MotorMouths

With the Avalon, Toyota is on target, but most likely in the 8 ring, not quite the bull’s eye they had hoped for.

While the Toyota Avalon’s driving style was not what I would choose for my own vehicle, most prospective Avalon buyers will appreciate the it’s smooth and quiet ride, spacious interior, reasonable highway fuel economy, and the car’s many luxury features.

While things inside the Avalon are nice, the sheetmetal is pretty bland. The car doesn’t stand out at all when compared with other four-doors on the road. And with a sticker near $38,000, it’s a lot to pay for a nice but bland ride.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is certainly not an outward expression of egoism. No, the Avalon goes about its business delivering a quiet, confident and reliable ride that seems exclusive to those who own them or who have driven them.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon’s generous dimensions and excellent safety ratings (the 2011 model earned the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety’s “Top Safety Pick” award) make it a shoo-in for those seeking safe, roomy family transportation

The Avalon clearly delivers on its message to bring comfort and ease of use to its driver and passengers, and the update has greatly improved the Avalon’s overall look, inside and out.

The Avalon is a relaxed-fit car, and that earns it an old-man’s-car rap (the median age of buyers is 64 years old). But for sedan shoppers who are secure enough to ignore that image-or old enough to embrace it-the Avalon is a comfy ride.

Driving the Toyota Avalon inspires a great feeling of confidence. This is a car that waits to do what it is told — and then does it with dispatch and without fuss.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon is almost an ideal near-premium sedan, with more-than-competitive levels of technology, power, fuel efficiency, comfort and style, all wrapped up by an equally competitive MSRP.

There’s still a lot to like in the Avalon, including a serene, spacious cabin, abundant luxury features and a refined ride. But compared to competing models, it can come off as a bit boring due to its conservative styling and overall driving demeanor.

The Avalon, Toyota’s Arthurian super-Camry remains a Lexus in everything but its grille badge. Here, then, is a car for those who fondly remember the Buicks of yore.

The 2011 Toyota Avalon continues to attract the aging customers it always has. It alone offers a modern option designed specifically for them, and does so unapologetically. That’s something we’ll raise our scotch and sodas to in 30 years, but until then, we’ll let Grandpa drive.