Compare the2023 Lexus ESVS 2022 Toyota Avalon Hybrid

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

Safety

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The ES 250 AWD has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The ES’ 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 ES and the Avalon Hybrid 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning 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 Lexus ES is safer than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

	ES	Avalon Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	120	162
Neck Injury Risk	24%	35%
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.8 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	180 lbs.
Neck Compression	62 lbs.	64 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 Lexus ES is safer than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

	ES	Avalon Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	85	163
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.8 inches
Hip Force	264 lbs.	318 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	541 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	570 lbs.	719 lbs.

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

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ES the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon Hybrid last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2022.

Warranty

The ES 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.

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the ES 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Avalon Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 6 years or 70,000 miles. Coverage on the Avalon Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ES’ corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Avalon Hybrid’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the ES has a standard 603-amp battery. The Avalon Hybrid’s 582-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Lexus vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Lexus above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The ES 250 AWD’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 184 lbs.-ft. more torque (184 vs. ) than the Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The ES 350’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 87 more horsepower (302 vs. 215) and 267 lbs.-ft. more torque (267 vs. ) than the Avalon Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the ES 350 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Toyota Avalon Hybrid:

	ES	Avalon Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	3 sec	3.5 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.2 sec	4.9 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	16.5 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ES 300h gets better fuel mileage than the Avalon Hybrid XSE/Limited (43 city/44 hwy vs. 43 city/43 hwy).

The ES’ standard fuel tank has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Hybrid (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	ES	Avalon Hybrid
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.1 inches	11 inches

The ES stops shorter than the Avalon Hybrid:

	ES	Avalon Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	132 feet	135 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

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

The ES offers an available 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 ES F Sport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The ES has .1 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom and .7 inches more rear headroom than the Avalon Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key and remote trunk release lockout, the ES 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 ES. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ES’ power trunk can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Avalon Hybrid doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening trunk.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Lexus service is better than Toyota. J.D. Power ranks Lexus first in service department satisfaction. With a 49% lower rating, Toyota is ranked 20th.

Ergonomics

The ES 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.

The ES’ 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 ES’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. 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 ES’ 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.

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

Economic Advantages

The ES will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the ES will retain 42.74% to 46.28% of its original price after five years, while the Avalon Hybrid only retains 42.31% to 42.59%.

Recommendations

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

The Lexus ES outsold the Toyota Avalon by over three to one during 2022.

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