2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review

Name: 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review
Brand: Toyota
Price: 24995 USD

Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited Sedan Exterior

Toyota Avalon Hybrid XLE Sedan Exterior Shown

+85

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid is a cruiser that does exactly what you'd expect — provide a comfortable ride and sip fuel in the process. But it has a few tricks up its sleeve, too. It turns out to be surprisingly capable on twisty roads, and cabin materials are near-luxury. New for the redesigned model are folding rear seats and a cargo area that offers the same amount of room as the non-hybrid.

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2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review

byDan Frio^{Correspondent
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.}

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
Limited headroom front and rear

What's new

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid returns unchanged for 2020
Part of the fifth Avalon generation introduced for 2019

Overview

Traditionally, there have been some significant downsides to picking a hybrid version of a regular sedan. The hybrid is usually slower, less practical because of a smaller trunk (need to stick that big old battery pack somewhere) and styled with dorky-looking wheels and blue, green or teal accents.

Cost to Drive^{Cost to drive estimates for the 2020 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 $3.05 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.}

Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia

$88/mo

$192/mo

Avg. Large Car

Calculate my fuel costs

But the 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid flips that script.. While still slow — nearly 1.5 seconds slower than the non-hybrid Toyota Avalon V6 in 0-60 mph acceleration — the hybrid generates quick and satisfying low-end torque for daily driving and returns up to 44 mpg combined while doing it. The hybrid also only costs $1,000 more than the standard Avalon. Given what you'd likely end up saving on gas, you'll probably recoup that difference in just a couple of years.

The Avalon Hybrid is also surprisingly enjoyable to drive. You can guide it into turns with confidence since the suspension feels stable and body roll is well-controlled. Swap out the low-friction tires for some proper all-season rubber and the Avalon might show some real swagger.

And that battery pack? Toyota found a way to package it without compromising utility. The hybrid offers the same 16.1 cubic feet of trunk space as its non-hybrid counterpart, and the rear seats can also fold flat.

Like the regular Toyota Avalon, the hybrid offers levels of comfort and convenience that blur the line between Toyota and its Lexus luxury brand. In fact, the Avalon Hybrid's fiercest competitor might just be from across the hall. Stretch your budget just a little further and you're in the Lexus ES 300h.

Edmunds Expert Rating

Our Verdict^{The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.}

Good

7.9

out of 10

edmunds TESTED

Rated for you by America's best test team.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Avalon Hybrid drive? The Avalon Hybrid makes the most of its available power. The CVT automatic is responsive when you step on the gas pedal, even when you select the Eco drive mode. We recorded a 0-60 mph time of 8.2 seconds in Edmunds testing. That's slower than V6-powered rivals, but we think most buyers will find this acceptable for the considerable gains in fuel economy.

Braking feels natural in most situations thanks to an imperceptible transition from regenerative to regular brakes. We measured a panic-stop performance from 60 mph in 126 feet, which is around the class average, though the sounds our test car made in the process were a bit more alarming than usual. Despite its luxury cruiser attitude, the Avalon Hybrid is surprisingly fun to drive around tight corners and maintains its composure surprisingly well.

Comfort

8.5/10

How comfortable is the Avalon Hybrid? All-around comfort is the primary reason you'd consider a sedan like this, and the Avalon Hybrid delivers. The ride is cushy without feeling buoyant like some rivals. The seats are welcoming too, with soft leather and compliant cushions. Our Limited trim test vehicle had heated and ventilated seats and a heated steering wheel, all of which worked well. The rear outboard seats are also heated in the Limited.

Like most hybrids, the Avalon isn't immune to the shudder that passes through the cabin as the gasoline engine fires up. The hybrid system can also produce some low-volume but high-pitched whirring noises while the car is stopped.

Interior

7.5/10

How’s the interior? The Avalon's interior is a pleasant place to spend time in, though there are some faults. Some controls and buttons are out of reach or hard to find, especially the ones near your left knee. The Avalon also sits rather low, which may present a problem to passengers who are less limber. We're also not enamored of its size. Despite being more expensive, the Avalon isn't much larger than a Toyota Camry, and there's less rear headroom due to the Avalon's raked roof.

Otherwise, the Avalon's cabin is quite nice. Most drivers will find an agreeable position, as the steering wheel and driver's seat both offer a useful range of travel. Rear visibility is good overall, though the rear shelf is high.

Technology

8/10

How’s the tech? The redesigned Avalon gets Toyota's latest infotainment system, which now features Apple CarPlay. There are plenty of USB ports plus an optional wireless charging pad. Passengers jockeying for a free port is effectively a thing of the past.

The touchscreen has a bright, attractive display and an easy-to-use integrated navigation system. As with most systems, you cannot enter a new address while moving. For that, you have to use the voice command system, which is frequently confused and has limited point-of-interest search.

Most of the Avalon's driving aids are standard and work well, though adaptive cruise control has a tendency to leave a large gap between you and the car in front.

Storage

8/10

How’s the storage? Most big sedans have a cavernous trunk, and the Avalon Hybrid is no exception. In fact, the trunk is the same size as the regular Avalon's — 16.1 cubic feet. While there's no longer a pass-through, the rear seats can fold down to increase cargo space.

Interior storage is similarly generous, at least for those in front. The center armrest has room similar to what you'd find in an SUV, and there's a nicely sized bin in front of the shifter, which also houses the wireless charging pad. The door pockets aren't large, which limits storage in the back, but overall it's quite good.

The car-seat anchors and generous interior space make loading a child seat a breeze.

Fuel Economy

8.5/10

How’s the fuel economy? The Avalon Hybrid Limited is rated at 43 mpg combined (43 city/44 highway). It's a little thirstier than midsize sedans such as the Honda Accord Hybrid (48 mpg combined) and the Camry Hybrid (46 mpg combined), but it's far more efficient than the standard Avalon (26 mpg).

Value

8/10

Is the Avalon Hybrid a good value? Though the Avalon Hybrid has some hard touch points, its interior materials are a clear step above those in the Camry. There are even a few surprises in the form of premium-looking quilted stitching on the seats and doors.

The Avalon Hybrid is only marginally more expensive than an identically equipped Avalon, though a similarly equipped Lexus ES 300h doesn't cost too much more. The basic and powertrain coverage is average for the class. Toyota also offers free scheduled maintenance for your first two visits.

Wildcard

7.5/10

You'll be impressed by how enjoyable the Avalon Hybrid is to drive. Handling is composed, even though grip is ultimately low, and body roll is well-controlled. The only real downside is the powertrain's slowish acceleration.

Is there personality here? No, not really. Other than the oversized front grille, the Avalon is conservatively styled and accomplishes exactly what you'd expect.

Which Avalon Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

The 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid in Limited trim should satisfy the typical large-sedan buyer. It forgoes the sporty touches of the XSE model in favor of more Lexus-like luxurious refinement. It's also the only trim eligible for rear parking sensors with cross-traffic braking and a surround-view camera.

2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid models

The 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid is classified as a midsize sedan by the EPA, but we consider it more of a full-size sedan. It's available in XLE, Limited and XSE trims, and it's helpful to think about these as base, luxury and sport trims.

Power comes from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine augmented with two electric motors. Combined output is 215 horsepower channeled through a continuously variable automatic transmission to drive the front wheels.

The base XLE satisfies most buyers with features, such as LED headlights, keyless entry and ignition, heated and power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather upholstery, and 60/40-split folding rear seats.

Tech features include Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay, a 9-inch touchscreen, a rearview camera, a Wi-Fi hotspot, the Toyota Entune system with smartphone-based navigation, four USB ports, and an eight-speaker audio system with satellite radio.

A nice complement of driver safety aids also comes standard: forward collision warning with automatic braking, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure alert, adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams.

The Limited trim adds premium touches such as a sunroof, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, a wireless charging pad, a head-up display, and a 14-speaker premium JBL audio system.

The sporty XSE trim builds on the XLE's features with larger wheels, the sunroof, aluminum interior accents and suede-trimmed seats.

An Advanced Safety package with rear parking sensors and surround-view parking camera is also available for the Limited.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid.

5 (76%)

4 (18%)

3 (0%)

2 (4%)

1 (2%)

4.6

54 reviews

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Most helpful consumer 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 …

We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, so we've included reviews for other years of the Avalon Hybrid since its last redesign.

See all 54 reviews of the Toyota Avalon Hybrid

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2020 Avalon Hybrid Highlights

Trim:

XLE

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$37,000
Engine Type	Hybrid
Combined MPG	44 MPG
Cost to Drive	$88/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	16.1 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

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%

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2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review

2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

Which Avalon Hybrid does Edmunds recommend?

2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid models

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the Used 2020 Toyota Avalon Hybrid.

Trending topics in reviews

Most helpful consumer reviews

Technology and Comfort with Hybrid Efficiency

Lexus luxury at a Toyota price

Wow, 44mpg and technology from tomorrow

Can’t fill up

2020 Avalon Hybrid Highlights

Safety

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