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2019 Avalon Hybrid

Discussion in 'Toyota Hybrids and EVs' started by Spindifferent, May 10, 2017.

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  1. Spindifferent

    Spindifferent Member

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    Any indication that the 2018 Avalon (and hybrid version) will be based on Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA)?

    TNGA has been confirmed for the 2018 Camry, but wondering about the 2018 Avalon with hopes of better Avalon hybrid mpg than the current generation.
     
    #1 Spindifferent, May 10, 2017
  2. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    None that I'm aware of. I'd think they'd have shown a new generation at an auto show by now if a new generation were planned for 2018.
     
    #2 bhtooefr, May 10, 2017
  3. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    I doubt the Avalon will be on a 5 year cycle given the market isn't that popular. I'd wager a 6 or 7 year cycle so expect a replacement as 2019 or 2020 MY.

    But if it does get redesigned, then yes it would be on a new TNGA platform (same as Camry)
     
    #3 Tideland Prius, May 10, 2017
  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #4 Tideland Prius, May 10, 2017
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  5. NR427

    NR427 Member

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    Last time the Avalon was a year behind the Camry on model changes. That would lead to a 2019 redesign.
     
    #5 NR427, May 20, 2017
  6. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    2019 Avalon reveal will be Monday, January 15, at 1:05 PM EST during the 2018 North American International Auto Show. According to Toyota insiders, this will most likely be the final generation of Avalons to appease noisy Lexus dealers who are losing declining segment sales to Avalon.

    The link may not be active until the day of the reveal.

    Style and Dynamism, Actualized | Toyota USA Newsroom
     
    #6 amped, Jan 10, 2018
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  7. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    How do you expect it to appease Lexus dealers?

    It most likely will be based on the new gen Camry and therefore TNGA.
     
    #7 royrose, Jan 10, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  8. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    It will appease Lexus dealers by eventually being killed off while ES continues.

    Meantime, I'm wondering if they'll hike the MSRP to come closer to ES to discourage Lexus prospects from cross-shopping Avalon.

    It's based on the TNGA platform. It will supposedly have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay available.
     
    #8 amped, Jan 10, 2018
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  9. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    I wonder whether many Avalon buyers would buy a Lexus. There are frugal people, like me, who don't want to pay the extra cost of a "luxury" nameplate but want a very well equipped vehicle. Then there are others who live in expensive neighborhoods who would feel uncomfortable having a Toyota badge on their vehicle.

    Our now 10 year old Nissan Murano hit that sweet spot but new ones now are priced close to Infiniti, so maybe you are right about the future Avalon of Avalon.

    I would love it if Toyota includes Android Auto and CarPlay in future vehicles (including the next gen Rav4 that I am interested in to replace our Murano), so I hope you are right about that. Toyota just announced at the Consumer Electronics Show that they will include Alexa integration in Etune 3.0, so I'm not sure about Android Auto and Carplay.
     
    #9 royrose, Jan 10, 2018
    Last edited: Jan 10, 2018
  10. amped

    amped Senior Member

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    I don't think many Avalon buyers cross-shop Lexus, but apparently Lexus dealers say their prospects cross-shop Avalon, leading to their concerns about losing sales to Toyota.

    Having owned both brands, I definitely prefer Toyota for its similar build quality to Lexus (but materials aren't as luxurious), lower initial cost, lower maintenance cost, lower depreciation, more dealer outlets and choosing to stay lower key in the age of envy.

    Avalon content, interior design, and materials have always been near luxury. The new Avalon seems like it could finally have some exterior style to match the rest of the car instead of merely looking like a big Camry.

    The Apple/Android connectivity is from a fairly good source but like you said, would they really have it alongside Alexa? I have doubts, too, but we'll see Monday.
     
    #10 amped, Jan 10, 2018
  11. bhtooefr

    bhtooefr Senior Member

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    The problem that the outgoing Avalon has is that, really, it's the same thing as the Lexus ES, just without the badge, and with a different interior. That's where the cross-shopping comes in - a lot of people who would buy a Lexus ES actually don't care about the badge, and will just buy an Avalon instead. (This isn't necessarily the case for Lexus's other products, but the ES? Yeah, there's a lot of less-image-conscious buyers there.)
     
    #11 bhtooefr, Jan 10, 2018
  12. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    i wasn't impressed sitting in the avalon, but have not sat in an es. i would think the materials would be much nicer.
    two things i find hard to believe; discontinuing the avalon, unless they have another model in mind, and android/apple. i'll believe it when i see it.:cool:
     
    #12 bisco, Jan 10, 2018
  13. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Everything is nicer in a Lexus ;).

    And what “frugal” shoppers are buying an Avalon(n).
     
    #13 Raytheeagle, Jan 11, 2018
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  14. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    The ES has really distinguished itself from the Avalon.

    I dropped by the Lexus dealer last week and lamented the fact that the current ES (launched as a 2013MY) will be one of the last ones with the pleasant, solid thunk that was missing on the current RX/NX/IS models that were in the showroom. (The GS also shared the same door sound and it's also from the same era - 2011MY).

    The current ES is supremely quiet inside with buttery soft leather and it's also one of the last Lexus (not counting the $100k LS and LC) that have a premium-feeling soft, velvety headliner and A & B pillar cover. The RX, NX and IS use the same headliner as the Gen 4 Prius/Prime. (And some of you might recall from the Gen 4's press release that the headliner was upgraded to give it a premium feel - so now it's using the same headliner as certain Lexus models). The new headliner and pillar cover might be more durable but it's just weird that it's the same material used in a Toyota - a Prius no less.

    One thing they did remove from the ES is the leather-wrapped overhead assist grips - they're back to the rubbery texture.


    That being said, there's still a case for the Avalon. It's large, spacious and cheaper than the ES and the materials do look a step up from the last gen Camry. The current gen Camry blows the Avalon out of the water imo so I suspect this new gen Avalon will make quite the impression. It didn't help that the current ES went up in size (same wheelbase as the Avalon). The difference in size used to differentiate the ES and Avalon so really Lexus shouldn't complain since they (apparently) wanted an Avalon-sized ES and charge more for it.

    But for some people, material, quality and brand trumps features. They're ok foregoing 3-zone climate control and a manual rear sunshade (power rear sunshade is an option though) for a base ES that offers so much more than just "features".
     
    #14 Tideland Prius, Jan 11, 2018
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  15. krmcg

    krmcg Lowered Blizzard Pearl Beauty

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    I had a Lexus ES and replaced it with my current 2014 Avalon Hybrid Limited. The Lexus does have some luxury elements that are not available on the Avalon - but I am proof positive that cross-shopping does exist. I am very interested in the new Avalon, but not so much in a new Lexus...
     
    #15 krmcg, Jan 11, 2018
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  16. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    #16 royrose, Jan 15, 2018
  17. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    #17 Prodigyplace, Jan 15, 2018
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  18. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Yes and Alexa but no Android Auto.
     
    #18 royrose, Jan 15, 2018
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  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    #19 Tideland Prius, Jan 15, 2018
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  20. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Here is what I find interesting: Hybrid battery is Ni-MH. Maybe in this large car, it is not worth it to go with a physically smaller Li battery.
     
    #20 royrose, Jan 16, 2018
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