2020 Toyota Avalon Performance

The latest generation of the Toyota Avalon—now in its second year with the 2020 Toyota Avalon—is designed to appeal to a more performance-minded crowd than the luxury styling it once had. With a big, dark grille in the front, stylized body lines and head- and tail-lights designed like an Italian supercar’s, it’s clear the Avalon looks sportier than ever. But, does that outer design reflect a change inside? Read on to find out about how well the 2020 Toyota Avalon performs. 

2020 Toyota Avalon Engine 

The latest version of the Avalon has two different engine options, since the Avalon is sold as a hybrid and as a traditional gasoline car. The hybrid engine is a 2.5-liter dynamic force 4-cylinder that can generate 176 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. The straight gasoline engine is far more powerful. Displacing 3.5 liters and pumping with 6 V-angled cylinders, the gasoline engine option produces 301 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque.  

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2020 Toyota Avalon Technology and Connectivity Features

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Clearly, the gasoline V6 produces more power and agrees better with the sportier outer appearance. The horsepower rating crossing over the 300 mark does make it a muscly sedan, but it falls short of the performance vehicle styling it uses. Revving the engine can still give you a fun rush, however.  

2020 Toyota Avalon Transmission 

The Avalon has an 8-speed shiftable automatic on every trim. The shiftable functionality lets those who want to feel more of the vehicle’s latent power take advantage of it when they want, but also move back into regular automatic mode for daily driving. Having 8 speeds is a perfect number for this car. 6 speeds wouldn’t quite feel like enough, and 10 or more speeds wouldn’t make sense either. 

2020 Toyota Avalon Fuel Efficiency 

Does the V6 engine take too much away from the fuel efficiency of the Avalon? That depends on your expectations. If you’re used to full-size family sedans, you will still see comparable fuel efficiency to similar models, but don’t expect the Avalon to sip fuel as slow as the Corolla or Yaris just because it’s a Toyota. The 2020 Toyota Avalon Limited trim level—one of the most popular trims—is estimated to get 22 MPG in the city, 31 MPG on the highway, and 25 MPG during combined driving. 

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