2019 Toyota Avalon

The new Avalon comes in 3 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 that comes with 8 speed automatic transmission. The 4 trims i.e. XLE, XSE and Limited, comes with 3 driving modes while there is an extra Sport S+ mode in the touring trim.

Spacious cabin can easily accommodate 5 passengers. All black interiors look very classy and premium because of the use of soft touch materials. A new infotainment console makes its way which has a 9'' touch screen. But feature like engine sound enhancement is unnecessary and 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 monoroof	14 JBL Clari-Fi speakers
	LED tail lights	Engine sound enhancement
	Entune Audio plus
	8 JBL Clari-Fi Speakers
	4 driving modes

CARHP RECOMMENDS

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.

All trims of the 2019 Avalon are powered by the 3.5 liter V6, which produces a class leading horsepower of 301 hp and maximum torque of 267 lb/ft at 4700 rpm. The engine is quite silent and fuel efficient and performs the way it is supposed to be.

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. The shifting of the gearbox is fairly smooth and will not give you any room for excuse.

Models	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
MRSP	$ 35,650	$ 36,060	$ 36, 395	$ 33,300	$ 35,600
Engine	3.5 L V6	3.5 L V6	3.6L Pentastar V6	3.3L Lambda II V6	2.0L TFSI inline 4-cylinder
Transmission	8 Speed A/T	Variable A/T	8 Speed A/T	8 Speed A/T	6 Speed manual
Horsepower	301	300	300	276	220
Torque (lb-ft)	267	261	264	248	258
Drive	FWD	FWD	FWD	FWD	AWD

Economy mode is perfectly suited for day to day driving in the city while you can shift to the sport mode should 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 come 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.

ACCELERATION

Apart from the new sporty look, the new Toyota Avalon also comes with a more powerful engine than the 2018 version that results in faster acceleration. It has a 0-60 mph timing of 6 seconds which is fairly decent for a family sedan.

Models	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
0-60 mph (sec)	6	5.7	5.3	7.7	5.4
Quarter mile (sec)	14.6 sec at 98.5mph	14.3 seconds at 101 mph.	13.8 seconds at 101.3 mph	15.8 at 98 mph	13.9 at 101 mph

BRAKING

All the competitors of the Avalon along with the Avalon itself comes with standard brake assist and 4 disk brakes.

Models	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
Brake assist	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
Disc Brakes	4	4	4	4	4
Curb weight (lbs)	3560	3564	4013	4503	3362
60-0 mph (ft)	115	120	109	N/A	N/A

Compared to the Avalon Hybrid, this regular version is comparatively fast. The former has a 0-60 timing of 7.8 seconds.

RIDE AND HANDLING

2019 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 makes you feel safe.

Eco mode is specifically built for fuel efficiency while stabilizing the engine that delivers optimim 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.

 

Fuel economy is a very important aspect in this segment. As a primary car for the family, one would expect a good fuel efficiency and Toyota delivers in this front.

Models	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
mpg (hwy)	32	30	30	24	30
mpg (city)	22	20	19	18	22
mpg (combined)	26	24	23	21	25
Range (miles)	377	432	426	443	362
Tank capacity (gallons)	14.5	18	18.5	21.1	15.5
Fuel	Unleaded	Unleaded Premium	Unleaded	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.

Toyota has made quite a few changes with the interiors as well. The all black interiors looks premium. There is also the option dual tone interiors, black and brown, which looks equally good. The dash board 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 convenience of the driver.

There is also no shortage of storing options. Apart from the standard glove box, there is another additional space underneath the drivers hand rest.

SEATING AND COMFORT

Avalon can easily fit in five passengers. The cabin is very spacious with ample head and leg space. Seats are perforated which accounts for good ventilation. Heating only makes the seats more comfortable for long rides during the winter.

Models	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5	5
Arm rest (front/ rear)	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
Reading lights (front/ rear)	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard	Standard
Front (head/ shoulder/leg)(inch)	37.4/57.8/42.1	39/57/45	39/49/42	40/41/64	36/54/41
Rear (head/ shoulder/leg)(inch)	37.5/57.1/40.3	37/56/35	38/58/40	40/41/63	36/53/35

There's dual zone auto climate control in all the trims. The vents are well placed ensuring efficient cooling. Front and rear reading lights also has 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.

INFOTAINMENT

The central console is dominated by a large 9'' touch screen that come with pinch to zoom navigation feature. 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 on board WiFi connect powered by Verizon.

14 JBL speakers gives 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.

CARGO SPACE

Model	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
Cargo space (cubic feet)	16.09	14.3	16.3	33	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 has the least cargo space of 10 cubic feet.

The bold new front grille, which comes in chrome parallel lines or black inter weaved pattern along with the large faux air intakes are the ones that defines the look of the new Avalon. Redesigned bumpers and spoilers makes it more aerodynamic.

DIMENSION AND WEIGHT

The new Avalon is longer and wider than the 2018 version and looks quite large than it actually is. The dimension and weight is on par with the other cars in the segment.

Model	2019 Toyota Avalon (XLE)	2019 Nissan Maxima (SV)	2019 Chrysler 300 (S)	2019 Kia Sedona EX	2019 Audi A3 Sedan
Curb weight (lbs)	3560	3564	4013	4503	3362
Length (in)	195.9	192.8	198.6	175	201
Width (in)	72.8	73.2	75	70	78
Height (in)	65.5	56.5	58.7	55	69
Ground clearance (in)	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.3
Wheelbase (in)	113	115	117	120	103
Track width (in) F/R	63/63.6	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

EXTERIOR FEATURES

The 2019 addition has quite a few addition that distinguishes it from its predecessor and they are quite impressive.

• LED reflector headlights
• LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with auto on/off feature.
• LED tail lights.
• 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 moon-roof 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.

Toyota takes the safety of its cars very seriously and comes loaded with lots of active as well as passive safety features. The safety features are not trim specific and comes 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

The 2019 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. However, it has not been tested by Euro NCAP.

2019 AVALON VS 2019 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 of 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.

2019 AVALON VS 2019 NISSAN MAXIMA

Its very hard to differentiate among both the 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.

2019 AVALON VS 2019 KIA SEDONA

Kia Sedona is cheaper than the Avalon with a price of $ 33,300, but also has a less powerful engine that is also less fuel efficient compared to the Avalon. The Kia is however much more spacious and also has one of the largest cargo space in the segment. We would recommend the Toyota Avalon over the Kia Sedona.

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 and very fuel efficient is well suited for both city and highway. The interior feels premium and the cabin is very spacious but the infotainment system lags a tad bit behind the competitors. Toyota has delivered a great sedan in the 2019 Avalon which is surely expected to raise it sales number in the USA.