Toyota has convinced itself of the need to break with the past and release the new Avalon TRD on the American market. As you can see, both the 2020 Toyota Avalon and Camry TRD trim levels will be packed with impressive enhancements & upgrades to performance and style. Be sure to check back down the road for more information here on our blog, and don’t hesitate to give us a call at the sales desk if you think you might be interested in one of these TRD models for yourself.
New Features
The Avalon TRD also wears a black-painted body kit with red pinstriping, a rear spoiler, a diffuser element in the lower rear bumper, and blacked-out exterior trim. Inside, there are those silly red seatbelts, plus additional red accents and stitching throughout, as well as “TRD” logos on each front headrest. At $43,255, the Avalon TRD isn’t the priciest Avalon (the Touring trim costs more), but it’s up there. The TRD is similarly equipped to the one-level-down XSE, with standard automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring, but lacks the Touring’s heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. The only option is a $1760 bundle that brings a JBL audio system and built-in navigation.
Technology Features
On the tech front, the TRD models have the same loadout as the standard versions. The Camry and Avalon come with Toyota’s Safety Sense P suite of driver’s aids, including full-speed adaptive cruise control, emergency forward braking, lane-keeping assist. The Avalon TRD goes not one, but two better by including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Oddly, neither of these Advanced Driver Assist Systems is available on the Camry TRD.
The Power
Powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, the TRD trim can do more with the available power compared to the XSE trim that shares the same motor. The TRD benefits from thicker unibody bracing for a stiffer shell, exclusive dampers, springs that lower the car by 0.6 inches, and larger 12.9-inch front rotors with twin-piston calipers. New bodywork includes an unforgettable front fascia, sharper side skirts, a decklid spoiler, rear diffuser, and 19-inch matte black wheels that shed 18 pounds compared to the stock XSE wheels.
The Powertrain
Aside from that hilarious TRD Catback exhaust, the Avalon’s powertrain is also untouched, outputting the same 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque spit from Toyota’s naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V-6, routed to the front wheels through the familiar 8-speed automatic. Though larger and heavier than the Camry, the Avalon TRD still scoots; our sister pub MotorTrend clocked the Avalon Touring at a 6.0-second 0-60 mph run, so expect the numbers for the TRD to be near identical.
Following its debut at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota’s official website has included the 2020 Avalon TRD in the vehicle’s build configurator and it’ll set buyers back $43,295 to start, including the mandatory destination charge. The price nets an individual all of the goods included with the trim, but any color other than silver or black costs an extra $425.
If you want a sedan with more performance and more presence, you can’t go wrong with the 2020 Toyota Camry TRD and 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD. Both models have a sleek body with sharp, aerodynamic lines that were designed by Calty, Toyota’s U.S. design studio. They also offer a thrilling driving experience that’s worthy of the Toyota Racing Development badge.