2020 Toyota Avalon

The big sedan segment under the price of $45,000 dollars is a very competitive one. It is contested by almost all the major manufacturers and they are so closely stacked to each other, that setting a firm foot on one choice could be troublesome for the customers. Some of the worthy contenders that pose a threat to the 2020 Toyota Avalon's sales figures are Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300, and Audi A3 sedan.

The new Avalon comes in four trims, the entry-level XLE, XSE, Limited and the top of the line, Touring trim, with the prices ranging from $ 35,650 to $ 42,350. A hybrid model is also available which has been reviewed separately. All trims are powered by a 3.5-liter, V6 motor that comes mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission. All the trims, except the top-trim - Touring, feature three driving modes. For the top-trim, there's an additional Sport S+ mode as well, apart from the standard driving modes.

A spacious cabin can easily accommodate five passengers. All black interiors look very classy and premium especially due to the dominance of soft-touch materials all around. An all-new infotainment console makes its way inside the Avalon's cabin with a 9'' touch screen display. However, some unnecessary features like the engine sound enhancement tries to mimic a sports car, which it is not.

Model	XLE	XSE	Limited	Touring
MSRP	$ 35,650	$ 38,150	$ 41,950	$ 42,350
Features	Dual Zone auto climate control	Qi wireless charging pad	Surround camera	Sport S+ driving mode
	Height adjustable seat belts	Heated seats	Rear parking sensors
	3 driving modes	Slide Moonroof	14 JBL Clari-Fi speakers
	LED taillights	Engine sound enhancement
	Entune Audio plus
	8 JBL Clari-Fi Speakers
	4 driving modes

We Recommend

We recommend the XSE version as it hits the sweet spot for cost to feature. Qi wireless charging port and engine sound enhancements are nifty little features that will definitely add to your driving experience in the long run.

The Avalon is still a front-driver, and the standard powerplant is still a 3.5-liter V-6. That engine is Toyota’s increasingly ubiquitous 2GR-FKS rated at 301 horsepower here, up 33 from the 2018 model’s similar 2GR-FE.   - Car and Driver

All trims of the 2020 Avalon are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 motor, that produces a class-leading power of 301 hp and a torque output of 267 lb/ft. The engine is quite silent, fuel-efficient and performs the way it s supposed to be. It is potent and there is plenty of power available on tap.

Toyota has decided to go with an 8-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive for all trims. An all-wheel-drive, in the touring trim, if not in all the trims would have been appreciated by everyone. Nevertheless, the shifting of the gearbox is fairly smooth and will not give you any room for excuse. Overtaking maneuvers are not an issue at all for the Toyota Avalon.

Economy mode is perfectly suited for day to day driving in the city while you can shift to the sport mode should you decide to go for a long drive. The manual mode lets you have complete control over the shifting of gears. The Sport S+ mode that comes with the adjusts both the suspension and steering wheel in a performance-enhanced mode. Engine sound enhancement also works with only Sport or Sport S+ modes.

Models	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 (Premium Plus)
MRSP	$ 35,650	$ 36,060	$ 36, 395	$ 36,500
Engine	3.5 L V6	3.5 L V6	3.6L Pentastar V6	2.0L TFSI inline-4
Transmission	8 Speed A/T	Variable A/T	8 Speed A/T	6 Speed manual
Horsepower	301	300	300	220
Torque (lb-ft)	267	261	264	258
Drive	FWD	FWD	FWD	AWD

The Avalon just inches ahead of the Maxima and Chrysler 300 in terms of power and torque figures. The Audi A3, however, loses out on the power front, but it has an upper hand with the AWD system. 

Acceleration

Apart from the new sporty look, the new Toyota Avalon also comes with a more powerful engine as compared to the 2018 version, which results in faster acceleration. It has a 0-60 mph timing of 6 seconds flat which is fairly decent for a family sedan. If you aim for the quarter-mile mark, the Toyota Avalon completes the run in an impressive time of 14.6 seconds.

The overall experience with the Avalon is fairly decent and the gearbox works well even under spirited driving. Floor the pedal, and the 8-speed automatic knows exactly where to shift and further ensures that there is plenty of power available on tap.

Models	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 (Premium Plus)
0-60 mph (sec)	6	5.7	5.3	5.4
Quarter mile (sec)	14.6 sec at 98.5mph	14.3 seconds at 101 mph.	13.8 seconds at 101.3 mph	13.9 at 101 mph

Though the Avalon is pretty quick, it is still overpowered by the majority rivals in this comparison. The fastest one here is the Chrysler 300 which clears the quarter-mile mark in under 14-seconds. The only other contender to be as fast as the Chrysler is the Audi A3 sedan. 

Ride and Handling

2020 Avalon is an absolute joy to ride. The steering is extremely responsive and taking sharp turns are easy. It also feels fairly grippy, thanks to its improved aerodynamics and the new rear spoiler which adds to its sportier look. The brakes are also very responsive and make you feel safe.

Eco mode is specifically built for fuel efficiency while stabilizing the engine that delivers optimum performance. If you are taking your Avalon on a long drive, just switch to the sports mode and you can instantly feel the extra power. There's also the Sport S+ mode that's exclusive to the Touring trim enhances the engine performance to max while also adjusting the suspension to match the engine's performance. The effortless transmission of the 8-speed automatic gearbox along with the new suspension system only adds to the experience.

Braking

All the competitors of the Avalon along with the Avalon itself comes with standard brake assist features and 4 disk brakes. This helps in bringing the Avalon to a halt from 60 MPH in just 115 ft which is pretty impressive for a luxury sedan. The low-profile of the tires further aid the braking performance as they ensure loads of grip even under hard braking.

The brake pedal is wide and long and the travel is fairly decent as well. Unlike its competitors, the brake pedal offers a confident bite and inspires a lot of confidence under spirited driving. This factor is further complemented by an aptly sprung suspension setup that doesn't let the Avalon nosedive. Being a luxury sedan, its performance on the braking front clearly mimics the more expensive performance sedans.

Models	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 (Premium Plus)
Brake assist	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
Disc Brakes	4	4	4	4
Curb weight (lbs)	3560	3564	4013	3362
60-0 mph (ft)	115	120	109	N/A

There's not a lot of difference between the competitors on the braking front. However, the Chrysler 300 impresses us with a 109 ft stopping distance from 60-0 MPH which is nothing less than extraordinary for a luxury sedan. 

Fuel economy is a very important aspect of this segment. As a primary car for the family, one would expect a good fuel efficiency and Toyota delivers in this front. It can munch 22 miles in a gallon of fuel within the city limits, take it to the highway and the Avalon, then returns an impressive figure of 32 MPG. With a combined mileage of 26 MPG, it is one of the most efficient vehicles in the segment.

Models	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 Sedan
mpg (hwy)	32	30	30	30
mpg (city)	22	20	19	22
mpg (combined)	26	24	23	25
Range (miles)	377	432	426	362
Tank capacity (gallons)	14.5	18	18.5	15.5
Fuel	Unleaded	Unleaded Premium	Unleaded	Unleaded Premium

We can see a reflection of the engineering capabilities of Toyota as the Avalon is easily the most fuel-efficient car among all the competitors, all thanks to the new engine and lightweight chassis. Having said that, the rest of the competitors stack up head to head with each other.

Design, Seating and Comfort

Toyota has made quite a few changes with the interiors as well. The all-black interiors look premium. There is also the option for dual-tone interiors, black and brown, which looks equally good. The overall look of the dashboard is minimal and uninterpreted. The infotainment console dominates the central part of the cabin. It is raised and closer to the eye level so that the driver can easily look at the console if needed without completely taking his eyes off the road. Infotainment and driving controls are also mounted on the steering wheel for the added convenience of the driver.

The 2020 Avalon can easily fit five passengers in the cabin. The cabin is very spacious with ample head and legroom. The perforated seats account for good ventilation. They also feature heating function which only makes the seats more comfortable for long rides during the winter. The wide adjustability traits of the Avalon's front seats further add to the convenience of the driver while searching for an optimal driving position.

The automatic dual-zone climate control, which is standard across all the trims, does its job fairly well. The clever placement of the vents ensure efficient cooling. Front and rear reading lights also have your back in case you are in a mood to read or drop something inside the car. Getting in and out of the car is also easy as the doors are quite big. 

Models	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 (Premium Plus)
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Armrest (front/ rear)	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
Reading lights (front/ rear)	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
Front (head/ shoulder/leg)(inch)	37.4/57.8/42.1	39/57/45	39/49/42	36/54/41
Rear (head/ shoulder/leg)(inch)	37.5/57.1/40.3	37/56/35	38/58/40	36/53/35

In terms of passenger volume, the Avalon falls slightly short of the segment standards as its rivals like Nissan Maxima and Chrysler 300 offer much better space inside. However, you shouldn't be bothered with the numbers as there is still plenty of room inside the Avalon too. You won't mind spending time inside its cabin at all. Moreover, the Audi A3 is the least spacious vehicle of the lot and hence, loses this battle altogether.

Cargo Capacity

Flaunting its practicality traits proudly, the 2020 Avalon features a cargo volume of 16.09 feet behind the rear seats. If you need more space then Toyota has also provided you with the facility of folding the rear seats down flat. However, it's slightly more complicated than in other cars as the seats need to be folded manually. Not appreciated for a luxury car.

Having said that, the powered tailgate lifts high and wide enabling easy loading/unloading of the luggage. Toyota has also provided the cargo space with dedicated nets that can hold your precious items in one place. The bottom lip of the trunk is pretty low further adding more points to its convenience scorecard.

Model	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 (Premium Plus)
Cargo space (cubic feet)	16.09	14.3	16.3	10

Kia Sedona again has the largest cargo space with 33 cubic feet followed by Chrysler and Avalon with cargo space of 16.3 and 16.09 cubic feet respectively. Audi A3, considering its small dimensions, has the least cargo space of 10 cubic feet and completely loses this competition.

Infotainment System

The central console is dominated by a large 9-inch touch screen display that comes with pinch to zoom navigation features. Apple CarPlay finally makes the cut in a Toyota car and can use your iPhone for navigation, making calls or playing your favorite playlist, but Android Auto is still absent. Up to 5 devices can be connected using the onboard WiFi connect powered by Verizon.

14 JBL speakers give an excellent surround sound experience with a collective output of 1200 watts. There is also the Qi-compatible wireless charging pad in all trims except the base XLE trim which a great addition. Having said that, some of the key highlights of the Avalon's infotainment system are:

• Qi-Wireless charging pad
• Apple CarPlay
• 1200-Watt, 14-speaker JBL surround sound system
• EnTune 3.0 App Suite
• Active Noise Cancellation
• Toyota Remote Connect
• Bluetooth music streaming
• Amazon Alexa voice assistant

Interior Features

Toyota has outfitted the 2020 Avalon with a ton of premium materials inside the cabin. Some of the key highlights inside the Avalon's cabin are:

• 8-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats with 4-way lumbar support
• Heated and Ventilated Front seats
• Heated rear seats
• Ambient lighting
• Frameless Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel with tilt and telescopic adjustment

Design and Dimensions

The bold new front grille, which comes in chrome parallel lines or black interweaved patterns along with the large faux air intakes are the ones that define the look of the new Avalon. Redesigned bumpers and spoilers make it more aerodynamic. The sloping roofline neatly blends into the trunk giving more of a Sportback look at the rear. Not to forget, the quad-exhaust pipes that underline the whole sculpture, thus, adding more points to its sporty factor.

Talking about dimensions, the new Avalon is longer and wider than the 2018 version. Frankly enough, it just looks quite large from the outside than it actually is on the inside. Its wheelbase and the overall width aren't the highlights of the day. Nevertheless, the dimensions of the Avalon are on par with the other cars in the segment.

Model	2020 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2020 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2020 Chrysler 300 (S)	2020 Audi A3 (Premium Plus)
Curb weight (lbs)	3560	3564	4013	3362
Length (in)	195.9	192.8	198.6	175.5
Width (in)	72.8	73.2	75	70.7
Height (in)	65.5	56.5	58.7	55.7
Ground clearance (in)	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3
Wheelbase (in)	113	115	117	103
Track width (in) F/R	63/63.6	N/A	N/A	N/A

The Audi A3, being a compact sedan, remains out of the question here due to its diminished dimensions. If the A3's left out then its the Avalon that comes out as the smallest vehicle of the lot. The Chrysler 300 features the biggest dimensions here. However, this also translates to the fact that it becomes harder to maneuver around tight spaces.

Exterior Features

The 2020 addition has quite a few additions that distinguish it from its predecessor and they are quite impressive indeed. Some of these highlights are:

• LED reflector headlights
• LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with auto on/off feature.
• LED taillights.
• Front chrome grille surround with dark gray insert.
• Color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind-spot warning indicators.
• Aerodynamic front tangential venting.
• Power tilt/slide moonroof with sliding sunshade.
• Painted alloy wheels.
• Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers.
• Acoustic noise-reducing windshield and driver and front passenger side windows.
• High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass.
• Dual exhaust with quad chrome tips.

The 2020 Avalon Hybrid received a five-out-of-five overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it the highest rating of Good in all crash tests and named it a Top Safety Pick. 

Toyota takes the safety of its cars very seriously and stuff them with lots of active as well as passive safety features. What's even more impressive is the fact that the safety features are not trim specific and come standard across all trims.

• Cross-traffic alert (rear)
• Ten airbags
• Lane departure warning activates steering
• 3-point seat belts for all seating positions
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) includes lower anchors on outboard rear seats
• Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control
• Energy-absorbing collapsible steering column
• Front and rear energy-absorbing crumple zones
• Tire Pressure Monitor
• Collision warning system activates at low speed
• Electronic traction control
• Electronic brake distribution
• Head-up display
• Surround-view camera
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rear cross-traffic braking

2020 Toyota Avalon vs Chrysler 300

Both of these cars stand out in the big sedan segment in the US market. With a similar price of $ 35,650 and $ 36,395 respectively, both of these cars have different customer bases. If you like a heavy car with raw power and speed, the Chrysler 300 is the car for you. But if you are one of those folks who like a balanced family car with great fuel efficiency and great safety, Toyota Avalon is the car for you.

2020 Toyota Avalon vs Nissan Maxima

It's very hard to differentiate among both Japanese cars. With almost the same base price of $ 35,650 and $ 36,060, these cars are great value for money. They are quite spacious with excellent fuel efficiency. They also offer excellent ride quality and perfectly suited for everyday commutation. However, Nissan recommends unleaded premium fuel for the Maxima while you can fill up the Avalon with regular unleaded fuel. It ultimately boils down to your personal preference and both of these cars are quite remarkable.

2020 Toyota Avalon vs Audi A3 Sedan

Let's agree to a fact that both these cars come from a different background altogether and also serve two different purposes. However, both of them ask for a similar amount of money. The Avalon takes things a bit more towards comfort and luxury while the German - The Audi A3, is a smaller vehicle with a bit more playful character. The one that you can throw around twisties and come out of them with a wide grin on your face. In terms of reliability, there's no picking a winner here. Both of them can munch thousands of miles without breaking a sweat and also come equipped with some segment-defining safety tech. If your family is average height then the Audi makes a better deal of the two for its punchy engine. However, if you need a chauffeur-driven vehicle that you can have fun with too, then the Avalon is what you are looking for. 

 

Toyota has always produced quality sedans that is loved by masses all across the globe. Same is the case with the Avalon. The 5^th edition of the Avalon is an excellent car in the congested big sedan market. It still distinguishes itself owing to its new design and excellent ride quality. The cabin is very spacious which can comfortably seat 5 passengers. The 3.5 L V8 is fairly powerful yet fuel-efficient and is well suited for both city and highway commuting. The infotainment system might not be the best here, but along with the car, you also get the unbeatable reliability of Toyota for your money.

2020Toyota Avalon Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Toyota Avalon bigger than the Camry?

As evident it is from the outside, yes, the Avalon is significantly bigger than the Camry in terms of dimensions. However, both seat five. For more information on the Camry, please click here.

How much does the "Limited" trim of the 2020 Avalon cost?

The 2020 Toyota Avalon's second-to-top trim, Limited, is priced at $41,950.

Is the 2020 Toyota Avalon All-Wheel-Drive (AWD)?

Unfortunately, no, any vehicle that wears the Avalon badge is a Front-Wheel-Drive only. There is no AWD version.

Does the 2020 Toyota Avalon come with a warranty?

Yes, the 2020 Toyota Avalon is backed by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty. For more information on this front, please head over to the features tab on top of this page.