WTF? Toyota adding AWD to Camry and Avalon for 2020

"LJ909" (lj909)
11/13/2019 at 11:27 • Filed to: 2020 Toyota Camry AWD, 2020 Toyota Avalon AWD

While a lot of people seem to think that the end of the sedan is nigh, Toyota is thinking otherwise. While poking around their site to build and price a TRD Camry, I discovered that there are AWD models coming for both the Camry and Avalon for ‘20. But before you get your driving gloves all in a bunch, it seems that AWD will only be available on the 2.5 I4. So no 300 horse V6 and AWD for wannabe sport sedan fun. On Camry it’ll be available on LE, XLE, SE, and XSE trims and Avalon it’ll be relegated to higher XLE and Limited trim. The Camry and Avalon AWD will be 2 more sedan competitors to Subaru’s Legacy along with the recently introduced Nissan Altima AWD.

DISCUSSION (34)

Fyoeu > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 11:46

Interesting. Was just watching a “mechanical review” of the current generation Camry, and he mentioned that it looks like they made room underneath to add AWD sometime in the future .... and they did!

Sucks that we can’t have a V6 AWD Camry :(

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Fyoeu
11/13/2019 at 11:47

You can — it’ll be the new ES350 AWD

LJ909 > Fyoeu
11/13/2019 at 11:49

Very interesting . These things should sell well in the north and northeast. It does sucks we cant get it with the V6. At least you can get AWD on SE and XSE with the Camry. S you can pretend you’re sporty.

Derpwagon > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 11:53

Current accord body, with AWD and the 2.0T plus 8 spd auto please.

LJ909 > Derpwagon
11/13/2019 at 11:58

That would be an attractive package. But the pricing on it would probably be so high you might as well go and get a TLX.

Derpwagon > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 12:03

Perhaps.

Spanfeller is a twat > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 12:16

Boring. Call me when they use the prius AWD drivetrain

M.T. Blake > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 12:27

I wonder how well it will work...?

When we bought our Sienna all the reviews I read about the AWD version were mostly lukewarm as no one felt the advantage was worth the money.

Shift24 > Derpwagon
11/13/2019 at 12:51

E ven more attractive current body accord, AWD, 2 .0T, and 6 speed manual

Derpwagon > Shift24
11/13/2019 at 12:54

as much as I’d like that, I fear my next daily will likely be an automatic.

Shift24 > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 13:00

Yeah but then you get the dreaded 9 speed with the V6, as AWD is only offered in V6 trim.

Plus the accord looks better and is boosted. Though the TLX will get boosted next year with the redesign

Shift24 > Derpwagon
11/13/2019 at 13:05

Which I get as a DD, manuals can get old very quick. I t’s even doubtful honda would even consider one but one can dream

LJ909 > M.T. Blake
11/13/2019 at 13:05

I just saw Car & Driver has details on it. Apparently it’s the system from the Rav4. It’ll be able to send 50% of power to the rear wheels and it’ll be able to decouple from the rear wheels when traction slippage isn't detected to preserve fuel economy.

M.T. Blake > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 14:33

As long as we can find a way to do cyclone donuts in one, I’m cool with it.

Dogsatemypants > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 15:07

Toyota will bring awd to their full lineup in the next 2 years

Takuro Spirit > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 15:25

Also in AWD 2020 news:

Kinja'd!!!

AWD Pacifica is coming.

Maybe.

WiscoProud > M.T. Blake
11/13/2019 at 15:56

I presume that all depends on where you live and the conditions you drive in. We’re on our second Sienna AWD , and my wife has plowed ours through snow storms that were limiting other vehicles. Already this year she’s driven through 8" of standing snow.

My wife’s job doesn’t allow her to be late or work from home, so she needed something that would absolutely get there, but still wanted a van for convenience. Sienna was literally the only choice. I want to throw a set of AT severe service tires onto it and see what it can really do in the snow....

M.T. Blake > WiscoProud
11/13/2019 at 16:11

Good to hear it works well! I don’t remember where I read the review, but it was a lackluster one about the AWD being as ‘smart’ as other brands.

We bought the SE. The ‘sporty’ van, low to the ground, with 19” wheels. Not something I’d want to drive in the snow and if my recollection is right - the SE can’t be had with AWD. We love our 2017, a familiar face with the updated drivetrain. EPA numbers on the highway are 24, but we squeezed 27mpg out of it during our last trip to Wyoming.

WiscoProud > M.T. Blake
11/13/2019 at 16:29

We have a 2013. Looks like you have the newer engine/tranny combo, which would be nice. Although i don’t have an issue with ours. AWD hurts the mileage, but its at least 50% better than my land cruiser, so i can’t bitch too much.

I can’t find any details as to what kind of AWD the Sienna has, other than the 2018+ have active torque vectoring. I presume this means the previous ones were “dumb” systems, reliant on traction control only. Honestly i prefer that. Its more predictable in bad conditions.

JMordu becoming “savethemilanos” > M.T. Blake
11/13/2019 at 17:36

AWD isn’t worth it except for buyers like my mom. After totaling a Town & Country on black ice she bought a Sienna and despite the fact I’m not sure the car has ever sent 1 ft-lb of torque to the rear wheels, she will not consider a replacement that isn’t AWD.

Under_Score > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 17:40

I don’t know why Toyota and Nissan didn’t put the AWD with the more powerful engines. That would hopefully eliminate torque-steer and make it possible to floor the cars safely with one hand barely on the wheel.

LJ909 > Takuro Spirit
11/13/2019 at 17:54

This is great considering that it could win over some crossover buyers.

LJ909 > Under_Score
11/13/2019 at 17:58

I never understood why a lot of car companies never engineered their AWD systems with their bigger engines or have AWD be available with every engine option. The Kia Stinger comes to mind with that. Or AWD being available with a bigger engine, I remember the first gen Chrysler LX cars you could have the Hemi with AWD.

Captain of the Enterprise > LJ909
11/13/2019 at 20:23

I’m game sounds perfect to me for a daily driver.

UglyDucklingRoaster > Derpwagon
11/14/2019 at 04:03

More like 9th gen body the 10th gen is ugly AF

bhtooefr > Spanfeller is a twat
11/14/2019 at 06:50

Or the RAV4 Hybrid AWD drivetrain, which sends quite a bit more than seven (7) whole horsepower to the rear wheels, and I’d think would fit too . (Seriously, the Prius system only makes 7 hp, versus 54 hp for the RAV4 system.)

Spanfeller is a twat > bhtooefr
11/14/2019 at 07:31

That sounds better.

Grindintosecond > LJ909
11/14/2019 at 09:13

But they don’t have that now with the HEMI do they? My summation is cost vs. powewr. Stronger systems cost way more money. I think they think people just wan t some grip. Possibly just an upsale thats not as much as going whole hog on the power, thereby getting those few more bucks on the low end.

Derpwagon > UglyDucklingRoaster
11/14/2019 at 09:27

I approved your reply just so I could tell you you are wrong.

I like both, to be fair.

ihm96 > Derpwagon
11/14/2019 at 09:28

I feel like I’ve just ventured into consumer reports and out of the jalop sphere. Lusting over a 2.0 T 8 Speed auto is ridiculous, thats literally 90% of cars nowadays anyways

Derpwagon > ihm96
11/14/2019 at 10:32

having an actual transmission rather than a CVT isn’t actually 90% of cars. Also, it would be a great daily. Nobody ever said it was something to lust over. god forbid anyone wants a convenient daily driver.

don’t worry, my >30 year old sports car still has a manual, and I drive that across the country on a yearly basis. without cruise control.

LJ909 > Grindintosecond
11/14/2019 at 10:50

Nah you can’t get AWD with the Hemi but they’ve done the lineup weird. AWD is only available with the 3.6, but on the Charger you can only get AWD on base SXT, but on Challenger you can get it on both SXT and GT. It could be cost. Or it could be a low take rate as well. They also didn’t advertise for it either.

ihm96 > Derpwagon
11/14/2019 at 11:09

I guess I kinda forgot about CVTs lol. I’m just so used to everything being 2.0 Turbo with a ZF 8 speed or a variation of that. Wasn’t trying to ruffle any feathers

Derpwagon > ihm96
11/14/2019 at 11:14

CVTs are a plague. But they’re apparently the future? I don’t know. I want nothing to do with them.