With the Avalon, Toyota takes on a traditionally Detroit-dominated section of the marketplace: the full-size sedan. The last assault Toyota made on a domestic market was in 1993, when the T100 pickup was introduced as an alternative to big trucks from Ford, GM and Dodge. The 1994 Dodge Ram and the lack of a V8 in the Toyota conspired to keep sales to a minimum. We think the company has learned something from its experience with the T100.

For instance, the Avalon's V6 is a powerful motor, allowing the Avalon to keep up with GM front-drivers like the LeSabre and Bonneville in acceleration, and besting the V8-powered Crown Victoria in the race to 60 mph. Handling is on par with the Bonneville SSE, and braking is outstanding.

The news for 1998 is the Avalon's mild restyle. New this year are safety features like seat-mounted side-impact airbags, pretensioner seatbelts with force limiters and exterior revisions like a new grille, trunk lid, headlamps, taillights and bodyside moldings.

Inside, the Avalon is noticeably narrower than the domestic competition, but six will fit in a pinch when equipped with the optional bench seat. The rear seat is exceptionally comfortable, offering more leg and foot room than bigger sedans, with good support and a high seating position.

Front seats are comfy as well, and face an ergonomically designed dashboard that places everything right where you expect to find it. The styling is generic, with oversize headlights and a narrow grille imparting an out-of-balance appearance to the front end.

Overall, the Avalon impresses us as an excellent alternative to aging and aesthetically impaired offerings from GM and Ford. Chrysler's new Concorde sedan is a better value, but the guaranteed quality of the Toyota is probably worth the extra couple grand.

1998 Highlights

The Avalon gets side-impact airbags, new headlights and taillamps, a new grille, a new trunk lid and pre-tensioner seatbelts with force limiters.

Consumer reviews

Read what other owners think about the 1998 Toyota Avalon.

Overall Consumer Rating

4.654 reviews

Write a review See all 54 reviews

5(65%)

4(28%)

3(5%)

2(2%)

1(0%)

Most helpful consumer reviews

This car just wont die!

davidvnyc,01/30/2011

I purchased my 98 Avalon XLS in 2003 with 150,000 miles on it. At about 180k miles I changed the front two 02 sensors. At 220k miles I changed the timing belt (first time), water pump, struts and ball joints. Other than these items Ive only had to do standard fluid changes, tires and brakes. About 2 years ago, I came too close to a guard rail and scraped the right side of the

Most Reliable! Fantastic! Safe Car Ever

jayvon97,05/27/2015

I purchased my 98 Avalon in July of 2014 for $400 at the dealership I worked at. When I bought it, it had 178,000 miles exactly. It had some minor problems such as it needed tires, brakes, a tie rod, and a fog light bulb. I did a oil change the day I bought it, got tires 2 months later. Eventually the brakes started to grind so I replaced those to. I am a teenager and I have a heavy

Simply The Best!

Brian,09/16/2010

This road warrior has been in my family since new. My father put the first 150,000 miles on the car without any needed repairs except routine wear and tear parts (i.e. Brakes, tires, battery, oil). Now the odometer reads 250,000 miles and I just had the original timing belt and water pump replaced because it was LONG overdue. In the 12 years and 250,000 my family has put on our Avalon

Toyota, Need I say more?

enigmadtop,12/05/2011

I take this car up to big bear with a full car (6 people, the center front armrest comes up and has a seatbelt underneath) and it has never broken down on me once. The ride going there is completely smooth cruising at 80 mph, even though the Avalon's engine has more than enough power to go over that even with a full car. It has no trouble getting up those steep hills and is my car of

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Features & Specs

MPG

19 city / 27 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

200 hp @ 5200 rpm

MPG

19 city / 27 hwy

Seats 0

4-speed automatic

Gas

200 hp @ 5200 rpm

See all Used 1998 Toyota Avalon features & specs

Safety

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver4 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Side Crash Rating
OverallNot Rated
Side Barrier Rating
OverallNot Rated
Driver5 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front SeatNot Rated
Back SeatNot Rated
Rollover
RolloverNot Rated
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of RolloverNot Rated

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Side Impact Test
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested
IIHS Small Overlap Front Test
Not Tested
Moderate Overlap Front Test
Acceptable

More about the 1998 Toyota Avalon

Used 1998 Toyota Avalon Overview

The Used 1998 Toyota Avalon is offered in the following submodels: Avalon Sedan. Available styles include XLS 4dr Sedan, and XL 4dr Sedan.

What's a good price on a Used 1998 Toyota Avalon?

Price comparisons for Used 1998 Toyota Avalon trim styles:

The Used 1998 Toyota Avalon XL is priced between $4,950 and$4,950 with odometer readings between 89474 and89474 miles.

Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.

Which used 1998 Toyota Avalons are available in my area?

Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 1998 Toyota Avalon for sale near. There are currently 1 used and CPO 1998 Avalons listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $4,950 and mileage as low as 89474 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the Carfax and Autocheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 1998 Toyota Avalon.

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Find a used Toyota Avalon for sale - 10 great deals out of 13 listings starting at $17,436.

Find a used Toyota for sale - 1 great deals out of 5 listings starting at $14,447.

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Should I lease or buy a 1998 Toyota Avalon?

Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.

Used 1998 Toyota Avalon

Toyota Avalon years