Compare the2023 BMW 330eVS 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The 330e’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 330e offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The 330e’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 330e 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW 330e is safer than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

	330e	Avalon Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	145	162
Neck Injury Risk	23%	35%
Neck Stress	207 lbs.	220 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	201/230 lbs.	499/567 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	252	302
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	170 lbs.	180 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	200/338 lbs.	447/453 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 BMW 330e is safer than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

	330e	Avalon Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	107	163
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	252 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	532 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	13 inches
Hip Force	544 lbs.	719 lbs.

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

Warranty

The 330e 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 330e’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Avalon Hybrid’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 330e for 1 year and 11000 miles longer than Toyota pays for maintenance for the Avalon Hybrid (3/36,000 vs. 2/25000).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the 330e has a standard 720-amp battery. The Avalon Hybrid’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the 330e is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the 330e’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Avalon Hybrid’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The 330e’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.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the 330e running on electricity gets better mileage than the Avalon Hybrid:

			MPGe
330e
	RWD	Electric Motor	72 city/80 hwy
	AWD	Electric Motor	64 city/71 hwy
Avalon Hybrid
			MPG
	FWD	XLE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/44 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	43 city/43 hwy

The 330e can travel with zero emissions for 20 to 23 miles (dependent on model). The Avalon Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 1.6 miles.

Transmission

The 330e’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.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 330e’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Avalon Hybrid:

	330e	330e	Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade	Avalon Hybrid
Front Rotors	13 inches	13.7 inches	11.7 inches	12 inches
Rear Rotors	13 inches	13.6 inches	11 inches	11.1 inches

The 330e’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.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 330e has larger standard tires than the Avalon Hybrid (225/45R18 vs. 215/55R17).

The 330e’s standard 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. The 330e’s optional 255/35R19 rear tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Hybrid XSE Nightshade’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 330e 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 330e 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.

Suspension and Handling

The 330e 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 330e 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.

Chassis

The 330e is 10 inches shorter than the Avalon Hybrid, making the 330e easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The 330e has 1.3 inches more front headroom and .5 inches more rear headroom than the Avalon Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the 330e’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the 330e 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 330e. 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 330e 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.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 330e 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 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 18% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Avalon Hybrid Limited, the 330e has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The 330e’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 330e’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 330e’s optional 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.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW 330e and the Toyota Avalon Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The BMW 3 Series outsold the Toyota Avalon by over two to one during the 2021 model year.