Toyota Avalon vs Lexus ES

The 2021 Toyota Avalon presented a mixed bag in terms of aesthetics. While the overall design was appealing, the front-bumper styling, particularly the grille, drew mixed reactions. Many versions of the Avalon appeared as if they had a face full of braces, especially with the blacked-out mesh grille on the XSE trim, which seemed to mimic a toothless grin. Despite this, the Avalon's long and low styling was generally well-received, offering a sleek look from any angle. The interior, with its architecturally-themed design, featured artfully stitched leather seats and real wood trim in the Limited model, creating an ambiance that was more special than a Camry but not quite as luxurious as a Lexus ES. However, some interior plastics felt inexpensive for a car in this price range.

The 2022 Lexus ES, on the other hand, maintained its reputation as an elegant sedan with a sleek, almost fastback roofline and the signature Lexus spindle grille. The interior was precisely assembled, though the asymmetrical dashboard design was a matter of taste. The F Sport package added bold two-tone leather seating, which was sporty but perhaps a bit mismatched with the rest of the car's more conservative design. The ES's interior was functional, with a layered dash and crisp, even gaps, but the small analog chronometer inset into the touchscreen housing seemed to date the dash rather than enhance it. Overall, the ES offered a blend of elegance and practicality, appealing to both traditional and younger buyers.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon offered two powertrains in Canada. The Limited trim featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 205 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque, paired with an AWD system. While this setup provided decent performance, it lacked the excitement to thrill drivers. The standard 301-hp 3.5-litre V6 engine was more engaging, delivering better acceleration and a combined fuel efficiency rating of 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres. The Avalon AWD, weighing 1,681 kilograms, felt lively enough, with an eight-speed automatic transmission ensuring quick launches and stable handling. However, the AWD was limited to the Limited trim, and the Sport mode primarily increased engine revs and fuel consumption without significantly enhancing performance.

The 2022 Lexus ES offered three models with distinct powertrains. The ES 250 AWD featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, achieving a combined fuel efficiency of 8.4 litres per 100 kilometres. The ES 350, with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivered 307 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, providing a more spirited driving experience with a 0-60 mph time of 6.6 seconds. The ES 300h hybrid combined a 176-hp four-cylinder engine with a 39-hp electric motor for a net 215 hp, excelling in fuel efficiency with a combined rating of 5.3 litres per 100 kilometres. While the ES 250 AWD offered standard AWD, its performance was less impressive compared to the V6 and hybrid variants, which provided better driving dynamics and fuel economy.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon, a large sedan, offered a spacious interior comparable to a Honda Accord. The Avalon Limited featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with genuine leather upholstery, heated and ventilated cushions, and a heated steering wheel. However, the seats could benefit from improved side bolstering and a power-extending thigh bolster for enhanced comfort. Rear-seat space was generous, with heated rear-seat cushions adding comfort during extreme weather. The Avalon provided ample storage space in the centre console and a roomy 456-litre trunk, though it lacked a grab handle for easy trunk closure.

The 2022 Lexus ES, despite the growing popularity of SUVs, offered practical advantages with its sedan form. The ES provided 394 litres of cargo space, with a pass-through behind the centre armrest for long items. The second row in the ES 250 and ES 350 folded flat, accommodating larger items. The ES's lower centre of gravity and ground clearance contributed to better handling and fuel economy compared to luxury SUVs. Inside, the ES featured heated, ventilated, and power-adjustable front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, and ample storage options. The dash layout was functional, with a prominent volume knob for the audio system.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon came equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto compatibility. Toyota connected services, including Safety Connect and Remote Connect, were standard, with a free year of access. The upgrade infotainment system added dynamic navigation and voice recognition, along with a 14-speaker JBL premium sound system. The user interface was intuitive, though the JBL sound system required fine-tuning for optimal sound quality. A 10-inch colour head-up display was available, though it was faint when viewed with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Lexus ES featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. A 10-speaker Pioneer sound system was standard, with upper trims offering a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a Mark Levinson 17-speaker surround sound audio system. The ES used a centre console touchpad interface, which was an improvement over previous setups but still challenging to use on rough roads. A 10-inch head-up display was available, providing clear and bright information in the driver's line of sight. The ES also offered a Panoramic View Monitor with Intuitive Parking Assist and Lexus Enform connected services.

The 2021 Toyota Avalon came standard with Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. The Avalon earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and top scores from the IIHS, though it was ineligible for a "Top Safety Pick" award due to poor headlight performance on lower trims.

The 2022 Lexus ES received top safety ratings, earning a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.5 included a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and Intelligent High Beam Control. The ES also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and 10 airbags. Lexus Enform Safety Connect service was available for up to 10 years.