日前，丰田全新Avalon车型在2018北美车展上正式亮相，新车内部空间更宽敞，外观更有形，配置更丰富。毫无疑问，该车进阶到了比凯美瑞更豪华的高端车行列。而与老款车相比，2019款亚洲龙动力和燃油经济性都获得提升。新车基于丰田全新TNGA构架进行打造，新车的长度和宽度都获得提升，但高度降低。具体来说，轴距增加了51毫米，长度增加17.8毫米，高度降低20.3毫米。轴距的增加主要提供给后排乘客更宽敞空间，丰田表示后排长度增加了177.8毫米。外观方面，新车的整体造型深受凯美瑞影响，与现款车型相比变化较大，前进气格栅尺寸进一步增大，视觉效果十分夸张。同时，两款车型的造型也有一定的区别，其中普通版车型的格栅内部采用了黑色网状材质填充；而混动版车型的前格栅则采用大尺寸的横拉条设计。两款车型的前大灯造型也采用了不同的设计，但是均采用了LED光源。由于造型更顺滑，新车风阻从原来的0.28降至0.27。由于采用了TNGA平台，新车采用了更先进的多连杆后悬替代老款车的麦佛逊支柱。至于动力系统，新车可搭载标准版的3.5升V6和混动系统。前者还采用了丰田的D4-5双燃油喷射系统。丰田表示，该引擎功率超过老款车的268马力和248磅-英尺（约合336牛米），但没有给出具体数据。而搭载相同引擎的凯美瑞功率为301马力，扭矩267磅-英尺（约合362牛米）。与引擎搭配的是八速自动变速器，而老款车是六速变速器。丰田还表示，新车燃油经济性进一步提升。在XSE和Touring车型上，自动变速器还搭配方向盘换挡拨片以提升操控乐趣。
2019 Toyota Avalon Is More Efficient, Packs More Technology
The 2019 Toyota Avalon is all new, yet its mission is essentially unchanged from before: with more space, more style, and more features, it’s a notable step up in terms of premium-ness compared to the Camry sedan. And compared to the outgoing model, the 2019 Avalon will offer both more horsepower and improved fuel efficiency.
The new Avalon is built upon a version of the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform that has already been rolled out under the Prius and Camry. Its dimensions have changed in the direction for which designers always pine: longer, lower, wider. Specifically, the wheelbase increases by 2.0 inches and overall length by 0.7 inch, while overall height is down by an inch and width increases by 0.8 inch. Much of the length increase was given to the passenger compartment; Toyota says the rear cabin extends 7 inches farther back than before.
Looks-wise, there’s a lot of inspiration from the Camry, and many strong creases and lines to break up all of the body. As was shown in teasers, the LED taillights have a sequential activation design, and the headlights stand out thanks to a striking LED running light design. Overall, the sleeker design drops the Avalon’s drag coefficient from 0.28 to 0.27.
By virtue of switching to the TNGA platform, the 2019 Avalon also adopts a more advanced rear suspension setup, with a multilink arrangement instead of the old car’s struts.Still, there’s plenty of acceleration to be had, with more horsepower from both the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine and the optional hybrid powertrain. The former is a new V6 that switches to Toyota’s D4-S dual fuel-injection system. Toyota says horsepower has increased over the outgoing model’s ratings of 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque, but gives no number; in the Camry, the same engine delivers 301 hp and 267 lb-ft.
Now coupled to an eight-speed automatic instead of the outgoing six-speed, Toyota also promises the Avalon will be more fuel efficient. On XSE and Touring models, the automatic comes with shift paddles to sate drivers with a need for speed.
The hybrid powertrain is also new, mating a 2.5-liter inline-four engine to two motor-generators, with a nickel-metal hydride battery pack. The battery pack is now under the back seat instead of under the trunk floor, and Toyota says that most of the system’s other electronics have also been made smaller and lighter. As with the V6, fuel economy and horsepower are said to improve, but no exact figures are on offer yet. The current model is EPA-rated for 40 miles per gallon city and 39 mpg highway.
In most respects, it appears Toyota has improved upon the Avalon’s basic promise of delivering a more premium, more spacious sedan experience. If the TNGA platform and new suspension really do deliver a more exciting driving experience, while the powertrains improve on power and economy, it could only increase the car’s appeal.