The Last of a great Breed Tested: 2022 Toyota Avalon Limited Hybrid

By William Jinkins

What’s New:

Toyota has made only a few changes to the Avalon for 2022 and has announced that it will be the flagship sedan's last year in production (ending August 2022), so if you're interested in parking it in your driveway, the clock has started.

For its last season, the previously optional all-wheel drive system has been discontinued, along with the sporty TRD model. The Hybrid XSE is now only available with the Nightshade appearance package, and all receive a new rear-seat reminder feature. The car's driver-assistance features are also upgraded with more advanced camera-and radar-based collision avoidance systems.

Pros:

Spacious cabin, generous sized trunk, excellent build quality. Comfy ride, and strikingly aggressive exterior.

Cons:

Provides a functional infotainment system however Navigation graphics could be greatly improved, Again, all-wheel drive no longer is offered as well as the sporty TRD trim. Still lacks a panoramic sunroof like most of its competition.

Toyota’s Avalon has been around since the 1995 model year introduced at the 1994 Chicago International Auto Show and launched in later that year. It was a replacement for the then flagship Cressida, Development began under the 299T project code, with the design phase concluding in 1991 with internal approval of the final design. As a bit of trivia, Toyota first introduced the "Avalon" name on a concept convertible sedan at the 1991 Tokyo Auto Show.

Built in the same Lexington, Kentucky factory as the mid-size Camry, the Avalon is based on a stretched Camry platform. At its launch the Avalon offered almost 121 cu ft of interior space, making it the roomiest six-passenger car from a Japanese manufacturer marketed in America.

The Avalon offers either V-6 petro or hybrid powertrain, front-wheel drive, and a spacious cabin which allows supreme comfort. It comes standard with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features and has most of the infotainment goodies that modern drivers need without being overly complicated.

As the market has switched, full-size sedans seemly have lost their luster amongst buyers. Case in point is the discontinued Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Impala, as well as Ford Taurus. But for those who still prefer a good large sedan over a tall-riding SUV, only a few choices remain: such as the Chrysler 300, Nissan Maxima, and strangely enough, the Volkswagen Arteon. After this year there'll be one less when the Avalon is scheduled to disappear from the Toyota roster. Rumors also have the Maxima biting the dust. Could there be another flagship sedan available in the future? Not unless consumer demand changes and then possible Toyota would develop either a BEV or EV model.

It's a shame that the Avalon, especially the Hybrid model, will disappear when Lexus still offers its ES 300h, for at least the time being. Whether Lexus continues to offer exclusive hybrid technology instead of an EV model of its own is not known at this writing.

The two models, being the Avalon and Lexus 300h, stats are almost on par with each other, with only a few exceptions. First, obviously is pricing where the Avalon XLE Hybrid base price is $37,250, the Lexus comes in at $41,900, a slight price to pay for exclusivity. Not to mention that Toyota offers only a 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper to bumper warranty, whereas Lexus offers a 4-year and 60,000 miles. Besides, there a lot more Toyota dealers than Lexus, especially in smaller communities.

Given its generous list of standard features, the Avalon's base XLE trim has what it takes to keep a wide range of car shoppers happy. It comes with exterior features such as heated power-adjustable side mirrors and LED headlights. Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard, along with heated front seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror and a tilt-and-telescoping steering column. All Avalon sedans come with tech features such as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio, as well as driver-assistance amenities, such as blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Trim levels have been cut down to just the XLE and Limited, no matter gas or hybrid. Unfortunately, the dressy TRD version has been eliminated, as well as the AWD system.

Two powertrain choices are available: Standard is a 3.5-liter V-6 which delivers 301 horsepower and 267 lb.-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission sends power to the front wheels. Trim levels with hybrid in their nomenclature come with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder and two electric motors. This setup provides a net output of 215 horsepower, and it's paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) that powers the front wheels.

Many shoppers who seek out large cars like the Avalon prioritize comfort, and this big sedan doesn't disappoint. It delivers well-mannered handling which did an admirable job of absorbing bumps and moving in and out of traffic lanes. With the non-hybrid models, EPA estimates the mileage at 22/32 mpg city/highway. In my own fuel-economy testing, I recorded an impressive 34 mpg with the V-6 powertrain in the TRD version.

According to EPA testing the hybrid model is estimated 43/44 mpg. While taking a day trip to Tyler, Texas, I observed fuel economy of only 37 mpg (still impressive for a large sedan), however that was not at the posted speed. Part of the trip was to get the Avalon on the road and test its fuel economy. The other was to visit a restaurant featured on “The Texas Bucket List”, called Culture EXT, which is famous for its Heritage Pork Chop, then finishing up seeing the magnificent Christmas lights at Tyler Lights Christmas.

When it comes to the overall look of the cabin, the current Avalon represents a big step up relative to models from the previous four generations. A broad waterfall-style center stack separates the driver and front passenger and shows off some handsome switchgear and an easy-to-reach touchscreen. The simulated plastic used throughout the cabin is nicely grained, yet I was still disappointed in the plastic used for the door panels.

The HID (heads-up display) is as impressive as is informative, however, the navigation screen, though a touchscreen, was a little too primitive for my taste as far as graphics. Though my tester had nictates such as a power tilt telescopic steering wheel, it lacks some of the features of a modern near upper class vehicle, such a panoramic roof and fold away side mirrors. However, I realize that the Avalon has been fully amortized, so why add these features now.

In addition, there's a cavernous trunk with 16 cubic feet of cargo space. Standard folding rear seats with a 60/40 split allow you to easily expand this capacity when toting large items. The hybrid model I tested in 2019 used an older, larger battery pack which intruded into the trunk and limited cargo space. However, Toyota indicates that the new lithium-ion battery is smaller and preserves all of the Avalon's trunk space.

The Avalon's base-model XLE trim comes with amenities such as an eight-speaker JBL audio system, Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. A 9.0-inch touchscreen is standard, along with Scout GPS Link navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. The list of optional upgrades includes a 14-speaker JBL sound system, an integrated navigation system, and wireless device charging.

The base Avalon XLE comes standard with a full suite of driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist. For more information about the Avalon's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include an automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning system with lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control.

My tester came in a Wind Chill Pearl with tutone black/white leather appointments. Base price for the Limited Hybrid was $43,550. Major upgrades included an advance safety package ($1,150) and the pearl like paint ($425). The total out the door sticker came to just below $46,839 including a designation fee of $1,025. Payback is relativity quick, taking only 1.2 years to equal out the savings over the gasoline powerplant.

Not that I would be a buyer, to say I will morn over the Avalon’s demise would be an understatement, though I still favor Ute’s for their accessibility for mobility and cargo carrying capacity. However, I’m hoping that Toyota is listening to my plea to consider a replacement for what’s been a very popular car in its portfolio.

Projected Residual Value:

The Avalon is predicted to out-perform other large sedans, expecting a 37.9 percent return from its original value after five years. KBB gave it a “Best Resale Value Award” for the 2019 and 2020 models.