2002 Toyota Avalon XLS

Full-size sedans are seldom the subjects of automotive reverie. Nonetheless, even in an era of SUV madness, these stalwart haulers remain motoring mainstays for those with more traditional automotive tastes.

The Gen II Avalon's design themes accurately mirror the preference profiles of its prime consumer group: conservatively understated but with upscale overtones.

Initially responding to the demands of Camry owners who were clamoring for a four-door family sedan with a bit more room and a bit more panache, Toyota introduced the first-generation Avalon in 1995 as an upscale/upsized front-drive replacement for the departed Cressida. Sharing numerous engineering and powertrain features with its slightly smaller cousin—and Toyota's perennial best-selling model—the Avalon quickly endeared itself to a whole host of buyers whose real-world priorities focused on comfort and convenience rather than cutting-edge cosmetics and autocrosser reflexes. Rebodied and reengineered for the 2000 model year, the Avalon evolved into even more of a good thing, gaining additional scale, style and substance while maintaining a full measure of Toyota's hallmark quality and reliability.


As with the original, the Gen II Avalon's design themes accurately mirror the preference profiles of its prime consumer group: conservatively understated but with upscale overtones. Outside, the unabashedly traditional lines of its sheetmetal added a new sense of visual presence while ensuring maximum interior space for both people and cargo. Less obvious at first glance, but no less significant, is the amount of aerodynamic detailing work that accompanied the 2000 re-skin. Things like a faster windshield rake, sleeker A-pillars and recessed windshield wiper blades coupled with material innovations that included thicker side-window glass and foam underbody coating help minimize both wind and road noise at freeway speeds. Inside, the same combination of subtle styling cues and optimized design yields a secure sanctum that's as ergonomically sound as it is exceptionally quiet.

A 6-passenger 50/50 split front bench is available, but the 5-passenger configuration matches comfortable front buckets with a rear bench with enough room to handle a trio of regulation-size adults.

Standard features abound in both XL and upline XLS versions. On the comfort and convenience front, all Avalons come with dual-zone air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo, cruise control, driver information center and a tilt steering column. Key safety features include front/front-side airbags, daytime running lights, and 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS. Although a six-passenger 50/50 split front bench is available, most Avalons are sold, as was our tester, in 5-passenger configuration that matches comfortable, supportive front buckets with a rear bench that boasts enough head, shoulder and legroom to handle a trio of regulation-size adults.


Move up to XLS level and the creature-features list gets even longer thanks to things like a JBL premium sound system, dual power front seats, enhanced driver information readouts, automatic climate control, micron dust/pollen filtration system, rear-seat air outlets and wood accent trim. Our particular XLS had a modest option load, which included the Premium Luxury Package (leather upholstery, 3-position memory for the driver's seat/outside mirrors, alloy wheels with 205/60HR16 all-season tires in place of the baseline 205/65HR15 rubber on steel rims, JBL upgrade audio with RDS radio and 6-disc in-dash changer, and a 115-volt AC power outlet), moonroof, Toyota's Vehicle Skid Control (VSC) system that includes traction control and brake assist plus floor mats. Those extras bumped the bottom line on this XLS from $30,405 to $33,059, including $455 in freight charges.