See Photos of the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
Toyota Racing Development's efforts prove to be welcomingly less hardcore on the full-size Avalon than on the smaller Camry.
Toyota's first Avalon TRD has been given a light performance makeover by its in-house tuning arm, Toyota Racing Development, for the 2020 model year. The changes include a revised suspension, visual enhancements, and a sweet-sounding exhaust system. Read the full story here.
The Avalon TRD's performance makeover is rather light, given that its transformation doesn't include any additional horsepower, instead employing same 301-hp 3.5-liter V-6 as the rest of the nonhybrid Avalon lineup.
The TRD's visual upgrades include a set of lightweight black 19-inch wheels, a black-painted body kit and exterior trim, and a rear diffuser. Toyota even puts a thin red pinstripe on the lower body pieces for extra pizazz.
We're saying this with some surprise: The Avalon TRD looks pretty good, to our eyes. This once-boring full-size sedan is rather striking even in regular form, but the TRD bits give it a purposeful, sporty look.
The upgrades get more interesting beneath the TRD's bodywork, including stiffer springs, dampers, and anti-roll bars to tighten up the suspension.
The TRD even gets front brake rotors that are 0.9 inch larger in diameter and red-painted calipers front and rear, although this sportier Avalon rides on the same 19-inch all-season tires as the Avalon Touring.
Unlike the Avalon Touring, which uses adaptive dampers with driver-adjustable settings, the TRD gets fixed dampers. Ride comfort is similar to that of the Touring model, albeit with a little more body control.
We dig the TRD's subtle interior treatment, which is mostly black, punctuated by red stitching and accents. The red seatbelts are rather ambitious for an Avalon, though.
The net result of the Avalon TRD's changes isn't as dramatic as it is in the smaller, equally new Camry TRD, which receives basically the same upgrades. This is largely because the Avalon is bigger and uses the same V-6 engine, so its sportiness is somewhat dulled.
We think the Avalon TRD hits its mark—it's a little spicier than the regular Avalon without sacrificing those things that give the Avalon its appeal, including a comfortable ride and slick looks.
At $43,255, the Avalon TRD isn't the priciest Avalon—the fancier Touring model costs more, making this attractive, fine-driving package a relative deal, if not the truly sporting machine Toyota would have you believe.
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
2020 Toyota Avalon TRD
View Photos of the 2024 Kia EV9 Land AWD
View Photos of the 1987 Sterling 825SL
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Interior Photos
2025 Porsche 911 Carrera Cabriolet Exterior Photos
