2021 Toyota Avalon hybrid Sedan

Though Toyota has not made many changes that can be seen or felt by most buyers, the 2021 model year does see a few important changes. Firstly, the nickel-metal hydride battery is now replaced by a conventional lithium-ion battery pack. Android Auto is now available standard across the trim and there is also an artificial sound emitted from its exterior to alert pedestrians when driving in electric-only mode. The MSRP begins at $38,125 as it competes against the likes of Honda Accord Hybrid and Hyundai Sonata Hybrid alongside its smaller sibling, the Toyota Camry Hybrid. 

The 2021 Avalon Hybrid offers plenty of features like a blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning, dual-zone climate control, satellite radio, and heated front seats, all as standard. With all these features making their way right from the base trim, the higher XSE trim sees an upgraded leatherette and suede upholstery with larger wheels and a couple of other features. 

The top Limited trim gets plenty more creature comforts alongside cornering lights and a premium JBL audio system with a subwoofer. One can also opt for the optional $1,150 Advanced Safety Package which includes rear-cross traffic alert, adaptive cornering lights, automatic high beams, lane keep assist, and a few other safety functions. 

Which trim should you buy?

As there are already plenty of features offered as standard right from the base trim, which is also why the car seems a bit pricier, we recommend opting for the base trim. Also, it would not be a bad choice to choose the Advanced Safety Package and add those much-needed driver assistance features. 

Under the hood of the 2021 Avalon hybrid is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine that produces 176 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with two permanent-magnet synchronous AC electric motors rated for 118 hp and 149 lb-ft. Together the combined output of this Atkinson cycle powertrain is rated at 215 horsepower and a whopping 312 pound-feet of torque. The power is sent only to the front wheels with no AWD option, through a CVT automatic transmission. 

The acceleration performance of this hybrid sedan may not be as quick as the gas-burning one, but it is pretty brisk nonetheless with plenty of torque on offer. While the gasoline Avalon does the 0-60 mph run in around 6 seconds, the hybrid takes just 8 seconds to achieve this feat. The quarter-mile takes around 16 seconds and the speed is limited to 116 mph. That being said, the CVT transmission does a great job of balancing the electric and combustion power well and the car never feels out of gear when in need of sudden power. 

The Toyota Avalon doesn’t really have much competition in this segment and hence it competes against much more affordable and not so premium cars like the Accord and Sonata alongside the more premium Lexus ES hybrid sedan. Both these cars are much more affordable but also have a lower engine output to offer. In spite of that, the Accord hybrid manages to be the quickest of the lot with the Sonata offering similar acceleration performance as that of the Avalon.

How does the 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Sedan handle?

Toyota has always done well in offering a comfortable ride quality in all its large sedans and the Avalon is no exception to it. The cabin is well insulated from the outside world and the softly sprung suspension setup adds to the plush and quiet experience. While many soft sprung cars are a disaster around corners, the multi-link rear suspension keeps the sedan in control around the fast corners.

The XSE trim features a more sporty approach with the sport-tuned shock absorbers, stabilizer bars, and springs, which doesn’t affect the composed ride that much but does liven it up with more agile handling. The steering feels light and is also slow to respond, but it does offer a good amount of feedback and feels stable, which provides lots of confidence at highway speeds. 

2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Braking Performance

The additional weight of the battery pack in the hybrid car does affect the handling and braking performance of any car but the Avalon hybrid seems to have managed things pretty well. The large 12-inch front and 11.1-inch rear brakes do a fine job of stopping the sedan at a braking distance of 121 feet in the 60-0 mph panic braking test. 

The Honda Accord hybrid is a much lighter and smaller car than the Avalon hybrid. It also features almost similarly sized brake rotors and hence has the shortest stopping distance amongst the cars present here. The hybrid Sonata too does well in this regard, as its lighter curb weight and similarly sized brakes make it stop a foot shorter than the Toyota. 

The new 1.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack together with a frugal fuel-sipping engine does a great job in offering great fuel economy figures and reducing the carbon footprint on the whole. The EPA rates the car to return 44 mpg on a combined city and highway course. The 13.2-gallon fuel tank ensures reduced fuel station visits, as well as the driving range, is expected to be well over 550 miles on a single tank of gas.

The lighter Accord again takes the cake in this section as well, as it manages to return much better fuel efficiency figures. The Hyundai Sonata hybrid too performs better than the Avalon hybrid in this regard. Therefore, the Sonata also has a longer driving range to offer while the Accord hybrid with its smaller gas tank capacity also offers a superior range. 

The cabin of the 2021 Avalon hybrid is what you expect from a modern Toyota family sedan; it is spacious, comfortable, and practical. Toyota has done well in offering a premium experience at a lower price tag, and although it clearly does not stand in the league of its elder and premium Lexus sibling, the wood inlays, good fit, and finish, plenty of creature comforts, and a sophisticated design language makes it feel rather premium. 

At the front, there is plenty of space on offer for most Americans to be able to fund their perfect seating position. The story continues to the rear as well and while the middle passenger will find the seat not that comfortable due to the not-so-flat floor board and the contoured seat, it should not be a concern for younger individuals. The over 16 cu-ft of trunk capacity is on par with the segment standard which can be extended further by folding down the rear seats. 

Toyota has done well here, as the hybrid battery pack is neatly tucked in and it does not interfere with either the cabin or trunk space. The trunk opening is large and the low liftover means one does not need to haul their luggage into the trunk. Other than that, there are plenty of storage pockets and cup holders to cater to the needs of all the passengers inside this cabin for a long road trip. 

The Hyundai Sonata is the one that offers the maximum space in its cabin for the front seat passengers. It has the best headroom to offer and the legroom is also class-leading. That being said, the rear seat is compromised in terms of legroom. The Honda offers a more balanced front and rear seat space, similar to the Avalon but has a marginally tighter headroom. All three sedans offer almost identical trunk capacities, with the Honda Accord offering the most spacious boot of them all. Some of the interior features in the 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid are:

• 8-Way Power Heated/Ventilated Bucket Front Seats w/4-way power-adjustable lumbar and driver seat memory
• 60-40 Folding Bench Heated Fold Forward Rear Seat
• Premium Perforated Leather Seat Trim
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column w/Heated Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning
• Leatherette Upholstered Dashboard, Gear Shifter and Door Trim Insert w/Genuine Wood Instrument Panel Insert
• Head-Up Display
• HomeLink Garage Door Transmitter

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The center-mounted 9-inch screen sits in line with the dashboard and does not eat into the visibility of the driver and takes care of most of the functions of the car. While the interface is not as crisp and modern as many of its rivals, it has smooth animations within its neatly laid interface and the system is rather quick to respond. The standard 8-speaker audio system does its job just fine, but the premium JBL surround system is the one that the kids and friends will thoroughly enjoy. 

There are plenty of features offered by Toyota as standard which include, satellite radio, navigation with real-time traffic updates, mobile hotspot, Bluetooth, and many more. While Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa had been there since before, the system is now Android Auto compatible as well. Though most of these features are standard, one needs a subscription to use most of them and only a limited-time subscription is provided by Toyota which will have to be renewed after its expiration date. Some of the infotainment features in the 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid are:

• 9.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• 14-speaker JBL audio system with subwoofer and amplifier
• Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa compatibility
• 3-year Dynamic Navigation trial and Destination Assist w/1-year trial
• Navtraffic Real-Time Traffic Display
• SiriusXM w/3-month All Access trial
• Safety Connect w/1-year trial and Service Connect w/10-year trial
• Wi-Fi Connect mobile hotspot w/up to 2GB within 3-month trial
• Bluetooth hands-free phone capability and music streaming

The Toyota Avalon has a very polarizing exterior design that may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but it isn’t a bad looking car by any means. The hybrid does very little to differentiate itself from this design apart from the badges around the car and the blue highlights on the Toyota badge up front. In fact, the list of features also stays pretty much the same for both the sedans. Toyota offers 17-inch and 18-inch wheels depending on the trims and one can also get the 19-inch TRD matte black alloy wheels for a more sportier look for an additional $1,040. 

Toyota adopts a very sharp and aggressive exterior design with massive front air dams with a chunky bumper and slim LED headlights, all of which together offer a menacing look to the front fascia. The rear is pretty sharply designed as well and gets a small decklid spoiler while the LED in the middle of the trunk connects the two tail lamps, much like the more premium SUVs we have seen off late. 

The Hyundai Sonata is the most compact sedan in this comparison and hence also weighs much lesser than the Avalon. The Accord on the other hand is the largest one here and yet manages to be the lightest of them all. The Avalon is marginally smaller in length and width but has a longer wheelbase which opens up more cabin space. It also offers the highest ground clearance while both the Sonata and Avalon ride about half an inch lower to the ground. Some of the exterior features in the 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid are:

• Automatic Aero-Composite LED Low/High Beam, Daytime Running, Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• Cornering Lights and LED Brakelights
• Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Driver Auto-Dimming and Turn Signal Indicator
• Chrome Side Windows Trim and Black Front Windshield Trim
• Colored Grille w/Chrome Surround
• Express Open/Close Sliding And Tilting Glass first Row Sunroof w/Sunshade
• 18-inch Super Chrome Alloy Wheels

If there is one thing that Toyota has built its reputation and brand upon, it is the safety aspect of their cars. Therefore, there are no surprises that the Avalon hybrid manages to score a perfect 5-star rating from the NHTSA, while the IIHS has awarded it with ‘Good’ ratings in all the aspects of the tests conducted on the car for the 2021 model year. It also very closely missed out on bagging the ‘Top Safety Pick’ accolade due to poor headlights on the base trim.

Toyota offers plenty of active and passive safety along with a long list of driver assistance features with the Avalon, to ensure maximum safety of all the occupants of the car. While the majority of these features are offered as standard across the trims, one can also opt for the optional Advanced Safety Package and avail of all the driver aids. A highlight of all the safety features on offer in the 2021 Avalon hybrid is listed below. Some of the safety features in the 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid are:

• VSC Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Driveline Traction Control
• Front Collision Mitigation
• Pre-Collision System (PCS) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA)
• Lane Departure Warning and Lane Keeping Assist
• Blind Spot Monitor (BSM)
• Driver Monitoring Alert
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning
• Back-Up Camera

2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid vs Honda Accord Hybrid

The Honda Accord is a very popular sedan in the American market due to its strong performance, frugal nature, and agile vehicle dynamics, complementing the spacious and comfortable cabin. All these stay true for the hybrid sedan as well. While the Avalon offers a premium cabin material quality and few additional features, it still falls short in terms of the performance and efficiency of the Accord. Add to that the much higher price tag of the Toyota, the Accord seems like a smarter choice. 

2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid vs Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

Hyundai has established itself in the US as a value for money brand as it offers the majority of its features right from the base trim, similar to the Toyota Avalon. While the power and torque figures are pretty low as compared to the Avalon, the acceleration and braking performance of both these sedans are roughly the same. While the Hyundai Sonata hybrid offers a superior fuel economy, the Avalon is the one that is more comfortable and spacious for rear-seat passengers. 

The Toyota Avalon hybrid sits in a segment that sees virtually no competition from its direct rivals. But what this does is it puts it right against either the more affordable offerings which feel like the more practical choice, or against the more premium offerings, against which the Avalon falls short in many instances. In our opinion, the 2021 Toyota Avalon hybrid is a perfect full-size sedan for anybody looking for a frugal, comfortable and spacious family sedan with a great safety and reliability history to back it.