Nearly a month after unveiling the 2019 RAV4 and the 2019 Corolla Hatchback, Toyota has announced the next generation of its flagship sedan: the Avalon.
Toyota has not only given the upcoming model a design makeover but has added a host of new features, including support for Apple CarPlay, Apple Watch, Amazon Alexa and Qi Wireless Charging.
Toyota's First Car With Apple CarPlay Support
In January, the Japanese automaker announced that the fifth generation of the Avalon would be the first Toyota model to come equipped with support for Apple CarPlay. Toyota is one of the last automobile manufacturers to include the in-car infotainment systems in its vehicles.
CarPlay integration is a standard feature that has been included in all four grades of the Avalon, a move that many would find refreshing, given that other manufacturers limit it to specific variants.
For the uninitiated, Apple CarPlay is a software that takes the user interface of one's iPhone and puts it onto the infotainment screen of one's car dashboard, allowing them to play music, navigate, make phone calls, and even send messages while on the road.
The 2019 Avalon's 9-inch Entune Tech 3.0 touchscreen is perfect for CarPlay. The screen's responsive touch and display size makes it easily visible to the driver as well as the passengers in the vehicle.
Android users will be disappointed, as the mid-size sedan does not include support for the Android equivalent of Apple's CarPlay, Android Auto. The company has cited privacy concerns as the reason behind its decision to leave out support for Android Auto.
The 2019 Avalon's Other Cabin Tech
Along with CarPlay support, the upcoming sedan also comes with support for Android smartwatches and Apple Watch. With the help of Toyota's Remote Connect app, users can remotely lock/unlock the doors, start the engine of the Avalon, and even check where your vehicle was last parked right from their wrist.
Moreover, the 2019 Toyota Avalon is compatible with Amazon's Alexa across all grades, allowing users to perform both car-to-home and home-to-car tasks. For instance, one can ask Alexa to switch on the lights of their home from the comfort of their car. In reverse, this feature can also be used to do things like check the fuel status of the vehicle and make sure the doors are locked from one's house.
The Avalon also offers Qi wireless charging as a standard feature on the XSE, Limited, and Touring, and as an option on XLE as part of a moonroof package.
