The 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited is a very stylish car loaded with safety equipment and great fuel economy.
It’s only blemish is simply bad timing with the ultra-hot truck and SUV market seeing customers buying other types of vehicles at a startling pace.
After receiving a facelift in 2015 and now with a new 2019 model on the way, the 2017 model should represent a bargain for consumers. Here’s why.
On the outside, the Avalon represents the older way of designing Toyota vehicles with a more muted front-end and blended style from front to rear. Newer Toyota styling has a much more aggressive and polarizing look. The subtle styling of the 2017 Toyota Avalon is much more luxury-like and compares well to its Lexus cousins.
Inside the cabin, the same theme is repeated of being a comparable cousin to the Lexus ES hybrid. From the seats, to the dash, the interior is much less blah Toyota than one would imagine. It is stylish, comfortable and roomy for a family of four.
Compared with other models and especially the new 2019 model, the Avalon’s biggest miss could be with technology. The rather outdated Toyota Entune infotainment screen isn’t going to wow anyone and it is much akin to comparing a flip phone to a smartphone. The flip phone does the job, but it isn’t nearly as sexy doing it as the smartphone.
Another technology factor working against the Avalon is the lack of Apple Car Play or Android Auto. For those who want to incorporate their phones into their cars and/or replace the infotainment screen with their phone’s screen.
Offsetting the lack of technology is the full suite of safety technology Toyota is now offering on the 2017 Avalon. Starting with this model year, the Avalon comes standard with the Toyota “Safety Sense-P” package. This package includes:
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Automatic High Beams
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
Also, the Avalon comes with the Toyota’s “Star Safety System” with pretty standard safety equipment like vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brake system, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist and smart stop technology.
All of this safety technology, a slew of airbags plus how it is engineered are big reasons why the Avalon got the highest 5-star score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
On the road, the safety technology works great with the dynamic radar cruise (set cruise and the car will adjust to cars around it) and the automatic high beams being quick favorites. The hybrid powertrain with its 2.5L four-cylinder engine and battery pack provide smooth power with plenty of oomph left over for passing situations.
Around town, the Avalon rides smooth and corners well for a larger sedan.
On the highway, it is traveling in near-luxury with the ride comfort being what Cadillac built their name on years ago and our top limited trim providing all the amenities we need.
All told, we didn’t find anything substantial to not like on the 2017 Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited except possibly our tested vehicle price of $43,839. However, with the great interior, 40 city/39 highway fuel economy and comfortable ride, you truly do get what you pay for.
Tim Esterdahl is a married father of three who enjoys all things automotive including wrenching on his collection of old pickups. You can find his work here and in print in Truck Trend magazine as well as on Pickuptrucks.com. Recently, he is growing a huge audience at his website PickTruckTalk.com
He also plays an absurd amount of golf. Like, really absurd.