Most industry watchers are well aware of the rapidly shrinking demand for four-door sedans, with consumers seeming to have permanently gravitated to SUVs and crossovers as their choice for daily commutes. We’ve watched as the Fusion and Taurus vanished from our shores, along with the likes of Impala, RLX, and Continental.
Pour one out for the Toyota Avalon, as well.
According to a report first spotted in Automotive News, Toyota will cease production of the Avalon sedan once it wraps up the 2022 model year. The beans were spilled in a letter from the Big T to some of its suppliers, a message which apparently outlined Toyota’s plant in Kentucky will stop building the car but partners should still be prepared to provide parts and service to existing customers.
Through the first half of 2021, the company sold 10,328 Avalons, compared to 177,671 Camry sedans and 155,531 Corollas. If you’re wondering, they also sold 221,195 RAV4s in the same time period. In total during the first half of this year, the Avalon comprised 2.65% of car sales at Toyota or just under 1% of vehicle sales overall for the brand.
It’s not like the model hasn’t been around for a while. The nameplate first appeared in 1994 on what was then Japan’s answer to comfy Buick sedans and the like. Since then, the car has gone on to enjoy a total of five generations, receiving a myriad of comfort and tech upgrades along the way which surely delighted those on their way to the Golden Corral. Hybrid power has been available in the Avalon for the better part of a decade, the most recent of which produced only 215 horsepower but permitted the big sedan to earn a 44 mpg combined rating by the EPA.
Try squeezing that level of economy out of a crossover that provides the same level of passenger comfort as a leather-lined Avalon. We like big sedans around here (#PantherLove) but their demise is inevitable in today’s market.
With this departure and those of others, TTAC is taking wagers on the next big sedan to visit the gallows. Nissan Maxima, perhaps? Kia Stinger? We hope not the latter. Place your bets in the comments.
[Image: Toyota]
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