Overview & Reviews

For 2014, the Toyota Avalon sees no changes other than a minor shuffling of standard and optional features.

• Large trunk
• Quiet and upscale interior with roomy seating front and rear
• Above-average fuel economy.

• Ride quality might be too firm for traditional Avalon buyers
• Cumbersome setup process for Entune.

User Reviews:

Showing 11 through 20 of 36.00

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  Loving my Es, Um I mean Avalon! - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By New Southerner - March 23 - 3:05 am

  If you like a touch of class, style, performance and panache from an automobile, this is the one for you. Several weeks ago I purchased a used 2014 Toyota Avalon. Having recently moved south from the Midwest, I wanted to shed my 4-wheel drive veh for something smaller. Initially I went looking for a gently used Lexus ES350. My reasons were simple: I’m getting closer to 40 and my automobile needs are starting to bend more toward function and less form. This meant arguing my ego down from the thought that I needed to ‘sit high’ or that I need 3 rows for the few times a year we use the 3rd one. So on to the car; I initially drove 3 or 4 ES’s and on one return test drive I ended up parking next to an Avalon. “What’s this?” I asked the salesman. He responded ‘the Avalon’ and proceeded to tell me of how the car rides a variation of the same platform as the ES. Really? Also that the engine and powertrain were virtually Identical. Really?? So I gave this car –which I had never even glanced at, much less considered before- a good once over. Lowered front end profile w/quadra-beam headlights, Aston-Marton inspired lower intake grill flanked by chrome enveloped fog lamps. A clean and handsome profile with a slightly ‘windswept’ greenhouse profile and a beautiful tail end w/LED lights and dual, trapezoidal exhaust…. “Hmm, will you get the keys for this”??? I asked. Got inside. ‘Whoa, seriously, nice!’ A 6 inch touch screen w/digital readouts for the HVAC just below. Mine has the lighter interior w/contrasting taupe, brown and black color scheme. It’s a very rich look accented by liberal swaths of chrome. On to the drive. The ride was the final deal cincher. The engine is buttery-smooth with plenty of power for passing. In fact, I had to learn how to properly finesse the engine when I am passing because stepping down to hard gives way more power than you probably were looking for. I want to address the ride quality itself though. Many have written that the car thunks or crashes over bumps. Honestly, I hadn’t noticed it at all. I think the ride is quite appropriate honestly and I have to believe those that don’t care for it are not the younger buyers Toyota had in mind with this departure from the traditional Avalon. The only places I have to give the car less than stellar marks are the sound system and touch screen. The base unit’s graphics seem a generation behind the two vehicles I have most recently owned and it suffers mightily from sun glare. You literally cannot see a thing it certain situations and that is with dealer placed tint on all windows. . Also, the basic sound system sounds very tinny and has very little bass. They are merely adequate and I have been accustomed to far better utility. (the unit in the base XLE doesn’t even show album artwork for ipod songs) All told, this car is a serious sleeper for most. For some, the prestige of that L in the Lexus nameplate is worth the extra money for what is in many important respects the same car. After spending days if not weeks looking for the perfect gently used Lexus ES, I finally found it. Just so happened that it wears a Toyota badge and prefers to be called Avalon.

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  Non-folding back seat - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By Nyeye - March 24 - 7:21 pm

  Our dealer did not tell us about the back seat. It does not fold down. My ladee and I wanted to take it to big bear for snowboarding but was unable to put our gear in the trunk. We never thought Toyota would come up with such a design flaw.

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  GOOD BUY - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By Gracie - December 28 - 11:09 am

  Overall the Avalon is a big roomy vehicle. I just wish the finishes where a little more high end. A good example would be the floor mats - at first i thought they were some cheap mats someone just put in there but when i went to purchase new ones they were the exact same thing that was in my vehicle (I was not happy). The other issue i have with my vehicle is that Im 5 tall & its difficult for me to see over the side mirrors without something to lift me a little higher in the seat which of course I already have it set at its max height. The navigation is just ok - it takes too long to get the information I need therefore making it easier to use my iphone. Other issue with navigation is that the way it sits on the dash when the sun hits it you cant really see anything on the screen. The ride is not as smooth as I had expected. If I sound picky its because i previously owned a Lexus GS300 and got spoiled. Other than that it’s a good purchase.

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  AC smells from mildew - 2014 Toyota Avalon
  By JEF - July 29 - 6:58 am

  This being my 3rd Avalon (probably my last one as well) has a terrible smell coming from the AC vents. Dealer says this is normal, well it is not nor is it acceptable. They recommend changing the cabin air filter. It was changed to no avail, smell still there. Dealer checked the drain and all appears OK. There appears to be a design flaw in the drain for the AC evaporator for which they will do nothing.