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2013 Avalon Hybrid

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by windstrings, May 3, 2013.

  1. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I'm amazed about the lack of attention on the forum about this car so I started this thread.

    We purchased one about a month ago and love it love it!

    It's a full sized feel with no plastic looking dashes and lots of spread out room surrounded in leather and chrome.

    We are getting an average of 40mpg, and plenty of power with its 2.5 liter engine.

    It has a sport and EV mode.. I put it in sport out if habit from driving my gen 3 prius but it doesn't need it.

    Normal mode on the Avalon Hybrid gets about the same get up and go as sport mode on the gen 3 prius.

    Sport mode is very nice for darting around in plush luxury and style!

    You can slide the lever to the left "while in drive" and it puts you into level 4 sport mode with options for 6 gear ratios and an rpm Guage that instantly pops up when you do so.
    It don't mess around either if you want torque!

    I love the blind spot indicators it's amazing how good they work... The indicators also rapidly flash if you turn your blinker on the same direction of someone in your blind spot!
    2. rear independent air controls for the rear passengers that can sync with front air levels or not.
    3. Front independent air controls.
    4. Front independent seat air controls... Air blows up through the very tiny holes in the leather seats... "hot or cold" controlled with your own knob.
    5. Two memory sets for two drivers that control side mirrors and full electronic seat adjustments all in one push of the button.
    6. Rear Window shades that slide up with the push of a button!
    7. Rain sensors for auto wipers.
    8. Hardrive navigation with instant auto update that shows traffic, weather with apps that syncs through your smartphone.
    9. Fully programmable door & light settings as well as other options from the navigation screen.
    10. About the quietest ride of any car out there according to the reviews I've read, yes even those costing much more.
    11. Auto headlights
    12. New for this year. Steering and suspension tighter more sportier removing the big "floating in a boat" feel to instead a very responsive smooth ride.

    After driving this car for just 3 days "it's my wifes car", I'm no longer happy at all with my gen 3 prius for ride smoothness, quietness and general feel..... It's indeed a whole different car.
    It's like leaving a nice steakhouse and going back to Dennys.

    I got the 6 year/125000 mile warranty for about $1050.00. + 3 year full maintenance included.

    I'm sure I've missed a few points but that's what comes to mind.



    Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2
     
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  2. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Don't rub it in :p. We don't get the Avalon Hybrid here in Canada. :( I've been very impressed with the new Avalon (haven't taken one out for a spin yet) and the Avalon Hybrid should be a blast with a quiet interior and EV mode.
     
  4. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Thanks, it really has surprised me.
    We were going to buy another prius and a little more serious about the Camry Hybrid.... But the Avalon was sitting there and I really didn't even know what it was... When I saw. "hybrid" I became interested and got inside... Wow!

    We made the mistake of taking it for a test drive... That was it!

    My wifes really deserved it.. Has driven her 06 prius for 7 years and loved it without complaint while I bought a new 2010, she has gotten two promotions... It was really nice to find this car... I'm so glad I found it "before" I bought something else and not afterwards....

    It was a very nice reward... She comments on it almost every day she comes home!

    Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2
     
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  5. Sergiospl

    Sergiospl Senior Member

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    Ouch! you're getting a call from Dennys' corporate management!:D
     
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I agree. They've done a very good job with the Avalon overall. The 1G Avalon was a good start I thought but the 2nd and 3rd generations didn't do enough to distinguish themselves from a Camry XLE V6. All it had was memory seats and maybe a driver's side electrochromic mirror. (while the Camry XLE V6 gets a rear sunshade that the Avalon didn't have until the 3rd gen).

    Now the Avalon is more competitive with style, power, size and amenities (safety, tech and luxury) to compete with the Maxima, Lacrosse, Taurus and Impala. The Maxima was my favourite for exterior design and now the Avalon has trumped that (granted, the Maxima is 4 years old). The Maxima was also fantastic to drive. The suspension was set up nicely between sport and comfort.
     
  7. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I was fortunate enough to talk with a Toyota rep from the business office about two years ago, he said the older Camry hybrids were geared for more power with less regard for gas mileage, and the newer Camry would be slanted towards better mileage with a tad less power .
    But it seems to me the Avalon has both especially with the 6th stages of sport mode it has allowing a driver to be aggressive or take it easy whichever his preference.

    I know the Avalon gives up 10 miles per gallon compared to the Prius but you get so much more in so many ways . For most people it's not about saving every penny or they wouldn't have a hybrid in the first place

    Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2
     
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Even though the TCH gained 13 net hp over the last gen. It's pretty impressive and given that it's being used in many vehicles (TCH, TAH, ESh, GSh, ISh), it's definitely a good setup with a nice balance of power and fuel economy. I can't wait to see it dropped into a RAV4 or Venza (though the mpg may drop since they'll need a slightly lower final gear to deal with the extra weight of the SUVs/Crossovers).
     
  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i sat in the hyav? in the dealership. very luxurious and beatifully equipped. not my cup of tea, but i asked my wife if she wanted to test drive it before deciding on a new hycam. but she felt it was too big for her. i would love to have it for our annual trek to florida, but other than that, it's not us. but i think it will do very well given the high ratings and positive reviews it has received.
     
  10. JMD

    JMD 2012 Prius 4 Solar Roof

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    Congrats drive it in good health
     
  11. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    Thanks, probably more room than I need but I sure like it nevertheless.. A more compact version that hit 50+ mpg would work too!

    But my wife uses it for work to sometimes the clients and the grandkids and we'll use it for trips.

    I would like the max luxuries in a small tesla type version.. I think the tesla has "way" more than necessary cargo space "the whole trunk and front engine compartment.. Lol,"...

    Someone needs to make a small one!

    Alan.. Sent with Tapatalk 2
     
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  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yup! Looking forward to their smaller sedan in the pipelines (it's still coming, right?)
     
  13. radmangto

    radmangto Junior Member

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    I drove an XLE Premium Hybrid at a local dealer in Fort Myers recently. I was very very impressed with the qualilty of fit, ride and most standard features. But was highly dissapointed that no Sat radio is available in the XLE. So we haggled a bit and with the Costco Program, I think Monday I will stike the deal with Sat radio receiver, Fla Tint and Blizzard White with Almond/beige interior leather.

    I had a 2012 Cadillac CTS Premium and the Avalon is certainly every bit it's equal in everything but horsepower !!!

    The young dudes who represented the dealership during the test drive said the Sport position was the same as my Prius Power mode. Wth your report and watching several YouTube videos on the Avalon Hybrid, it is obvously different. I do like the Power position with more "gas peddle" real feel. Any real advantage to the Sport Mode other than giving you the old "hotrod" speedshifting feel ...??!!!

    Regards
    Radmangto
     
  14. radmangto

    radmangto Junior Member

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    :)
    Alan .... how might we request that "2013 Avalon" be added to the "Personal Details" page in the drop down menu for choosing your vehicle that will show on our posts?

    I've looked but seem lost when trying to find a link to the Administrator to make this request to add our vehicle. I'm sure the link is somewhere, but out of my reach so far .... :)

    Regards,
    radman
     
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  15. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I probably ought to add it to my profile, but tapatalk is still limited fur some features.. Simply pm a mod should get reply.

    SCH-I545 ? 2
     
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Unfortunately, it's listed as "Other Hybrid" if you don't have a Prius heh. It'll be too many to list if we had every single hybrid listed in the drop-down menu.
     
  17. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    But shouldn't any "toyota" have precedence?.. Oh well.. I guess this is "prius chat forum", I keep forgetting...

    SCH-I545 ? 2
     
  18. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    they probably have your model listed over at avalonchat.:p
     
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I guess. We used to have a "Other Toyota Hybrid" option.
     
  20. windstrings

    windstrings Certified Prius Breeder

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    I guess I see the Avalon as a cousin to the prius rather than an "other" since it has the exact same manufacturer, same hybrid system, and same technology in both cars minus or plus options.

    I feel sad it's thrown in the batch with Ford etc. :(

    SCH-I545 ? 2