ENTHUSIAST DEVELOPMENT: The automotive metaphor for the quest for a magical Arthurian sword is to be no more. Often colored as a refined barge tuned exclusively for septuagenerians and a Lexus ES pretender, after 28 years the Toyota Avalon sedan is slated to depart this earthly world.
SHORT LIFE: Two short years ago the Japanese automaker’s in-house skunk works did go to work on a menacing tune of Avalon. Complementing a near NASCAR bodied Camry V-6 TRD, a 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD was also released and then sampled by Roadblazing.com. More recently an Ice Edge (putty grey) 2021 Toyota Avalon TRD was dropped off. Then unbeknownst to this outlet, it would spell the end of the TRD trim, with the entire model’s demise scheduled for the following year. Consider this Re-Driven Review a eulogy for the only large Toyota sedan which attracted some quadragenarians.
2021 Toyota Avalon TRDDriving Hits:
2021 Toyota Avalon TRD: in Ice Edge
301 horsepower, 268 pound-feet torque DOHC gas V-6 = same as with non hybrid, non AWD Avalons
Only red seat belts & contrast seat stitching & metal pedals distinguish from other Avalon interiors
Trunk lining felt flimsy & cardboard walls thin
Center stack buttons nano sized
Media display target of sunwash
Standout Feature(s) 2021 TOYOTA AVALON TRD:
2021 Toyota Avalon TRD: in Ice Edge
TRD specific exterior
“Darth Vader” gloss black exterior trim including oversized full height lattice maw grille, black + red striped body side spats, trunk lid spoiler, side mirror caps
TRD lower fascia front splitter and rear diffuser
TRD 7-tuning fork spoke matte black 19″ wheels
TRD badge, trunk-lid lower right
TRD specific cabin
Aluminum pedals
Red seatbelts
Red stitched leather tilt/ telescoping steering wheel
Red stitched and laced leatherette + micro-suede seats w/ embossed front head-rests
Red floor mat & trunk mat piping
Roadblazing.comSays: Muscle car effects on stolid large family sedan remain redundant in world with Camry. Snap one up while you can.
• Finally a head turning TNGA-K Avalon. If the TRD unique Supersonic Red hue isn’t sufficiently blood curdling, there is a Mack the Knife’s almost imposing extension of a thin upper grille to a piano black, lower chain link, full width monstrous maw. Darth Vader finally found a nice family car to butt heads with. Darkened creased corner faux brake ducts and a lower valance splitter fill out the rest of the nose. Obviously no door nor wing mirror chrome has been left standing without blackening. Exaggerated blackened side skirts caught editors’ shoes a bunch of times. Other than altering color schemes and a right lower trunk lid red “TRD” emblem which is masked by the red hue, the back lid spoiler bumper cover expanse remain the same as Touring. Avalon TRD adopts single rather than dual exhaust tips. The 7 tuning fork spoke, 19″ rims, done in matte black are in search of rash from curbs.