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The 40 mpg Cars of 2013

2013 Toyota Avalon

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Overview

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2013 Toyota Avalon Review

By Zach Vlasuk

KBB Expert Rating: 8.6

There was a time when large, comfortable sedans were about as ubiquitous as mobile phones. But the continued popularity of SUVs and a rather unfavorable association with the geriatric crowd has diminished the mainstream appeal of full-size sedans. The 2013 Toyota Avalon looks to change all that with a striking new design, responsive driving dynamics, and advanced, yet easy-to-use in-vehicle technology. And, for the first time ever, the Avalon nameplate offers a fuel-efficient hybrid variant alongside the standard V6 model. The Avalon required this significant overhaul to contend with such segment heavyweights as the Ford Taurus, Buick LaCrosse and Chrysler 300. All told, the 2013 Avalon represents a dramatic departure from its vanilla-flavored predecessors and deservedly holds down the spot as Toyota's flagship sedan.

You'll Like This Car If...

If you have always appreciated the practicality and comfort of a full-size sedan, but long for the handling characteristics and fuel efficiency of a mid-size, placing the 2013 Toyota Avalon at the top of your list would be a wise decision. Given its class-leading resale value and stellar record for reliability, the new Toyota Avalon is a smart buy for value-conscious shoppers.

You May Not Like This Car If...

If your tastes are more sporting in nature, the Nissan Maxima or the 365-horsepower Ford Taurus SHO might be a better fit.

KBB Expert Ratings

Overall Rating

8.6
Driving Dynamics

8.2
Comfort & Convenience

8.8
Design: Interior & Exterior

8.3
Value

8.7
Safety

N/A

How It Ranks

#19

out of 24

MPG

#11

out of 22

Horsepower

View all rankings

Consumer Rating

8.9 out of 10

View all
consumer ratings

What's New for 2013

The completely redesigned 2013 Avalon ushers in a new era of style and refinement for the Toyota brand. This latest iteration preserves the high levels of luxury and comfort that made the Avalons of yesteryear such a success, but adds a dose of athleticism and panache to the mix.

Driving the Avalon

2013 Toyota Avalon Front angle view photo

Driving Impressions While its performance abilities may not leave you grinning from ear to ear, the 2013 Toyota Avalon delivers on its promise to provide a pleasantly sedate driving experience. The 4th-generation...

Avalon benefits from improved steering feel, sharper suspension tuning and additional chassis rigidity without compromising the trademark ride quality. This newfound dynamism is complemented by a driver-selectable sport mode that quickens upshifts and increases steering weight, though we feel outfitting the luxury-oriented Avalon with features like downshift rev-matching and paddle shifters is bit superfluous. Road- and wind-noise suppression, a staple of the Toyota Avalon, is better than ever. And as the abundance of glass suggests, outward visibility is good from most perspectives, affording the driver a commanding view of the road. While we enjoy the V6 model, the new Avalon Hybrid is the star player in the lineup. For a marginal price premium, the 2013 Avalon Hybrid offers plenty of power for everyday driving and up to 40 mpg combined city/highway – impressive figures for a full-size sedan.

Favorite Features

CAPACITIVE TOUCH SWITCHES
Similar to your smartphone's touch-screen, capacitive touch switches react to minor changes in electrical current generated by contact with a finger. Unlike conventional buttons and knobs, capacitive touch switches are free of moving parts, which provide the Avalon with a clean, contemporary dash layout.

REAR CROSS TRAFFIC WARNING
Although properly adjusted mirrors negate the need for trendy blind-spot monitoring systems, this "safety" feature paved the way for a useful technology called Rear Cross Traffic Warning. When backing out of a parking space or driveway with limited visibility, the available cross-traffic system alerts the driver of an approaching vehicle with a warning signal and an indicator light.

2013 Toyota Avalon Details

2013 Toyota Avalon Dashboard, center console, gear shifter view photo

Interior

The 2013 Toyota Avalon offers perhaps the finest cabin in its class, with first-rate materials, user-friendly controls and impressive fit and finish. The general design is the same regardless of trim level, which only sweetens the Avalon's attractive $31K starting price. Toyota's latest batch of infotainment options such as advanced voice recognition, mobile application integration and hard-drive-based navigation should appeal to tech-savvy buyers. And, unlike the Ford Taurus, the Avalon's capacitive touch switches for the audio and climate control functions are responsive and straightforward. On a sour note, the 2013 Avalon might be the only vehicle on the market in which the multi-information display features a higher resolution screen than the standard touch-screen. In terms of comfort, the front seats are more supportive than in years past, while rear seat passengers are treated to an abundance of legroom and headroom.

Exterior

The Avalon's masculine stance and sculpted bodywork were conceived by Toyota's Southern California-based Calty Design studio. The forward-raked C-pillar and sweeping roofline impart an almost coupe-like silhouette. Although it seems counterintuitive, this aggressive design actually improves rear-seat headroom. The headlights incorporate a pair of stylish square-shaped projector lenses, which Toyota calls Quadrabeams. This contemporary look is finished off with a set of 17-inch or optional 18-inch alloy wheels, LED taillights and dual chrome-tipped exhaust outlets.

Notable Equipment

Standard Equipment

The 2013 Toyota Avalon is offered in XLE, Premium, Touring and Limited trim levels with hybrid variants available in the latter three. In base form, the Avalon includes heated outside mirrors, leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel, smart key access and push button start, dual-zone climate control and a 6.1-inch touch-screen audio interface with an 8-speaker sound system. Premium models add a moonroof, rear backup camera and auto-dimming rearview mirror, while Touring trims include creature comforts like navigation, driver's seat memory control and Toyota's Entune infotainment system. Occupant protection consists of 10 airbags, a comprehensive suite of electronic stability aids, and front seats designed to help reduce the severity of whiplash-related injuries.

Optional Equipment

Since the majority of feature content is tied to trim level, the 2013 Toyota Avalon offers only one option package. Available exclusively on Limited models, the Tech Package includes a pre-collision system that prepares the car for impact when it senses an impending crash, automatic high beams, and an adaptive cruise control system that maintains a pre-selected distance behind the vehicle ahead.

Under the Hood

The new Avalon gets its motivation from the carryover 3.5-liter V6 or a new Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder hybrid powerplant – the same system used in the latest Camry Hybrid. The conventional mill churns out a healthy 268 horsepower through a 6-speed automatic gearbox, while the hybrid system sends its 200 horsepower to the front wheels via a gearless continuously variable transmission. To the dismay of those living in the Snow Belt, the Toyota Avalon does not offer all-wheel drive.

3.5-liter V6
268 horsepower @ 6,200 rpm
248 lb-ft of torque @ 4,700 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 21/31 mpg

2.5-liter inline-4 hybrid
200 net hybrid system horsepower
Engine: 156 lb-ft of torque @ 4,500 rpm
Battery: 199 lb-ft of torque @ 0-1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 40/39 mpg

Pricing Notes

In an effort to bolster its value quotient, the 2013 Toyota Avalon carries a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of just under $31,000, nearly $3,000 less than the outgoing 2012 model. The Avalon Hybrid starts right around $36,000, with range-topping Limited models opening closer to $41,000. The Chrysler 300 shares a similar starting price with the Avalon, while the Nissan Maxima, Hyundai Azera and Buick LaCrosse begin in the $33,000 range. Though it offers a shorter list of standard equipment, the Ford Taurus undercuts the Avalon's base price by roughly $3,000. To ensure you get the best deal on your 2013 Toyota Avalon, take a look at KBB.com's Fair Purchase Price at the bottom of this page. When it comes to the other side of the pricing equation, the 2013 Avalon is expected to retain the highest resale value in the segment.

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2013 Toyota Avalon Consumer Reviews

Overall Rating

8.9

Out of 10

Based on 55 Ratings for the 2013 models.

Review this car

Value

9.2/10

Quality

9.2/10
Reliability

9.5/10

Performance

8.7/10
Comfort

9.2/10

Styling

9.2/10

Dangerous reflection from dashboard chrome

By joe (FL) on Thursday, July 04, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 7,000

10 8.0

overall rating 8 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 8/10
Value: Not Rated
Reliability: Not Rated
Quality: Not Rated
Performance: Not Rated
Styling: Not Rated
Comfort: Not Rated

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"Sometimes multiple spots at a time. Dealer acknowledges the safety hazard. Toyota corp. non responsive. Have owned the car since January. What a shame. I love most everything about the car. I also own a Camry. The Avalon is my 5th Toyota since 03. Hope its not my last."

15 people out of 16 found this review helpful

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A Very Disappointed Owner

By Optimus Prime (NJ) on Wednesday, June 26, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 520

10 1.0

overall rating 1 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 1/10
Value: 1/10
Reliability: 1/10
Quality: 1/10
Performance: 1/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Great interior, electronics, safety features"

Cons: "Seats need more cushion too hard, Cabin Noise"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 1

"It was love at first sight but now I'm getting to a point I may regret it. The headliner is peeling already, is this the quality of Toyota coming too. The dealership didn't give an explanation why it is happening, but did order a new headliner. I drove to Virginia and back. As soon as I hit the highway I was shocked with the noise I heard in the cabin, on my return at one point there was a lot of noise coming from the front windshield. I took the car to the dealership and the service supervisor advised the car is driving as designed the noise is normal, I refuse to accept that and Toyota is really not doing anything. A car as expensive as the Avalon should be whisper quite on the highway and it is not. TOYOTA should investigate and fix the problem. I expected much better much better quality and request other drivers to post their reviews if they have the same issue with the cabin noise."

24 people out of 29 found this review helpful

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I am in love with this amazing car!

By Jo Jo (AZ) on Saturday, June 08, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 100

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "40 MPG, fun to drive, very techy"

Cons: "Have not found anything I don't like!"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"Waited over a month for the car to come in. I have a Hybrid Limited with all the options. Quiet ride. Quality and appealing interior. Has every option a big name luxury car would have. I only have 50 miles on it but it has power when you need it and I still have 550 miles left to empty. Remote start, Heated and ventilated front seats, heated back seats, dynamic radar cruise control, 10 way adjustable driver seat with memory, charging pad for phone, navigation, emergency help and on and on. This is an amazing car with a sporty but beautiful exterior look!"

7 people out of 8 found this review helpful

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Awesome luxury,styling and performance

By Neal (CA) on Sunday, May 26, 2013

I own this car

10 9.0

overall rating 9 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 9/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 9/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Power Price Styling Fun Value"

Cons: "Stereo sounds a little tinny"

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 9

"Love this car. I have the touring which I'd recommend. Includes just about every option.this car beats every other sedan in it's market segment and other much more expensive sedans. I had the Audi a6 2010 and got the avalon when my lease expired and the Avalon has more power and I like the car more for 20,000 less. If you care more about what your driving then the nameplate of the car this is the way to go,"

6 people out of 7 found this review helpful

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A little disapointing

By Schonedog (CA) on Friday, May 10, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 563

10 7.0

overall rating 7 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 7/10
Value: 9/10
Reliability: 9/10
Quality: 7/10
Performance: 8/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 5/10

Pros: "Styling, Comfort"

Cons: "Excessive Road Noise, Entune System is no good."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 5

"I purchased this car and have put 563 miles on it with a road trip from LA to Palm Springs. It is only averaging 24.3 miles to the gallon way below what has been reported. The car does have quite a bit of Road Noise. Toyota needs to do a better job at dampening the noise. We wanted navigation in the car, so we were excited to get it with the entune system. Hoever, after purchase we found out that it is a trial offer for the first three years then you have to pay for it afterwrads. The apps are not very good as well. Entine works through you phones data plan so you better have unlimitted data. The syling of the car is top notch and it is comfortable to drive (road Noise Excluded). We bought it because of the styling and Toyotas reputatio for dependable cars. Time will tell on this point."

21 people out of 22 found this review helpful

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Great vehicle for an extended trip or around town.

By Jack (PA) on Friday, May 03, 2013

I own this car - My approximate mileage is 4,350

10 10.0

overall rating 10 of 10rating details

Reviewer Ratings

Overall Rating: 10/10
Value: 10/10
Reliability: 10/10
Quality: 10/10
Performance: 10/10
Styling: 10/10
Comfort: 10/10

Pros: "Comfortable and quiet; great car!"

Cons: "Seat pockets are not too useful."

Likely to recommend this car? (1-10): 10

"I purchased the 2013 AVA Limited- Blizzard White for a trip to the southeast. The vehicle has performed well with a best mixed 30+ MPG from the V-6. I believe that handling dynamics are much better than my past Avalon. The new styling, quality and features far exceeded the Lexus ES350 and for less money. Many people comment on my new car and are impressed with the ride and luxury. The blind spot sensers, the interior and stereo are wonderful. I especially enjoy the tightness and directional stability of the redesigned suspension. I'm very happy with my purchase."

14 people out of 15 found this review helpful

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See all 55 reviews