2002 Toyota Avalon VXI review from Australia and New Zealand

Major rattling coming from RHF Door trim- was fixed by dealer by repacking insulation.

Battery replaced after three years- roughly the average life expectancy.

Leather covered front centre console/ Armrest is wearing quite heavily.

Slighty Warped Brake Rotors.

The car is truly a suprising package, if you can get over the exterior (which I don't mind) which many people despise and the FWD drivetrain it is a greatcar.

The Avalon is an extremely well put together car, quality materials are used throughout and has a build quality that would put GMH and Ford Australia to shame and compares favourably with many quality European car. The doors are sealed well, the paint is great and the panels line up perfectly. Toyota has done a good job at modifying an American design for Aussie conditions and I feel that the car will age very well.

The car has no gimmicks is massively practical and everything is easy to use from the climate control to the easy to use stereo with its large buttons. It isn't completely drab by any means, it has a quite modern interior finished in light grey, a marvelously large boot (no folding seats though) and loads of rear leg room and a quality stereo. The only negative for the interior appears to be the front seats, which despite electric control seem impossible to get truly comfortable in.

The mechanicals in the car are quite good. The 3.0l V6 and 4 speed Auto are the same as those used in the Camry and work well the in Avalon. The engine is beautifully smooth and has a nice progrssive powerband. The transmission is smooth and never clunks or hunts for gears, I only wish it had Triptonic, it does however have a nice grade-logic mode. The only mechanical negatives the is that it has a lack of low-down torque esp. when compared to the 3.8 GM or 4.0L Falc motors and the quite inadequate brakes.

On the road the car does well, the suspension isn't as soft as many make it out to be, but it certainly isn't sporty and feels like a big car. It is not any worse than the Mitsubishi Magna. When compared to RWD Falc's and Commo's (which aren't that great in standard form) it doesn't handle that much worse.

As for straightline performace the car is no slouch despite having 'only' 140 KW it gets up to 100 kmh nice and quick. Its low weight and nice drivetrain allow it to beat AU Falc's and VX Commo's of the line quite easily, infact it can almost hold onto BA XT's. The only real negative it's lack of Overtaking ability on the highways compared to the above at speeds over 100kmh.

Fuel Economy- 10L / 100kms highway

10.5L / 100kms city.

The car is a wonderful car when compared to it's contempereries (Berlina/ Fairmont/ Verada EI) and due to its lack of popularity is quite cheap, even cheaper than the camry which is a smaller and probably an inferior car. I would prefer it over any AU Falcon, VX/VY Commodore or TJ/TL Magna. It isa practical, reliable well- built vehicle.