Used 2003 Toyota Avalon Sedan Consumer Reviews
Best car I have ever owned or driven.
With 170,000 miles and not a single problem I can say I picked a winner. It drives like a dream on it's Michelin tires. I get 26-30 mpg highway. I love the rounded curved dash and display. I do hate looking at the cassette tape deck (it reminds me that I am getting older and soon will someday be obsolete). I keep wanting to replace it with something new, but other new cars can't match it's ride. I test drove the 2014 Mercedes, new Avalon, Lexus, infinity, BMW... The only car I liked better than the Avalon was the Audi A8 at $65,000. I will keep this car until it literally falls apart. Update: I now have 217,000 miles and still love the car and have had no problems except the recall on the airbags. Running strong and smooth.
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Reliable road partner.
We are third owner of this car, we knew the second owner who kept this car really well. The only thing we've done so far is change timing belt, water pump and fluid wash. Runs like a dream and currently giving me a mixed mileage of 26 mpg. We love the robust build of the car, road handling. The opening of trunk is big and we've had no issues in carrying large grocery bags and a small wagon which always stays in it. The back seat is roomy and has large space for 4 people to sit. I like the drive of this car and will recommend it to anyone looking for luxury at the same time reliable car.
Low cost comfort
We bought this car 5 years old and 77000 miles for $10,000, much cheaper than new. It is very comfortable on long trips, a very quiet and smooth ride. Good gas mileage. My wife felt the looks needed some pizazz, so I bought a spoiler online and had a bodyshop paint and install it for her birthday present. It adds a lot of character. A few months later, I bought a 2003 Lexus ES 300 and driving one car is almost like driving the other, although the Lexus has a few more amenities. I am absolutely sold on Toyota quality and dependability, after owning 4 GM cars and one Dodge.
Original Owner for 14+ years/ 334 thousand miles
Greatest purchase of a lifetime! This car has survived a family of 4, both my son and my daughter have driven many miles with this vehicle. The rims are aluminum and did not fair well when driven into curbs. My son (20) was able to blow the sub-woofer and destroy the transmission at 180 thousand miles. Only recently has the engine light gone on for the catalytic converter. The car will drive 419 miles on a full tank of gas before the low gas warning light is lit. Today when I drive this car I drive for over 2 hours with the full confidence I had when I bought this car brand new during January 2003. Update May 2017: the catalytic converter 420 light only goes on after 2 1/2 hours of driving.
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A Great Three Years
Three years and 42,000 trouble free miles after buying our first Avalon, we are Avalon fans. Our XLS was ordered with the "wing" to liven up it's bland appearance at least a little bit. We are even starting to think it is a nice looking vehicle! Really! We tried out a 2006 Avalon Limited recently and found the driver visibility of our 2003 to be far better so we are hanging on to our present Avalon. Highway mileage is routinely 30 mpg + and seems to be gradually improving with age.
A Lexus without the price tag.
This Avalon has been the best car I have ever owned. I have had it more than a year now and bought it used but still have had no problems. It is smooth, luxurious, and every day I drive it I find myself surprised by one of the Avalon's many features. Someone put great thought into designing this car from the automatic wipers to the 110 power plug this car is perfect. I get 21 mpg on average but it is worth the extra $2 a week to drive such a fantastic piece of machinery. I'm 26 and thought this car was an 'old man car' but after driving it I will not drive anything else. Thanks Toyota!
Flagship Of The Fleet (all cars in the family)
I no longer have the Avalon. I am not driving anymore. I am 90 years old. My daughter now owns the car. It runs almost as well as it did when I bought it new,22 years ago.
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Endless comfort and solidity
At 140k my Avalon seems like it will endure for many more years and miles. Unusual maintenance includes a steering bracket assembly and a failed subwoofer. Also, the driver's seat cushion has collapsed and the airbag light comes on intermittently. The car whooshes to speed, is dead quiet, and has expansive room on the inside. The gas mileage is not great (avg. 22 in mixed driving), but this is a large auto and its substantial feel makes me want to keep it forever. The styling is distinct and operating costs are very low. After driving an Avalon, it becomes difficult to settle for lesser cars.
Great vehicle =, even as a used car
Great reliable vehicle with very good acceleration, great road feel. The Avalon is a very comfortable car that you can rely on.
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The Best Car Out There!! Period
I buy them used and I replaced my 1995 Avalon with a 2003 Avalon. I will replace this one with another. If it ever wears out that is. They are the best cars that I have ever owned.
My second AVALON
This is my second Avalon. The only thing that stopped my first was Pontiac at midships. I had 165,000 miles with nothing going wrong. I didn't even need brakes until 130,000 miles. I bought the second and am having the same luck. It is more powerfull but has 28 MPG average Vs 30 on the 1996 version. Passengers still comment on interior room and comfort after now 60,000 miles. I drive for work, and go through a lot of cars. These two have outperfomed and have been more reliable than anything else I have had. If I can stay out of the way of other cars, this one will probably go to 300K miles.
The Avalon 2002
This is the second Toyota and the first Avalon. It handles very well and gives the feeling of driving a Lexus. No regrets upgrading from teh Camray to the Avalon. It really is the flag ship of the Toyota line of autos.
Best Car We Have EVER OWNED!
We have never had a major repair on this car. Bought it new and have only had regular maintenance (tires, batteries, tune ups, etc.) since. We have some dings and scratches but the car still looks okay. We will not get rid of this car until all four tires go flat and the engine falls to the ground
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Couldn't Be Happier
I love my car. I only intended on keeping it for a few years but I love it too much not to keep it in my family. I have not experienced any maintenance issues. Since I purchased the vehicle, I've only had to do regular maintenance like oil changes, tires rotated, new wiper blades, etc. The only draw back to the car is that a cassette player came stock even though I have premium JBL speakers. Good thing I could swap it out with one that I can link my iPod to.
Wonderful car
No doubt about it, I will purchase another Avalon. This car has more comfort in the rear and front than most of the largest. Everyone who rides in the rear seat is amazed at the comfort.
GREAT BUY!!
smooth as silk. Ulta comfortable. Beats the price of Lexus.
Great Luxury Car for the Money
Driving in comfort; lots of power and pick up, yet economical and affordable.
Will miss you!
Great car. Well built, no maintenance, very reliable. Bought used 2 years, have kept it 12 years, the longest I have ever owned a vehicle. Can't beat Toyota's quality. No longer own vehicle.
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Lexus Killer
What a vehicle! 20mpg in town in 2-3 mile trips and high 20's on the road. Comfort abounds, room room room. Looked at 2 series MB, but couldn't see the additional $. Drive a Lexus, just more wood & trim, basically the same car for far less $. I've owned just about everything in my life and for the first 3000 miles it's been equal to anything.
2003 toyota avalon xls
Great automobile to drive. Good comfort and very quiet on the road. Excelent quality thruout the vehicle.
Great investment
Over 100,000 and runs great, over 80,000 on the Michelin tires. Starts up every time. Great ride and lots of room in trunk and interior easy to maintain without nickle and dimeing you to death.
What a machine
I am on my second Avalon and this one is better than the first if that is posible, It is quite, smooth, and very user freindly, I change cars every 12 months and unless someone comes up with something better then at this price it is a steal.
Couldn't ask for More!!!
This car has it all. It contains Luxury items only found in cars costing 15 to 20 thousand more. It is a Dream Car and has the Toyota Quallity to Back it Up....
Could not find a better value
I was looking for a comfortable and reliable car. I am used to large US made sedans. I test drove Honda, Lexus ES300, Volvo S60 and on our way back decided to stop by at a Toyota dealer. Avalon was not even in our list of cars to consider. We test drove one, fell in love with it and drove it home the next day. After a few thousand miles on it, I feel I could not have made a better decision. It is quiet, comfortable (and expecting it to be) reliable.
bench seat
although advertised as a 6 passenger car, with a front bench seat, the space available to the center front passenger is only suitable foe a very short person. Otherwise it's been a great car, which we bought new.
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The Best Sedan for Anybody
This is one of the best cars out there... It offers alot of things. It offers smoothness, reliability, a nice exterior/interior. It is very comfortable to sit in, front or back. There's alot of space for anyone to sit in the back. When I am driving the 2003 Toyota Avalon (XL), I feel like I am driving a 2003 Lexus... I just love my Avalon.
Dealership problems w/ Northridge Toyota
After test driving 3 Mercedes models, I stumbled across the '03 Toyota Avalon-- was very much surprised on the quality, comfort & performance of the car. However, this dealership left much to be desired --- from misrepresenting several items that were supposed to be included in the price to guarantee/warranty specifics.
Not built in Japan
Bought it with 120k miles as a college car for my daughter. There are so many electrical issues with this car that you’ll never finish fixing them all. Starting with the windshield wiper motor known failures to major air conditioning components that sit inside the firewall requiring total disassembly of the dashboard, steering column, and lots of labor hours. Only used parts available. I’m ready to unload this forever lemon.
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Great Ride
This is a great car. I have driven many different cars and none can compare to the Avalon's smooth, quiet and comfortable ride. Combined with Toyota reliability, it cant be beat.
Comfortable and Reliable
Roomy and comfortable
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Reliable where it counts and nowhere else
Overall, I really like my '03 Avalon, but there are some quirks that do need to be stated. The subwoofer in the rear is very low quality. I was already not a fan of the sound system that this car came with but after 2 weeks of owning it, I decided to max out the the volume to see how it handled and ended up blowing the subwoofer. Turns out that this is a very common problem for all Toyotas that have this JBL system in it. They dry rot in the sun and weekend very quickly. When this happens, I would recommend just buying a 50 watt sub that's 4 ohms and 8" in diameter because the stock sub cost around $280 online and a complete ripoff. They're hard to fine but do exist. Another very common problem is that the windshield wiper motor will go out unexpectedly. You will know when it happens because it won't take the wiper back down to the "park" position when you turn them off. I just got a quote from my local dealer and it will cost $487 to fix that. Finally, trying to maintain this car in your driveway is a pain. It's nearly impossible to get to the oil filter with just a floor jack. Oil changes for me cost around $40 to have my local shop do it. This is a great car for someone that prefers to take it to a shop whenever something needs done. If you would rather maintain it yourself, I'd look at something else.
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2nd Avalon
This is my second Avalon (1997 XL) version and I loved it. I decided on this car because I love the luxury ride in my 190 minute round trip commute. I didn't want or need the sports car performance, but wanted a good powerful car with a soft ride. The leather seats are large and comfortable. The seat heaters are a must for Indiana weather and work great. The stereo is great with the in-dash 6-cd changer. Backseat will hold two large adults without challenge and 3 adults can ride well in the backseat. The trunk is very large, but some might miss the lack of a fold down back seat. There is a ski opening to the trunk from the backseats but that is all.
Best Value in the new car market
Quiet, roomy, well built, reliable, a solid performer. My first Japanese Designed car and I love it. No more GM cars for me.
3rd Avalon
Like this car for its ride reliability,good looks,safety features. Forward vision obstructed by pillars for someone who must drive with the seat far back.(like me).Great power,pickup. Wish they would eliminate that "style" sheet-metal crease that runs the length of the body. It's exactly the same height as the food market rolling baskets. Makes for a $400 dent removal. Really have no serious negative remarks. Of course, it's a bit pricey. Also, see they eliminated the secondary sun visor. If I wasn't impressed by this car, it wouldn't be my third in a row.
Love this car
We test drove this vehicle and fell in love with it. Didn't even bother with two other models with which we were comparing. The ride was smooth and noise free....two things that were on our list of 'wants.' Almost a year later and we still think it's a great piece of machinery!
Luxury in an affordable package
The Avalon is not going to win any styling awards or be confused with a sport sedan, but with that said, the Avalon has no other weaknesses. If you want to feel your surrounded in luxury and want a comfortable ride that even the best luxury car will be pressed to match. The Avalon is your car. The car is extremely quiet and with the upgraded sound system, it's almost like sitting in theater. Toyota reliability and workmanship in a glove leather package.
One Fine Automobile
This has got to be the sleeper sedan of all. Hard to find any articles or data, beyond what we owners write, about this vehicle. I tried to uncover something, anything, on this model, before I went shopping. Looked at many sedans. Our objective was to find one with lots of room, yet would be easy for around town mobility. We love room and comfort while on the road, and this car delivers in spades. Totally satisfied with this car. It has it all, if you can live with a spirited 6 cylinder, for half the price of some competitors.
Great Comfort and Power
This car has great acceleration speed and provides superb comfort. I considered the Camry; however, the comfort level of the Avalon is leaps and bounds above it. There is an abundance of leg room in the rear passenger seats. Good handling ability. Large trunk. Fuel mileage in city driving rarely exceeds 21 mpg.
My first Avalon
Just purchased my Avalon 9 days ago. Probably too early to give the car a rating but so far it's better than I expected. The comfort, the quiet ride, and the responsive engine are wonderful. My last car was a 1990 Volvo 240DL and I have to say there is no comparison. I love the car and hope to make as good a review after a few months of driving.
Loving my 4 door Avalon XLS Sedan!!
We just bought our second Toyota Avalon XLS & really like it. It's got a beautiful interior with wood trim on console, & steering wheel has a rich look with both leather & wood. The bucket seats are comfortable (we chose leather) & seat a larger person with ease. It has excellent handling which makes it a fun car to drive. Our 2001 Toyota Avalon didn't get the mileage that Toyota suggested we would, but I think that's because I use my air- conditioner year round, daily. We also know that Toyota has an excellent resale value. Love my new Toyota Avalon!!
Best car ever
Best Car I have ever owned, 7-8k less than Lexus es300 but just as good. I would definitely recommend this vehicle.
New Owner
First foreign auto but I believe we got the pick of the litter. Had a Sedan Deville for several years and already the Avalon has made us forget about the luxury and performance of the Cadillac. Will want to give another review after subtantial number of miles are driven.
Reliability problem
At 2000 miles and 2 1/2 months ownership, car's power steering pump failed while driving with a friend on a trip to Florida. Three months later charcoal canaster was leaking and needed to be replaced. Enjoy everything about the car, am considering replacing it due to reliability. I need a car that is dependable.
Drive before you Buy
This is the second Avalon we have purchased. The first was a 1996. Toyota has really "aged" this car. Steering in numb and requires constant correction at highway speeds. It is almost tiring to drive. Had to return it to the dealer at 500 miles - steering wheel was off center. Also too many rattles in a car of this price. On the positive side - room and comfort for passengers is outstanding
Lexus in Toyota Wrapper
This car is a very big BANG for the buck. Traction control, Force Dsitribution braking, ABS 4-channel brakes, Navigation system, auto-lights and wipers, heated seats, SMOOTH RIDE, cavernous back seat, 6-CD in-dash changer and REAL WOOD inserts. This is a FINE car. If it is like all the other Toyota's I've ever owned the only parts that will ever fail no this car will be the AMERICAN MADE PARTS!!!! My Vote is BUY THIS CAR!!!
2003 avalon
I own a 1996 avalon also. I like my older car much better. The 2003 has blind spots. The dash is too busy,and the gas milage is better on the 1996 model.
2003 Avalon Review
I previously owned a Toyota Camry. The Avalon is definitely a step-up in quality. This is a more plush car with an abundance of features, ease of handling, and quiet ride. My only negative is the computer controlled excellerator. There is a "lag" that you don't notice in "direct wired" gas pedals. It is annoying when you really need to get out of the way fast.
a nice car but
It is a nice car with plenty of room But the tire is too small compare with the huge body. It's like a huge man wear a tiny shoe.
Great Car & Not everyone has one!
Bought a loaded '03:Love the auto lights & wipers & JBL sound,dash display, heated seats-even in Dallas, finish out, moonroof, spoiler,etc. Great acceleration & handling! Very roomy-70 yr old parents could get in & out of front & back very easily. Fits 3 in back very comfortably. I also like that fact that not everyone has one-you see so many of the same cars (Camrys,LS300's & the ubiquitous Suburbans,which is our other car), the Avalon has a greater interest appeal. I enjoy driving it around town after driving Suburbans for 12 years, its all sporty, yet luxurious & professional for client meetings, etc.
Toyota Avalon
An excellent car you won't want to miss with excellent power.