Used 2004 Toyota Avalon Consumer Reviews
Used Avalon for sale
In A Class All It's Own
Evan, 03/25/2020
updated 08/05/2022
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bench Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
27 of 27 people found this review helpful
Last summer, My 1999 Camry V6 XLE finally bit the dust at over 250k. It had been a good car and I knew I wanted to stick with Toyota, but also was looking for a model with higher feature content. An Aunt of mine was looking to unload her 2004 Avalon XLS to replace it with the 2020 model. She drove it here and there, and after sixteen years, it had only logged a little over 91k. Looked showroom new and was well cared for over it's life so far. I went ahead and made the purchase and I am so glad I did. This big Toyota is far more robust than the Camry. I've always heard people say that the Avalon is a stretched Camry, which is theoretically true. Stretched Camry platform, similar powertrains. However, the cars seem to share little else in common as far as their overall personas. The Camry was slightly more pedestrian, even in XLE guise. They were nice cars either way, but the Avalon takes everything to an entirely new level. Distinctive and understated elegance is the best way I can describe the exterior. Clean, crisp lines and fine detailing that isn't overdone or obnoxious. It won't turn heads, but it exudes a quiet dignity and a small touch of prestige. I just love the interior. I have a model with the bench seat and column shifter. Very spacious and luxurious interior. The leather used seems of higher quality than might be found in an upper level Camry and there is simulated wood grain trim which adds a nice touch. Automatic climate control, heated seats, memory seats, multi info display as well as touches like the wood grain trimmed steering wheel all add to a feeling of opulence and luxury. More sound deadening materials are obviously used as well. The car is amazingly quiet. I get the usual wind noise at highway speeds, but it seems more hushed. In city driving I can't hear much of anything at all, other than the radio. Gas mileage is about what I would expect for a car of this size. Nothing too spectacular, but not dismal either. Some features take some getting used to if you haven't had them before. VSC (Vehicle stability control) is a great feature that aids braking in panic situations to help avoid an accident. It is welcome here. Due to this car's larger dimensions, there is a little more play in the steering as opposed to the Camry. I once activated it in a turn and a beeping warning comes on to let you know it activated. In panic situations it will also apply full braking power regardless of if the driver takes their foot off the pedal or not. You will feel this sensation of the braking engaging. Was a little unnerving the first time with this car on I-25 in Denver, but I realized that it was a feature of the car and have gotten somewhat used to it. I really like this car so far and I'm sure with proper care, it will last forever. Very solid, quality vehicle. It's not too hard to find clean, low mileage Avalon models. They aren't popular with the younger crowd. There are many well cared for examples. If you haven't thought about it or have been curious about these cars, they are definitely worth a look. Update November 2021. Still love this car. Has had minor issues here and there mostly due to age but overall, nothing too terrible. Only gripe about driving is that I find the brake assist overly sensitive sometimes and it's annoying when it kicks in at the wrong time. More about that in a moment. Some kind of linkage came loose on the front sway bar link and produced a loud clunking noise this past September. My local mechanic found the issue and it was fixed for $95.00. Replaced front struts myself. Parts cost was about $200.00 Radiator inlet broke where hose attaches. Replaced radiator myself. Parts cost $85.00. A front driver and rear passenger wheel bearing. Replaced for about $450.00 total for both. The overflow tank for the coolant is very cheap plastic. A hole formed and a small leak developed in the bottle from heat. Replaced, but I suspect the new one is deforming as well. It is mildly annoying, but luckily cheap and minor. Had all recall work done upon purchase as it had not been done up to that point. Probably coming due for timing belt service, which is of course a "to be expected" maintenance item. Radio backlight seems to be going out at night now. Will probably replace radio. Was hit by a DWI driver on 5/28/22. Car held well but paint quality has proved disappointing. Both of my Camrys took a smack on the bumper once in a while, but the paint adhered well and may have cracked but never flaked off the way it did with the Avalon. It's as if they just painted the plastic bumper without priming it.... Brake assist and VSC notes: I like the VSC, it helps stabilize the rear in sharp turns and in snow I find as well. I actually couldn't imagine this car without it. I know it was optional on Gen 2 when they were new, but it was totally worth the extra money. Brake assist comes with it. Brake assist has pluses and minuses. The brake assist senses when you may be panic braking and pre-applies the brakes. It gives the sensation of not having brakes at all at first because your foot is catching up to the system if that makes sense. Depending on the situation I find that I either have to remove my foot from the brake to reset the system if there is time and its not a panic moment, or push the brake hard all the way to the floor to catch up. When the system engages you WILL stop, don't get me wrong, but any finesse of the pedal is gone. You have no choice but to floor the pedal and let the system almost "grab" the car to a stop. It's a computer nanny thing I still don't get, but Toyota saw some value in it so here we are. All of the other features and Toyota hallmarks of quality and reliability are there, so I try not to be to nitpicky about it, but the brake assist is probably my least favorite feature to be honest. VSC is great though because is has stopped me from fishtailing in deep snow a couple of times. Overall I'm still happy with this car and will probably hold onto it since still have low mileage and it looks good. I love the space and the luxury. Toyota did a good job with these by far and if you take care of it, this car will easily last a lifetime. Of the Avalon and the ES300/ES330 of this era, the Lexus offered a bit more cachet and sleek luxury, while the Avalon was larger and more understated. I like both, but the Avalon has really grown on me. Still a sharp looking car that exudes a bit of class. Every time I get in....I'm in love! Definitely a "forever" car. Which I'm more than ok with. I'm not that into car shopping, so if I can find something I can live with for a long time, I'm happy. As long as it looks classy and nice through the years with proper care, I am sold!
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Best kept secret ever
avylvr, 07/26/2014
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bench Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
36 of 38 people found this review helpful
I traded in a junk Buick in Dec of 2012 for my beautiful 2004 one owner, all service records, 72,000 mile Avalon. I had read reviews which appeared it was a good car and man were they right. It's been growing on me, I love this car. I commute 120 miles round trip a day so now I'm at 124,000 miles and this car still feels like it came off the showroom floor. I sunk about $1500 into it with new Pirelli tires, new front rotors and brakes all the way around, new rear wheel bearing, transmission service and of course the timing belt/water pump maintenance. I'm going for 400k miles. It was well taken care of before me by a little old lady and I will continue to do the same.
2004 Toyota Avalon for sale near you
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Nice, clean car--SHARP!
Delia, 10/04/2019
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
13 of 13 people found this review helpful
Very smooth ride, A/C works excellently, no noises whatsoever---clean, smooth ride overall.
185K Miles and still drives like new
Grant, 09/27/2020
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I bought my Avalon from an gentleman who had every record for it from the last 10 years. Every oil change, tire change, new part purchase, everything! The car drove like new so i bought it from him. I then drove 2000 Miles across Canada. The car literally didn't hiccup once. Up and over the Rocky Mountains completely filled with stuff and 3 cats, Grandpa (as I affectionately call it) took it like a champ. I was getting around 8 L/100km or 29 MPG also! I researched this car so much before I bought it. I knew a small few of them have sludge engine oil problems, but other than that, they are bullet proof. There are many for sale with over 300K Miles! Some into the 400's! If you keep up oil and fluid changes, get new plugs every 100k miles and drive it even half decently nice, this car will give you thousands of problem free miles. As for comfort, I can honestly say it was more comfortable than my brand new Tacoma, or my partners 2019 Impreza. You feel as soon as you get in this car that it was made for drivers comfort. It is not made for fast cornering fast mind you. I had read how great the visibility was in this car, but was surprised even knowing that. I feel so confident on the highway passing and pulling in and out of lanes because there are so few and small blind spots. I am probably slightly younger than most people who own this car at 38 but if you want comfort, reliability and safety considering the age of the vehicle, you cannot go wrong with the Avalon.
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2004 XLS Avalon is a Keeper
Jim-n-IL, 07/12/2009
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
10 of 10 people found this review helpful
We bought our XLS at 30k and now have 120k. This car is truly the best bang for the buck on the road of any other. We recently had a screech when starting, and replaced starter, didn't fix prob, dealer thought flywheel, turned out to be battery! Features are superb and gas mileage is also. Driving slower (55-60) provides close to 30mpg, above 70 is 28 and less. Onboard computer gives immediate feedback for mpg. Roominess and reliability, not to mention all the options truly make this car a keeper. We recently researched others on this chassis, 00-04 and found several at 250k and up, so that makes us confident. We will keep this one until we get to that point. Why not save your money?!?!
The Japanese Buick
Ron Stephenson, 12/22/2015
updated 06/22/2016
2004 Toyota Avalon XL 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
29 of 32 people found this review helpful
Here is one of the best, most reliable cars on the market. Now 11years old, and no problems whatsoever. Quiet on the road, great mileage for a larger car and smooth handling, good brakes, great heat and cooling. Get in, drive all you want and get out rested. Once in the car, your passengers are impressed with the quality of materials and how quiet it is. Smooth ride, and lots of legroom in back. Could use larger cup holders, but the two will accommodate normal sized cups. I was so impressed with my wife's identical car that I decided to dump my Infinity M-35 and get one for myself. A low-mileage one came up at the Toyota dealer, with new tires on a 42,000 mile example. If you need a somewhat larger car with a decent v-6 engine that gets good gas mileage and great comfort for trips, this is your car.
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great car, stiff ride
TIM from akron ohio, 03/24/2017
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
9 of 9 people found this review helpful
This is the second avalon i have owned. the first one was a 2001 and it was the xl model. The one i own now is a 2004 and it is the xls with bucked seats. Ride quality on the 2004 is poor and very disappointing for such a large car. I am going to upgrade to the ls 430 lexus soon. Dependability has been excellent on both cars. the 2004 is so good on gas i have to show people that i am getting 26 combined mpg on the dash. I do run premium fuel and if i run regular it drops to about 22mpg
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Good car, enjoying it!
BHSK, 09/29/2003
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bench Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
I researched many consumer websites before purchasing. I was wanting a spacious, reliable, comfortable driving car. I know others who have purchased the Avalon XLS in recent years that are also very satisfied. We recently took a trip and the car handled very smoothly and quietly on the interstate. I had been driving a Cadillac Sedan Deville prior to my purchase and was not happy getting only 18/24 MPG with that vechile, even with premium gas. Also had a number of repairs each year, and the Cadillac parts were very expensive (struts, suspension sensor light, etc). Thus far, it has been easy to see why Avalon has won many "best buy" consumer awards.
Avalon 2004
Antonio Gonzales, 09/23/2016
updated 09/29/2017
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
17 of 19 people found this review helpful
Very reliable car
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Bought car used
avalonowner4, 06/05/2014
2004 Toyota Avalon XLS 4dr Sedan w/Bucket Seats (3.0L 6cyl 4A)
12 of 13 people found this review helpful
I bought mine off the Toyota lot used. and it was a great choice. the quality of the leather and the interior design is good for being a Toyota. The roominess of the car is also great enough room for four people to sit comfortably and stretch out.