Toyota will be bidding adieu to the Avalon in the United States after the 2022 model year, but not before giving the fullsize sedan a fresh trim level. After stealthy Nightshade versions of the Prius, Camry SE, and other models, the time has come for the big family car to receive a similar treatment with an assortment of dark accents.
Only available as the XSE Hybrid Nightshade, the latest flavor of the Avalon rides on glossy black alloy wheels measuring 19 inches and features a front mesh grille finished in piano black. To spruce things up furthermore, Toyota has given the side mirror caps a dark look, with a similar theme noticeable on the headlight bezels, badging, and the trunk lid spoiler. To set it apart from all the other trim levels, the Nightshade comes with a bespoke rear diffuser.
Rounding off the changes on the outside are the black door handles and window trim, plus a dark finish for the shark fin antenna. Customers will be able to order the Avalon XSE Hybrid Nightshade not just in Midnight Black Metallic, but also in Celestial Silver Metallic or Wind Chill Pearl. Inside, the large sedan has black perforated upholstery and Ultrasuede.
Toyota fits a power tilt/slide moonroof with a sliding sunshade as standard equipment, along with an eight-speaker sound system and a nine-inch touchscreen for infotainment system featuring built-in apps, navigation, and SiriusXM with a three-month trial. As with all the other available Avalon versions, the Nightshade has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration as standard, plus Amazon Alexa. At an additional cost, buyers can upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL sound system with 1,200 watts of power.
It’s worth mentioning the 2022 Toyota Avalon XSE Hybrid Nightshade comes fitted with the Sequential Shiftmatic technology, which mimics the feeling of shifting the gears of a six-speed automatic equipped with paddle shifters or by using the shift lever mounted on the console. However, at the end of the day, it’s still very much an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (E-CVT).
Being based on the XLE Hybrid, it returns 43 miles per gallon in the city and 44 mpg on the highway for a combined 44 mpg. Power comes from a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and two electric motors providing a combined output of 215 hp.
Available for only one model year, the Nightshade-spec Avalon is going to set you back $40,700, plus $1,025 for destination fees.
Source: Toyota
