The Car Nobody Talks About That Owners Refuse To Sell Even After 200,000 Miles

Walk into any modern showroom, and you will be greeted with some of the most diversified collections. Be it a full-size SUV, a tech-driven electric car, or a performance-oriented car, each of these varieties can be found under a single roof. And thanks to rapidly evolving technology, even some of the most tech and feature-loaded cars can start to feel outdated in less than five or seven years. This has also led to a shift in the ownership pattern. Previously, when owners used to keep their cars for many years, they now tend to replace them much sooner than what the cars are capable of delivering in the long run.

However, there is one such car that owners do not want to replace at any cost. In fact, for some, it could be one of the most boring products on the market. And only when owned, do people realize its capabilities and understand that it has been built to last generations. Such cars do exist, and owners happily live with them even after completing 200,000 miles on them. The owners simply refuse to sell them, and the car itself refuses to show its age.

Surprisingly, the model we’re discussing today is not a rare model to have existed in the industry. It was one of the most accessible models from one of the most reliable automakers. Before it was discontinued in 2022, new car buyers often overlooked it for cars that held badge value. It never had a flashy design or was a part of the conversation, but those who own it rarely let it go.

The Forgotten Car That Refuses To Die

Many of you would believe the car in question definitely wore a luxury badge. Or maybe it had one of the best performance-oriented engines. But suprisingly, this car was never popular for any of these attributes. In fact, it came from a mass-market automaker and was the flagship model for the brand.

But why exactly do owners still refuse to sell the car or replace it? For this, you need to understand what makes a car such a desirable product. So, for a car to become a vital part of the journey, it has to be reliable and practical. And the car that we are talking about has proven its value time and again. Not only is it reliable and practical, but it has also been delivering respectable mileage. Now, the reliability factor may take you towards the eastern shores. And yes, the car we are talking about is a Japanese product. Some of you would guess a Lexus or one of the best-selling Toyota models, the Camry.

However, it is neither a Lexus nor the Camry — but yes, it is a car from the house of Toyota. Once the flagship sedan for Toyota, it is the Avalon that was positioned right above the Camry. The Avalon was one of the most overlooked cars, as it was meant to give some serious competition to entry-level luxury cars. But being part of a mainstream car brand, it struggled to create its own presence. Having said that, those who understood the value of the Avalon trusted it by investing their savings in it.

Proven Reliability And Not Mere Speculation

With 91 Points Scored Out Of 100, The Avalon Has Some Of The Best Reliability Scores

Every Toyota has been a reliable product by default. The same holds for the Avalon. The 2022 Avalon scored a respectable 83 out of 100 in the JD Power customer rating. It further scored an equally impressive rating in other parameters.

2022 Toyota Avalon JD Power Rating

The JD Power rating reveals why the owners simply refuse to sell their Avalon. It has one of the best scores, 91 out of 100, for quality and reliability. And while the dealership experience and driving experience are average as per JD Power, the Avalon has scored 83 out of 100 for resale. Other reputable publications, such as iSeeCars, have given the Avalon a strong 8.7 out of 10 for reliability and 8.0 out of 10 for safety. Additionally, iSeeCars has also stated that during the ownership period, the Avalon would cover more than 14 years or 166,000 miles before encountering any major mechanical issue, resulting in a 30.4-percent probability of reaching 200,000 miles.

Powertrain Options To Cater To Every Type Of Buyer

Toyota Offered The Avalon With Its Bulletproof Engine Options

The last iteration of the Avalon was offered with two engine options. These included a regular gasoline engine and a hybrid powertrain. Talking of which, the pure gasoline engine was a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 unit that produced 301 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. Transmission duties for this engine were handled by an eight-speed automatic gearbox. This engine was suitable for those who love to push the car, as Toyota claimed this engine could take the Avalon from standstill to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds.

Base Trim Engine

3.5L V6 Gas

Base Trim Transmission

8-Speed Automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Front-Wheel Drive

Base Trim Horsepower

301 hp

Base Trim Torque

267 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm

Fuel Economy

22/32 MPG

Make

Toyota

Model

Avalon

Segment

Full-Size Sedan

The other engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain capable of producing 215 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. Also, similar to many other hybrid cars, this engine was paired with an eCVT gearbox. And while the hybrid engine was not for outright performance, it managed to deliver a silent ride while being the most efficient unit among the two.

2022 Toyota Avalon Performance Specs

Hybrid Engine Saves A Lot On Fuel Expenses

For those who wanted the Avalon with an exciting engine, the 3.5-liter was the straight-up choice. On the other hand, for fuel-efficient, conscious buyers, the hybrid was the sensible choice. The Avalon was offered with two broad trims — XLE and Touring/Limited, both being offered with either of the engine options. Talking about the fuel efficiency, the 2.5-liter hybrid engine was claimed to deliver a combined (city + highway) mileage of 44 MPG.

2022 Toyota Avalon EPA Figures

At the same time, the hybrid also helped owners to save $3,000 on fuel, over the course of five years. Overall, the hybrid engine, with its excellent fuel-efficiency figure, saved a handsome amount for the owners on fuel.

True Luxury Experience Without The Maintenance Of A Luxury Car

The Avalon was positioned to rival some of the entry-level luxury cars. These include cars from luxury automakers like Mercedes-Benz as well as BMW. However, the maintenance and repair costs of cars from these brands are generally high. But not if your car wears the Toyota badge.

2022 Toyota Avalon Five-Year True Cost To Own By Edmunds

The aforementioned table seeks data from Edmund’s True Cost To Own tool. According to this, over the course of five years and covering 60,000 miles, owners of the 2022 base XLE trim will likely spend $47,211. These include costs like $6,840 on maintenance, $2,067 on repairs, and $16,714 on depreciation.

No-Nonsense Luxury Offering From Toyota

Although the Avalon wore a Toyota badge, it is important to note that it was a flagship Toyota sedan. And to make it feel like a flagship, Toyota offered some of the best quality materials on the inside. The interior comes wrapped with plenty of high-quality, soft-to-touch materials. Also, similar to other Toyota cars, the Avalon feels well put together, and every control feels built to last. The design may not be as innovative as other luxury cars, but it always felt pleasing to the eye and is a design that one will never get tired of, even after a few years.

Spacious Enough To Make Long Journeys Memorable

What also makes the Avalon a great family car is its practicality. It is a spacious sedan with plenty of space for five adults.

Toyota Avalon Interior Dimensions

Overall, accommodating five occupants has never been a problem on the Avalon, and it could be one of the best ways to enjoy long journeys. Adding to the cabin space is an equally impressive cargo space of 16.09 cubic feet. It could easily accommodate those large and medium-sized suitcases, with some space left for the backpacks.

The Avalon Eliminates Reasons To Upgrade

Apart from the mentioned factors that make the Avalon an ideal family car, other fundamentals make it a more convincing product. For instance, the ride quality feels plush, and so are those comfortable seats. As a product, the Avalon truly exceeds the expectations of the owners. It is one of those cars that can run for miles and miles without making you spend a lot on maintenance.

So, if the Avalon impresses you today, there are very slim chances of owners selling it on the used car market. The Avalon is one of those cars that does not give a single reason to upgrade or get replaced. Today, the Toyota Crown has replaced the Avalon as the brand’s flagship sedan. And similar to the Avalon, the Crown has been somewhat lost in the crowd of the entry-level luxury segment. It could be an overlooked car today, but it definitely deserves to be on the list of top priorities of interested buyers.

Sources: Toyota, JD Power, iSeeCars, RepairPal, Edmunds