Unlike any other nonluxury sedan sold by a foreign automaker, the Toyota Avalon is available with a front bench seat and a column - mounted shifter - a layout specifically designed to attract the older buyers who favor Big Three cars.The sedan is based on the Camry sedan, Toyota's best - selling car line.The Avalon's ultrasmooth 3.0 - liter, 24 - valve, four - cam V - 6 engine and refined four - speed automatic make for an excellent drivetrain.Performance is crisp from a stop, and passing power is
superb at all legal speeds.