Toyota Avalon vs. Camry: Which One’s Best for Me?

Review Summary

Both the Toyota Avalon and Camry are great choices for small families because they offer plenty of cargo space for groceries, sporting equipment, and passengers. The Avalon is a little larger, and the Camry has more options, but if you are finding it difficult to choose between them, keep reading as we take a closer look at both vehicles to learn their pros and cons.

At a Glance

Let’s look at the key points of each product.

Overview of the Toyota Avalon

One of the first things that you are likely to notice when riding in the Toyota Avalon is its luxurious styling. There is also plenty of cargo space, and you will enjoy a comfortable, smooth ride. Another advantage of the Toyota Avalon is the powerful V6 engine that will help you get onto the highway faster and give you that extra power when you need it. You can get this car with a hybrid engine if you are looking for a greener option that improves gas mileage.

The downside of this vehicle is that while there is plenty of space in the back seat for groceries and small children, adults may find that there isn’t enough headroom to look around comfortably. Another downside when it’s compared to the Toyota Camry is the lower gas mileage.

Overview of the Toyota Camry

The Camry is a fantastic vehicle offered by the Toyota company. This vehicle has plenty of options, like a hybrid engine and all-wheel drive. It’s a bit smaller than the Avalon, but it still provides passengers with plenty of cargo space. In fact, the back seat headroom is a bit better. The four-cylinder engine also gets better gas mileage than the Camry — you can expect about 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway. If you choose the hybrid option, you can get an impressive 51 miles in the city and 53 on the highway.

The downside to the Camry is that the engine isn’t that powerful, so it’s not as great in tight traffic, especially when the car is full of people or if you are moving uphill. Another downside is that compared to the Avalon, it doesn’t feel as luxurious while you are driving it. Also, the ride isn’t as smooth, and both the interior and exterior are plain.

How Do They Compare?

Performance

Edge: Avalon

The Avalon is the clear winner in the performance category. The large engine gives you the power that you need to get out onto the highway or maneuver through heavy traffic situations. It handles high speeds and hills much better than the Camry. 

Price

Edge: Camry

The Toyota Camry is the lower-costing vehicle. The 2022 model starts at a little over $25,000, and the hybrid version costs only a little more at around $27,000. The Avalon is more expensive, and you can expect to spend approximately $36,000 for the base model. The hybrid will cost you about $37,000. 

Gas Mileage

Edge: Camry

The smaller four-cylinder engine in the Toyota Camry helps it get better gas mileage than the Avalon. The standard motor gets 28 miles per gallon in the city and 38 on the highway. The Avalon gets only 22 in the city and 32 on the highway. Results are similar when looking at the hybrid engines. The Camry gets 51 miles per gallon in the city with the hybrid engine and 53 on the highway. The Avalon gets 43 in the city and 44 on the highway.

Safety

Edge: Tie

The Avalon and Camry both have a complete package of Toyota’s best safety features, including collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, a lane departure-warning alarm, steering assistance, roadside assistance, and automatic high beams, making both vehicles a great choice for the safety-conscious.

What the Users Say

We wanted to know what other people were saying about these two vehicles, so we searched the internet for reviews from people who drive them, and these are a few of the things that we learned. You can check some of these reviews here.

• Related Read: Toyota Sequoia vs. Highlander: Which One’s Best for Me?

Conclusion

It’s difficult to choose a clear winner between the Toyota Camry and Avalon, but we say that it’s the Camry. It’s a reasonably priced vehicle that offers plenty of cargo space for a small family. The four-cylinder engine is better on gas, so it will be cheaper to run, and you can even upgrade to the hybrid version for less than it costs for an entry-level Avalon. There are several other options that you can choose from, like all-wheel drive. The Avalon is a great choice if you are looking for extra power and a luxurious ride but aren’t too concerned with cost or gas mileage. This Avalon’s smooth, comfortable ride makes it fun to take across the country on long trips.

Featured Image Credit: (Left) Toyota Avalon XX50 Hybrid 01 China | Image Credit: Navigator84, Wikimedia Commons CC-BY SA 4.0; (Right) 2022 Toyota Camry 2.5V | Image Credit: Captainmorlypogi1959, Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0