The 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid, like the one I drove a few weeks ago, marks the end of an era. Toyota has shown that sedans aren’t dead, and they plan to offer a wide range of models in the near future.
Therefore, Toyota is working to make them evolve with the times. Avalon’s replacement, Toyota Crown, which revolves around bolder cues, wraps and a more aggressive look, along with a cabin that looks a bit more cramped. After the harmonious Avalon, it’s a bit jarring, at least in the visuals. Even the future is sometimes like that.
I took the model of this era, the Toyota Avalon XSE Hybrid 2022, in its first (and last) Nightshade Edition, which sells for $41,725 and adds black-painted alloy wheels, mirror housings black, trunk spoiler, etc. special decorations and badges.
2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
Nothing shady here, but a bit more contrast to the look
On the surface, the Nightshade thing sharpens the look somewhat, but the common impression is that the Avalon blends in. There’s no spark of glamor in this design, but it’s mature and premium.
Even before driving, just getting into Avalon reminded me what’s so great about this pack. Luxurious materials and warm tones elevate this cabin above most current Toyota models. The door trims are large, and the seats are spacious and supportive. Yes, the Avalon lacks the natural seat height of a crossover and you sit down on the Avalon, but it’s very easy to get in and the cabin has a light atmosphere and a combination of swagger and simplicity.
Toyota also says that Avalon offers high tech with a low learning curve, and I agree. By today’s standards, the 9.0-inch touchscreen is small for a large car, but it’s easy to find your way around the menu system, with buttons along the screen and Apple CarPlay starting. works perfectly when I pair my iPhone. Android Auto and Amazon Alexa are also supported. Once I’ve turned off the annoying system beeping for every selection, I’m ready to go.
2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
On the road, no big news to report, but all is well. The Avalon Hybrid uses a 176-hp 2.5-liter inline-four that is part of Toyota’s planet-based hybrid system, making a total of 215 hp. It accelerates with ease, and you don’t hear much engine noise unless you’re climbing hills, running in Sport mode, or close to hitting the floor with the accelerator. The steering is smooth, the body control is neat, and the cruise control is in a way that only luxury cars had until five years ago. Simply put, it’s easy to drive smoothly and your passengers will thank you.
43 mpg and then some
From what I’ve seen, the Avalon Hybrid overdelivers based on its EPA rating of 43 mpg city, highway, and combined.
Over 70 miles of driving in what I consider to be commuting conditions — a little heavier in congested freeway driving — I averaged 46 mpg.
To see how well it works, I used the Avalon Hybrid on a 53-mile loop that I’ve done with a variety of vehicles — achieving an altitude of about 300 feet and covering about equal parts of the track. Gentle freeway driving below 65 mph, back roads below 55 mph, and city driving at lower speeds. It averaged just over 50 mpg — exactly what I’ve seen on the route in a somewhat smaller, less comfortable place. Toyota Camry Hybrid.
2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid
And finally, using Avalon’s Sport mode and driving in very fast fashion on the highway combining faster-moving highway driving plus hot backcountry driving, the Avalon still achieves 36 mpg average over 24 miles.
In terms of efficiency, that simply blows away any mass-market competitor you can compare it to in recent years. The Avalon Hybrid gets almost twice the mpg of other full-size sedans in the city and 50% better on the highway, compared to rivals that have gone, been or are going: Ford Taurus, Hyundai Azera, Chevrolet Impala, Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300 and Nissan Maxima.
Sedans: Adapt or perish?
All those models are gone except for the Charger, 300, and Maxima, and even those three models are due for a change. Dodge and Chrysler plan to end production of those muscle-focused models after 2023 — to be partially replaced by electric scooters screaming loudly—And Nissan is waiting for the time before Fully American-built electric car to 2025.
2023 Toyota Crown
2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade
Compared to the previous Avalon, the Crown is a transformation, but in a different way. The sleek faux design can be hard to take your eyes off of, for better or worse, but that’s secondary to powertrain changes. It’s all-wheel drive and all-wheel drive – fixing an issue in the Avalon lineup, which is front-wheel drive only like a hybrid. As a result, the 41 mpg EPA composite rating is lower than the Crown’s. One plug-in hybrid Crown Prime is reported to be in the works, though.
It’s hard to imagine that the Crown would be as perfect as a sedan and simply as glamorous as the Avalon Hybrid, but maybe that’s the point.
