The only affordable Toyota luxury car is the Avalon, Here’s a quick review of the 2013-2017 models

This fourth-generation car, made between 2013 and 2017, was the best-kept secret of 2023. However, in 2024, Toyota updated the Avalon, becoming one of the most significant sedans ever made by Toyota. Despite this, Toyota still calls it a midsize sedan, even though it belongs to the full-size sedan category.

In my opinion, the 2013 to 2017 Toyota Avalon is the only Toyota car that can be considered a luxury car below the 15 million Naira. Some might argue that the Land Cruiser is also a luxury car, which is fine for an SUV. I’ve been driving the Avalon for about a week now, and it feels and drives like a luxury car, just like a Lexus or a Mercedes-Benz.

The Toyota Avalon is one of the best daily driver luxury cars you can buy in Nigeria, Ghana, or even the US. It’s a great car, and I highly recommend it.

Exterior of the 2013-2017 Toyota Avalon

The 2013-2017 Toyota Avalon has a distinct look with chiselled lights and sharp edges. If it weren’t for the logo, you might not even think it was a Toyota. The front grill is designed with a lower basket, which many consider luxurious. Toyota intentionally did not put a big grill like Lexus and instead made the lower grill larger, a common feature in modern luxury cars.

The 2013-2017 Toyota Avalon is a large sedan, sometimes called a “boat” in the car world. It has a fastback design that slopes sharply towards the back, with a short trunk to emphasize its luxurious look. The lights on the car are well-fitted, though I prefer how it looks from the back. The double exhaust on the car indicates that it has a V6 engine, which is a helpful tip to know when looking at sedans.

Interior of the 2013-2017 Toyota Avalon

When you compare the 2013-2017 Toyota Avalon to the Lexus ES350, the Lexus ES350 is the direct rival of the Avalon. Although Toyota also makes Lexus, it was not the same person who built these two cars. The person who built the Avalon ensured that the dashboard was properly stitched, with different compartments, unlike the Lexus, which is an illusion of different compartments.

The Avalon has properly stitched and properly carved out leather and wooden trim. It is very deliberate, and I love that about it. The seating position is also great, with a comfortable back seat that doesn’t have a hump and a comfortable front seat. This car is big, so comfort was a priority when it was being designed. This car has two engine options: the V6 and the four-cylinder hybrid, but you rarely see the hybrid version.

We get the popular 2gr V6 engine with adequate power, with a six-speed transmission. The Avalon is a bullet. You also have three drive modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. This car is very economical, especially in eco mode, where it saves fuel by not allowing you to accelerate excessively. When you start it up, it shows you a system check, scanning and diagnosing and showing any issues. That’s a premium feature I like. Other cars don’t show you when a door is open, but this one has an animation of the car and the door opening and closing on the screen.

The Toyota Avalon has four trims: XLE, XLE Premium, XLE Touring, and Limited. The Limited XLE Premium has paddle shifters. When you put it in Drive, you can shift up to six gears and back down. As the limited trim, it also has heated seats that can be penetrated and hidden when not in use. You can adjust them to make them cool or hot. It also has BSM, which is a blind-spot monitoring system. If someone is driving into you from behind, the system will beep and show an orange light on the side mirror to alert you.

Something I like about this car is that it is deliberately silent. When you start it up, it first sounds normal, but then the sound drops, showing you that it is supposed to be silent because it is a luxury car. As it is also limited, you can adjust the seat and set memory seats for up to two people. On the screen, there are a lot of functionalities, including Bluetooth, JBL speakers, satellite navigation, and the ability to connect to an Android or iPhone. The lower side controls the AC, and many features make this car great.

Pricing

On average, the pricing of this car in Nigeria ranges between 12 to 16.5 million naira, depending on the car’s year, trim, and condition. If you come across a limited edition of this car selling for just 1 million naira, it is most likely because it was repaired after a bad accident. You may notice some issues with the car body, and some features, such as the BSM, may not work correctly.

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However, a clean Avalon can cost from 14 million naira to around 16.5 million. If you are looking to buy a Nigerian used car, the price ranges from 8 to 9 million naira for a good one and as low as 7 million naira for a bad one, which may require a lot of repairs.