We might think of small cars as being the speediest option, but what if we need both speed and space? As it turns out, there are quite a few options for sedans that are spacious without sacrificing power. The 2021 Toyota Avalon is one of the best such vehicles, according to a list compiled by U.S. News. 

The Toyota Avalon’s place on the list

The 2021 Toyota Avalon got first place on the U.S. News list of The Best Large Cars for the Money in 2021. To put this list together, U.S. News examined which vehicles in the segment best combined both value and quality.

In total, there are four vehicles that made the list. In fourth place is the 2021 Dodge Charger, which starts at $29,995. Although it is one of the most affordable vehicles in its class, it lost points due to its low fuel efficiency and below-average reliability rating.

In third place is the 2021 Nissan Maxima. It starts at $37,090, giving it one of the highest starting prices in the segment. It has an excellent predicted reliability rating, but also has the highest cost of ownership on the list.

Just behind the Toyota Avalon is the 2021 Chrysler 300, which was a finalist for this award. It starts at $30,445 and has an average price of $33,891, the lowest on the list.

While the Chrysler 300 might be enticing, it is the Toyota Avalon that nabbed the No. 1 spot on this list. It starts at $35,975, making it slightly pricier than many other options. Thanks to its affordable upper trim levels, though, the Avalon has an average price of just $38,485.

Specs and features of the Avalon

The Toyota Avalon features a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 301 hp. It gets an estimated 22 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway for a combined fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon. 

The Avalon comes with enhanced vehicle stability control, brake assist, and smart stop technology. Toyota Safety Sense is also standard, and comes with lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Other safety features include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.

Inside the cabin, the Avalon comes with a 7.0-inch display. It also has heated front seats, 60/40 split folding rear seats, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

What makes the Toyota Avalon a good car?

U.S. News gives the Toyota Avalon an overall score of 8.2/10, which places it very close to the top of the large car rankings. In particular, reviewers praise its fuel efficiency and high reliability rating. It has a significant amount of power, and test drivers found that it was able to accelerate quickly, making for a good ride experience.

Reviewers also enjoyed the fact that the Avalon comes with a wide range of features and has very comfortable seating. The interior is attractive, with plenty of high-quality materials. And of course, given the fact that the Avalon won for best large car, it offers plenty of space. Test drivers found that even with five passengers, the cabin had “ample elbow room.”

It is worth noting that although it offers a spacious cabin for passengers, the Avalon isn’t particularly competitive when it comes to cargo capacity. It offers just 16.09 cubic feet of cargo space when the rear seatbacks are up.

Even so, this vehicle has excellent safety ratings and a wide array of standard features. If you’re looking for a roomy sedan that still has plenty of power, the Toyota Avalon should definitely be on your list.