Compare the2023 Lexus ISVS 2022 Toyota Avalon

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

Safety

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

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

Both the IS and the Avalon 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 IS is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	IS	Avalon
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	282	302
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	180 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	399/459 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 Lexus IS is safer than the Toyota Avalon:

	IS	Avalon
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	142	163
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	162	266
Spine Acceleration	28 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	438 lbs.	686 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	38 G’s
Hip Force	650 lbs.	719 lbs.

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

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the IS its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 96 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Avalon is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2022.

Warranty

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

Lexus’ powertrain warranty covers the IS 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Avalon. 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 ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

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

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Avalon isn’t in the top three in its category.

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 IS 350 F Sport’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (311 vs. 301) and 13 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The IS 500’s standard 5.0 DOHC V8 produces 171 more horsepower (472 vs. 301) and 128 lbs.-ft. more torque (395 vs. 267) than the Avalon’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 300 AWD 3.5 DOHC V6 is faster than the Toyota Avalon:

	IS	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	5.7 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	14.3 sec	14.6 sec

As tested in Motor Trend the IS 500 5.0 DOHC V8 is faster than the Toyota Avalon (base engine):

	IS	Avalon
Zero to 60 MPH	4.3 sec	6.1 sec
Quarter Mile	12.7 sec	14.6 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	112.7 MPH	98.4 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The IS has 2.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon XLE’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The IS has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s standard fuel tank (17.4 vs. 15.8 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	IS	IS 500 Performance	Avalon
Front Rotors	13.1 inches	14 inches	11.7 inches
Rear Rotors	11.7 inches	12.7 inches	11 inches

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

The IS stops much shorter than the Avalon:

	IS	Avalon
70 to 0 MPH	159 feet	171 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the IS has larger standard tires than the Avalon (235/45R18 vs. 215/55R17).

The IS 300’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 XLE’s standard 55 series tires. The F Sport Design’s tires have a lower 35 series profile than the Avalon Touring’s 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the IS 300 has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Avalon XLE.

Suspension and Handling

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

The IS 350 F Sport handles at .93 G’s, while the Avalon Touring pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The IS 500 Performance executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Avalon Touring (25.2 seconds @ .74 average G’s vs. 26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the IS’ turning circle is 3.5 feet tighter than the Avalon XLE’s (34.2 feet vs. 37.7 feet). The IS AWD’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Avalon Limited/Touring’s (35.4 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

Chassis

The IS is 10.5 inches shorter than the Avalon, making the IS easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The IS has .8 inches more front headroom and 2.7 inches more front legroom than the Avalon.

Cargo Capacity

With its sedan body style, valet key, locking rear seatbacks and remote trunk release lockout, the IS offers cargo security. The Avalon’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 IS. The Avalon doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the IS is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Avalon. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

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 IS 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 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Avalon Limited/Touring, the IS offers an optional driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The IS’ instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Avalon does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The IS’ optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Avalon’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Avalon Limited/Touring’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The IS’ 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 IS to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Avalon doesn’t offer a rear sunshade.

Economic Advantages

The IS will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the IS will retain 44.72% to 48.44% of its original price after five years, while the Avalon only retains 43.2% to 43.69%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the IS is less expensive to operate than the Avalon because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the IS than the Avalon, including $50 less for front brake pads, $16 less for a fuel pump, $8 less for front struts and $213 less for a timing belt/chain.

Recommendations

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the IS first among compact premium cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Avalon isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Lexus IS outsold the Toyota Avalon by 17% during the 2021 model year.

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