The 2021 Toyota Avalon TRD is the sport-tuned version of Toyota’s largest sedan, a front-wheel-drive V6 four-door with a lowered chassis, upgraded brakes, and a black-and-red interior. It debuted for the 2020 model year and returned largely unchanged for 2021. This review covers what the car is, how it drives, what it cost, and why it exists in Toyota’s history — including the fact that both the TRD version and the Avalon itself were soon discontinued.
Release Date and Model History
The Avalon TRD was announced in 2019 and went on sale that fall as a 2020 model, joining the Camry TRD as the first Toyota sedans to carry the badge. It was built on the fifth-generation Avalon, which had launched for 2019 on Toyota’s GA-K platform. For 2021 the car carried over; the changes Toyota made that year to the Avalon range were the addition of a four-cylinder all-wheel-drive option and standard Android Auto compatibility, neither of which applied to the front-drive V6 TRD. Toyota dropped the TRD for 2022 and then ended US Avalon production entirely after the 2022 model year, replacing the nameplate with the Crown crossover.
Engine and Performance
Powering the Avalon TRD is Toyota’s 3.5-liter V6, rated at 301 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm. It drives the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic with sport mode and paddle shifters. A TRD-tuned cat-back dual exhaust gives the car a deeper sound than the standard Avalon. Because the engine is shared with the regular Avalon V6, the TRD’s performance advantage is modest in a straight line; the greater difference shows up in the corners.
Handling and Chassis
The TRD’s chassis work is its real story. Toyota fitted thicker underbody braces to raise torsional rigidity, lowered the car by 0.6 inches with unique coil springs, and raised roll stiffness by 44 percent at the front and 67 percent at the rear using stiffer springs and stabilizer bars. TRD shock absorbers were tuned separately for body control, and the 19 x 8.5-inch matte-black wheels cut unsprung mass by about 18 pounds compared with the XSE. Front brakes grew to 12.9-inch rotors with dual-piston calipers. The result is a large sedan that turns in more eagerly and holds its line better than a standard Avalon, though it remains a comfortable cruiser at low speed.
Interior and Features
Inside, the Avalon TRD leans into its theme. Black Sport SofTex-trimmed heated front seats get suede-like inserts and red accents, the headrests are embroidered with the TRD logo in red stitching, and the seatbelts are red. The steering wheel and shift knob are trimmed to match, and TRD floor and trunk mats finish the look. Since it is based on the XSE grade, the car also includes a large touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, and Toyota’s Safety Sense driver-assistance suite. It seats five and offers roughly 16 cubic feet of trunk space.
Pricing
Toyota launched the Avalon TRD at $42,300 for 2020. For 2021 the starting MSRP rose to about $43,125, according to Cars.com, positioning it close to the Touring and Limited grades at the top of the Avalon line. EPA fuel economy was 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, and the curb weight was listed at 3,655 pounds. Buyers who want a full equipment breakdown should see this companion 2021 Toyota Avalon TRD engine specs, price, and interior article.
What Came After
Demand for large sedans had been falling for years, and the Avalon was no exception: Toyota sold about 18,421 Avalons in 2020. In August 2021 the company confirmed that US production would end after the 2022 model year, with the last cars built in August 2022 at the Georgetown, Kentucky, plant. The TRD did not return for 2022, making 2020 and 2021 the only two model years for the sport sedan. Toyota replaced the Avalon in North America with the Crown crossover, marking the Crown nameplate’s return to the market after a long absence. Enthusiasts looking at Toyota’s sportier sedans today may also consider the 2020 Toyota Camry XSE V6, which shares the same V6 and platform family.
Position in the Lineup
The Avalon TRD sat at the top of the fifth-generation Avalon range, which for 2021 also included the XLE, XSE, Touring, and Limited grades. It shared top-of-line billing with the Touring and Limited, but where those emphasized comfort and features — the Touring used Toyota’s Adaptive Variable Suspension — the TRD prioritized grip and response. It was the only Avalon grade that was neither available with all-wheel drive nor offered as a hybrid, because the AWD system paired with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and the hybrid used a CVT. That made the TRD the enthusiast-focused choice in a lineup increasingly oriented toward efficiency.
Summary
The 2021 Avalon TRD is a niche car: a large, comfortable front-wheel-drive sedan given a genuine performance makeover. Its 301-hp V6 is unchanged from lesser Avalons, so the value lies in the lowered, stiffened chassis, stronger brakes, and distinctive cabin. Because the TRD was offered for only two model years and the Avalon line ended in 2022, the 2021 TRD is a relatively rare used find. Buyers who want a sporty Toyota sedan have a narrow field, but those who want the most aggressive Avalon ever built have a clear answer.
