2000 Toyota Avalon Review
2000 Toyota Avalon Review

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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Lexus-like quality, smooth V6 engine, huge rear seat.
Cons
- High price tag, new styling might not go far enough to avoid blandness.
What’s new
Entering its second generation, the 2000 Avalon is roomier, more powerful and more technically advanced. The Kentucky-built Avalon features new styling inside and out, enhanced safety features, increased engine performance, and more comfort and convenience than its predecessor.
Edmunds says
A comfortable, though pasteurized, full-size sedan.
Vehicle overview
It would seem buyers of full-sized sedans generally aren't too interested in character. Most full-size sedans are dull pieces of machinery to look at and a snooze to drive. The beauty in such a vehicle lies in what it can do for the customer in terms of providing space for people and things without compromising the ride or occupant comfort. It should look upscale, but not gaudy, providing just enough glitz and luxury to let others know you have achieved a degree of success in life. Finally, such a vehicle must also be reliable and able to handle years of daily-driver tasks without so much as a whimper.
Since its introduction in 1995, the Toyota Avalon has fit this description. A little bland, perhaps, but solid, roomy, and dependable. For 2000, the Avalon enters its second generation. Substantial changes have been made to improve its already good traits, as well as add a bit of excitement. There are two models: XL and XLS. The main difference between the two is the level of standard equipment. Both can be ordered with front bucket or bench seats.
Avalon's 3.0-liter V6 engine now features a variable valve timing system (Toyota calls its system VVT-i). The system provides additional horsepower, improved fuel economy and torque, lower emissions and smoother shifting. The previous Avalon was no slouch, so the engine improvements are just icing on the cake.
Toyota has also updated the styling. A side benefit of this is a reduction in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH). Comfort amenities include a new dual-control air conditioner, an optional JBL premium grade audio (standard on the XLS), and an improved multi-information display. There's also increased trunk volume, grocery bag hooks, and a larger storage tray and cargo net. A universal remote system that can be programmed to open garage doors, gates and turn on house lights is standard on XLS models.
Safety is enhanced with an optional package on XLS models that includes Vehicle Skid Control (VSC) and traction control. VSC utilizes the braking system to correct understeer or oversteer conditions in a turn. Traction control reduces tire slippage during acceleration. Toyota also added a brake-assist feature that detects emergency braking and applies supplemental line pressure to reduce stopping distance.
Additional new safety features include a stronger body structure that effectively absorbs and diffuses energy along predictable paths, added energy absorbing material to the roof rails, front pillar and center pillar to help reduce potential head injury, and enlarged rearview mirrors. The front seats have been strengthened and a rear center adjustable headrest has been added.
We recommend that potential buyers of a new full-sized sedan take a look at the 2000 Avalon. As before, its price is more than the offerings from Detroit like the Buick LeSabre, Dodge Intrepid and Ford Crown Victoria. But unflappable quality has a price. Want a Lexus but need six-passenger capacity or huge amounts of rear legroom? The Avalon is your car.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2000 Toyota Avalon.
5 star(79%)
4 star(17%)
3 star(3%)
2 star(1%)
1 star(0%)
103 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
The Mighty Avalon
cardodger, 02/25/2013
2000 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
I purchased my XLS used with 175,000 miles on it.
I was looking for reliability, safety, and a low payment vehicle that could help me while I paid of credit cards.
The car has been reliable, comfortable, and a pleasure to own.
Everyone wants me to do the driving when a group is going somewhere and no-one thinks it has the mileage that it does (200K+ now).
I keep getting the urge to look … at other cars that might be more sporty or fun to drive but look at the reviews and issues with other cars and can't think of anything more fun than having had no problems at all with this terrific car.
I would recommend it to anyone who needs to drive - any distance...
4.75 out of 5 stars
Best car I've ever had!!
clatterpastor, 02/25/2012
2000 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
I bought my Avalon with 92k miles on it. A friend had driven one from his father's car lot and remarked at what great gas mileage he got on a road trip. I drove it and bought it immediately. The road manners are what you would expect for a luxury sedan of this type; not sporty but "safe" feeling. I have driven it on 16-18 hour trips for years and was always comfortable (5'11" 180). … Mileage had always been 28-29 hwy. and 20-22 city. We now have 236K on the car and have only done brakes once, timing belt, water pump and seals twice, replaced the sub-woofer and that's all! It has been the most reliable car I have owned and that includes Mercedes, Hondas, Lincoln and Ford. I plan to buy another!
5 out of 5 stars
Love it or leave it.......can't decide
katahydem, 01/17/2013
2000 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan
I've had this car for almost 13 years now and still am not tired of it.
I'd like to get something else - different style vehicle but this car is paying me now.
Gas mileage is better than any new car I've looked at and can still trust its reliability.
There have been some problems, sensor issues most often but they've been manageable.
We had some real wheel rust and had it taken care … of.
My car looks newer and better than a lot of newer cars out there.
4.13 out of 5 stars
200,000+ miles and still going strong
emilylwallace, 03/06/2011
2000 Toyota Avalon XL 4dr Sedan
This car has been in my family since its original purchase in 2000. The car was passed onto me in 2008 with 150,000 miles on it. It still drives like the day it was purchased.
The interior cabin is dead quiet and the ride is incredibly smooth.
It is fantastic for road trips, it gets about 30 mpg on the highway using regular fuel. It accelerates well for a car of its size.
It handles well … in snow, as long as you drive accordingly. It is incredibly reliable, it starts up right away every morning (even when it is 5 degrees outside).
Also, the sound system is fantastic.
2000 Avalon Highlights
XL
- Combined MPG
- 22 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $179/month
- Drivetrain
- front wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Gas
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriverNot RatedPassengerNot Rated
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver4 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRolloverNot RatedDynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Side Impact TestNot Tested
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
- IIHS Small Overlap Front TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front TestGood
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More about the 2000 Toyota Avalon
More About This Model
Lunar mist reminds you of that silent, floating ball in the nighttime sky that waxes and wanes throughout the month, so slowly and quietly you hardly know it is there. Until someone, perhaps a small child or a true love, says, hey, look, look at that. And you turn your head up to the darkness, and there it is, glowing, silently keeping watch, always there, even if you don't take notice of it.
Our second-generation Toyota Avalon test car was not only Lunar Mist in color (a shade dubbed "at once subtle and refined" by our staff), but in personality as well. Remember, despite its quiet glow and apparent diminutiveness to the sun, the moon is powerful, steady, reliable and inspiring (just think of the full moon's purported influence, the crescent moon "holding water," and the moon's dominion of the tides).
Our first jaunt in the vehicle (in afternoon freeway traffic) was serene as a summer moonlit night we sat encapsulated in the plush full-sized sedan, classical tunes wafting from the superior sound system. When traffic broke, the accelerator responded effortlessly, taking us back to the office with verve before anyone started wondering where we were.
As you'd expect from a vehicle of this class, the engine is smooth, yet punchy, as one editor wrote, "Drop the hammer and this heavy sedan takes off." It can do this because of its improved 3.0-liter V6 with variable valve timing that generates more horsepower and torque than previous iterations (210 hp at 5,800 rpm and 220 foot-pounds of torque at 4,400 rpm), with better fuel economy and lower emissions.
Although the engine was praised, drivers weren't as keen on the Avalon's four-speed automatic transmission that Toyota calls "smooth shifting"; we found it to be a little rough. While one driver thought the car hesitated when downshifting, another wrote that the upshifts were too loud and effortful. However, with overdrive off, we did find there was plenty of power for hill climbing.
We explored those hills and valleys in the mountains surrounding Santa Barbara, and came back duly impressed with the full-size sedan's ability to canyon-carve. While it's not designed for hard, twisting roads, the Avalon handles decently for a large car. The car soaks up the bumps while allowing the driver to feel the road, the tires (Michelin Radial XSE P205/60R16) stick with virtually no squeal, and there is hardly an on-center dead spot. The steering is light yet responsive, with a tight turning radius and, as one editor put it, "no slop." He also said that, "Pontiac should take note on how it's done."
The Avalon's braking ability was decent, but not great. One of our drivers was perplexed that a car so heavy would not have stronger brakes to deal with the extra load; this driver also said it was a bit too easy to break into ABS mode. Also, the brake pedal was stiff, but the antilock brakes were dependable and consistent, with minimal dive.
The combination of these driving characteristics makes the Avalon an enjoyable car to drive. While not mind-blowing in its power, brakes, or suspension, the car is easy to pilot, gets up to speed easily, and handles better than many of its competitors.
Inside the Avalon, we found a spacious greenhouse providing excellent outward visibility. There are large side mirrors, however the rear view is slightly limiting if you're small of stature, given the large headrests and the Avalon's raised rear end.
The all-new 2000 Avalon is designed, engineered, and built in the United States, and Toyota is touting it as "a true American car." Jointly designed and engineered by Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan and Toyota Technical Center of America, the Avalon is wider than before (more than an inch), the front seat was moved up about an inch, the roof was raised about an inch, and rear-seat room has been increased in both height and legroom. "The backseat is more of a sofa than anything," remarked one on staff, also commenting that the three-point seatbelts are at the correct height and adjustable headrests in back are a welcome addition. Guess our bigger American bodies need the space. And the trunk is also enormous 15.4 cubic feet.
All of this room will come in handy if you've got a lot of people or stuff to carry, or suffer from claustrophobia. But if you're petite, be warned one of our drivers couldn't help feeling like she was piloting her papa's wheels, not only due to the size of the seats and the interior, but also given the interior dash display, of which was said, "there is a sense of vastness about it as if you've entered a hologram world."
This feeling is imparted from the huge screen in the center of the dash telling you the time, temperature, date, directed traveled, etc. While our staffer's parents and grandparents loved the display (good for those with far-sighted vision), younger folk found it unnecessary and a trifle distracting, with one on staff calling it "garish." But, since the Avalon's target audience is certainly not Gen-Xers, the dash display is probably a good one.
The ergonomics were called "Toyota easy," with the climate and stereo controls within arm's reach. The controls are digital, with lots of buttons to play with, and we appreciated the larger "CD," "tape" and "AM/FM" buttons. However, the HVAC system has so many buttons (combined with dual temperature controls) that its operation can be a bit intimidating upon first glance. But once you figure it out, it's not a problem; one staffer's mom, who is admittedly averse to electronics, had no problem operating the HVAC and stereo controls. The Avalon scored big with her for another ergonomic reason: the ignition, placed straight ahead on the dash (where one's right hand reaches easily) was far superior to the typical wheel-mounted ignition that causes one with less stout wrists too much contortion for comfort.
The center stack itself, where the HVAC and stereo controls reside, is nicely shaped, sloping downward toward the shifter, constructed with lots of plood and classy matte-finish buttons. However, we had a disturbing problem with our test car. An annoying and consistent squeak, much like a cricket's chirp, came from the center panel and drove our staff nuts. Regardless of the surface we traveled over, the chirp, chirp, chirp accompanied us, and it got worse when speeds increased. One determined staffer quieted the racket by holding the plastic trim surround where it meets the lower dash pad. But we were disconcerted. A car of this caliber should have no squeaks of this sort, and we were especially surprised since our last drive of an Avalon had no such build-quality issues. Perhaps this was a fluke with our test car, but we also found that when we took turns, the center console "shifted" easily and creaked. What's going on, Toyota? Is this the result of designing a "true American car"?
Our test car was optioned with the leather package that includes a JBL sound system, which provided outstanding sound for our drive up the coast and around town. The highs were crystal clear, and "bass is thunderous." One driver said, "This JBL system knocks the socks off most high-end home theater units." All drivers appreciated the convenient six-disc, in-dash CD changer as well.
Front-seat passengers of larger size found the seat better than average, with good lumbar support, but complained that the lateral bolsters were lacking. Our smaller driver complained that the center console was too far from her reach to rest her right elbow; likewise, the left door rest is usable only if you are bigger in size. Another gripe was that one driver had to adjust the steering wheel higher than normal in order to see the tops of the gauges; still another driver said the seats were "hard without being supportive."
Getting in and out of the Avalon is easy with its wide-swinging doors, and the low trunk liftover makes for easy loading and unloading of cargo. Also, the cargo net is an added benefit for hauling groceries in the enormous trunk.
Interior leather and plastic materials were well-matched, but one of our drivers thought the interior represented "wannabe luxury." She wasn't sure if the upholstery was cheap leather or vinyl, but either way she wasn't happy. The center storage bin and parts of the door panels were plasticky, the baseball-stitched shifter and steering wheel were covered in decent, but not superior, leather.
We liked the steering wheel-mounted cruise controls, finding their placement ergonomically sound and easy to use. The windshield-wipers were called "vicious" big and effective in their swiping any unwanted water that got in their way. Interior lighting was superb, as were the halogen headlights. We also enjoyed the one-touch open and close sunroof, multitudinous seat adjustments, and auto-locking doors. The front cupholders ratcheted, which was good, but they were raised so that your right elbow can (and will) hit the cup way too easily. But their side-by-side placement was functional, and the rear cupholders in the fold-down center storage bin were nice-sized.
Kudos went out to the vast assortment of storage cubbies, pockets, bins, and drawers (well, almost) in the front and rear. There are seat pockets, door pockets, and a huge center console in front and one in back (in the rear armrest). We also liked the storage space under the HVAC controls for pens and other junk, but you can store loads of stuff in the cavernous glove box as well. Also appreciated was the 12-volt power point in the center console.
From the outside, it looks as though the Avalon's designers took about five different body styles of various cars and lumped them all together. The front of the car, with its big, toothy grille, is quite Lincoln or Buick-esque. Meanwhile, the rear looks like a Mercedes S-Class square and narrow with triangular taillights. The car appears safe and slightly sporty, with attractive body-color door handles and raked windshield. While some on staff found the car's mixed personality "beautiful to look at" others were bored by its simple lines and unexceptional styling. Well, some people just don't appreciate a stellar beauty when they see it.
The Avalon is about 3 grand more than the Buick LeSabre Limited and Chrysler LHS. But when you buy a Toyota you are also paying for its reputation for reliability, and with the Avalon, a healthy dose of luxury comes standard. As one on staff said, "My grandparents have always bought a Cadillac or a Lincoln. Now, after checking out this Avalon, they're going to visit a Toyota dealer." Perhaps you'll do the same, perhaps not, or maybe your next voyage will be into that perpetual darkness, like the cow jumping over the
Used 2000 Toyota Avalon Overview
The Used 2000 Toyota Avalon is offered in the following submodels: Avalon Sedan. Available styles include XLS 4dr Sedan, and XL 4dr Sedan. The Used 2000 Toyota Avalon comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 4-speed automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2000 Toyota Avalon?
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Should I lease or buy a 2000 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.
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