Compare the2022 BMW 530eVS 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

The 530e’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The 530e offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 530e helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 530e’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the 530e and the Avalon Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The BMW 530e weighs 619 to 806 pounds more than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The NHTSA advises that heavier cars are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The 530e comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Avalon Hybrid’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 530e’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Avalon Hybrid’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 530e for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Avalon Hybrid (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 1 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 19th.

The 530e’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 73 more horsepower (288 vs. 215) than the Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the 530e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Avalon Hybrid:

The 530e’s maximum driving range in pure electric mode is 19 to 21 miles, about 13 times as far as the Avalon Hybrid’s 1.6-mile range.

The 530e’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 530e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon Hybrid:

The 530e’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Avalon Hybrid are solid, not vented.

For better traction, the 530e has larger tires than the Avalon Hybrid (245/45R18 vs. 215/55R17). The 530e’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Avalon Hybrid (245/45R18 vs. 235/45R18).

The 530e’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Avalon Hybrid XLE’s standard 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 530e has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon Hybrid XLE.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 530e can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

The 530e has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Avalon Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The 530e offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Avalon Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 530e’s wheelbase is 4.1 inches longer than on the Avalon Hybrid (117.1 inches vs. 113 inches).

The 530e has .3 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more front shoulder room than the Avalon Hybrid.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 530e offers cargo security. The Avalon Hybrid’s non-lockable remote release defeats cargo security.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the 530e. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the 530e offers an optional power trunk, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or optionally by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a power trunk.

The engine in the 530e is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 20% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

The 530e has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Avalon Hybrid Limited, the 530e offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 530e’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Avalon Hybrid’s passenger power window switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The 530e’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Avalon Hybrid’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Avalon Hybrid Limited’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The 530e’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the 530e to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a rear or rear side window sunshades.

The 530e offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Avalon Hybrid.