Overview & Reviews

The Avalon gets side-impact airbags, new headlights and taillamps, a new grille, a new trunk lid and pre-tensioner seatbelts with force limiters.

• One of the best full-size cars on the market. Stylish, reliable, and surprisingly roomy, this thing has a back seat like Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas.

• Invisible in a crowd. Dashboard plastics are too shiny for a car this nice.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 51.00

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  Auto Climate Control - Beware!!!! - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By mfoster - July 24 - 9:43 am

  As others in this forum, burned by auto climate control to the tune of $1,050. No choice but to replace, as the car is not realistically driveable without the a/c, heating, defrost systems working. I guess several people have to die before anything is recalled. Front strut noise also as others report. Catalytic converter went out and one dealer wrongly diagnosed as a broken ring, needing a $5,000 repair. Second dealer correctly diagnosed and repaired under original powertrain warrenty. Steering wheel cover has peeled off. If you are looking to buy, I would insist the seller correct these issues first. Car is roomy and will get up & go.

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  spacious ride - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By petras - July 9 - 6:03 am

  The xls has a nicely appointed, spacious interior yet exterior dimensions are fairly modest. mileage is around 21/30 city/hwy. Overall reliablily is very good although watch for noisy front suspension due to bad strut support mounts, $400 to fix, also my car has some occasional squeaks/rattles from glovebox area, I definitely would buy an avalon again.

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  This car just wont die! - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By davidvnyc - March 8 - 9:44 pm

  I purchased my 98 Avalon XLS in 2003 with 150,000 miles on it. At about 180k miles I changed the front two 02 sensors. At 220k miles I changed the timing belt (first time), water pump, struts and ball joints. Other than these item’s I’ve only had to do standard fluid changes, tires and brakes. About 2 years ago, I came too close to a guard rail and scraped the right side of the car. Because the car had 340k miles on it at the time, I chose not to spend the 600 to repair the damage. The car now just broke though 400k and while it doesn’t look as good as when I bought it, it still runs perfectly and zero operational issues. I have my eye on a new car, but my wife will not let me pull t

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  Wish they all were made like this - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Psal - March 5 - 6:03 pm

  Bought 6 yrs old in 2004 with 29000 miles. Have 115K on it now and in 6 years have put brakes, wipers, tires, and battery....thats it. Would buy another in a heartbeat. Paid $11K in 04 and the Blue Book today is $6K. Too bad Ill never trade it.

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  Not as good as the Camry - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Andrew - February 16 - 10:06 pm

  The tires that came with the car went out at 12,000 miles. The second set went at 24,000 miles. The present set has last since 24,000 miles to 49,000 miles. Beleive maintance at the dealership was bad. Toyota company did not listen to my complaints. This is my thrid Toyota since 1980 and will oit deal with this dealer on my next one. Do not think his maintance department is up to par. Am looking for a different car than a Toyota. Lost 2 miles per gallon after first set of tires were changed.

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  A reliable, comfortable and plain car. - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By jrender - January 9 - 2:00 am

  The car is spacious reliable and well built, yet the styling is plain. I dont like the buick style bench seat. But the back is spacious and the car is of good quality. good trunk space.

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  Most Comfortable Car Ive Ever Owned! - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Evan D. - February 3 - 9:26 pm

  I bought my 1998 Toyota Avalon XLS in December of 2005. I loved it from the first day I drove it. Its ride is very comfortable and the V6 gives it plenty of power. All in all, this car is very reliable and a great car to travel in.

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  Great car bad seats - 1998 Toyota Avalon
  By Steve Smialkowski - January 26 - 3:50 am

  I have enjoyed my Toyota Avalon 98 for a couple months, and then I discovered that the seats are getting progressively less comfortable. Finaly, I was in pain. I opened the seat to find a steel seat pan underneeth the foam. My bottom was hitting the edge of the steel.