The 2020 Toyota Avalon was part of the fifth generation of Toyota’s full-size sedan, a car that debuted at the 2018 North American International Auto Show and went on sale as a 2019 model. The 2020 Avalon carried that design forward with minor changes, and the XLE remained the entry point of the gasoline lineup. For buyers who wanted a large, comfortable sedan rather than an SUV, the Avalon XLE offered V6 power and a long list of standard equipment at a price below the top trims.
Position in the Avalon Range
Toyota sold the Avalon in several grades. The gasoline line started with the XLE, moved up through the XSE and Touring, and topped out with the Limited. A separate Avalon Hybrid range ran in parallel with its own XLE, XSE and Limited trims. The XLE was the value trim: it used the same powertrain as the more expensive Avalon models but left out some of the sportier or more luxurious extras. You can read more in our [2019 Toyota Avalon XLE Plus Review](https://toyotasuggestions.com/2019-toyota-avalon-xle-plus-review-and-changes.html).
Dimensions and Interior
The fifth-generation Avalon was a genuinely large car. It rode on a 113-inch wheelbase, measured 195.9 inches long, 72.8 inches wide and 56.5 inches tall, and seated five. Passenger volume was 104.3 cubic feet, and the trunk held 16.1 cubic feet of luggage. Front-row occupants had 42.1 inches of legroom, and rear-seat passengers had 40.3 inches, which is generous even by full-size sedan standards.
What the XLE Trim Included
Standard features on the Avalon XLE included a leather-trimmed steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats, a touchscreen infotainment system with smartphone integration, a rearview camera and the Toyota Safety Sense P suite of driver-assistance systems. That package bundled a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, full-speed adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist and automatic high beams. Materials and finish tracked the price: the XLE was comfortable and well equipped without the sportier styling of the XSE.
Engine and Transmission
Every 2020 Avalon XLE used a 3.5-liter V6 (Toyota code 2GR-FKS) producing 301 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 267 lb-ft of torque at 4,700 rpm. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive. The engine used a combination of port and direct fuel injection, which Toyota calls D-4S, to balance power and efficiency. The same engine powered every gasoline Avalon trim, including the sportier XSE and the Limited, and its 301-horsepower rating matched the output of the V6 in the related Lexus ES 350.
Performance and Fuel Economy
With 301 horsepower, the Avalon XLE was one of the quicker full-size sedans of its day. Toyota’s own brochure quoted an EPA estimate of 22 mpg city, 32 mpg highway and 26 mpg combined for the 2020 Avalon XLE. The V6 ran on regular unleaded gasoline and the car had a 14.5-gallon fuel tank, giving a highway range of about 460 miles.
The Avalon Hybrid as an Alternative
Buyers who did not need the V6 could choose the Avalon Hybrid, which used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with Toyota’s hybrid system for a combined 215 horsepower. Its EPA ratings were far higher than the V6’s, at about 43 mpg city, 44 mpg highway and 44 mpg combined. The trade-off was lower outright power and a different feel from the continuously variable transmission. For a high-mileage driver, the hybrid could cut fuel costs substantially compared with the 26 mpg combined V6.
Technology and Comfort
The Avalon’s cabin was designed around long-distance comfort. Available features across the range included a head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, a premium JBL audio system, wireless phone charging and a large touchscreen with navigation. The XLE covered the essentials, and higher trims added the more elaborate equipment. Toyota also fitted acoustic glass and extra sound insulation, which helped keep the cabin quiet at highway speed. Apple CarPlay smartphone integration was standard across the 2020 Avalon range, and remote keyless entry with push-button start was included on every trim.
Ride and Handling
The fifth-generation Avalon moved to the TNGA-K platform, which lowered the center of gravity and stiffened the body compared with the previous model. Toyota tuned the suspension for a comfortable ride, with the Touring trim adding an adaptive variable suspension that could adjust damping on the move. The Avalon was never a sports sedan, but the platform change made it more composed and less floaty than earlier generations.
Price
At launch, Toyota listed the 2020 Avalon XLE at an MSRP of $35,875. With the destination charge included, the figure was closer to $36,870. That made the XLE the least expensive way into a new Avalon, with the XSE starting higher and the Limited reaching into the low $40,000s. The Avalon Hybrid was priced separately and began above the gas XLE.
What Buyers Can Expect
The 2020 Avalon is now a used car, and it sits near the start of the fifth generation, which is generally a good place to be because Toyota added equipment over the model’s life. For 2020 specifically, Toyota added a performance-oriented Avalon TRD variant, but that did not change the XLE. Production of the Avalon ended after the 2022 model year, so there is no newer version of this sedan. Buyers should confirm which engine is fitted, since the Avalon was also sold as a hybrid with very different fuel economy.
