Sometimes automakers make strange decisions that leave everyone scratching their heads. For example, why did Toyota stop making its most reliable vehicle? It’s the age-old story of ‘out with the old, in with the new.’ Even though some may wonder if Toyota has been a little too hasty, there are several reasons why this was a wise decision.

The Avalon was Toyota’s most reliable car

iSeeCars puts a lot of research into the data it releases, and which cars are the most reliable is just one of the many fun facts you can learn. The review site currently ranks the Toyota Avalon as the most reliable vehicle in company’s lineup. It has a score of 9.8, which ties it with the Toyota Land Cruiser.

There are many reasons why the Avalon has such a high score. It has lots of legroom for passengers in the back, which makes it the ideal family car for anyone with growing teens. 

The Avalon is also often praised for its nimble handling, smooth ride, and good looks. In general, the Avalon received great reviews from critics, although consumers seem to be drawn to the more popular Corolla and Camry.

Even though the Avalon has such great reliability scores, it does have a few issues. One is the check engine light that turns on after an oxygen sensor failure, or the ignition coil failure after the 100,000-mile mark. 

The transmission also has some problems at higher mileage. It can become difficult to shift the transmission, although this is rare. Most of these problems happen at higher mileage, so this was to be expected. 

In with the new

There are no major issues with the Toyota Avalon that led the Japanese automaker to cut it loose. Instead, it was a business decision. Toyota wanted to begin producing the Crown, which many critics are excited about.

The Crown offers two hybrid engines, which many consumers are interested in purchasing. It comes with AWD. The Crown has a starting MSRP of $39,950, making it one of the more expensive Toyota models. 

All this sounds great, but why would Toyota cut the Avalon in favor of the Crown? It all boils down to the sales numbers.

There are many factors that determine which vehicles consumers will buy, and which they will ignore. While reliability is a huge part of this, it wasn’t enough to draw consumers in. In fact, it was revealed that only 18,000 units were sold in 2021. 

Those are dismal numbers, and this wasn’t just a bad year. The best year the Avalon had was in 2000 when it sold over 100,000 units. Since then, things have been going downhill, and it no longer makes good business sense to produce a vehicle that isn’t selling.

Don’t hesitate to buy a used Toyota Avalon

The used car market is up in the air currently, as prices are on the rise. There were many experts who believed that prices would drop this year, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. With that in mind, you should be aware that a used Toyota Avalon that doesn’t have a ton of miles on it can cost you anywhere from $23,673-42,998, according to iSeeCars.

Even so, this isn’t a terrible price when you consider that you’re going to be buying an excellent vehicle that is built to last. The fact that you won’t have to worry about the Avalon leaving you sitting on the side of the road more than justifies the price.

If you’re interested in an older model Toyota Avalon, there are three potential problem years you should watch out for. These are the 2006, 2007, and 2008 models. Otherwise, the Avalon is an excellent used vehicle that you should check out.