Ford Taurus: 38.1 inches

This is clearly a narrow view of the Avalon and its competitors, but it does indicate the car offers the level of interior space buyers likely expect from a full-size sedan. Unfortunately, trunk space isn’t even close to class-leading.

There isn’t a great deal of fanfare surrounding the 2012 Toyota Avalon, though perhaps there should be. With its soft ride and comparatively dull styling, this large sedan surely isn’t for everyone, but for car buyers on the lookout for a truly comfortable and luxurious mainstream four-door, one that delivers sufficient scoot coupled with admirable real-world fuel economy, the Avalon is definitely worth closer examination.

By Thom Blackett