So, a funny thing happened on the way to the golf course. Me and Bengy and Throckmorton were considering a round with a new mashie to the victor, when. . .

I have no idea why this piece has gotten off to this odd start. Perhaps it has something to do with the kind of automobile the Toyota Avalon used to represent, at least in the narrow confines of my perception when it comes to huge, lumbering sedans. The Avalon used to be a very large car (still is), very popular with the older set as it is very easy to get in and out of, and just a very reliable, user-friendly taxi that is more butler than teenager in personality. The ride was soft, not quite lumbering but pillowy nevertheless, and it was all in all a very nondescript vehicle.

So why do I think the new Avalon is possibly going to become a VIC? In the Hybrid version, we may see what mainstream big sedans may be evolving into and if so, it’s a very good thing. For starters, the Hybrid drive system (a 2.5-cylinder Four with a 105kW electric motor, powered by tried-and-true Nickel-Metal hydride battery array) delivers 200 horsepower which may not sound like much but works really well in this application. To think that during my tenure with this car I averaged just a tick under 40 MPG while driving in a purely normal manner (I honestly believe if you drive sanely most of the time, there’s absolutely no reason to drive in a special manner when piloting a Hybrid) yet was basically steering a supertanker about is quite remarkable. The suspension is tighter than before, and the Avalon handles well while still returning a composed ride. That’s efficiency that bests some subcompact cars that you could damn near put in the back seat of this thing. It’s a pretty neat accomplishment, and even bests the Hybrid Camry in terms of appeal to drivers that need a roomy limo for their transportation needs.

Naturally all the bells and whistles are available in this beast should you desire them, including great sound and wireless technology. The interior workmanship is excellent, and the car is as quiet and refined as a full-size Toyota would lead you to expect. The trunk is still fairly roomy too, even though some of the space is taken up by the battery pack. There’s even a spare tire, that even though is of the temporary variety is a welcome sight since these essential items are disappearing these days. You can’t depend on an inflator kit or the freakin’ auto club, man! Self-sufficiency rules when you really need to get someway in a limited about of time.

A Very Important Car, then? I think it is, because it may be the benchmark for a the run-of-the-mill big-ass family sedan/retired person’s giant golf cart genre. This means that when you win over this mainstream group of people, it greases the skids for hybrid technology to truly become ubiquitous. Full-size pickups will be next; mark my words. Diesels will have their place, sure, and we will no doubt see more of them as well. But the mating of a gas engine to an electric motor is a gateway powertrain for greater use of electric propulsion down the line. And, they make practical sense today, in almost every driving scenario.