2021 Toyota Avalon Review

Toyota is doubling down on its popular large sedan and offering more versions of the Avalon than ever before. For the first time in the nameplate's history, the 2021 Toyota Avalon will be available with all-wheel drive.

There's a catch, however — the new drivetrain will not be paired to the existing V6 engine. Instead, the all-wheel-drive Avalon will borrow the 2.5-liter four-cylinder (205 horsepower, 185 lb-ft of torque) from the Camry for motivation, or roughly 100 hp and 80 lb-ft less than the V6. However, its competitors with AWD are almost exclusively powered by V6 engines, so buyers in cold climates might feel let down by its lack of oomph.

The arrival of all-wheel drive isn't the only change to the 2021 Avalon. In-car tech is improved with the addition of Android Auto and USB-C ports for charging and connectivity. There's also a stylish and subdued XSE Nightshade Edition featuring black-painted exterior accents. Finally, the sporty Avalon TRD gains optional summer performance tires that should provide more cornering grip. How well does it all stack up? Check out our Expert Rating for our in-depth evaluation on this year's Avalon.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon is available in five trim levels: XLE, Touring, XSE Nightshade, Limited and TRD. All trims come standard with front-wheel drive and a 3.5-liter V6 engine (301 horsepower, 267 lb-ft of torque) mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available on the XLE and Touring trims with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine (205 hp, 185 lb-ft). An available Toyota Avalon Hybrid is reviewed separately.