With the aggressively styled 2019 Toyota Avalon now on the market, now’s the time to consider buying a used Toyota Avalon if you prefer a more conservative Avalon experience. Here’s what you need to know.

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  1. 2015-2018 Toyota Avalon. ($8,000-$23,000)

The big news for 2015 is a refreshed look that’s still on the conservative side. This includes a new front grille, updated suspension to improve ride comfort, revised steering wheel design and Toyota Safety Sense as standard.

A big selling point for the Avalon is its interior cabin space at 103.6 cu ft and 16 cu-ft of trunk space. It’s plenty quiet inside with sound-absorbing and sound insulating materials throughout. XLE trims get power seats and leather steering wheels. Limited gets heated standard seats.

Powering this refreshed Avalon is Toyota’s tried and true 3.6L V6 with 268 HP at 6,200 RPM and 248 lb-ft at 4,700 RPM so you’ll really have to wring it to get the max power out of these engines. With Paddle shifters standard these yeares, you can put it into S mode and shift manually. There are three driving modes, Eco, Normal, And sport mode. Sport will give you a sharper throttle, increase electric power steering effort giving you a more responsive feel. Eco mode dulls your throttle and cuts back on A/C.

If you come across a Hybrid Synergy Drive model, scoop that one up ASAP. Toyota pairs a 200 HP four-cylinder to a nickel-metal hydride battery in the trunk. Up to 20 MPH, no engine needed.

The V6 21 City/31 Highway/ 14 MPG combined while the Hybrid Synergy Drive gets 40 MPG combined.

You can’t go wrong with any of these Avalons but the Hybrid Synergy drive is definitely the one to get.

Here are three outlets that actually drove the thing.

  1. Car and Driver
  2. Motor Trend
  3. Edmunds

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This is the start of the fourth generation Toyota Avalon and marked a significant change from the third generation. In a nutshell, this Avalon looked much more athletic, tighter, and looked like it was NOT meant for old people. For car people in the know, this is pretty much a Lexus ES for thousands less.

Outside you’ll notice that the styling is athletic and aggressive. That large front-fascia does not only look good, it increases engine cooling and reduces pedestrian impact. New for Avalon is an industry first Quadrabeam headlight cluster with two square glass condenser lenses for low beams and the other two for high-beams. HID’s are optional along with daytime running lights. A .28 drag cd means it’s functionally slick.

Inside, leather and power seats are standard.

Refer to the above Avalon years for engine notes.

Big changes for this year was in the suspension, this Avalon was more rigid and handling improved to make cornering flatter and engaging without sacrificing comfort. Electric power steering tuned to be light at low speeds but firm at high speeds. Even the steering wheel is engineered to improve driving feel.

Refer to the above Avalon for MPG.

Here are three outlets that actually drove the thing.

  1. Car and Driver
  2. Motor Trend
  3. Edmunds
  • 2005-2012 Toyota Avalon ($6,000-$15,000)

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If you can find a third generation, Avalon, this is the one you want. Cheap, and with the same engine found in the 2018 Toyota Avalon, you’re getting all the power of the newer Avalon in a smaller package for a fraction of the price!

This was the first Avalon that slightly veered away from its Buick LeSabre reputation and had its sights aimed at premium offerings from Europe.

Inside, gone is the bench seat from the second gen Avalon. In its place are cloth buckets that hold you in. In the rear, there’s an adjustable-angle backrest, something not available on other mid-sized sedans of the time. Interior design is nothing to write home about, it’s bland yet inoffensive.  It’s spacious inside with 106.9 cu feet of passenger space and 14.4 cu feet of trunk space.

Exterior design is slightly sporty but overall as exciting as hot mashed potatoes. The Avalon has a wide stance complemented by a broad hood. Outback, you get dual exhausts.

As mentioned, power comes from that 24-valve, dual overhead cam (DOHC) 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm and 248 lb ft. of torque at 4,700 RPM.

20 city/ 29 highway mpg

Here are three outlets that actually drove one.

  1. Car and Driver
  2. Motor Trend
  3. Edmunds
  • 2000-2004 Toyota Avalon ($2,000-$7,000)

If you come across second gen Avalons, know that these V6’s are older and slightly smaller paired to a four-speed automatic. You get just 210 HP and 220 lb-ft, but with that much torque, power is more than adequate for your day-to-day and occasional hard passing needs.

Inside, its cloth standard. If you come across a leather interior, that’s a plus but check for cracking and wear. Optional was a three-seat front bench so that’s extra rare. It’s a very roomy driving experience with so much glass in front of you.

Outside, it’s not much to look at. Toyota calls the styling dynamic but it’s still plenty reserved. The styling is a notch more attractive than the same year Camry, so that’s a plus.

Toyota didn’t tune this Avalon for handling so don’t expect anything sporty.

21 city MPG/ 29 highway MPG which is reasonable today.

At this point in time, these cars are close to two decades old so spring for a pre-purchase inspection so a mechanic can look at the undercarriage and really poke around the engine bay. Test drives should make sure that shifting is smooth and power delivery is good through the entire rev range (put your foot in it.) Be wary if you hear ticking in the engine bay, harsh shifting, soft braking and sloppy steering with all three not being remedied by a top off of the oil, ATF, brake, or power steering fluid.

Otherwise, if you find one that has good power, shifts well, brakes strong, and has sharp steering, you’ve found a gem.

Here are a couple of test drives.

  1. Motor Week
  2. Driving.CA
  3. Youtube review
  • 1995-1999 Toyota Avalon ($1,000-$6,000)
Toyota Avalon
Here’s your buyer’s guide for the Toyota Avalon

With these first gen Avalons being more than two decades old, you’ll find these for dirt cheap. But, these are solid used cars through and through. Built on a stretched Camry platform, right off the bat, these Avalons already have reliable DNA. If it’s the older Avalon’s you’re coming across, model years 1998 and 1999 are a little safer with standard side airbags and ABS.

You’re not buying these first gen Avalons for exterior design or an engaging interior. Expect to blend in with traffic and get ready for a comfortable ride.

Like the second gen Avalon, shove is adequate when you press the go-pedal. Did you know the 1MZ-FE V6 was a Top 10 Ward’s best engine for 1996 because it was.

According to Wards,

This engine is so downright competent in just about every subjective measure that finding fault with it is an exercise in frustration. Factor in Toyota’s earned reputation for Gibraltar-like reliability and this volume-produced V-6 can stand with any 6-cyl. engine in the world.

Keep that quote in mind when someone decides to put down your pedestrian looking Avalon.

Here are a couple of reviews from people who actually drove the thing.

  1. Drive Chicago
  2. Cars.com
  • Our pick

If I were going to buy a used Toyota Avalon, I’d spring for an early model year third-generation Toyota Avalon, perhaps a 2005 Toyota Avalon that’s not silver. Silver is just to boring for my tastes. This generation Avalon isn’t all that engaging to look at but I at least want a color that won’t put me to sleep. I’ll spring for one above 150,000 miles only if the paint is good, it passes my test drive, oil has been changed religiously and I can get one for less than $5,000. Tire choices are plentiful if you either get the 16s or 17s so you know I’d upgrade my tires to something more grippy on the cheap.

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