As someone who loves to drive, I’ve never truly understood why the sales charts are the way they are when it comes to nonluxury family sedans.

Far too often, vehicles that are actually fun to drive are left behind by the sedan buyer in favor of more humdrum experiences behind the wheel.

Whatever the reason, I’m happy to report that for people who are focused on stronger performance from their sedan, options still exist. 

One such option is the 2021 Mazda6, a sedan that both looks sharp and drives impressively. I recently spent some time in a Mazda6 and I’m back with a full report.

What’s that you say? A sporty Toyota Avalon? Have pigs started to fly?

No, the pigs are not yet airborne. But yes, starting with the 2020 model year, Toyota has given the TRD treatment to its traditional, full-size family sedan, and the Avalon has a very cool, racecar-looking version that may appeal to a different segment of car buyers.

LOOKS

To get right to the point, the Avalon TRD is definitely a looker. It garnered a lot of attention while I was driving it, and for good reason.

Up front, you get a truly aggressive-looking spiderweb grille design, on the tires you get a distinctive black and red look, and on the rear you get dual exhaust with polished tips and a piano black rear spoiler. It's also immediately noticeable how low to the ground this vehicle is.