Test Drive

Full-size sedans are about pampering passengers, and the 2005 Toyota Avalon’s fully independent suspension excels in this important consideration. On the road, the Avalon’s standard set-up delivers a highly refined ride quality, nicely smoothing out minor pavement imperfections without leaving the driver feeling disconnected from the road.

Handling – long the Achilles’ heel of full-size American sedans – is surprisingly capable given the car’s size and cushy orientation. The Avalon’s suspension does allow a noticeable amount of body roll, but the car feels sure-footed and predictable enough in turns that there’s no sense of taking your life in your hands in a fast corner.

If you enjoy a bit of spirited driving now and again, you’ll appreciate the slightly firmer suspension at the heart of the Touring model. It’s no European sports sedan, but it is a good bit more rewarding for those of us for whom driving is about more than just getting from Point A to B.

Effort for the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is light and reasonably precise, much as you’d expect from a mainstream luxury car. Given our more sporting tastes, we’d like to see both qualities dialed up a bit, but we never felt like there was any problem getting and keeping the car pointed in the right direction.

When it came time to bring this 3,600-pound machine to a halt, the Avalon’s four-wheel-disc brakes delivered no-nonsense stops every time. ABS is standard on all Avalon models.