2019 Toyota Avalon Limited: Engine, Specs and Price

The 2019 Toyota Avalon was a real car, and the Limited sat at the top of its comfort-focused range. The 2019 Avalon was the fifth generation, known internally as the XX50, and it was the first Avalon to move to Toyota’s TNGA K platform. It debuted at the 2018 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and went on sale in the spring of 2018 as a 2019 model.

2019 Toyota Avalon Limited review, engine and price

Fifth-generation Avalon background

The Avalon had been Toyota’s largest front-wheel-drive sedan in the United States since 1994. The fifth generation continued that role but changed the car’s character, moving from the older, softer platform to the TNGA K architecture and adopting a multi-link rear suspension. It was designed and assembled in the United States, at Toyota’s Georgetown, Kentucky plant, and it retained the extended-length chassis that had long given the Avalon more rear legroom than the Camry.

Engine and performance

Engine: 3.5-liter 2GR-FKS V6, dual overhead cam, 24 valves, D-4S direct and port injection
Power: 301 hp at 6,600 rpm
Torque: 267 lb-ft at 4,700 rpm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Drive: front-wheel drive
Hybrid alternative: 2.5-liter four-cylinder plus Toyota Hybrid System, 215 hp combined

The 3.5-liter V6 replaced the previous generation’s 268-hp engine, raising output to 301 hp. The Avalon used a multi-link rear suspension and, on the Touring grade, an adaptive variable suspension (AVS) — the first Toyota sedan to offer AVS in the United States. The XLE, Limited and XSE used thicker stabilizer bars and stiffer spring rates than the base setup.

The hybrid alternative

The 2019 Avalon Hybrid paired Toyota’s 2.5-liter Dynamic Force four-cylinder with the company’s hybrid system and two electric motors for a combined 215 hp. The hybrid was the only full hybrid in its segment at the time. It was offered in the XLE, XSE and Limited grades, but not in the performance-oriented Touring. The hybrid cost about 1,000 dollars more than the equivalent V6 model.

Trims and the Limited grade

The Avalon came in four grades: XLE, XSE, Limited and Touring. The XLE was the entry point, the XSE was the sportier-looking version, the Limited was the luxury-focused model and the Touring was the performance model with the adaptive suspension. The Limited and Touring both came with a 14-speaker JBL audio system, which Toyota described as the most speakers in the segment. The Limited could be ordered with either the V6 or the hybrid.

Pricing

When the fifth-generation Avalon reached dealers in 2018, Toyota priced the XLE from 35,500 dollars before destination. The gasoline-limited started at 41,800 dollars, and the Limited Hybrid at 42,800 dollars. The hybrid carried roughly a 1,000-dollar premium over the equivalent V6 in every grade where both were offered, which made the more efficient version relatively easy to justify on running costs.

Interior and technology

The Avalon’s cabin was designed around a large, tablet-style 9-inch touchscreen that housed Toyota’s Entune 3.0 infotainment system, with available embedded dynamic navigation. A 7-inch multi-information display sat in the instrument cluster, and a color head-up display was available. The Limited added premium materials, heated and ventilated front seats and the JBL audio system. Toyota noted at launch that the Avalon was one of the first models to offer its full suite of connected services, including remote start and door lock through a smartphone app.

Dimensions

Wheelbase: 113.0 in
Length: 195.9 in
Width: 72.8 in
Height: 56.5 in
Curb weight: about 3,560 lb
EPA interior volume: 120.4 cu ft

Safety

Every 2019 Avalon came with Toyota Safety Sense P as standard, which included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, automatic high beams and full-speed-range dynamic radar cruise control. Toyota’s Star Safety System and a backup camera were also standard, and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert was available. Adaptive variable suspension, where fitted, adjusted damping to suit the driving conditions.

Availability and what came after

The fifth-generation Avalon remained on sale in the United States through the 2022 model year, after which Toyota discontinued it and replaced it in its home market by the Crown. Because the 2019 car was the first year of the fifth generation, used examples are now several years old, and the Limited remains the most luxurious non-Touring version. Related Toyota coverage is available in our 2019 Toyota Corolla iM review and 2019 Toyota Camry Hybrid XSE. For more models, see Toyota Review.

Platform and chassis

The XX50 Avalon used the TNGA K (GA-K) platform, the same base as the eighth-generation Camry and the Lexus ES. The move to this architecture reduced weight and lowered the center of gravity relative to the previous Avalon, and it introduced a multi-link rear suspension where earlier cars had used a simpler setup. The body made greater use of high-strength steel, which improved rigidity and crash performance.

Market position

Toyota positioned the Avalon as a near-luxury sedan that undercut European rivals on price while offering comparable space and equipment. It competed with full-size front-drive sedans such as the Nissan Maxima and, in its more expensive forms, with entry-level luxury cars. The Avalon’s traditional strengths were rear-seat room, a quiet ride and a long equipment list, and the fifth generation added sharper styling and a sportier Touring grade to broaden its appeal.

Externally, the fifth-generation Avalon was longer, lower and wider than its predecessor, with a large trapezoidal grille and slim headlamps. The XSE and Touring grades added darker trim and sportier front-end detailing, while the Limited kept a more chrome-heavy, luxury look.