# The Avalon TRD Is Not Your Grandfather's Avalon Anymore *By James Hills — Updated March 2025* Toyota was always "my parent's car brand" it was safe, dependable, affordable, and while all of those things are positive attributes for a car brand it was also boring and conservative. While Toyota is still among the more conservative brands out there, in the past couple years they have begun to introduce more power, improved designs, and tried new ideas. When they introduced the Avalon TRD last year it was a bit confusing since the Avalon had always been a "grandpa car". Now though, it fills a unique spot in the marketplace and so I was excited to take it for a spin. The 2020 Avalon TRD comes with a 3.5L V6 producing 301hp and 267 lb-ft of torque and 22/31 mpg fuel economy. This is the same engine that is available across all of the non-hybrid versions of the Avalon but for a car that looks like it is sporty, I felt disappointed that they didn't do something to eek out an extra bit of power. Considering the Avalon weighs substantially more than the smaller Camry, this puts it naturally at a disadvantage when it comes to performance. I'm still not sure what to make of the Avalon TRD. While a full-sized sedan is generally tuned more for a soft and comfortable ride, the TRD version was tuned to have a stiff suspension that holds well in corners and a transmission that feels more sporty than what you might find in the Limited or Touring editions. With the addition of 19" TRD matte-black alloy wheels and a TRD cat-back dual exhaust, and 12.9" front disc brakes with red calipers poking out through the spokes in the wheel is looks like something fun, unique and distinctly sporty. ### Austin Texas Guys Trip: Grab Some BBQ, Listen to Great Music, and Get a Little Weird If you dream of BBQ, live music, golf, and getting a little bit weird then Austin, Texas is a great town that is perfect for a quick weekend getaway. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Gu768JZrt80SJxhgdiXw9Q.368) ### Explore America's Great Inland Sea On Great Lakes Cruises There's more to cruising than the west coast cruises we love so much. CruiseWestCoast [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Gu768JZrt80SJxhgdiXw9Q.444) ### Discover the Essence of Sri Lanka Curated Sri Lanka journeys from a passionate local team, ideal for travelers seeking culture, landscapes and lasting memories. Viator (affiliate) [Book on Viator](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Gu768JZrt80SJxhgdiXw9Q.1807) ### 400 Years of Drinking in One Night: Boston's Most Historic Bars Boston historic bars guys weekend: pub crawl through America's oldest taverns, from the Revolutionary War to JFK's booth. Warren Tavern, Union Oyster House, and bars older than the country itself. ManTripping [Read More](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/Gu768JZrt80SJxhgdiXw9Q.1037) Promoted by FlowAds Throughout the vehicle, you'll find TRD imprinted on various parts so that anyone who looks at it clearly knows this isn't just some conservative full-sized sedan. What's odd is that the non-TRD version of the Avalon is a good vehicle already. I'm not sure why they would have created a trim like this where the performance delivered doesn't match the promise. On urban streets, the Avalon TRD is too stiff to be comfortable going over bumps, potholes, and other obstacles. On open roads though, it was fun to drive but the long-wheelbase makes it less nimble in corners and the engine, while sufficient was never something that I could get excited about. That being said, I probably wouldn't be talking about the 2020 Toyota Avalon at all right now if it weren't for this new trim level so from that perspective it worked from a marketing perspective. In fact, I have nothing bad to say about the core Avalon. It has all the tech and safety features that you need in a full-sized sedan and plenty of comfort as well both in suspension as well as seats and cabin space. Priced at $42,375 vs $42,575 for the Touring, make sure you test drive both models. Ultimately I think this might be one of those products that draw your attention and then after comparing models and taking it for a test drive, you ultimately pick the Avalon Touring or Hybrid Limited Instead. If Toyota were to release a bigger engine or slap a turbo on the current version then it might deliver on its sporty looks and the stiff suspension would be an asset. Either way, I still had fun driving it around San Diego and exploring a variety of terrain and having more fun in the Avalon than I thought I would! September's Pick Amazon (affiliate) ### Kenyon City Grill Portable Stainless Steel Electric Grill Why we picked it: a grill you can actually carry to the campsite, the tailgate or the cabin without borrowing a truck. Stainless, no propane tank to wrestle, and hot enough to cook for four guys rather than reheat for one. [Check The Price](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/PVgnx_4nPCsJROp6Qf6u2g.2144) [August's Pick Gorilla Carts Heavy Duty Garden Wheelbarrow, 1200 Lb, Yellow $174.99](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/PVgnx_4nPCsJROp6Qf6u2g.2143) [July's Pick Amazon Fire TV Stick HD with Alexa Voice Remote $17.99](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/PVgnx_4nPCsJROp6Qf6u2g.2136) [June's Pick Google Chromecast with Google TV 4K HDR Streaming Player, Snow $109.99](https://ads.flowmediamarketing.com/go/PVgnx_4nPCsJROp6Qf6u2g.2139) Promoted by FlowAds Details Written by: James Hills Published: 03 July 2020 Last Updated: 01 March 2025 ### 🚢Ready To Book A Vacation? Let us help you plan a cruise, all-inclusive resort, or tour for your next guys trip, family vacation, or romantic getaway. Click here to [**Book Your Next Vacation**](https://www.mantripping.com/vacation-planning.html). #### Which Style Of Amazon Cruise Should You Pick To Explore World's Largest River? Aug 17, 2026 [Which Style Of Amazon Cruise Should You Pick To Explore World's Largest River?](https://www.mantripping.com/travel/amazon-river-cruise-planning-ship-options.html) [Plan Your Next Vacation Today!](https://www.mantripping.com/vacation-planning.html) ### Products & Gift Ideas #### LiberNovo Maxis Chair Review - Finally A Seat That Lets Big Dudes Feel Comfortable At The Desk Sep 10, 2026 [LiberNovo Maxis Chair Review - Finally A Seat That Lets Big Dudes Feel Comfortable At The Desk](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/libernovo-maxis-big-and-tall-office-chair-review.html) #### FRESKO 4-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender Review Sep 09, 2026 [FRESKO 4-in-1 Immersion Hand Blender Review](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/fresko-4-in-1-immersion-hand-blender-review.html) #### UGREEN Air Review: Four Slim Chargers And Power Banks I Traveled With This Summer Aug 25, 2026 [UGREEN Air Review: Four Slim Chargers And Power Banks I Traveled With This Summer](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/ugreen-air-chargers-power-banks-review.html) ### Top Guys Trip Ideas: #### Mardi Gras And More: A Cajun Country Guys Weekend In Lafayette, Louisiana Feb 28, 2025 [Mardi Gras And More: A Cajun Country Guys Weekend In Lafayette, Louisiana](https://www.mantripping.com/travel/things-you-must-do-on-a-lafayette-louisiana-guys-weekend.html) #### What Makes Las Vegas Still the Best Guys Trip Destination? Jun 10, 2026 [What Makes Las Vegas Still the Best Guys Trip Destination?](https://www.mantripping.com/travel/different-styles-las-vegas-guys-trips.html) #### JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort Apr 18, 2016 [JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort](https://www.mantripping.com/travel/jw-marriott-san-antonio-hill-country-resort.html) ### Related Articles #### Testing the 2026 Nissan LEAF: First Impressions of Nissan's Redesigned Electric Crossover [Testing the 2026 Nissan LEAF: First Impressions of Nissan's Redesigned Electric Crossover](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/2026-nissan-leaf-first-impressions.html) #### 2025 Toyota Corolla FX Special Edition Review: Sporty Heritage Meets Modern Technology [2025 Toyota Corolla FX Special Edition Review: Sporty Heritage Meets Modern Technology](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/2025-toyota-corolla-fx-special-edition-review.html) #### 2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Review: Proven Space and Comfort for Real-World Needs [2025 Chrysler Pacifica Pinnacle Review: Proven Space and Comfort for Real-World Needs](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/2025-chrysler-pacifica-pinnacle-review.html) #### 2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade Review: This Sophisticated Sedan Gets the Balance Right [2025 Toyota Crown Nightshade Review: This Sophisticated Sedan Gets the Balance Right](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/2025-toyota-crown-nightshade-review.html) #### 2025 Mazda CX-30 Carbon Turbo Review: Stylish Compact SUV With Turbocharged Performance [2025 Mazda CX-30 Carbon Turbo Review: Stylish Compact SUV With Turbocharged Performance](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/2025-mazda-cx-30-carbon-turbo-review.html) - [**](https://www.mantripping.com/search.html) - [**](https://www.mantripping.com/sitemap.html) - [** Polls](https://www.mantripping.com/polls.html) - [Community Login](https://www.mantripping.com/registration/login.html) - [Brand Engagement Newsletter](https://www.mantripping.com/pr-ops-newsletter.html) - [Links](https://www.mantripping.com/links.html) - [Pitch Portal](https://www.mantripping.com/pitch.html) - [Men's Travel Survey](https://www.mantripping.com/the-mantripping-guys-trip-report-spring-2026.html) --- *Source: [The Avalon TRD Is Not Your Grandfather's Avalon Anymore](https://www.mantripping.com/stuff/the-avalon-trd-is-not-your-grandfather-s-avalon-anymore.html)* **Tags:** Cars, Sports Cars