Compare the2022 Toyota Avalon HybridVS 2021 Lexus ES Series

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Environmental Friendliness
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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The Avalon Hybrid has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats (WIL), which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the WIL system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The ES Series doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The Avalon Hybrid has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the ES Series’ blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Avalon Hybrid has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the ES Series.

Both the Avalon Hybrid and the ES Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Avalon Hybrid is safer than the Lexus ES Series:

	Avalon Hybrid	ES Series
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	302	319
Chest Compression	.8 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	25%	33%
Leg Forces (l/r)	447/453 lbs.	473/518 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Avalon Hybrid is safer than the Lexus ES Series:

	Avalon Hybrid	ES Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	156 G’s	160 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	266	300
Spine Acceleration	41 G’s	43 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
HIC	267	326

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Avalon Hybrid for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the ES Series (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Avalon Hybrid’s warranty.

Reliability

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Lexus is ranked third.

Engine

The Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 12 more horsepower (215 vs. 203) than the ES 250 AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Avalon Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus ES Series (5 to 7). This means the Avalon Hybrid produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the ES Series every 15,000 miles.

Chassis

The front grille of the Avalon Hybrid uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ES Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Avalon Hybrid has 3.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the ES Series (103.8 vs. 99.9).

The Avalon Hybrid has .8 inches more front hip room, 2.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room and 2.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the ES Series.

Cargo Capacity

The Avalon Hybrid has a much larger trunk than the ES Series (16.1 vs. 13.9 cubic feet).

To allow full utilization of available cargo room, the Avalon Hybrid’s trunk lid uses concealed beam hinges that don’t intrude into the trunk. The ES Series’ useful trunk space is reduced by its intrusive beam hinge.

The Avalon Hybrid’s standard rear seats fold to accommodate long and bulky cargo. The ES Series doesn’t offer folding rear seats, only a ski pass-through.

Ergonomics

The Avalon Hybrid’s speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The ES Series’ standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Consumer Reports rated the Avalon Hybrid’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the ES Series’ headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Avalon Hybrid has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the ES Series. The Avalon Hybrid Limited also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the ES Series.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Avalon Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Avalon Hybrid will cost $270 to $5480 less than the ES Series over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Avalon Hybrid will be $5713 to $6047 less than for the Lexus ES Series.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Avalon Hybrid and the Lexus ES Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.