When the Avalon first hit the road in 1994, the model became the plushest and most comfortable sedan you could buy from Toyota. Now in its fifth generation, little has changed. The Avalon remains the most comfortable and spacious sedan Toyota offers. For 2021, the full-size sedan gets a host of upgrades and a new trim to make sure it remains a viable alternative to America’s ever-growing love affair with crossovers and SUVs.
The newest news is the addition of a Nightshade Edition to the high-end and sporty (for an Avalon) XSE trim. Nightshade models already exist across the Toyota range, and everything, from the Corolla to the Tacoma, has such a trim. Like its other offerings, the Avalon Nightshade Edition features a black grille, mirror caps, rear spoiler, and badging. The Avalon Nightshade Edition comes in three colors (Midnight Black Metallic, Wind Chill Pearl, and Celestial Silver Metallic) and sits on a set of gloss-black 19-inch wheels to complete the sinister look.
For the first time ever, the Avalon gets an optional all-wheel-drive system, too. The system appears on two trims: XLE and Limited. We’ve already driven an all-wheel-drive Avalon, and have detailed all the changes here. This isn’t a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system, though, so don’t expect any four-wheel drifts or smokey burnouts from the car’s 205-hp 2.5-liter I-4. Instead, the system is there for added traction in slippery conditions. And even though our drive of the car happened back in February of this year, the Avalon’s all-wheel-drive setup makes its first appearance on 2021 model-year cars.
Additionally, Android Auto is now standard on every Avalon model, while a lithium-ion battery pack replaces the nickel-metal-hydride pack in the gasoline-electric Avalon Hybrid. The Avalon TRD gets a summer tire option, too. As we discovered with the Camry TRD, the summer tires are certainly worth springing for if you live in an area that doesn’t often experience inclement weather.
A few new paint colors round out the list of changes for 2021. The Avalon TRD will now be available in Ice Edge (a sort of artic silver color), and Supersonic Red—a color that was previously reserved for the TRD—has made its way to the rest of the Avalon lineup. A new blue color—literally called Blueprint—replaces Parisian Night Pearl. Inside the car, a black interior replaces the 2020 Avalon’s beige option, while a black and brown color combo is available on both XSE Hybrid and Touring models.
Production of the 2021 Avalons starts in August and the new cars hit dealer lots by September.
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