When I hear the name Avalon, I think of my favorite album from the eighties by Roxy Music, Avalon. Legend also has it that Avalon is the birthplace of Excalibur, King Arthur’s sword. In 1994, Toyota chose the name for its all-new top-of-the-line midsize sedan. No pressure, right?
With a redesign coming in 2019, featuring a gargantuan grille, there’s still time to grab the 2018 model for fans of the current look. Latino Traffic Report recently drove two versions of the Avalon Touring, one in Ooh la la Rouge Mica and the other in Parisian Night Pearl (above).
An homage to the larger sedans of yore, the Avalon immediately impresses with its roominess, offering 42.1 inches of legroom in the front and 39.2 inches in the rear.
While the trunk can fit 16 cubic feet of cargo, the rear seats are not split for added cargo carrying ability.
Outside, the styling could be called understated, but the inside was rather elegant, with a dash, accented by smoked chrome details and a capacitive touch center stack for controlling the entertainment and climate control systems, plus a seven-inch split touchscreen.
Improvements for 2018 include the Toyota Safety Sense-P suite of technologies that are now standard like automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and lane departure alert with steering assist. A backup camera is also standard.
While not the most expensive Avalon trim, the Touring is the second from the top out of five and as such, includes important technology like the available blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and a parking sensor. It’s also the sportiest trim with a sport- tuned suspension and eighteen-inch wheels with darkened rims.
A 3.5-liter V6 with dual variable valve timing with intelligence powers every Avalon. Matched to a six-speed automatic transmission, it produces 268 horsepower and 248 lb.–ft. of torque and has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 21 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. On the test drive I averaged 22.7–24.9 mpg.
The available hybrid powertrain also makes the Avalon unique in its segment.
Standard creature comforts include dual-zone climate control, Entune premium audio with integrated navigation, auxiliary USB ports, Bluetooth, a CD player, (great for playing the CD version of Avalon) leather seating with heated seats for the driver and front passenger, a leather-trimmed telescopic steering wheel with paddle shifters, and Qi compatible wireless smartphone charging. My iPhone 6s was not compatible.
The midsize sedan may be an endangered automotive species but it’s not dead yet and with its 24-year history, going on 25, the Toyota Avalon is quite the survivor.
Pricing for the 2018 Avalon XLE starts at $34,395. The as-tested price for the two Avalon Tourings came to $38,739 and $39,541 (with the addition of an illuminated door sill, $379 and wheel locks, $80).
Si: The Avalon’s interior roominess and capacitive center stack gave it a premium feel.
No: While the Touring is the sportiest Avalon trim, those darkened rims looked odd.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to 
Powered by a choice of two 1.4-liter turbocharged engines, the test model came with the more powerful of the two that can produce 153 horsepower and 177 lb.–ft. of torque and included Direct Injection with a subtle start/stop mode to conserve gas. It had an EPA estimated fuel economy of 26 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. I averaged 25.2 mpg during the weeklong test drive.
While pricing for the 2018 Encore starts at $23,915, stepping up to the Premium trim adds lots of dollars as well as stuff. The as-tested price that included the Experience Buick Package ($2,390) with navigation, a power moonroof, an eight-inch touch screen, and Apple Carplay and Android Auto capability, came to $36,820.
Inside, Volvo’s distinctive Scandinavian touch combines art and function. On its siblings, like the XC90, that combination accentuated luxury, but a plethora of functional advances distinguishes the sportier XC40.
interior. At the launch, we met David Clark of 
While the brand has evolved to grab raves for its design, safety will always be an essential element of any Volvo’s DNA. Standard safety features on the XC40 include Pilot Assist with adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, and Run-off Road protection and mitigation. The Blind Spot Information System that Volvo invented, however, and Cross Traffic Alert remain optional on the XC40 Momentum and R-Design. It is standard on the Inscription.
MINI aims to help bring more of what matters back to the students of NYC by partnering with Sing for Hope and elevating the Sing for Hope Pianos initiative. In addition to the 50 pianos across the five boroughs, the #MINIPiano will act as a roving fifty-first piano, #DrivingHope to locations throughout the city, by surprising and delighting New Yorkers with even more pop-up performances and musical opportunities. MINI is currently developing the custom modified MINI Countryman to create the #MINIPiano. Further details about the car’s design will be released at a later date.
Described by VW as its “hot hatch,” the GTI debuted in 1983 and since then has transformed the hatchback from a utilitarian car and into a sporty compact. Redesigned for the 2015 model year, the seventh generation of the Golf GTI included three available trim levels—S, SE, and Autobahn. They remain for 2018 but with a few improvements.
forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian monitoring, and keyless access with a push button start.
Like other brands, VW has taken to using a warranty to tilt car buyers in their favor. The Golf GTI is covered by a transferable, six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
With seating for five adults, the Clarity Plug-in Hybrid (as does the entire Clarity family) falls firmly into the mid-sized sedan category. Yes, the rear middle passenger will be in hip contact with seatmates, but there’s more than adequate leg and headroom. Ingress and egress are easy too. What’s more, trunk space solidly approaches generous.
GMC returned to the midsize truck market with the 2015 Canyon. It added a diesel engine in 2016 and the Denali trim for 2017. LTR recently tested the 2018 
Fancy features inside the test model included leather seating with heated and cooled front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a Bose stereo system, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, the GMC Intellilink infotainment system with navigation, and an eight-inch touchscreen.
While most Tundras come with three cab styles and three bed sizes, the TRD Pro is available only in Double Cab and Crew Max models. LTR tested the latter matched to the shorter 5.5-foot bed.
For added climbing ability, the TRD Pro sits two-inches higher than its siblings and lacks running boards. While that enhances ground clearance, it can be hard to climb onboard, especially for the vertically challenged.
Horn, so that it includes additional features beyond its distinctive badging, like dual-zone climate control, a front and rear parking sensor, a 60/40-split folding rear bench seat with underseat storage, and fold-flat load floor storage.
economy of 15/22 mpg. It achieved an average fuel economy of 20.3 mpg during the weeklong test drive. The Hemi and eight-speed transmission on the test model added around $2,000 to the price. A 3.0-liter EcoDiesel V6 and 3.6-liter V6 are also available.
The Cummins is matched to a six-speed automatic transmission but a seven-speed automatic is available on the 5.6-liter V8. The unique position the XD holds also excludes it from fuel economy ratings by the EPA but on the test drive, it averaged 14.3 mpg.
The understated interior on the test model included cloth seats, a tiny display for the AM/FM/CD stereo. As a single cab, interior storage was limited but there was seat back and underseat storage in the rear.
