Test Drive Gallery: 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited

2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited

Miles driven: 265

Fuel used: 5.9 gallons

Real-world fuel economy: 44.9 mpg

CG Report Card

Room and Comfort	A
Power and Performance	C+
Fit and Finish	A
Fuel Economy	A
Value	B

Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus other vehicles in the same class. Value grade is for specific trim level evaluated, and may not reflect Consumer Guide's impressions of the entire model lineup.

Big & Tall Comfort

Big Guy	A
Tall Guy	B

Big & Tall comfort ratings are for front seats only. "Big" rating based on male tester weighing approximately 350 pounds, "Tall" rating based on 6'6"-tall male tester.

Drivetrain
Engine Specs	215-hp 2.5-liter
Engine Type	4-cylinder hybrid
Transmission	CVT automatic
Drive Wheels	front

Driving mix: 75% city, 25% highway

EPA-estimated fuel economy: 43/43/43 (city, highway, combined)

Fuel type: Regular gas

Base price: $43,550 (not including $1025 destination charge)

Options on test vehicle: Advanced Safety Package ($1150), Carpet Mat Package ($259), rear bumper applique ($69), illuminated door sills ($379), door edge guard ($140)

Price as tested: $46,572

Quick Hits

The great: Nicely finished interior; excellent fuel economy for a large sedan

The good: Generous list of safety features; pleasant, composed handling

The not so good: So-so headroom for a large car, and rear-seat room could be a little better too

More Avalon price and availability information

CG Says:

If you fancy owning a new Toyota Avalon, you might want to hurry—Toyota has announced that the 2022 model year will be the last for its largest four-door sedan in the United States market. This ends the Avalon’s 27-year run on our shores, and leaves the midsize Camry and the compact Corolla as the remaining traditional sedans in Toyota’s U.S.-market product lineup.

The Avalon model roster is also pared down for 2022—the sporty TRD model has been discontinued, along with the formerly available all-wheel drive. The TRD lasted just two model years, and the Avalon’s AWD was offered for only one model year. Incidentally, that AWD system wasn’t available with the Avalon’s normal V6 or hybrid 4-cylinder gas/electric powertrains—it came only with a 205-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder.

If you’re cool with its aggressively styled front end, the Avalon offers lots to like—such as a composed, comfortable ride and cabin trimmings that are a bit more upscale than the mainstream-brand norm. There’s also more space for both passengers and cargo than the typical midsize sedan offers, though our 6’6” editor complains that the headroom for extra-tall folks isn’t as generous as might be expected. You can check out our previous reviews of an Avalon Limited and Avalon Hybrid Limited for more info. We did a bit better fuel-economy-wise with this Avalon Hybrid Limited compared to our previous test vehicle—with a bit more city driving to maximize pure-electric operation and the regenerative-braking function, we actually bettered the EPA ratings of 43 mpg across the board, averaging almost 45 mpg in a test that consisted of 75-percent city driving.

The Avalon is a fine vehicle in our book, but we’re also not surprised it’s going away. American buyers’ tastes continue to trend toward crossover SUVs, and the non-luxury large-sedan class has dwindled to the point of near-extinction. The Avalon’s primary mainstream-brand competitors are the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger—both thoroughly American-flavored sedans whose basic designs are quite long in the tooth—and the Volkswagen Arteon, a stylish “midsize-plus” four-door hatchback sedan that was launched for 2019.

This final-generation Avalon was also launched for 2019, along with a redesigned version of the Lexus ES—the conventional 4-door sedan from Toyota’s luxury division with which the Avalon shares its basic architecture and powertrains. Naturally, you’ll have to cough up more cash to step into any ES over a similar Avalon—a premium of about $4,000 to $7000, depending on the model—but you’ll get a more upscale look and feel all-around in the bargain.

Test Drive: 2020 Toyota Avalon TRD