My hybrid is fine. My kid's Prime--the heat is inadequate for Upstate NY winters when in EV mode, fine in ICE mode.

 

PHEVs best to run in Hybrid, so ICE will run to get heat quick. Once warm, then force car to EV mode, so you aren't wasting a lot of EV miles trying to make heat.
OR just engage Auto EV/Hybrid mode.

 

Just got rid of S550 and bought new XLE Hybrid. Heat and air work great. Better satisfied altogether with it than with the 550.

 

Generally speaking, Toyota HVAC systems are pretty awesome. If you opt for the Limited Hybrid- the combination of the awesome HVAC system plus the heated/cooled seats and heated steering wheel will likely be just as good- if not better- than your older Lexus LS460.

 

You won’t have a problem. Just when it is very cold your heater will throw out more heat in Normal drive mode vs ECO Mode.

 

I am not aware of a spec list to compare the AC units and their respective cooling power (BTU's?) among Toyota vehicles, although it would be nice to see this. I would expect the AC cooling power to be noticeably lower in the Avalon compared to the LS for several reasons:

• the LS has a larger 4.6L V8 that is less impacted by the draw of a stronger AC unit
• as the flagship Lexus model, there isn't a priority on fuel consumption
• the LS has more interior volume (18 cu ft versus 16.1 cu ft) to cool
• starting price of the LS is almost $30k more than the Avalon, one can assume it has more of everything, including the AC

That last point can really apply to every area of the Avalon (except fuel economy and maintenance costs), I would set expectations accordingly. I'm wondering if it would be an easier transition going to a 2020 GS first before going from an LS to an Avalon?

 

I have limited non hybrid version and they are cold af, minimum fan speed and i can still hear the fan

 

HVAC will be fine on any Toy/Lex hybrid.
Getting windows tinted (preferably w/ Ceramic film) will absolutely help w/ AC, in addition to UV protection and heat rejection. Ceramic film costs a lot more than Carbon, but worth it if you can afford it. Only get Ceramic or Carbon; don't bother w/ any other type of film.

If you really want to maximize fuel efficiency in Winter, and have a nice warm interior cabin during Winter, get the Comfort+ Heating accessory that is only sold in CAN. It is a solid product and needs to be sold in USA too!
DEFA is the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacture) supplier to Toyota CAN, under the accessory Toyota Comfort+. DEFA supplies same product to other auto manufactures.
DEFA Engine heater is sold separetley and vehicle specific.

You would probably have an easier time buying it direct from a CAN parts seller, such as Action Trucks. Hopefully they will sell to USA.

 

I live along the Canadian border... 2022 Limited Hybrid and have had no problems with heat or a/c!

 

Depending on your trim level and option packages, you can get (and I use) the heated steering wheel and the seat heaters for the first 2 miles. After that I turn them off because by then the ICE has warmed the anti-freeze and the thermostat makes sure that it stays at a temperature sufficient to power the cabin heat and defrost. While I'm not in Chicago, it does get to 5F here and I have zero problem. Wife's Avalon Hybrid Limited loaded has received no complaints.

While the ICE is in warm up mode, the thermostat is closed on most cars and the heater is in the path of the warming water. So it is warm before anti-freeze is routed to the radiator.

Not aware the thermostat opening limit that controls the temperatures of the anti-freeze that enters the heater core after warm up is any different on a 4 and a 6 or 8.

 

Toyota Hybrid system does not have the side belt, so heating and cooling are not directly related to the engine.
In classic engine, coolant pump is powered by engine directly, so coolant goes different routes based on it's temperature (because you can't stop the pump). Hybrid system is more effective because of electric heat pump that is operated by a microcontroller (complete stop, full stream and anything between). That's why hybrid engine gets heated much faster and can send the heat to the cabin faster and more efficient.
For cooling, again, no direct connection to the engine anymore. Classic car design connects ac compressor to the engine, so bigger rpm means cooler air. In hybrid you can clearly see the orange wires to the ac compressor. It has all its power with or without the gas engine turned on.
Overall, climate system of hybrid and non-hybrid are apples to oranges. IMHO, hybrid climate performs better and more efficient (and that's one of the reasons why I got one).

 

Heat and air work as well or better than any vehicle I've had before.
Glass clears quickly in the morning, AC will freeze my butt off... to the point that when outside temps are above 75, I often find that I ramp the AC controls from 68 up to 72 because it can get uncomfortably cold.
Heat works well, the hybrid system runs the ICE to maintain cabin heat, so it hurts economy, BUT, it has an electric water pump and radiator shutters, so it comes up to temp much more quickly since the ECU can regulate the temperature. I start feeling the heater blowing warm in less than 2 miles.

Worst cabin heat I ever had was my '06 Duramax. Had it not been for the heated seats, I'd have had virtually no heat for the first 30 miles.

 

I’ve had an older LS460 as well. Now in a 2019 Toyota Hybrid Limited, no issues with heating or cooling. The car is nice with diamond stitching along with other newer tech. While you can’t beat the build quality of Toyota/Lexus’ flagship “The LS460,” getting about 35+ Mpg vs. 17 with a heavy foot is nice especially with gas prices where it’s at.

 

Thanks. I am in the process of buying a very lightly used 2020 and can't wait!

 

First day in the upper 80's / very humid here in Chicagoland and the AC worked very well. Thanks for all the replies.