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2021 Toyota Avalon review

Research, photos, specs, and expertise
6 photos

Toyota Avalon highlights

Customer rating

Pros

  • A long list of standard advanced driver assists
  • Balanced hybrid powertrain with few compromises
  • Quiet and roomy upscale cabin

Cons

  • Limited headroom in the front and rear
  • Lacks Android Auto™ integration
  • The hybrid powertrain lacks the punch of a V6

Mileage (EPA estimate)

22 city, 31 highway, 25 combined

Pricing for current inventory

(no current inventory)

6 photos
Price
Year
Mileage

All Toyota Avalon years

What is new for the 2021 Toyota Avalon?

  • The Avalon is available in a new trim called the XSE Nightshade.
  • The XSE trim has been discontinued for 2021.
  • Avalon trims have been upgraded with 4WD/AWD and Android Auto as standard equipment this year.
  • The XLE trim now comes with Heated Steering Wheel as standard equipment.
  • The Touring trim now comes with Leatherette Seats as standard equipment.

2021 Toyota Avalon trims

Curious how Toyota Avalon trims differ? Use our side-by-side vehicle comparison to see the differences and similarities

XLE:

  • 301-hp, 267-lb-ft of torque 3.5L
  • 205-hp, 186-lb-ft of torque 2.5L
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear View Camera
  • Leatherette Seats
  • Traction Control
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Power Mirrors
  • Side Airbags
  • Smart Key
  • View our Toyota Avalon XLE inventory

Limited:

XSE:

  • Includes all features available on the Limited
  • No significant upgrades found on the XSE

XSE Nightshade:

  • Includes all features available on the XSE
  • Leather & Suede Seats
  • Rear Spoiler

TRD:

  • Includes all features available on the XSE Nightshade
  • No significant upgrades found on the TRD

Touring:

Toyota Avalon photos

5 reasons to buy the 2021 Toyota Avalon

1. Spacious interior

If you're in the market for a full-size sedan, a roomy interior will probably be high on your list of priorities. This is a box that the 2021 Toyota Avalon ticks effortlessly. The most spacious model is the XLE trim with standard front-wheel drive, with up to 104.5 cu-ft of passenger volume, 42.1 inches of front legroom, and 40.4 inches of second-row legroom, meaning all five occupants inside have plenty of room to stretch out. Additionally, a total of 16.1 cubic-ft of cargo volume in the rear can swallow up every occupant's luggage effortlessly.

2. A quiet, comfortable ride

Alongside the cavernous interior space, the 2021 Toyota Avalon is also a very comfortable place to be. Base XLE models come with heated, power-adjustable front seats and dual-zone automatic climate control as standard while the luxury-orientated Limited trim adds ambient lighting, cushioned leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, and heated rear seats. Combined with the vast legroom and interior space front and rear, every mile inside the 2021 Toyota Avalon is a joy for you and your passengers—so much so that you probably won't want to get out at the end of the journey!

3. Suite of driver convenience features 

If you're upgrading from a smaller car, the thought of driving a big full-size sedan might be a little daunting—especially in the hustle and bustle of the city. The 2021 Toyota Avalon is ready to put your mind at ease, with a raft of excellent driver convenience features as standard across the range, for enhanced peace of mind and ease of use behind the wheel. These technologies include adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert and assist, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. 

4. Available all-wheel drive 

New on the 2021 Toyota Avalon is available all-wheel drive on selected trims, for added performance and versatility. The XLE and Touring trims can be found with all-wheel drive, paired exclusively to a 2.5L four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Not only is all-wheel drive a great choice for improved acceleration off the line and better road-holding, but it is particularly useful when conditions and the road surface get slippery.

5. Thrifty engine choices

The 2021 Toyota Avalon comes with a choice of two engine options, both specific to the type of drivetrain you select. Standard models come with front-wheel drive and a 3.5L V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, good for 305 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque. Then on all-wheel drive equipped models, there's the 2.5L four-cylinder engine producing 205 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. On XLE models, the 3.5L V6 engine is capable of an EPA-estimated 26 mpg combined, and all-wheel drive models with the 2.5L engine can achieve up to an EPA-estimated 28 mpg combined and 34 mpg on the highway.

 For long-distance cruising with minimal trips to the pumps, the 2021 Toyota Avalon is hard to beat.

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Ratings & reliability

Customer ratings

3.5 out of 5

2 customer reviews
4
1
2
Excellent

RepairPal gave the Toyota Avalon an overall reliability rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Excellent. This rating ranks Toyota Avalon 1st out of 13 among Fullsize Cars.

View RepairPal's full rating of the Toyota Avalon

Toyota Avalon features and specs

Limited 2WD 4D Sedan

Standard Features

  • A/C Seat(s)
  • ABS Brakes
  • Air Conditioning
  • Alloy Wheels
  • AM/FM Stereo
  • Apple CarPlay
  • Automated Cruise Control
  • Automatic Transmission
  • Auxiliary Audio Input
  • Blind Spot Monitor
  • Bluetooth Technology
  • Front Seat Heaters
  • Head Up Display
  • Heated Steering Wheel
  • JBL Sound System
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Leather Seats
  • Memory Seat(s)
  • Navigation System
  • Overhead Airbags
  • Power Locks
  • Power Mirrors
  • Power Seat(s)
  • Power Windows
  • Rear Defroster
  • Rear Seat Heaters
  • Rear View Camera
  • Satellite Radio Ready
  • Side Airbags
  • Smart Key
  • Sunroof(s)
  • Traction Control

Drive Wheels

Front Wheel Drive (2WD)

Engine size

3.5L

Horsepower

301

Torque (ft-lbs)

267

Engine type

Gas

Fuel capacity

15.8

Wheelbase

113"

Overall length

195.9"

Width

72.8"

Height

56.5"

Leg room

F 42.1"/R 40.3"

Head room

F 37.4"/R 37.5"

Front tires

P235/45VR18

Rear tires

P235/45VR18

Seating capacity

5

Transmission

Automatic

2021 Toyota Avalon FAQ

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