Used 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

The 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid large sedan blends excellent fuel economy with almost-luxurious accommodations. Although there are still a few large mainstream sedans on sale, none of them have a hybrid version in their ranges, like the Avalon.

The Avalon Hybrid is therefore one of a specific kind. And not long for this world. Toyota has announced that this year will be the last for the Avalon, regardless of drivetrain. So if anyone has a desire to own a new Avalon Hybrid but has yet to act on it, it’s now or never.

The regular, non-hybrid 2022 Toyota Avalon is reviewed separately.

The combination of large sedan, front-wheel drive and 215 horsepower is not going to bring driving enthusiasts knocking on the doors of Toyota dealerships before they open in the morning. The 2022 Avalon Hybrid has a different set of priorities.

Stately, steady progress with excellent fuel economy is the car’s attitude. It’s comfortable and yet still has some composure. Toyota must have decided it was worth the bother, but the supposedly sporty XSE trim with its slightly firmer suspension doesn’t strike us as the way to go.

Few people expect a large sedan to trace precise lines around quick corners. Factor in the extra weight of a hybrid drivetrain compared with a car powered just by a gasoline engine and we’re even more inclined to ask: “Really?” But by all means test-drive every version to find the one that works for you.

A feature that might impress more new Toyota Avalon Hybrid buyers could be Auto Glide Control, allowing drivers to coast down long descents, saving gas while still keeping all the vital systems up and running.

If there was a Lexus badge in the middle of the steering wheel, no one would think there was anything amiss. This is especially true of the top Limited trim, with its leather upholstery, real wood trim, and ambient cabin lighting. The XSE Nightshade, being the sporty one, has real aluminum interior accents along with aluminum pedals.

Every version of the 2022 Avalon hybrid has abundant occupant space, including 40.4 inches of rear legroom. The trunk is correspondingly ample, with 16.1 cubic feet. That’s the same as the non-hybrid Avalon, because Toyota has managed to stash the lithium-ion battery pack completely under the rear seats.

It was Toyota, of course, that made the Prius hybrid cars look different to everything else on the road, so owners can make a certain statement. Any statement made by the 2022 Avalon Hybrid is a lot subtler.

Apart from a small hybrid badge on the trunk lid and (for the sharpest of eyes) a hidden exhaust pipe, the Avalon Hybrid doesn’t advertise its fuel-economy credentials. Instead, it puts across the air of a classy sedan.

Both the XLE and Limited models have chromed grille surrounds, along with side mirror housings in the body color. The XSE Nightshade paints it all black — including the door handles, wheels, window trim, rear spoiler, and shark-fin antenna.

SPACE
The Lexus LS large luxury flagship sedan has 37.3 inches of rear headroom and 38.9 inches of rear legroom. The Toyota Avalon Hybrid beats that with 37.9 and 40.4 inches respectively. And it’s not just the space, it’s the agreeable surroundings as well.

JBL AUDIO
Another instance where Toyota kind of overlaps with Lexus. The same parent company owns both JBL and Mark Levinson, the brand that supplies Lexus with awesome audio setups. This 14-speaker/1,200-watt system includes the same Clari-Fi technology that makes MP3 files sound better.

Although the XLE is the first trim level in the 2022 Avalon Hybrid range, it still comes packed with plenty of standard equipment. That roster includes 17-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, keyless entry/start, heated/8-way power-adjustable front seats, simulated leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Among the driver assistance features are forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Avalon Hybrid also has a Vehicle Approach Noise system so it doesn’t startle any pedestrians or cyclists when running at its most silent.

The infotainment system includes a 9-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto smartphone integration, Amazon Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, Wi-Fi, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, Bluetooth, and eight speakers.

The XLE is eligible for a powered moonroof and wireless charging, both standard in the next-up XSE Nightshade model. These two versions may also be ordered with an upgraded infotainment system with navigation and a 14-speaker JBL audio setup.

The XSE Nightshade also has a sport-tuned suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, perforated simulated leather seating surfaces, and aluminum pedals. The top Limited trim has real leather upholstery, heated/ventilated front seats, heated outboard rear seats, heated steering wheel, upgraded JBL audio system, head-up display, ambient cabin lighting, adaptive cornering lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels.

Limited trim qualifies for an Advanced Safety Package adding front/rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system.

The combustion component in the 2022 Avalon Hybrid’s gasoline/electric drivetrain is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. Of the two electric motors on board, one contributes energy to the driven wheels, the other acts as a starter as well as feeds the lithium-ion battery pack.

This all adds up to a total output of 215 horsepower, going to the front wheels through an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT).

Regular gasoline is fine. There’s a small difference in fuel economy between the XLE and the two higher trims. The XLE achieves a slightly better figure on the highway.

2.5-liter inline-4 + 2 permanent-magnet electric motors
Total system output: 215 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 43/44 mpg (XLE), 43/43 mpg (XSE, Limited)