2010 Chicago Auto Show: STUD or DUD - Is Toyota's Updated Avalon Going To Cannibalize Their Entry-Level Lexus Products?

The cabin looks like it might lack the relative warmth of the Lexus sedans and it's probably been executed using lesser quality materials to keep the price down. The question is how does this compare to the Buick Lacrosse or the Hyundai Genesis?

By appearance I think it can pass as an entry level Lexus. Somewhere around the IS/ES range. It reminds me of the HS hybrid so that makes me wonder why Lexus is so much more different than a high end Toyota, it's not. However the name plate does stand for luxury and people will view that as an upgrade, at least in North America.

The rest of the world knows about Lexus but not necessarily recognize it as a world class company, even though stateside it's highly regarded.

definitely not in the US market, but perhaps in other markets around the world. mildly affluent americans are the biggest suckers for a badge.

You got that right!

yeah, a few thousand even actually bought that gussied-up cheap chevy 4-banger that was badged as a CADILLAC cimmaron! LOL!

and, now that detroit has nearly caught up with the asians in assembly quality and reliability, and actualy SURPASSED the snooty euro brands, many STILL buy german cars JUST for the badge. putting up with lousy electrics and shoddy reliability JUST to the 'prestige.'

With that mug? Probably not :-)

Well, I guess you would have beaten me in a spelling bee.

LuxuryFan...What in Gods name have you been smoking? The article said 2011 Avalon, what page are you on? In fact, I think all ya'll are smoking wack!

What are you babbling about, Lexworld? The Avalon and the Cressida before it have always symbolized 'luxury lite' or luxury interpreted with seemingly downscale materials.

No - It Isn't.

The Avalon competes directly with the Azera

Just like Skoda on Seat , Seat on VW, and VW on Audi

Bland on top of boring on top of ugly! Some people who shop lexus might shop this car as well but it won't be the majority of Lexus buyers. Either way lexus or avalon both cars lack the quality and refinement of true luxury cars.

Luxury sedan refinement isn't coming from any of the domestic brands, that's for sure.

until recently, toyota DID NOT NEED overlong warranties. their usual customers had FULL CONFIDENCE they'd have no need for 'em. buying extended warranties on toyotas was ONE OF THE BIGGEST WASTE of cash.

of course, now that they've been burned by using crappy AMERICAN MADE components, they WILL have to provide longer warranties.

I think it overlaps Lexus from a price point, but may offer some differentiation in choice. Entry level Lexus is the ES, which Toyota may choose to change direction on by 2011, since they claim it will no longer be Camry based. Avalon is distinctly American in design and quality.

I guess it still not as ugly as Lincoln's. Those look terrible.

The interior materials don't look like anything special, but I'm going to need to see it in real life to make my final judgment.

one avalon owner i've read about, also owns a lexus LS.

he bought the avalon for his long commute, avoiding piling miles on the LS. and he praised the avalon for being just as comfortable, refined, and reliable.

people in my city seem to prefer the avalon over like-sized buicks, town cars, etc. more reliable (esp. when the temps get to -30 and lower) more refined, and more DISTINCTIVE.

considering the camry is the country's most popular sedan, there are tons of people who like all the virtues of camry, but want to STAND OUT from the crowd. there's also a few who want a bit more interior space.

the avalon is the PERFECT CAR for both groups. it's a natural WINNER.

Refined are you kidding this car is noisy at highway speeds above 65mph and the suspension is so soft that on undulated road surfaces it bounces and wallows to the point of making everyone in the car sea sick! Not to mention the jerky transmission!

And I have also been in this car at temperatures below minus 30 and it is obvious toyota did not do any cold weather testing with this car! The rear defrost isn't adequate to defrost the rear window properly and it takes so long for the engine to heat up that it almost takes a full 30 min to get the car interior anything near comfortable.

Then there is the driving dynamics in the snow - the avalon is so front heavy that in the snow this car tends to do what I call a front tail! This is where the front end shoots sideways as the car gets caught in a snow drift. Have you actually driven an avalon.

i don't know of ANY car priced below $30-35k that was perfectly quiet at speeds of 65+. the LS owner seemed to be perfectly happy.

i will agree with you on ONE point: toyota could make hotter rear defrosters. the one on the ford focus i had, DID work better.

i've likely been in as many or more cars than you at -30 and colder. ALL cars take a while to warm up at those temps. and many NEVER DO AT ALL! anyone who lives where it gets that cold, KNOWS that they have to make adjustments/modifications.

when new, my focus would NOT EVEN START below -10. even with the factory block heater plugged in all nite and all day! only the add'n of an oil pan heater made it useable at all in winter.

toyotas i've had otoh, could start at -20 without even being plugged in!

ZZZZzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz... but thats ok. This car wasnt created to be much fun. Someone has to offer boring. If everyone specialized in performance, we wouldnt have much of a variety. So we can thank Toyota for variety (grasping at straws here)!

goodness, that thing looks awful !!!

no joke the Buick looks soooo much better !!!!

The 2011 Avalon tips the iceburg...this car is going to do some serious damage to the cars in it's class, despite Toyotas current woes. Good going Toyota I hope you come back in great style and please bring back those Supras, Celicas and MR2Turbos.....

Honestly any Buick or Hynundai is better than the avalon, avalon sales have been stagnant and this new one will certainly not help matters!

The new offering from Buick and Hyundai are much better looking and are of higher quality!

LOL!

it's funny how many people actually BELIEVE the crap and hype that buick/hyundai now matches or beats toyota and even lexus quality. all on the FLIMSY BASIS of 90-day wonder studies.

have all those cars out in service for a few years, and again, 10-yr ole toyota/lexus products have less problems than 3-5 yr heaps from most other makers.

further, if GM has come such a long ways, then howcum BUICK makes better cars than CADILLAC?

My response to the title: NO. Toyota simply does not have Lexus-level warranty and customer support. That is what truly sets Lexus apart from Toyota - the customer service.

Toyota is smart for making it look like a Camry. Camry is still mid-size, Honda Accord now is Full Size. Avalon is full size. Those that want full size Camry get the Avalon. 3.5V6 is just awesome, drive Honda 3.5 w/ 5 spd and drive the Toyota 3.5 with the 6 spd, Toyota 3.5 is much more responsive.

putting on my designer/lensman hat on, i'd say the major difference that distinguishes the avalon from other toyota (and lexus) products, is the sail panel or C-pillar.

it is not as sleek. a little thicker and more Buick-like. which is neither good nor bad; it's a matter of individual taste.

toyota STILL builds a better 'buick' than buick does.

the latest buicks are all DESIGNED TO CATER to CHINESE TASTES. where more buicks are sold than in america.

and they STILL have ugly grills and front ends generally.

the profiles ain't bad. (but its hard for most to make ugly profiles.)