The Toyota Avalon is the brand’s largest sedan. And even in a slowly disappearing segment, the Avalon has always been a favorite among experts and consumers alike. The 2021 Avalon is no different, proving large sedans are comfortable, smooth-riding, and even quieter than their smaller counterparts.

In fact, if you’re looking for a quiet, serene family ride, the 2021 Toyota Avalon may be the best choice.

The quiet 2021 Toyota Avalon

Consumer Reports recently compiled a roundup of the quietest midsize and large sedans it has tested. The 2021 Toyota Avalon makes it onto the list, and of five large sedans, it’s by far the best-rated.

According to Consumer Reports, “Toyota’s flagship Avalon is a quiet, stately sedan.” The consumer site also cites the car’s “excellent road-test score” and says that “the 3.5-liter V6 engine and eight-speed automatic deliver smooth and robust acceleration without excessive noise.”

In addition to being quiet and smooth, the Avalon delivers excellent ride quality. CR’s reviewers say the “ride comfort is excellent; it’s plusher than most Lexus models.”

The Toyota Avalon’s expert rankings and reviews

According to Consumer Reports, the 2021 Toyota Avalon ranks first out of all seven large cars, with an impressive overall score of 88 out of 100. It earns an average predicted reliability score of three out of five but also a great predicted owner satisfaction score of five out of five.

But the area where the Toyota Avalon really excels is the road test. CR gives the Avalon a road test score of 93 out of 100, one of the highest scores given to any vehicle across any segment. Its performance on that road test earns the Avalon perfect, five-out-of-five scores in various areas, including transmission, ride comfort, seat comfort, usability, and climate system categories. The Avalon receives near-perfect scores in all remaining categories, including acceleration, handling, braking, noise, and interior fit/finish.

And U.S. News named the 2021 Toyota Avalon the winner of its “2021 Best Large Car for the Money” award. According to the publication, the Avalon “offers the best combination of value and quality in its class.” With an overall expert rating of 8.2/10, it’s U.S. News’ second choice among large sedans. The Avalon also scored highest in safety and reliability, as well the “Critics’ Rating” category, with U.S. News experts saying “it offers the best combination of value and quality in its class.” Not only does the Avalon stand “out as one of the front-runners in the large car class,” but it offers a “wealth” of quality features that make it worthy of consideration “if you’re looking for a large everyday family sedan.”

An overview of the 2021 Avalon

According to Toyota, the 2021 Avalon starts around $35,000 and is available in eight models, including a hybrid version. Avalon sedans come standard with a six-cylinder engine producing 301 hp with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is available for all trim levels, but some come with all-wheel-drive as a standard feature. Although there are other engine options, the standard V6 is “more potent and quicker to accelerate,” U.S. News reports. The Avalon’s eight-speed automatic transmission pairs impressively with its engine, delivering smooth and robust shifting.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon offers not only power but also comfort from head to toe. In addition to a quiet cabin, the Avalon is lavishly furnished and loaded with standard features. Even the base-model Avalon comes well-equipped with a 9.0-inch touchscreen display, heated synthetic leather seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and other amenities.

Its numerous standard advanced safety features include a rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, and automatic emergency braking.