more about this model The 2017 Toyota Avalon, which slots between the midsize Camry and the Lexus luxury brand, ticks all the important boxes for shoppers in the market for a full-size sedan: a spacious interior, plenty of creature comforts and a smooth, quiet ride. In addition, the Avalon features a powerful engine, roomy trunk, above-average fuel economy, and a long list of options and accessories. Although the full-size car choices have dwindled over the years as more buyers opt for SUVs and crossovers, the Avalon serves as an attractive alternative for consumers looking for decent value in a traditional large sedan.
The Avalon underwent a significant update last year, which gave it a redesigned front end, new wheel designs, revamped suspension and reconfigured trim levels, so changes for 2017 are fairly minor. Probably the biggest update is that the Toyota Safety Sense package ? with items such as adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning with automatic braking ? is now standard on all Avalon models.
Inside, the Avalon continues to offer one of the best-designed and executed cabins in its class, with quality materials, excellent fit and finish, and easy-to-use controls. Luxury touches such as heated leather seats and Toyota's Entune infotainment system are standard, and buyers can choose from a range of comfort, technology and convenience options to personalize the vehicle to their taste.
Except the hybrid variant, all Avalon models are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower and 248 pound-feet of torque and drives the front wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission.
On the road, the V6 provides enough power and lively acceleration to satisfy just about any buyer looking for a vehicle in this class. The Avalon's highway ride is comfortable and easygoing, as might be expected, but what's surprising is the agility with which this large sedan handles the curves, a result of retuned suspension for this latest generation. Some drivers might find the ride a bit on the firm side compared to the Avalon's competitors, but overall Toyota has managed to strike a reasonable balance between comfort and performance.
Fuel economy for the Avalon sedan with the standard 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine is EPA-rated at 24 mpg combined (21 city/30 highway). Although those are good figures for a vehicle in this size class, shoppers looking for even better fuel economy can check out the Avalon Hybrid, which is rated at 40 mpg combined (40 city/39 highway).
The base XLE trim comes with a huge array of standard features, but buyers who want even more can opt for the XLE Plus or XLE Premium models, and those looking for sportier handling can select the Touring trim level. At the top of the line is the Limited, which packs on almost every luxury and convenience item imaginable. Whatever your preference, let Edmunds help you find the best 2017 Toyota Avalon to suit your needs.
2017 Toyota Avalon Overview
Edmunds experts have compiled a robust series of ratings and reviews for the 2017 Toyota Avalon and all model years in our database. Our rich content includes expert reviews and recommendations for the 2017 Avalon featuring deep dives into trim levels and features, performance, mpg, safety, interior, and driving. Edmunds also offers expert ratings, road test and performance data, long-term road tests, first-drive reviews, video reviews and more.
Our Review Process
This review was written by a member of Edmunds' editorial team of expert car reviewers. Our team drives every car you can buy. We put the vehicles through rigorous testing, evaluating how they drive and comparing them in detail to their competitors.
We're also regular people like you, so we pay attention to all the different ways people use their cars every day. We want to know if there's enough room for our families and our weekend gear and whether or not our favorite drink fits in the cupholder. Our editors want to help you make the best decision on a car that fits your life.
Consumer ratings and reviews are also available for the 2017 Toyota Avalon and all its trim types. Overall, Edmunds users rate the 2017 Avalon 4.7 on a scale of 1 to 5 stars. Edmunds consumer reviews allow users to sift through aggregated consumer reviews to understand what other drivers are saying about any vehicle in our database. Detailed rating breakdowns (including performance, comfort, value, interior, exterior design, build quality, and reliability) are available as well to provide shoppers with a comprehensive understanding of why customers like the 2017 Avalon.
Vehicle
XLE Premium 4dr Sedan (3.5L 6cyl 6A)
Review
On 4-7-17 My wife and I were returning home from a nice dinner in a nearby city. We are both a young 70. We were on a four lane highway where the speed limit was 70. In the left lane was a flatbed wrecker and I was in the right lane. I was doing 68 mph as I had just looked. Suddenly a vehicle came upon us at a fast rate of speed in the left lane and veered into me. I immediately ran off the highway to the right with no control. We slammed through a ditch and hit a tree. Our beautiful Toyota Avalon which had only some 28,000 miles was totally destroyed. We should have been in the morgue but both survived. My wife is the worst hurt and had to have back surgery due to a broken vertebrae. I am in terrible pain as I am a solid bruise from top to bottom. The Avalon did her job by deploying all her airbags protecting us. As damaged as she is, the inside was the same size as before the accident. Although I am a strong believer in God I also credit the good people at Toyota for implementing these safety features. Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Shrewsbury D.Th.
See all consumer reviews and retings for the 2017 Toyota Avalon
Edmunds Value
Edmunds has deep data on over 6 million new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles, including rich, trim-level features and specs information like: MSRP, average price paid, warranty information (basic, drivetrain, and maintenance), features (upholstery, bluetooth, navigation, heated seating, cooled seating, cruise control, parking assistance, keyless ignition, satellite radio, folding rears seats ,run flat tires, wheel type, tire size, wheel tire, sunroof, etc.), vehicle specifications (engine cylinder count, drivetrain, engine power, engine torque, engine displacement, transmission), fuel economy (city, highway, combined, fuel capacity, range), vehicle dimensions (length, width, seating capacity, cargo space), car safety, true cost to own. Edmunds also provides tools to allow shopper to compare vehicles to similar models of their choosing by warranty, interior features, exterior features, specifications, fuel economy, vehicle dimensions, consumer rating, edmunds rating, and color
The 2017 Toyota Avalon earned a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and "GOOD" ratings from the IIHS in the following caregories: Side Impact Test, Roof Strength Test, Rear Crash Protection/Head Restraint, IIHS Small Overlap Front Test Results, Moderate Overlap Front Test Results, and a JD POWER overall quality rating of 4.0 out of 5. Among Edmunds' many tools and resources for finding your perfect car are detailed safety ratings and analysis from NHTSA, IIHS, and JD Power, including overall ratings, frontal barrier crash ratings, side impact tests and crash ratings, rollover test results, roof strength tests, rear crash protection and head restraint ratings, side barrier ratings, combined side barrier and pole ratings, and more.
Available Toyota Avalon 2017 Submodel Types: Sedan
Available Trims: Limited, XLE Premium, XLE, XLE Touring, XLS, XL, Touring, Base, XLE Plus, XLE Touring SE
Exterior Colors: Blizzard Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Celestial Silver Metallic, Midnight Black Metallic, Attitude Black Metallic, Creme Brulee Mica, Parisian Night Pearl, Ooh La La Rouge Mica, Classic Silver Metallic, Sizzling Crimson Mica, Moulin Rouge Mica, Cosmic Gray Mica, Black, Blue Mirage Metallic, Desert Sand Mica, Titanium Metallic, Cassis Pearl, Cypress Pearl, Phantom Gray Pearl, Nautical Blue Metallic, Zephyr Blue Metallic, Indigo Ink Pearl, Silver Pine Mica, Champagne Mica, Cashmere Beige Metallic, Constellation Blue Pearl, Desert Sand, Lunar Mist, Sandy Beach Metallic
Interior Colors: Black leather, Light Gray leather, Almond leather, Almond premium leather, Light Gray premium leather, Black premium leather, Ivory cloth, Graphite cloth, Ivory, Ivory premium leather, Light Gray, Ivory leather, Dark Charcoal leather, Graphite, Stone
Popular Features: Audio and cruise controls on steering wheel, Rear Bench Seats, Multi-Zone Climate Control, Auto Climate Control, Trip Computer, Power Driver Seat, Alarm, Leather Seats, Tire Pressure Warning, Aux Audio Inputs, Heated seats, Stability Control, Bluetooth, USB Inputs, Back-up camera, Sunroof/Moonroof, Navigation, Blind Spot Monitoring, Keyless Entry/Start, Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-collision safety system, Lane Departure Warning, Upgraded Headlights, Cooled Seats, Post-collision safety system, Remote Start, Automatic Emergency Braking, Upgraded Stereo
Engine/Mechanics: 6 cylinders
Transmission: AUTOMATIC
Fuel Types: regular unleaded, premium unleaded (required)
Drivetrains: front wheel drive
Edmunds attended a manufacturer-sponsored event, to which selected members of the press were invited, to facilitate this report.
