Toyota Reveals the 2016 Avalon and its New XLE Plus Trim

2016 Toyota Avalon (Credit: © Toyota)

Toyota is working through its remaining models and revealing all of its 2016 models before the calendar year comes to a close. Today, it is showing off the 2016 Avalon, which receives a mild refresh, some new features, and some additional safety equipment.

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Front and center in these changes is a restyled front end. Oddly enough, the images that Toyota released show off just about everything but the restyled front end. The only change I can actually make out is that the angle of the front fog-light surrounds is reversed from last year. Toyota also announced that the 2016 Avalon Touring will have a front fascia all its own.

2016 Toyota Avalon (Credit: © Toyota)

Also new for the 2016 model year is a new trim level known as the XLE Plus, which will be an optional trim on the gasoline-powered Avalon and the standard trim level for the Avalon Hybrid. This trim level comes with premium features like an Entune Audio Plus infotainment system, a 7-inch screen, and Connected Navigation Scout GPS Link.

The final bit of new stuff for the 2016 Avalon is the introduction of the Toyota Safety Sense-P option on the Limited trim level. This optional package adds in automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and lane-departure warning with steering assist.

2016 Toyota Avalon (Credit: © Toyota)

Under the hood of the standard Avalon is a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that delivers 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque. This engine uses a six-speed auto transmission to deliver the power to the front wheels for a sub-seven-second 0-to-60 time. The Avalon Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with a high-torque electric motor to deliver 200 horsepower. What’s more, the Hybrid model can travel short distances on electricity alone at speeds of up to 20 mph, and it gets up to 40 mpg combined.

There is no mention of when exactly the 2016 Avalon will arrive in dealers nationwide, but I would assume it should show up soon with the 2015 model year coming to a close.