2009 Toyota Avalon

05/10/2008 08:23. My first inkling that I was starting to like the Avalon came while accelerating onto the highway.

The 3.5-liter V-6 kicks in with 268-horsepower and 248-poound-feet of torque to barrel past the semi trucks on I-75. The Avalon doesn't show off, it just does. There's a reassurance there when you're behind the wheel.

While I prefer a car with a stiffer suspension, the softer tuned Avalon made the ride comfortable and smooth. (The large sedan is frighteningly quiet on the road and when stopped, it's difficult to know if the car is even running.)

The body will roll heavily if you try to make the Avalon into a sports car. It prefers to walk down the hill instead of run. But adjusting to the Avalon's sense of the road is easy. Slow down a little and it will glide through the turn. The... // DetNews.com