Overview & Reviews

A midcycle refresh brings a six-speed automatic transmission (in place of last year's five-speed auto) and minor upgrades to the braking system. All 2008 Toyota Avalons have new headlamps, a revised front fascia and a more compact keyless remote, while the Limited gets chrome door handles. Inside, the wood-grain and metallic surface treatments are updated, while a nine-speaker audio system with an MP3-compatible CD changer and auxiliary audio jack is now standard on all models except the Limited. An eight-way power front passenger seat is included in the XLS and Limited, and the latter also comes with Bluetooth.

• Seats five adults in comfort, attractive cabin design with high-quality materials, composed and quiet ride, powerful and efficient V6, available upscale amenities, high crash-test scores.

• Expensive for its class, refined nature leaves little room for personality, rear seats do not fold.

User Reviews:

Showing 1 through 10 of 109.00

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  Poorly built - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By John Cantlay - October 19 - 12:41 am

  Top of engine was completely rebuilt after 6 months of driving. Rear window shade broke 3 times and electronic pats of car are failing.

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  What Is Up? - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By JD - April 19 - 1:56 pm

  I have had this car for 15 months. It is my first and last Toyota. I have been driving a Cadillac for a few years and tried something different. It is different allright but not good. In snow and ice this thing is dangerous. My FWD Caddy with traction and stabilitrack was great. This Toyota is a white knuckler,it must not snow in Japan! The seats in this car are a joke! I cannot get comfortable no matter how I adjust- I think they are too short. The GPS is so hard to use that I dont try anymore. I had it in my old car it was EZ. I like to take care of my cars and the paint on this car is junk. You cannot get a blk. car to shine? The dash rattles, my sunroof rattles and it drives me crazy.

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  Ill be happier when I sell it - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Brett - October 28 - 2:41 am

  Some pros are that there is a tremendous amount of interior space, especially in the back seat and the gas mileage is excellent for such a roomy car that has plenty of power. Cons are the steering/suspension make it seem like you are driving a 1970s Buick - float, float, wallow, float some more. My car has both the headlight and dash cracking issue that the previous owners never got repaired under the recalls. Plus, there are the typical Toyota annoyances - there is no retained accessory power, so your radio goes off and your windows dont work as soon as you shut off the key, you cant lock the car until all the doors are shut, secondary controls are unlit at night and impossible to see without bending all sorts of ways, the doors will relock if you dont open them in time, etc. Maybe I just got too used to the thinking behind GM engineering, but I really appreciate the little things included in my Chevy that this Toyota does have, even though it stickered for $10,000 more than my Chevy when new. Overall, this Avalon is acceptable if you have few other options but I will be getting rid it within the next year and buying another GM car.

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  Dont buy an Avalon - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By Sheri - March 8 - 8:20 am

  Dont buy an Avalon unless you want to be unsafe due to these problems: Transmission does not shift properly, causing severe hesitation and lunging, every single minute you are driving. The car will not drive in even a skiff of snow! Cannot disengage the traction control. My driveway is about a 25 degree incline, and it will not go up it. The car is basically "skating" on roads that are not dry. The exterior trim mouldings on roof have come loose and subsequently lost on the freeway, had to replace at my cost, not covered by any warranty. The sound system speakers are very poor design. An old VW has a better one. What a piece of junk! Stay Away! Shame on Toyota.

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  Oil leak, paint mismatch, a Toyota? - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By kwillliams - February 13 - 5:03 pm

  Bought new, oil leak, difficult for dealer to determine source. Eventually block replaced. Paint does not match. Fenders do not meet bumpers as well as one would expect in a top of the line Toyota. I would never buy this car again.

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  Boring - 2008 Toyota Avalon
  By raspar77 - April 1 - 10:26 am

  This car is boring. OK in almost every respect but not great at anything. Unexciting exterior not too sure about that rear end. Engine ok not what I was used to. Ride a little firm on long trips I feel a little beat up. Fuel economy is good not great. I had an 03 STS that I drove 116,000 miles and it was a great car fun to drive much more comfortable and less tinny than this. I am far from in love with this car it is solid transportation from point A to B but that is it.