2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review

Name: 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review
Brand: Toyota
Rating: 4.6 (35 reviews)

Price Range: $24,998 - $30,998

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$27,277 avg. price

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Edmunds' Expert Review

by Mark Takahashi^{Correspondent
Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the Edmunds YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.}

Pros

Lots of standard advanced safety features
Efficient hybrid powertrain with little sacrifice
Upscale cabin is quiet and roomy
Comfortable ride quality

Cons

No Android Auto integration
Sunroof limits front headroom

What's new

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid has been fully redesigned for 2019
Part of the fifth Avalon generation introduced for 2019

SUVs have been dominating the market recently to that point that Ford recently announced it was going to largely give up on making sedans. But there is one area where the traditional four-door holds an advantage: hybrid efficiency. The latest hybrid sedans are posting truly impressive fuel economy, and a great example is the fully redesigned 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid.

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For sale near Ashburn, VA

12 listings

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2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
XSE Sedan
$24,998
fair price
$180 above market
- 79,163 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- CarMax Frederick (18 mi away)
- Free delivery available*
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Sunroof/Moonroof
- Keyless Entry/Start
Close
Located in Gaithersburg, MD
CarMax values transparency and wants you to love your next car, not settle on it. Certain vehicles may have unrepaired safety recalls. Check nhtsa.gov...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
43 Combined MPG (43 City/43 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4T1B21FB9KU004654
Stock: 27018230
Certified Pre-Owned: No
2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
XLE Sedan
$28,125
fair price
$19 above market
- 34,889 miles
- 1 accident, 2 owners, personal use
- 4cyl automatic
- LA Auto Star (171 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Upgraded Headlights
- Blind Spot Monitorin...
Close
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
This Avalon is a must-see! Excellent gas savings and plenty of interior room, its perfect sedan for travels. Comes equipped with an array of safety fe...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: No
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
44 Combined MPG (43 City/44 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 4T1B21FB3KU008621
Stock: 6817
Certified Pre-Owned: No

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The Avalon Hybrid debuts alongside the conventionally powered Avalon and is estimated by the EPA to return up to 44 mpg in combined driving. That's almost 70 percent better than the gasoline-only Avalon, yet the Hybrid costs only about $1,000 more. With what you'll save on gas, you could very well recoup that added cost in just over a year and continue to reap the rewards thereafter. From behind the wheel, the Hybrid's power deficit isn't as much of a penalty as the numbers suggest, making it our pick in the Avalon lineup.

The 2019 Avalon Hybrid won't force sacrifices elsewhere either. The hybrid batteries are mounted under the rear seats, maintaining the same trunk capacity as the conventional Avalon while keeping the flat-folding rear seatbacks for greater versatility. Both offer high levels of comfort and plenty of features and blur the line between Toyota and its Lexus luxury brand.

If you're in the market for a large sedan, the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid should be among your top picks whether or not you're looking for a hybrid.

Edmunds' Expert Rating

Even though sedans are being overshadowed by SUVs, Toyota's all-new 2019 Avalon Hybrid has the potential to shine. It has plenty of room, it's impressively efficient, and it has the kind of features and refinement to compete with more expensive luxury models.

Trim tested

Each vehicle typically comes in multiple versions that are fundamentally similar. The ratings in this review are based on our first drive of the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid (2.5L inline-4 hybrid | CVT automatic | FWD).

Driving

The Avalon Hybrid has more than enough power to get up to highway speeds without laboring. And as big sedans go — or big hybrid sedans, for that matter — the Avalon is respectably buttoned-down when driving around turns.

Comfort

Both the suspension and the seats are designed with comfort in mind. Ruts and bumps are smoothed over well, and the cabin remains pleasantly quiet on the highway. The front seats are pleasantly comfortable, with little side bolstering for easy entry and exit.

Interior

The cockpit is attractive and fitted with high-quality materials, though the blocky center stack looks a little out of place. But the sunroof that is standard on all but the base Avalon does cut into headroom.

Technology

Apple CarPlay finally makes it into a Toyota with this Avalon. Unfortunately, Android Auto is still absent and the built-in Entune infotainment system remains as one of the least intuitive in the industry. On the upside, the Avalon Hybrid has plenty of standard driver safety aids.

Compare 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid models

The all-new 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is classified as a midsize sedan by the EPA, but we consider it more of a full-size sedan. It is available in XLE, Limited and XSE trims. Power is derived from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine that is supported by two electric motors. The combined output of 215 horsepower is channeled through a continuously variable automatic transmission to drive the front wheels.

Standard features for the base XLE include 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic LED headlights, heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, 60/40-split folding rear seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

On the technology front, the XLE comes with Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Toyota's Safety Connect communications, a 9-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, Toyota's Entune infotainment system with smartphone-based navigation, four USB ports, Apple CarPlay, and an eight-speaker audio system with satellite and HD radio.

Also included is Toyota's Safety Sense suite of advanced safety features (forward collision warning with automatic braking, lane keeping assist, automatic high beams and adaptive cruise control) as well as a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert.

The Limited trim adds 18-inch wheels, upgraded exterior lighting, a sunroof, a head-up display, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, driver-seat memory settings, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, wood interior trim, ambient interior lighting, a wireless charging pad, a built-in navigation system and a 14-speaker premium JBL audio system.

The sporty XSE trim builds on the XLE's features with 18-inch wheels, piano black exterior treatments, a rear spoiler, a sunroof, paddle shifters, aluminum pedal covers, aluminum interior trim and microsuede seat inserts.

Some of features on the Limited are available on the other trims as options. An Advanced Safety package with a surround-view parking camera system and rear parking sensors with automatic braking is optional on the Limited.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid XLE 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.02 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$87/mo

$191/mo

Avg. Large Car

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Toyota Avalon Hybrid Reviews

Owner Reviews

4.6

35 reviews

5(74%)

4(20%)

3(0%)

2(2%)

1(4%)

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Most Helpful Owner Reviews

Technology and Comfort with Hybrid Efficiency

Californian, 07/05/2019

2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

When technology and comfort come together, you have a really great vehicle to drive. Fitting a car to drivers 6-1 and 5-3 is not easy, but the number of memorized adjustments that the Avalon Limited’s front seats, wheel, lumbar support, and mirrors have, make it easy. I would prefer another inch or so of headroom under the sunroof as having only an inch and a half feels a bit tight. The … perforated leather upholstery with air blown through it on a warm afternoon is great to cool any hot spots that different sized drivers can develop. The seats heat up rapidly in cold weather too. On the highway this car is a dream. Following the advice I received on my test drive, I set the adaptive cruise control on 75 and glide down the highway. If traffic slows or stops, so does the car, and then it accelerates right back up to 75. When traffic is light the car gets 43mpg at a steady 75 and in heavier traffic it gets a rather amazing 47mpg. Around Southern California the hybrid gets an average of 46mpg. Considering its size this is amazing. Having had two conventional gas powered Avalons and a Lexus ES, this 2019 Limited Hybrid is the best of the bunch. It is longer, lower, and wider than my prior highway cruisers; however, the built-in safety equipment has spared me from any parking lot close calls. Gotta love the birds-eye 360 degree view camera display. Along with heads-up display projected onto the windshield, it’s more like the cockpit of a plane than a highway cruiser. You don’t have to look around the cabin to check on the status of any of the car’s main systems or settings as well as the posted speed limit or the next turn on the GPS. Technology wise it is amazing, but the tech does come at a price. There are over 1,000 pages of manuals that come with the car. After half a year, I have made it through about 700 pages. Although my car came with Apple Car Play, I was told that there will be a free download of Android Auto when it is available. In the meantime, any good cell phone working with the built-in Entune Premium system works quite well if you read the Entune manual. There is much more to many of the Entune systems than what you are presented with on the two main screens, driver and center console. Only items I would change would be equipping the 18" chrome wheels with a good set of Michelins and giving the front seats a bit more headroom. After driving this car for ten months, I don't notice the low headroom like I did initially and have to rate the driver comfort as excellent. UPDATE AT 18 MONTHS AND 20K MILES - The car continues to be my favorite having had two previous Avalons and a Lexus ES, but two future problems have appered. First I discovered that the factory installed maps are a May 2018 version and can only be updated by the dealer. As the car is in warranty, I will have this done at the 2 year service, but with all of the electronics and internet connectivity something as basic as maps should automatically update through the data link in the car. Like most hybrids the mileage has dropped 2 mpg with use but that was expected and will likely continue to drop as the traction battery slowly wears out. With all of the safety features, I have yet to hit or scrape anything. However the car does go into emergency stop mode as I squeeze it into my garage parking place that has a storage rack right in front of the car. Overall I give the car a 95% but suggest that the manufacturer fix the map issue and extend the warranty on the traction battery. UPDATE 28 MONTHS AND 30K MILES After battling with my local dealer and Toyota Corporate Customer Service, I was finally given an Entune update and new maps. The dealer appeared to have little knowledge of the Entune system requiring 2 overnight stays after the updating process failed. They claimed to have spent 12 hours on it each time it went in. Finally Toyota Corporate sent them, either electronically or physically a complete update that changed the display somewhat and updated the maps. Now my car GPS is about on a level with my 5 year old Garmin. The Avalon Limited continues to run flawlessly on the road and the mileage has settled into the 43/44 range. I really enjoy the cool air that can be sent through the perforated leather seats on warm humid days. UPDATE AT 40 MONTHS AND 42,000 MILES The Avalon continues to be the best car I have ever owned in spite of the poor performance of the advanced Entune integrated electronics/GPS that came with the car. I routinely get 46mpg on my regular trips to/from our second home in the foothills. Sadly, I understand that Toyota is planning to discontinue the Avalon at the end of the product run this year due to lagging sales. I believe that the Toyota execs who stayed with the Entune system of the last half dozen years need to look into the mirror, and they will see the Avalon's killers when they do. The car would sell a lot better, if they had a decent electronics (I am not talking about safety electronics, just the audio/video and GPS). I intend to keep my Avalon for another couple of years as long as it continues to perform as it has for the last almost 3 1/2 years, but when I get my next car will be forced to go back to a Lexus unless the Avalon is revived and will be open to other brands even though I have had a 7 straight vehicle run of Toyotas in my family.

Lexus luxury at a Toyota price

Jirrera, 11/23/2018

2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

I love this car the more I drive it. At first it felt a little too big compared to my 2012 Camry Hybrid, when I bought the Limited Hybrid in July 2018, but I’m over that. The Avalon handles beautifully on winding, hilly interstates and I love and now trust the safety features like dynamic cruise and 360 degree cameras. The Lane Departure Assistence, however is very inconsistent. The … collision avoidance has stopped at least three fender-benders in parking lots. Gas mileage has dropped (as is typical for current battery technology in cold weather) from a high of 43.6 mpg all-around, down to 41.3. I admit, I drive fast and not as economically as I could. One serious issue however, I found a puddle of gas under the car one morning (the tank hadn’t just been filled). I re-tightened the cap and the drip seemed to stop. Taking it back to the dealer they checked the entire fuel system and all fifteen internal computers but couldn’t find any leaks/error codes. Also I now have a faint yellow line from the filler door down to the wheel well where gas apparently ate through the Blizzard Pearl clear coat. Interior-wise the JBL sound system is simply the best I’ve ever experienced in any car. As an audio engineer, I find the bass amazingly present without over powering or masking the highs — and this is with the system set to factory defaults. The tweeters directly behind the front seats enhance the surround effect without sounding artificially compressed or otherwise processed. The only annoyance is on several occasions the navigation/entertainment touch screen has locked up. Only restarting the car fully restores it. I assume this is simply a software flaw that will be patched when enough other owners complain — as with Toyota adding Android Auto support. Finally, beware parking curbs with this Avalon. The bumper is particularly low in the front. UPDATE 1 year later: All of the above positive driving experience remains true. However, still no Android Auto support. The above fuel leak turned out to be a factory recall issue for a defective gas filler tube and cap. The dealer replaced both at no charge and I've not experienced any leaks since. They also repainted the rear quarter panel so the yellow drip stripe is gone. Then, my Bluetooth mic stopped working and it turned out the issue was not the mic, but actually the entire Telematics unit which the dealer replaced at no charge -- which also resolved the above NAV/entertainment screen lockups. Finally, I had noticed a new creaking sound in the steering wheel when making left turns. (How's that for specific?) After much diagnosis and experimental repairs, the issue was determined to be a damaged bearing in the steering column, which again, the dealer replaced at no charge. I still love the car, chalking all these repair issues up to my ignoring the axiom that one should never purchase the first model year of any car after a redesign. The good news is I've gotten to be friends and appreciate the honest professionalism of Andrew Bartlett, service manager at Toyota of Murfreesboro. He's become the willing equivalent of a 12-step program sponsor. He gave me his cell number and I can call him any time!

Wow, 44mpg and technology from tomorrow

JimS, 11/16/2018

2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Just updated from a 2009 Limited to the hybrid limited w/ safety package, this is an amazing vehicle and a pleasure to drive. For low profile tires it rides well, but not like my older Avalon. And a bit more noise from the engine reving and tires but okay and the sound system is like home theatre. But what really sets this apart from my old car is the technology to make driving as safe …

Can’t fill up

RickyD, 10/20/2018

2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

With only 2000 mi on the new Avalon, I have a fuel problem!!! I can’t get gas in the fuel tank, sounds crazy but when you are hundreds of mi from home and low on gas it’s a BIG problem! When I try to fill the car today the fill tube filled up to the cap very quickly (seconds), then it burped a bunch of gas out of the fill tube. the vent line then started to bubble with more fuel in my …

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2019 Avalon Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

XLE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$36,650
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	44 MPG
Cost to Drive	$87/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

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Safety

Our experts like the Avalon Hybrid models:

Pre-Collision System: Warns if a front collision is imminent and will apply the brakes automatically if the driver doesn't respond in time.
Lane Departure with Steering Assist: Alerts the driver if the vehicle begins to drift out of its lane and steers the car back if no action is taken.
Intelligent Clearance Sonar: Indicates how close the rear bumper may be to objects and applies the brakes automatically if a collision is imminent.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover10.5%

2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review

Price & Payment

Edmunds' Expert Review

Pros