My family and I recently had the chance to test drive the 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE Touring Hybrid. As a dad, I can be a little opinionated about my vehicles. I traded in trying to look cool (In college I drove a SWEET sports car) for safety and good gas mileage. I’ve never owned, or for that matter, driven a Toyota of any type. The Avalon drove like a dream and had all the things that I want and need in a vehicle.
The Avalon met every one of my needs for a reliable family vehicle, but it also had some “cool” features that didn’t make me feel like I was driving a boring car.
- Amazing Gas Mileage – The Avalon I was lucky enough to drive was a hybrid. It’s combined city/hwy is 40mpg. I had never driven a hybrid, but once I started crunching numbers, it seems like you could save upwards of $5,000 a year on gas. That fact alone blew me away!
- Comfortable Interior – It’s nice to feel comfortable when you are driving the family around. The Avalon I drove had leather interior, which is optional, and a lot of leg room. When you’re dealing with family trips, a little extra room goes a long way! My wife and daughter were able to stretch out and enjoy every inch of the car. It’s rear seats have center armrest cup holders and a trunk pass-through. Then throw in a covered center console with sliding cover and armrest, storage compartment and two front cupholders. It’s also got seat warmers that are nothing short of necessary for the winter season. The Avalon will give you, just the hint of luxury you need from a family car!
- Bells And Whistles – As a dad, I love gadgets. I especially want a vehicle that has all the latest technology available as well. How’s this for bells and whistles: Intelligent Touch controls for climate control and audio system. Entuneâ„¢ Audio Plus — includes the Entuneâ„¢ Multimedia Bundle. 6.1-in. high-resolution touch-screen display, AM/FM CD player, MP3/WMA playback capability, eight speakers, auxiliary audio jack, USB 2.0 port with iPod connectivity, control and advanced voice recognition. Hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology. SiriusXM All Access Radio with 3-month complimentary trial, HD Radio and HD traffic and weather. Entune App Suite — includes Bing, Facebook Places, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, Pandora, and Yelp. That’s what I’m talking about!!!
The best way to describe the Avalon would be… “A family car, with a luxury feel”. It has all the features the dad in me looks for in a family car, 5-Star Government Safety Rating included. But, also the great features the guy in me loves. For more info check out Toyota.com.
What Do You Look For In A Family Car?!
Thank You to Toyota and Prestige for supplying me with the Avalon to test drive. All opinions are my own.