The Toyota Avalon sedan was redesigned for 2019, and it’s now nimbler, has a plusher ride, and more stylish and fuel-efficient. We tested the hybrid version, which gets an impressive 42 mpg overall, a commendable achievement for such a large car.
All told, the latest Avalon is a sensible alternative to higher-priced luxury cars. The hybrid powertrain accelerates immediately from a stop because of its electric assist. But merging into traffic and passing maneuvers cause the engine to sound like it’s working hard, and those revs create a coarse soundtrack.