Overview & Reviews

Since its launch in the mid-1990s, the Avalon has been Toyota's main full-size sedan. It has always been a solid performer, with standard V6 power, lots of interior space and a reputation for reliability.

Early Avalons were often criticized for their humdrum style, especially the first-generation model. But the more recent Avalons, thanks to their more upscale design, have consistently been among the best choices available for a large sedan. Overall, a new or used Avalon is certainly worth considering.

Current Toyota Avalon
Four trims comprise the Avalon lineup: XLE, XLE Premium, XLE Touring and Limited. For each, you'll find a smooth 3.5-liter V6 with 268 horsepower and a six-speed automatic transmission. Together, they provide strong performance along with impressive fuel economy.

Standard feature highlights of the XLE include leather upholstery, power and heated front seats, keyless ignition and entry, Bluetooth and an eight-speaker audio system. The XLE Premium adds a sunroof and a few other minor perks, while the Touring gains 18-inch wheels (versus 17s), a navigation system and a smartphone app integration system. The Limited's features include xenon headlights, upgraded leather upholstery, heated rear seats, ventilated front seats and an 11-speaker JBL premium sound system.

In reviews, we've been impressed by the Avalon's upscale cabin quality, roomy seating and large trunk. There's plenty of power on tap and the precise steering has a firm, responsive feel to it. Whether threading its way through a tight mountain pass or cruising serenely on the open freeway, this accommodating full-size sedan provides a very appealing blend of comfort and useful performance. The only possible downside is that the car's ride quality isn't quite as plush as before, which could alienate previous Avalon buyers. But overall, this Avalon's superior road manners will likely appeal to the vast majority of large sedan shoppers.

Used Toyota Avalon Models
Redesigned for 2013, the latest generation of the Toyota Avalon has a more premium look and feel than the previous one. Under the sleek new skin is a stiffer structure that improves both ride and handling qualities. Since its debut, this version has seen only a minor shuffling of standard and optional features.

Developed and built with American roads in mind, the previous, third-generation Toyota Avalon ran from 2005-'12. Initially, four trims were offered: XL, Touring, XLS and Limited. The Touring was unique in that it was a sporty Avalon, with 17-inch wheels, a more firmly tuned suspension, an all-black interior and aluminum trim. "Sporty" is a relative term, though, since even this Avalon was tuned more for comfort than zipping through corners. All Avalons had a 268-hp 3.5-liter V6 and it drove the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.

Unlike earlier-generation Avalons, this one couldn't be had with a front bench seat. But there was ample room in the front and plenty of legroom to stretch out in back, where a nearly flat floor allowed three adults to sit comfortably. The materials were mostly first-rate and build quality was excellent overall.

Changes throughout this generation were minimal. The 3.5-liter V6 was initially rated for 280 hp, but revised SAE rating procedures dropped that to 268 hp, starting with the 2006 model year. Avalons from 2005-'07 had a five-speed automatic instead of the later six-speed, so expect slightly less performance and fuel economy from these earlier models. For 2009, stability control became standard across the board and the Touring trim was dropped. For 2011, Toyota updated the Avalon's exterior styling and dashboard design. The XLS trim level was also dropped, leaving the base Avalon and the Limited.

In road tests and reviews, we found the third-gen Avalon to be an excellent large sedan. Highway driving in particular is luxurious, making long road trips a pleasure. The V6 engine pulls smoothly and powerfully, while posting impressive fuel economy numbers. This Avalon handles adequately, but mainly this is a full-size car tuned for comfort rather than athleticism. Downsides are few – the rear seat doesn't fold down to expand luggage capacity and the driving demeanor is isolated and hence somewhat dull

With the second-generation Avalon, sold from 2000-'04, Toyota made a number of improvements over the first version. Available in XL and XLS trims, the second-gen Avalon was roomier and more technologically advanced. Optional stability control and brake assist features were added to improve safety. The 3.0-liter V6 was equipped with variable valve timing, providing a modest power increase over the previous generation with a peak of 210 hp. In road tests, we commented that the second-gen Avalon wasn't a particularly interesting car to drive, but it countered with plenty of dependability, comfort and smoothness. A curvaceous dashboard design further distinguished this model from its relatively staid competitors.

The original Toyota Avalon, sold from 1995-'99, came in two trims (XL and XLS) and had a 192-hp 3.0-liter V6 and a four-speed automatic transmission. Minor engine revisions for the 1997 model year saw the output of the V6 increase to 200 hp.

For the first two generations, Toyota did not make many significant changes. Therefore, used-Avalon shoppers should focus more on the condition and mileage of the vehicle than a specific year of production.

User Reviews:

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  TOYOTA AVALON - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By PES - September 18 - 1:03 am

  I just purchased this 2008 Avalon replacing a 2001 BMW 530i. the Avalon is NOT a BMW. On the other hand, it burns the same amount of "regular" fuel, is very comfortable to drive, has great traction in snow, and has more bells and whistles than the 530. The BMW cost a fortune to service (yes, the BMW folks are as polite and pleasant as all heck as they charge $150 for an oil change) and I am hoping that the Toyota does not. The fit and finish are equal and the Avalon cost about $20,000 less. Am I happy? you bet I am

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  Id buy another one today - 1997 Toyota Avalon
  By as400guy - September 14 - 10:00 am

  If I needed a new car today, Id buy another Avalon...sight unseen.

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  Wheres the old cars? - 2007 Toyota Avalon
  By Dan - September 13 - 7:03 am

  Where to begin.. Im just a joe who likes to save money so forgive me for my rant. and stop reading if you are part of the buy a car for 20,000 and pay everyone to fix it then sell it when your tired of it and buy a whole new car... If thats you... Then STOP reading this. You will be offended. Toyota makes great engines and has a history of great engines, but they(and most other car companies) have made their vehicles non user friendly. And simple parts and accessories have lost their quality.What do I mean? I mean I believe toyota is going backwards from the original beauty of their older predecessors.its sad. Take my 2000 Camry with a 4cyl. All the hoses are thick and heavy duty. Made to last!every clamp and air hose is easily accessible. The 2007 Avalon however has leaks in the brake lines,coolant lines,power steering line, and windshield washer line, and it only has 140k miles!so replace all those lines. Then remove all the engine paraphernalia and look at your engine, then take your bumper off and replace your light bulbs.... See what Im getting at.. Heck supposedly the newest cars are going to require the entire cab to be removed for an oil change!They want your money at the factory.. They dont want you doing your engine work.. Or the mechanic.. They want to narrow it down to your money and the Toyota factory. Forget aftermarket and quick fixes and good engines that last a million miles in the 70s they have you buying a new car every 300,000 miles and all the in between fixens. Thanks for your time and be grateful for your old beater!btw great car other than being a possible money pit... Handles well and is comfy and pretty.

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  8 yrs of comfort, speed, reliability - 2001 Toyota Avalon
  By Peter - September 11 - 5:20 pm

  After years we still love our efficient, fast, luxurious, super comfortable silent, low maintenance Toyota Avalon 2001 XL. Were both demanding drivers, but it puts up with our abuse, even jumping a tree trunk in front of the car in a snow storm and still coming out of it without wrecking. After 134,00 miles we finally are replacing original struts and shocks. A minor thing is that the check engine light comes on and off off late with an error code that may point to something related to the oil valve. At this moment the light is off though. Probably the new age of sensors comes with that kind of electronic oversensitivity.

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  Uncomfortable seats - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By acheback - September 5 - 11:26 pm

  Both my husband and I are having a terrible time with the seats. We both get terrible backaches. I have been to the chiro twice, husband once. We love the car, but cant stand the pain.

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  Nice car, Major oil leak... - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Freezer - September 5 - 12:30 pm

  Purchased in 11/05 as a pre-owned "certified" vehicle. We have the blizzard pearl with black interior. Purchased with 8,000 miles on it. The vehicle handles nice with plenty of horsepower. Noticed an oil leak the first day we brought it home. Brought it back to the dealer and they performed a TSB repair, oil lines etc. To make a long story short we went back to this dealer at least 3 times to fix and to another dealer about 4 additional times to finally get this resolved. We had to involve the Toyota Corp rep to get satisfied results. The engine had to be pulled to find the leak which was a void in the seam sealer near the cam saddle. Lets just say that I never expected this from a Toyota.

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  love my Avalon - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Kathyjj29 - September 5 - 10:00 am

  In the four years Ive owned the Avalon, it has not needed a single repair. We bought it at 20,000 and besides oil changes, the only money weve put into it was at the 60,000 mile check-up. Id buy another one in a heartbeat.

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  LessThan Perfect - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Phillip - September 5 - 1:10 am

  After 65,000 miles, I have become to like the car more now than when first purchased. Bad interior rattle near top of back glass. It took tree trips to dealer to get fixed. Has lots of other little rattles in cold weather. Transmission hesitation and jerkiness at low speeds is a definite design flaw to me; however, Toyota will not admit to this of course. The hvac system is very hard to control, especially in cold weather. Once automatic system acclimates, warm air comes from floor vents and unwanted cold air comes from dash vents. Toyota will not admit to this design flaw either. The laser cruise control in concept is great; however, it doesnt work as should, waste of money.

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  XLS is true road warrior - 2005 Toyota Avalon
  By Hans Aubuchon - August 28 - 6:13 pm

  This car is in its element on the road. It rides especially well, is very comfortable, delivers incredible gas mileage for the space and is well built. The Avalon has been seriously upgraded over the 2004 models which were already nice cars. For the money, it delivers performance, luxory, and comfort that rivals Lexus, Infiniti, and Mercedes.

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  We Call It "The Turnip" - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By Dave Kopczynski - August 28 - 4:17 am

  After owning nothing but Camrys since 1989, and being completely satisfied with them, we decided to "upgrade" to the Toyota "Flagship", assuming that it would be nicer than the Camrys. This was the biggest car buying mistake of my life! Our 2014 Avalon Limited has the harshest ride and the most road noise of any car we have ever owned. We refer to it as "The Turnip" because we feel the ride and noise would be what you would expect from a turnip truck used on a farm to transport vegetables. The seats are about as comfortable as sitting on a sheet of plywood. Understand that we think the deep metallic red Avalon is one of the prettiest cars on the road. We get a lot of compliments on the appearance of the car, and I always try to sell it to the people making the compliment. However, when new people ride in the car, the comment is something like, "What were you thinking? Did you even drive this thing before you bought it?" Regrettably, I didnt drive the car; I went entirely on Toyotas reputation for quality and the terrific Avalon reputation for a quiet, almost luxury car ride, in an affordable vehicle. Toyota says they redefined the ride to appeal to a younger (40-ish) group of potential buyers. I really dont see where a "neck-snapping" noisy ride would appeal to people in any age group. A few other complaints: 1. Navigation system is already out of date; 2. Analog and digital speed indications are different; 3. Rattles are starting to appear; 4. Sound system is very unimpressive compared to systems in our other cars. I have tried several times to trade this car for something (almost anything) else. Car dealers KNOW the Avalons new reputation, and the trade-in value is below the low end of the Kelly Blue Book range of values. The saddest event was when I test drove a Ford F-150 pickup truck and the ride quality and lack of road noise was FAR superior to the Avalon. Summary: If you feel you simply MUST consider this car, take it for an EXTENDED test drive before signing the paperwork!! Drive down a highway at 60 MPH and just listen to the road noise!! There doesnt seem to be adequate sound insulation in the body. READ READ READ the reviews!!! Better yet, buy something else. Update: After trying several times, we have not been able to get rid of this car. Dealers know that this is not the quiet comfortable car that Avalon used to be. The car has very low mileage and is in absolutely flawless condition, but we have not been able to get within $2000 of KBB or NADA trade in value. This car was a very poor choice. Update 2/17: We still own this car because we have been unable to get any kind of a reasonable trade-in on the vehicle. We keep the car as a spare when someone in the family needs a car when their car is in the shop, etc.. This is not a problem since we have four cars for two drivers. We purchased a new all-wheel-drive SUV last November. Sadly, the SUV rides far better than the Avalon and, unbelievably, is quieter. The most annoying thing about this Avalon is that it could have been a wonderful car if they had only left it alone and kept the fantastic quiet comfortable ride for which Avalon was know up to the 2013 model. I enjoy reading other Avalon reviews where the Avalon is compared to "the Flintstones car with granite wheels". At least I get a couple laughs out of the $35000 I threw away on this car.