2016 Toyota Avalon vs Avalon Hybrid

2016 Toyota Avalon vs 2016 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Serving Florence, Fort Mitchell, and Burlington, KY

While the category of full-size sedan conjures images of a massive vehicle with an even larger engine, many cars in this group do a surprising job of keeping gas consumption down in proportion to their size. The Toyota Avalon is a great example. It possesses a voluminous interior with no shortage of comforts, yet it’s powered by a fairly frugal power plant. For 2016, drivers can enjoy this arrangement or go for even greater savings with the Avalon Hybrid.

Performance

The task of transporting five commuters and their baggage with ease falls on the standard 2016 Toyota Avalon’s 3.5 liter V6 engine that outputs 268 horsepower. When joined with a 6-speed shiftable automatic, this powertrain produces an impressive 21 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Drivers have the option of shifting gears through paddles mounted along the steering column. For further control, the sedan can be set for normal, sport, or eco modes through a selection knob. To get an idea of how robust this combination is, it’s able to propel the car from a standstill to 60 mph in a mere 6.7 seconds. Alternatively, an Avalon Hybrid is available that reduces fuel usage even further while maintaining a fair amount of power. The 2016 hybrid combines a 2.5 liter 4-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission, and a 199 pound-foot electric motor to offer 200 horsepower, 40 mpg city, and 39 mpg highway. While it seems to trade power for mileage, this setup still manages to push the sedan up to 60 mph in just 8.2 seconds. Like the standard Avalon, it also provides a mode selection knob. Unlike many other hybrids, this one only runs exclusively on the electric motor when speeds are below 25 mph.

Styling

Of the five standard Avalon versions, XLE, XLE Plus, XLE Premium, Touring, and Limited, just the XLE Plus, XLE Premium, and Limited have hybrid counterparts. Facing forward, the Avalon displays a two-tiered grille. The upper opening is quite narrow and bracketed by acute, rectangular headlights. Below, the larger grille features dark gray horizontal ribs. The XLE, XLE Plus, and XLE Premium models and their hybrid twins rely on halogen bulbs for headlights and daytime running lights while the Touring, Limited, and Limited Hybrid use LED lights instead. Both the regular and hybrid models grant front passengers 37.6 inches of headroom and 42.1 inches of legroom. Back passengers can expect 37.9 inches of headroom and 39.2 inches of legroom. All editions are trimmed out in light gray, almond, or black leather that’s embellished with natural wood and chrome.

Safety

All models of the 2016 Avalon and Avalon Hybrid have captured the rating of Good from the IIHS across the board. They’ve also earned high marks from the NHTSA including a five-star score for side collisions. Antilock brakes, stability and traction control, airbags, a rear view camera, and a tire pressure monitor are standard. For the XLE Premium and Limited versions, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warnings are included. Additional technology like front crash alert and mitigation with pedestrian recognition, lane departure, and adaptive cruise control can be selected as options for the Limited edition. In the event of a crash, the hybrid editions automatically cut off power from the 244.8 volt nickel metal-hydride storage battery for additional safety.