Is Avalon owned by Toyota?
The Avalon is a model produced by Toyota Motor Corporation and sold under the Toyota brand; it is not owned by another company. This article explains who owns the name, how the model fits into Toyota’s lineup, and its current status in North America.
Overview: what the Avalon is and where it fits
The Avalon is a full-size sedan that Toyota historically positioned as its flagship in the North American market. It sits above the Camry in size and target comfort, offering a spacious interior and a focus on ride quality. The nameplate is owned by Toyota Motor Corporation, and the car has always carried the Toyota badge rather than a separate marque.
Origins and market positioning
To understand its place, note that Avalon was designed primarily for North America, where consumer demand for roomy, comfortable sedans supported its long-running presence. It shares engineering DNA with other Toyota models and has evolved across several generations while remaining brand-identified as a Toyota product.
Key milestones and characteristics of the Avalon include:
- Produced by Toyota Motor Corporation for sale under the Toyota brand
- Marketed mainly in North America as Toyota’s flagship sedan
- Known for a spacious interior, comfort-focused features, and a choice of powertrains
- Historically aligned with Toyota’s front-wheel-drive, large-car strategy
These points illustrate Avalon’s role as a Toyota-produced, brand-identified model designed for the U.S. and Canadian markets, with a focus on comfort and space.
Ownership, branding, and current market status
Ownership of the Avalon name and the rights to produce and market it are held by Toyota Motor Corporation. The model itself has always been associated with the Toyota brand rather than any independent company or dealer network. In recent years, Toyota reorganized how it presents its large-car lineup for North America, culminating in the retirement of the Avalon name in this region.
Current status in the North American market
In practice, Toyota ended production of the Avalon for the North American market after the 2022 model year. The company introduced the Toyota Crown as the lineup’s flagship sedan in subsequent years, effectively filling the same market segment the Avalon occupied, albeit with a different design philosophy and platform approach.
Replacement and market strategy:
- North American production of the Avalon ceased after the 2022 model year
- The Toyota Crown was launched as a successor-style flagship sedan in 2023 for the U.S. market
- The Avalon name has not been revived for the North American lineup; Crown serves the upper-range sedan role
These points show that while Toyota owns the Avalon name and produced the car for years, the model is no longer part of the current North American lineup, having been superseded by the Crown in recent years.
Summary
Yes—Avalon is a Toyota-owned model, historically Toyota’s large flagship sedan in North America. Production of the Avalon ended for the North American market after the 2022 model year, with the Crown taking on the flagship sedan role in the Toyota lineup. The Avalon remains a part of Toyota’s brand history, illustrating how automakers evolve their product portfolios to meet market demand.
Is a Toyota Avalon bigger than a Lexus ES 350?
Avalon vs ES 350: Dimensions
Both the Avalon and the ES 350 measure 195.9 inches in length, but the Lexus ES 350 offers extra width and height than the Avalon. Let's see how these exterior measurements affect how much room there is inside for you and your passengers.
Is an Avalon nicer than a Camry?
Neither car is definitively "better"; the choice depends on your priorities: the Avalon is a more luxurious and spacious sedan with a powerful standard V6 engine, while the Camry is more fuel-efficient, offers sportier handling, and generally has a lower starting price. The Avalon prioritizes a plush, comfortable ride with premium features, whereas the Camry balances comfort with more agile performance.
This video compares the Toyota Camry and Avalon, highlighting their differences in size, performance, and luxury: 57sToyotaJeff ReviewsYouTube · Jun 18, 2020
Toyota Avalon
- Best for: Luxury, comfort, and a smoother, quieter ride.
- Engine: Standard V6 engine for more power.
- Cabin: More premium materials, features like heated rear seats, and more standard equipment.
- Space: Larger and has more rear seat and trunk space.
- Audio: Available 14-speaker JBL audio system.
Toyota Camry
- Best for: Fuel economy, affordability, and sporty driving.
- Engine: Offers more engine choices, including a fuel-efficient four-cylinder option.
- Handling: More agile and responsive handling.
- Fuel Economy: Higher miles per gallon (MPG) for both its gas and hybrid versions.
- Audio: Available nine-speaker JBL system.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose the Avalon if you prioritize luxury, a spacious cabin, and a powerful standard engine, and your budget allows for a higher starting price.
- Choose the Camry if you are on a tighter budget, want better fuel efficiency, or prefer a more nimble and sportier driving experience.
Why did Toyota discontinue the Avalon?
Toyota discontinued the Avalon primarily due to a major shift in consumer preference from sedans to SUVs and crossovers. Declining sales for the full-size sedan segment, coupled with Toyota's strategy to focus on its SUV lineup and hybrid/electric vehicles, led to the decision to end production after the 2022 model year. The Toyota Crown replaced the Avalon as the company's flagship sedan, offering a new, high-riding design.
- Changing consumer demand: The popularity of SUVs and crossovers, which offer more space and versatility, has steadily eroded demand for traditional sedans like the Avalon.
- Focus on SUVs and hybrids: Toyota is prioritizing its resources on expanding its SUV lineup and developing more hybrid and electric vehicles to meet market trends.
- Declining sales: The Avalon's sales were falling, struggling to compete with other large sedans and even being outsold by the Camry, which was continuously improving.
- Replacement with the Toyota Crown: The Avalon was replaced by the high-riding, hybrid Toyota Crown, which is intended to appeal to a new generation of car buyers and fill the role of a premium sedan in the lineup.
- Market segmentation: The Avalon's role was also seen as overlapping with the more luxurious Lexus ES, and its design was sometimes seen as being difficult for taller drivers to get in and out of, a common complaint from some older buyers.
Did Toyota make a 2025 Avalon?
No, there is no 2025 Toyota Avalon. Toyota discontinued the Avalon in 2022 in North America, and the Toyota Crown has effectively replaced it as Toyota's full-size flagship sedan. While some online sources mention a hypothetical or imagined 2025 model, there is no production version available for purchase.
You can watch this video to see a comparison between the Toyota Crown and other sedans: 56sAuto Buyers Guide | Alex on AutosYouTube · Jul 15, 2022
- Discontinued in 2022: The Avalon was officially discontinued in the United States in 2022.
- Replaced by the Crown: The Toyota Crown was introduced as the new flagship sedan for the brand, though it is a hybrid-only model.
- No 2025 model: There is no official 2025 model year for the Avalon, and any mentions of one are either speculative or refer to a different vehicle, such as the Crown.
