Top Safety Pick +

2017 Toyota Avalon

large car / 4-door sedan

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights; applies only to vehicles built after March 2017

2017 Toyota Avalon 4-door sedan — 2016 Toyota Avalon shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2015-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Toyota Avalon XLE 4-door

The Toyota Avalon was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Beginning with 2015 models, the front structure was modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but nearly slid off the left side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward side structure. Additionally, the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the dummy’s head and torso. The side curtain airbag deployed but does not have sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with forward side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag deployed.

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but then nearly slid off the left side. The side curtain airbag did not extend far enough forward toward the A-pillar to protect the head from possible contact with forward side structure.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1446
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	4
Footrest (cm)	4
Left toepan (cm)	3
Brake pedal (cm)	4
Parking brake (cm)	8
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	2
Upper dash (cm)	3
Lower instrument panel (cm)	3

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	CEN1446
Head
HIC-15	137
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm)	20
Maximum Nij	0.31
Chest maximum compression (mm)	20
Femur (kN)
Left	1.0
Right	1.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1
Right	2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.64
Right	0.70
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	3.0
Right	3.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	57
Right	50

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Toyota Avalon XLE 4-door

The Toyota Avalon was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1215
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	6
Left (cm)	8
Center (cm)	5
Right (cm)	5
Brake pedal (cm)	6
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	1
Right (cm)	2
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	0
Rearward (cm)	-3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	2

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF1215
Head
HIC-15	179
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.5
Extension bending moment (Nm)	16
Maximum Nij	0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm)	30
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	1.7
Femur force - right (kN)	1.9
Knee displacement - left (mm)	1
Knee displacement - right (mm)	2
Maximum tibia index - left	0.54
Maximum tibia index - right	0.46
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	2.1
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	2.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	38
Right	63

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Toyota Avalon XLS 4-door with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags

The Toyota Avalon was redesigned for the 2013 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Toyota.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS1218
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-14.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1218
Head HIC-15	324
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.8
Compression (kN)	0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	36
Lateral force (kN)	1.2
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	16
Average deflection (mm)	13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	3.93
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.18
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.8
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.8
Combined force (kN)	3.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.5
L-M moment (Nm)	51
A-P moment (Nm)	25

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS1218
Head HIC-15	37
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.0
Compression (kN)	0.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	10
Lateral force (kN)	1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	23
Average deflection (mm)	19
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.96
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.27
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.5
Acetabulum force (kN)	0.8
Combined force (kN)	1.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	1.0
L-M moment (Nm)	120
A-P moment (Nm)	30

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-18 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Toyota Avalon XLE 4-door

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,426 lbs
Peak force	17,900 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.22

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power leather seats
Geometry
Backset (mm)	28
Distance below top of head (mm)	22
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	12.4
Head contact time (ms)	62
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	0
Max neck tension (N)	423

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 6 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

Limited trim; built after March 2017
Hybrid Limited trim; built after March 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right curve and inadequate on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Limited trim Hybrid Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models built after March 2017

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	83.7 m	None
Straightaway left edge	40.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	65.6 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	39.7 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	58.5 m	None
150m radius left curve, right edge	40.5 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	153.1 m
Straightaway left edge	135.4 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	75.4 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	63.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	60.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	47.6 m

Trim level(s)

Touring trim; built after March 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models built after March 2017

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	85.4 m	None
Straightaway left edge	47.2 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	61.3 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	43.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	52.2 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	42.1 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	141.8 m
Straightaway left edge	114.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	69.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	57.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	54.3 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	46.4 m

Trim level(s)

XLE trim; built after March 2017
XLE Plus trim; built after March 2017
XLE Premium trim; built after March 2017
Hybrid XLE Plus trim; built after March 2017
Hybrid XLE Premium trim; built after March 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	XLE trim XLE Plus trim XLE Premium trim Hybrid XLE Plus trim Hybrid XLE Premium trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2017-18 models built after March 2017

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	81.6 m	None
Straightaway left edge	37.6 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	49.4 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	38.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	43.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	36.4 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	160.1 m
Straightaway left edge	142.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	62.7 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	50.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	48.2 m

Trim level(s)

Touring trim; built before April 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right curve and inadequate on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Touring trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2017 models built before April 2017

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	79.1 m	None
Straightaway left edge	43.5 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	58.1 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	42.4 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	49.9 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	40.9 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	125.5 m
Straightaway left edge	94.2 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	65.5 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	56.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	50.8 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	45.7 m

Trim level(s)

XLE trim; built before April 2017
XLE Plus trim; built before April 2017
XLE Premium trim; built before April 2017
Hybrid XLE Plus trim; built before April 2017
Hybrid XLE Premium trim; built before April 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was inadequate on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	XLE trim XLE Plus trim XLE Premium trim Hybrid XLE Plus trim Hybrid XLE Premium trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2017 models built before April 2017

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	65.2 m	None
Straightaway left edge	33.0 m	None
250m radius right curve, right edge	45.7 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	35.3 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	42.8 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	33.9 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	146.7 m
Straightaway left edge	133.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	62.9 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	59.1 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	49.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	47.0 m

Trim level(s)

Limited trim; built before April 2017
Hybrid Limited trim; built before April 2017

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the gradual right and both left curves and inadequate on the sharp right curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Limited trim Hybrid Limited trim
Low-beam headlight type	HID projector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2016-17 models built before April 2017

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	88.2 m	143.8%
Straightaway left edge	57.4 m	143.8%
250m radius right curve, right edge	63.1 m	93.5%
250m radius left curve, left edge	51.1 m	38.1%
150m radius right curve, right edge	51.1 m	184.4%
150m radius left curve, left edge	46.2 m	23.1%

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	148.3 m
Straightaway left edge	132.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	71.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	69.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	54.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	55.1 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2017-18 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-18 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	Limited
Seat type	leather

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	Limited
Seat type	leather

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	26
Clearance angle (degrees)	70
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	21
Clearance angle (degrees)	84
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	20
Clearance angle (degrees)	80
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	32
Clearance angle (degrees)	62
Tether anchor
Location	Rear deck
Confusing hardware present	No
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	No
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation