This Large, Safe Toyota Car Just Bit the Dust. What Now?
Toyota is making some changes to its lineup, including dropping its full-size car option. That’s right; the 2022 Toyota Avalon was the last of its kind. So, why is the Avalon an unfortunate affordable luxury loss? Furthermore, will the Toyota car find its replacement in the new 2023 Crown?
Which Toyota sedan is the biggest?
The 2022 Toyota Avalon is the biggest sedan in Toyota’s lineup. However, the automaker didn’t bring it back for the 2023 model year. As a result, the largest sedans in the lineup will be the Camry and, arguably, the new high-riding Crown.
The arguable element is whether the new 2023 Toyota Crown is a sedan or more of a pseudo-crossover. Toyota calls the vehicle a sedan, but its ride height and roofline are taller than the outgoing Avalon. Specifically, the new car’s 60.6-inch roofline is around four inches taller than the now-discontinued Avalon and just five inches shorter than some crossover SUVs like the 2023 Hyundai Tucson, per Edmunds.
Why is the large Toyota car a loss?
While the 2022 Toyota Avalon might have slipped out of production as subtly as it existed, the large sedan had some redeeming qualities that some competitors didn’t offer. For instance, the Avalon offered a hybrid platform with as much as 44 mpg combined from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
That’s much higher than the Avalon’s direct competitors, the Dodge Charger, Chrysler 300, and Nissan Maxima. For instance, the most efficient engine option in the 2023 Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300 is the 3.6L Pentastar V6, an engine that gets the Charger just 23 mpg combined. Of course, the upcoming Toyota Crown is a hybrid-only offering, meaning the Avalon’s trusted 3.5L V6 won’t make an appearance unless you opt for a Camry.
Moreover, the full-size Toyota car got higher safety scores than its Dodge and Chrysler competitors. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Avalon a 2022 Top Safety Pick rating. However, the Dodge Charger failed to secure the award, citing a “Marginal” score in the small overlap front crashworthiness test. The story is the same for the similarly doomed Chrysler 300.
How will Toyota replace its largest car?
In terms of a direct replacement for the outgoing large Toyota car, the 2023 Crown is the closest possibility. Despite the height difference, the Crown is just 0.2 inches longer and 0.4 inches wider than the outgoing Avalon, per Car and Driver.
Moreover, while the Crown is taller and heavier, the 2022 Toyota Avalon has more cargo capacity, albeit not by much. Specifically, the Crown has around 15.2 cubic feet of volume, while the Avalon boasts about 16.1.
How much will a Toyota Crown cost?
The new 2023 Toyota Crown starts at around $41,045. That puts the new hybrid model at about $3,125 more than the Avalon.
What do you think? Is the Avalon a significant loss, or does the Crown have the potential to be a much better Toyota car? Tell us in the comments below!
