Sure, owning a car with a super-stiff suspension system can be fun. The starchier the springs and dampers, the better the steering will probably feel, the less the body will roll in corners, and the harder you can hustle around twists and turns. See? Fun! Anything from the Hyundai Elantra N to BMW’s speedy M4 coupe to the latest and greatest McLaren is far more engaging to drive, and they probably ride a lot harder than mainstream cars and trucks. But not everybody wants to live with an organ-jarring, morning coffee-spilling ride, nor do they want to spend a fortune on gas.
Cars that are smooth and quiet never seem to get the respect they deserve. Comfort is greatly underappreciated these days. Really, what would you rather have after a super-stressful meeting or a 14-hour day at the office, a vehicle with a punishing ride that telegraphs every single surface imperfection right into the cabin, or something that smoothly and silently glides over even the roughest of roads? The choice should be obvious. Rising above the rest, there’s one value-priced used sedan that’s surprisingly underrated, it delivers serenity in spades, has a spacious interior, and sips fuel practically like an economy car.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Edmunds.com, Kelley Blue Book, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
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The 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid: A Hidden Gem In The Used Market
So, what four-door car delivers all that and more? Well, it’s the 2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, a real gem in the used car market. Not only is this sedan smooth and comfortable, but it’s incredibly efficient, and spacious, too.
The Avalon Hybrid rides on a lengthy 113-inch wheelbase, and this car’s overall length is a whisker less than 196 inches. That makes this Toyota longer than an Audi A6. Those generous dimensions grace the Avalon with plenty of interior room. The trunk, for instance, clocks in at a generous 16 cubic feet. As for the total passenger room, it tops out at just shy of 104 cubic feet in models NOT fitted with a moonroof, which cuts into headroom slightly.
When it comes to comfort, the Avalon Hybrid provides up to 42.1 inches of legroom in the front row of seats. As for the backbench, this metric clocks in at an adult-friendly 40.4 inches, meaning that even gangly passengers should have plenty of room in the rear of this Toyota.
A Premium Hybrid Sedan That Delivers Efficiency And Luxury For Less
But there’s more to coddling passengers than just large amounts of room. After all, is an empty city bus super comfortable? No, not at all. Cementing the Avalon as a premium offering in the large sedan segment, this four-door comes standard with a wide range of highly desirable features, including dual-zone automatic climate control; heated front seats with eight-way adjustability, and SofTex artificial leather surfaces. You also get a seven-inch multi-information display in the instrument cluster; and all trim levels come with a tilt-and-telescopic steering column with a leather-wrapped wheel, though the higher-end XSE and Limited models also feature a heated tiller.
Other standard amenities include a 60/40 split rear backrest that improves versatility by allowing you to transport longer cargo, a whopping four USB ports are included, too, and you get both power windows and locks. The higher-end XSE and Limited models come standard with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a Qi wireless charging pad (this is available in an options package on the entry-level XLE trim). The Limited trim also includes a 10-inch color head-up display, heated and ventilated front chairs with leather trim, and even heated rear seats, so passengers in steerage can stay nice and toasty.
There Are Plenty Of Advanced Driver Assistance Technologies, Too
Helping keep you and your passengers safe, the 2019 Avalon Hybrid comes standard with Toyota Safety Sense P, the automaker’s suite of driver assistance technologies. This includes amenities such as lane departure alert with steering assist, adaptive cruise control, and a pre-collision system that also includes pedestrian detection. This car also comes standard with blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, though automatic rear cross-traffic braking and a 360-degree camera system are optional on the Limited model.
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A Hybrid Powertrain That Excels in Efficiency
The Toyota Avalon Hybrid offers a lot of premium features and amenities, but this car is also very fuel-efficient. Under the hood is an electrified powertrain that should be damn near indestructible. This setup features a proven 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with both port and direct fuel injection as well as variable valve timing. On its own, this unit cranks out a respectable 176 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque.
2019 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Specifications
|
Powertrain |
2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid |
|
Total System Horsepower |
215 |
|
Engine Torque |
163 pound-feet |
|
Transmission |
Electronically controlled continuously variable automatic (eCVT) |
|
Driveline |
Front-wheel drive (FWD) |
|
Estimated Maximum Range |
More than 600 miles per tank |
|
City Fuel Economy (XLE Trim) |
43 MPG |
|
Highway Fuel Economy (XLE Trim) |
44 MPG |
|
Combined Fuel Economy (XLE Trim) |
44 MPG |
|
Estimated Starting Price |
$25,000 (used) |
Making the most of that output is an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission that consists of a special planetary gearset and two motor generators that, among other things, help recuperate energy during regenerative braking and provide more oomph. All told, the Avalon Hybrid has a total system net horsepower of 215, all of which is routed to the front wheels.
Overall, this powertrain is smooth, quiet, responsive, and incredibly efficient, something we’ll cover in just a couple of sentences. While it doesn’t rumble like a V8 or rocket the car forward like a top-fuel dragster, most drivers are sure to enjoy how this Toyota’s powertrain feels.
Smooth Performance And Outstanding Fuel Economy For Daily Driving
That respectable output gives this sedan plenty of performance. No, you won’t outrun a Chevy Corvette ZR1, but you will never be wanting for power in normal driving. Making this performance all the more impressive is the Avalon Hybrid’s earth-shattering efficiency. The entry-level XLE model is rated at 43 miles per gallon in the city, 44 highway, and 44 MPG combined, staggering numbers for a car this large and comfortable.
The mid-range XSE and top-line Limited models are, unfortunately, less economical. How much of an efficiency hit do you take getting a fancier trim level? Barely any. Those estimated consumption figures fall to 43 MPG right across the board. Aside from impressively light consumption, another thing helps keep costs low: This car happily runs on regular-grade 87-octane gasoline. There’s no need to spring for premium fuel with this Toyota.
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Premium Design Without the Premium Price
The Avalon Hybrid’s exterior styling is bold and unmistakable. This car’s grille takes up practically the entirety of the front end, running from corner to corner. This look is unconventional, and it certainly won’t be to every driver’s liking, but this makes it almost impossible to confuse this generation of Avalon with anything else on the road.
Motorists averse to big grilles will probably find the rest of this car much more attractive. The roofline gently tapers downward, with the rear window almost blending into the trunk lid. The flanks are mostly clean, with a small crease running through the doors at about the same height as the exterior handles. There’s also a bit of sculpting in the rocker panels to add a dash of visual interest. And finally, this sedan’s rear is a bit more interesting than its flanks, but much more subdued than the front end. The trunk lid has a bit of a BMW 7 Series-inspired lip on it, the taillamps are quite angular, and “AVALON” is spelled out across the center of this swing panel, attached to a strip of reflective plastic that connects the taillights.
A Spacious And Upscale Interior At An Affordable Price
Even though it’s a used vehicle – one that’s several years old at this point – the Avalon Hybrid’s interior is still comfortable and modern. The overall design of this cabin is as clean and attractive as it was when this sedan debuted. Largely horizontal, the dashboard nonetheless has some interesting sculpting on the passenger side to keep things interesting. Front and center is a semi-floating touch screen, which is integrated into the trim that sweeps downward into the center console, a flowing design.
As with other Toyotas, the assembly quality of this car should be excellent. The interior also features plenty of upscale materials that look good and feel even better. Higher-end models also feature contrasting colors inside, for a luxurious ambiance.
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A Reliable Choice With Proven Longevity
This should be no surprise since it’s a Toyota, but the Avalon is expected to be extremely reliable. The automaker’s hybrid powertrain is relatively simple, and it’s been proven in countless vehicles over many years, so the primary mechanical components of this sedan ought to be tremendously robust. This car should have no trouble racking up 200,000 miles without breaking a sweat, though it can likely go much, much farther than that without any issues. In fact, on Kelley Blue Book’s website, consumers have given this car a 4.8-star rating out of 5 for reliability, a fantastic showing.
This doesn’t have any impact on the longevity, well, the longevity of the car at least, but the Avalon Hybrid should also be extremely safe, something that can improve the longevity of the driver and passengers. The 2019 model earned a prestigious Top Safety Pick Plus rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the top score this independent testing organization hands out. Compared to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the IIHS does markedly different crash testing, and in many instances much more rigorous. If a vehicle performs well in IIHS examinations, it should be extremely safe in a crash, so keep that in mind when shopping for a new – or in this case, used – vehicle.
Toyota’s Hybrid Durability Ensures Long-Term Value
The 2019 Toyota Avalon offers a lot – great features, excellent efficiency, a comfortable and roomy interior, stellar projected reliability, and plenty of safety – but perhaps best of all, this car doesn’t cost a fortune. Glancing at some listings on Edmunds.com reveals that relatively well-used examples that have rolled around 120,000 miles are going for around $16,000 before tax, a more-than-fair price. Examples with mileage in the 40s are priced at roughly $28,000, which still seems like an excellent sum for everything this sedan offers.
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