any thoughts on a 2016 Toyota Avalon?

[ChrisMU]

Even with the low miles, that price seems a bit high for the age. My 2020 Avalon Limited was $30.5K when I bought it used in February of 2024 with 25K miles. You may want to check out the 2019-2022 body style if you’re thinking of getting an Avalon. I like the blind spot monitoring, but it doesn’t catch everything. If I didn’t have such a thick protective cell phone case, I’d like the wireless charging my Avalon offers. The interior has real wood accents and heated/ventilated leather seats. No auto stop/start… thankfully. I did 38.2 mpg on my way to work today, a personal best in that car. However, that brings me to the 8-speed transmission, which I’ve heard negative things about. I’ve been driving it in sport mode to help delay the shifts a bit. I’m not sure if the 8-speed was introduced with the newer body style, but I think the one you’re interested in has the 6-speed.

 

[PandaBear]

For another three grand you can have a new Camry, a very spacious and comfortable car that features Toyota's excellent hybrid system.

I think this is the main point.

Not saying Avalon barnfind is a bad car, they are great if you like them. For durability and cost effectiveness point of view a new hybrid Camry will be a better transportation for only 3k more than a 10 year old Avalon with 3.5 V6 sitting in the garage (I assume) for 10 years. You have to really want that for nostalgic reason to pay that much. If it is a sport car you couldn't afford as a kid I can understand, but for an old man car like Avalon, probably not for me.

Then again I have a coworker who wants to retore a Mazda MPV because he grew up in one, not because it is a great van.

 

[SShooterZ]

It’s the reason I bought my 2014 Lexus ES350 last year at 90k miles for $17k. I will say the ES350 is absolutely the better deal. Better leather seat material, better suspension, and better looks IMO. Last year when I was shopping the Avalons too, they were going for about $16k for the same miles and year. At 108k miles now and 30-31 mpg mostly highway. Upper 20’s with some city.

It might be a location thing, but when I was shopping in the latter part of 2025, the ES350 was typically more expensive, with more miles, than a comparable year Avalon. Trust me, I was trying to find one that would fit the bill, but, at least in the Midwest, I was having a hard time finding anything for a decent price with low miles on it. There was typically a $3K-$5K difference in cost in my experience. I think either way though, you can't go wrong.

 

[panthermike]

Absolutely love that platform. I would consider it at closer to 20k.

 

[Nick1994]

It might be a location thing, but when I was shopping in the latter part of 2025, the ES350 was typically more expensive, with more miles, than a comparable year Avalon. Trust me, I was trying to find one that would fit the bill, but, at least in the Midwest, I was having a hard time finding anything for a decent price with low miles on it. There was typically a $3K-$5K difference in cost in my experience. I think either way though, you can't go wrong.

I should clarify, this was private party postings. Dealers wanted $21k-$22k for an ES350 with the same specs I bought.

 

[meep]

Price seems high. But, this may be “peak Toyota” for where we stand right now. They are struggling a bit right now, tech is getting intense. In a few years the laws will have cameras watching our faces and everything we do is reported back for sales data with today’s new cars. Mid teens vehicles were safe and efficient without some of the latest tech that really is hard to handle. Thats a Lexus ES in Toyota badging, and might be 50 pounds short in noise insulation. Note, I test drove a 15 ES and it was a wonderful vehicle, and it was less in cost than that solara. 27k when it was 7 years old iirc.

 

[GON]

Gents, thanks for all the inputs, very beneficial.

Had a chance to look at the Avalon this afternoon. Nice car, but very bland interior. The seats specifically were very underwhelming..I would have expected more from the touring (sport) model. The body was in good shape, except some damage to the front bumper. Not surprised on the front bumper with that design and a senior driver.

I told the salesman I was going to pass. I would have bit in the mid to high teens. But not at $27k USD, not even at $20k USD. Note I don't need a vehicle. If I needed a vehicle my assessment might be very different.

If I end up getting a Avalon, I suspect I will consider a limited. Hopefully the limited has a.more inviting interior (seats).

 

[meep]

Gents, thanks for all the inputs, very beneficial.

Had a chance to look at the Avalon this afternoon. Nice car, but very bland interior. The seats specifically were very underwhelming..I would have expected more from the touring (sport) model. The body was in good shape, except some damage to the front bumper. Not surprised on the front bumper with that design and a senior driver.

I told the salesman I was going to pass. I would have bit in the mid to high teens. But not at $27k USD, not even at $20k USD. Note I don't need a vehicle. If I needed a vehicle my assessment might be very different.

If I end up getting a Avalon, I suspect I will consider a limited. Hopefully the limited has a.more inviting interior (seats).

Idk if you’ll see much styling for their interiors. Lexus puts some zing in theirs but the zing is sometimes edgy enough to flirt with “weird.” The Toyota variants tend to be bland, especially around those times.

They really haven’t figured it out and swung wildly the other way recently. The new trucks look like they hired all the Jeep interns when they graduated - over branded, over stylized - it’s all plastic. Granted, it seems to be thick, heavy, sturdy plastic (thank you) which doesn’t creak or rattle at all, for which I’m grateful.