Excellent Review and after reading it, I headed out to Toyota to take their beast for a drive and compare it against my 05 ES330. The Avalon is loaded with a lot of features but after all, it's a Toyota and not a Lexus. I"m not gonna write a long review but to summarize a 30 min test drive:
Avalon is no comparison to the ES or any other Lexus model for that matter. the car is a 'boat'..just a big Camry with more features. Handling was no better than a Camry, and doesn even compare to the ES. A lot noiser than the ES too. The interior is nice but is missing some of the lexus 'touch' like the chrome trim and the better plastic and vinyl. The wood trim is also horrible! Anyway, don't take me wrong, I love Toyota and it is a great car, but I just want everyone to know that don't compare it to the ES, the ES wins hands down! There is only 1 thing that I really loved about the Avalon, and that is the 280hp engine..that car can move! I wish my ES had that! :D But that is it..nothing else, i still wouldnt trade my ES for that boat..no way!