The Avalon is Toyota’s premier sedan, offering luxury-like features without the luxury price tag. Competing among a few of the most popular cars on the market, the Avalon stands out with class-leading features, fuel-efficiency, and value. Not just impressive in its own right, the 2020 Toyota Avalon may also be the best sedan you could possibly buy. 

The 2020 Toyota Avalon is No. 1 in the heart of experts

Consumer Reports gives its highest large car rating of the year to the 2020 Toyota Avalon, receiving an impressive overall score of 93/100 and its seal of recommendation. Alongside a predicted owner satisfaction of four out of five is a perfect predicted reliability score of five out of five that is superseded by a near-perfect reliability history.

The Avalon earned an even more impressive road test score of 93/100. The Avalon receives five-out-of-five scores in a variety of CR testing categories, including fuel economy, transmission, ride comfort, and rear-seat comfort. 

How the Toyota Avalon stacks up against the competition

With its tremendous overall score of 93, the 2020 Toyota Avalon is Consumer Reports’ No. 1 choice out of eight total large cars. The Avalon’s overall score is 10 points more than even its next closest competitor, the Kia Cadenza.

Even the popular Nissan Maxima only receives an overall score of 80. Not just the top choice in the large car segment, the Avalon’s score also makes it the best-rated sedan across all segments. With scores and ratings that help it reign over every segment, the 2020 Toyota Avalon stands as the king of Consumer Reports’ list of “10 Best Sedans You Can Buy Today.” In fact, Consumer Reports even claims the Toyota Avalon is a good alternative to buying a luxury car; it’s “lavishly furnished” and “plusher than most Lexus models.”

It’s not just Consumer Reports’ biased opinion that lands the Toyota Avalon on top. U.S. News gives the 2020 Toyota Avalon an overall score of 8.3 (out of 10), making it No. 1 yet again in the large car segment. In addition to leading the segment, the Avalon is also a finalist for this year’s Best Large Car for the Money award and the winner of the Best Large Car for Families award.

A breakdown of the 2020 Avalon: what owners will get

With the newest 2020 Avalon, buyers can choose between two powertrain choices: a 3.5-liter V6 gas engine or a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid. According to Car and Driver, the Avalon’s gas engine makes 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The Toyota Avalon Hybrid can make 215 hp and comes paired with a CVT (continuously variable automatic transmission). Front-wheel drive is the only available drivetrain. Its well-designed chassis and suspension help keep the Avalon smooth and refined on the road. Fuel efficiency in the Toyota Avalon is highly competitive, earning up to 32 mpg on the highway in gas models and 44 mpg in 2020 Avalon Hybrid models. 

In true Toyota form, the Avalon comes with a long list of standard features, as well as an upscale interior. Its trunk is exceptionally large and one of the vehicle’s best attributes, with a total of 16 cubic-feet of cargo space.

Standard features include a 60/40 split-folding rear seat, 9.0-inch touchscreen with navigation, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi hotspot compatibility, and a slew of active safety features. All 2020 Toyota Avalon sedans come with standard blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. 

Optional features, which are either available standard in higher trims or as extras in lower trims, include rear cross-traffic braking, integrated navigation, wireless device charging, a moonroof, and more. Every new Toyota Avalon also comes with two years of maintenance coverage in addition to its three- and five-year limited and powertrain warranties.