3 Things That Surprised Me About 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD

Toyota has added a performance grade to its lineup. See what things caught me off-guard during my review of the 2020 Avalon TRD.

I spent an entire afternoon yesterday getting to know the 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD a little better. This is, of course, Toyota’s high-performance addition to its current lineup.

Toyota Racing Development, or TRD, is Toyota’s performance division and has been working its magic in Toyota models since 1979. You may already have seen the letters “TRD” displayed prominently in such favorites as 4Runner, Tundra, Tacoma, Sequoia and Camry. The brand new 2020 RAV4 TRD Off-Road will reach dealerships before the end of the year as well.

While testing out this Avalon TRD, much of it looked and drove just like I would expect an Avalon to drive. However, a few things stood out and I knew this was not anything close to what I thought I would see and feel.

Black and Red are themes with 2020 Avalon TRD

One look inside the all-new 2020 Avalon TRD and you know what I mean by the title of this section. Normally in an Avalon one would expect to see a beige or gray interior – maybe all black. After all, the Avalon has a rich history for being classy, upscale and luxurious. With the TRD, though, everything is pretty much black and red inside.

Black SofTex heated seats with red stitching are the cornerstone pieces of TRD’s interior styling. Red accents are nicely decorated throughout the cabin. Black and red TRD headrests, TRD floor mats – even red seatbelts.

Performance and 2020 Avalon TRD

All new Toyota Avalon full-size sedans are powered with the combination of a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a direct-shift 8-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain delivers 301 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft. torque with smooth, precise shift points.

What sets an Avalon TRD drive experience apart from the rest of the current Avalon fleet are unique features like TRD track-tuned suspension, cat-back dual exhaust, larger 12.9-inch brakes and thicker underbody bracing. I was impressed with TRD’s cornering around winding country roads during my test drive. It held corners well and felt more muscular than what I was used to during quick accelerations.

Watch my video review of Supersonic Red 2020 Avalon TRD

I actually like that rear spoiler

Walk around the 2020 Avalon TRD, or even a new Camry TRD, and you can see right away how totally unique these are compared to “the norm.” On Avalon TRD you will find 19-inch matte black TRD wheels with red brake calipers.

Also, gloss black accents such as side mirror caps, front grille, side aero kit and front splitter adorn the exterior and set it up as a high-performance ride you can be proud to drive.

But that glossy black rear spoiler. It sits higher and more rounded than a traditional rear spoiler. Not quite like you would find in a Fast and the Furious chase scene, but you get the point.

The spoiler grew on me the more I drove the car and frankly it looks cool against Supersonic Red paint. “Spoiler alert” - now I am a fan.

Time for your thoughts on Avalon TRD

Expect a factory MSRP for the 2020 Avalon TRD of $42,300. It comes in Supersonic Red, Classic Silver Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic and Wind Chill Pearl.

What do you think about Avalon TRD interior and exterior styling? Would you drive one? What color choice do you think would look best in TRD?

YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY: Get a first look at the interior for all-new 2020 Highlander Hybrid. Please subscribe to Torque News YouTube channel for the latest Toyota news and automotive world analysis.

Thanks for reading everyone. See you next story when I reveal exclusive interior pictures of 2020 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Limited.

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