Few automakers are making sedans these days. The Toyota Avalon is one of a few that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, anytime soon. We certainly hope it doesn’t, because this new model is turning some heads at the dealerships and in reviews. 

U.S. News liked the large sedan so much it placed it on one of their recent lists of ‘Best Cars for the Money.’ What made it so special, and what did others think of it?

Is the 2021 Toyota Avalon a good car?

The Toyota Avalon pulled out another win, it’s third from U.S. News and the first award since 2018. To get that award, Toyota had to build just the right combination of components that could turn the heads of the U.S. News reviewers.

The first head-turner for U.S. News was the 3.5-liter V6 motor producing 301 hp paired with an eight-speed transmission, all standard on the Avalon. It also comes with a front-wheel drivetrain. This configuration offers an estimated 22 mpg in the city, while highway driving gets 32.

U.S. News loved the upscale interior, with its nine-inch touchscreen display, an infotainment system offering Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. For standard safety features, the Avalon comes with your average lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. 

What else is impressive about the 2021 Toyota Avalon?

The 2021 Toyota Avalon offers more than just an impressive sedan model. If you choose one of the lower trims, like the XLE and the Limited models, you can get the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. With that motor, you can upgrade to the all-wheel drivetrain, which is new for the 2021 model year. 

Fuel economy for the V6 and front-wheel drive combination will get you around 22 mpg on city roads. When you travel on the highway, it goes up to an esimated 32 mpg.

However, if you have the four-cylinder motor and AWD, you’ll see better EPA ratings. With this combo, you can get an estimated 25 mpg in the city, and 34 on the highway.

For safety crash testing, the NHTSA gave the Avalon good marks. It received five out of five stars overall, with four stars going for frontal crash and rollover tests.

The IIHS gave it their highest rating of Good for all crash-test categories. The only issue was with the headlights on a couple of the Avalon’s trims. 

Critics seem to agree across the board

The 2021 Toyota Avalon also impressed Motor Trend, who made it one of their top picks for being one of the Best Sedans to Buy in 2021. Previously, the sedan seemed more of a grandpa’s kind of car, but with some newer styling, things are changing. 

Other outlets, like Car and Driver, liked it as well. With an 8.5 out of 10 score, the reviewers praised its large trunk space and a large number of standard features, which makes it on par with others in its class. 

With the praise given by U.S. News, Car and Driver, and Motor Trend, the 2021 model should herald in a new decade. At least, for large sedans that offer lots of fun and useful features at an affordable price.