2021 Toyota Venza Review: Stargazer
"The Toyota Venza returns as an upscale hybrid SUV with some unique features."
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Efficient hybrid powertrain
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Great trick roof
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Surprisingly stylish
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Upmarket for a Toyota
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Frustrating touch-sensitive buttons
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On the smaller side
In case you haven't noticed, comeback season is just around the corner. The Ford Bronco, Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet Blazer, Hummer, Toyota Supra, and Jeep Grand Cherokee have all been dusted and revived. Old names resort to nostalgia and help automakers introduce more modern machines. On the Toyota Venza 2021, the nameplate is given a completely new slate, exactly what the model needed after the failure of the first-generation model.
We doubt many people turned down Toyota's decision to cancel the Venza when it was discontinued in 2015, but the two-row midsize SUV landscape hasn't changed too much in six years. Most of the same competitors exist, and few have done anything to raise the bar. In this regard, the 2021 Venza is a curiosity. Its all-hybrid powertrain positions it as one of the few electrified options, while the stylish design and available Star Gaze roof are a clear indication of how Toyota positions it as a cut above its other SUVs. These characteristics also help the Venza stand out in the class of the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe.
The Venza is slightly more expensive, starting at $ 33,645 for the base LE fairing, though every model comes standard with all-wheel drive. Our test car was first-class Limited equipment with a few optional extras like a head-up display, Toyota's Star Gaze panoramic roof, and rain-sensitive windshield wipers priced at $ 43,100.
Design and interior
It is more difficult to make a vehicle look good than it sounds. Typically, fewer design elements and sleek lines are preferred – two things Toyota designers have turned away from in order to get vehicles with a more dramatic style. Toyota used a bit of caution with the Venza and it really works. The EV-like grille, the chrome part in the front that connects the headlights, the tall rear fenders and the thin taillights that are connected to a horizontal light give the new Venza a design that dwarfs the old model.
Double-row midsize SUVs are all about styling. Without the third row, automakers have some leeway to create more stylish designs. Some options, like the Hyundai Santa Fe, go a little too far to be unique, while others like the Honda Passport play things a little too safely. Toyota managed to hit a sweet spot with the curved design, but the design comes at the expense of the interior.
The Venza can be classified as a mid-size SUV, but it offers less interior space than the smaller Toyota RAV4 Hybrid on which it is based. That's not to say the Venza's interior space is cramped, it's just smaller than almost any other option in the class. The most obvious disadvantage is the lack of loading capacity. With the rear seats, the Venza offers just 28.7 cubic feet of cargo space. That number opens up to 54.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. That's less than most other midsize SUVs, which total around 70 cubic feet, and less than the RAV4 (69.8 cubic feet of cargo space).
The electrochromic glass roof can switch from matt to transparent at the push of a button.
Another problem we've encountered with other Toyotas is how noisy the interior can get. The four-cylinder engine sounds lively, especially when starting, and transfers a lot of vibration into the cabin. There is a noticeable amount of wind noise on the freeway that seems inappropriate for an upscale vehicle.
While the Venza doesn't offer a Lexus-like experience, the higher the trim ladder you climb, the higher it gets. The transition to the XLE cladding opens the door to stylish two-tone interiors, although synthetic leather upholstery is the most beautiful seat material and wood grain style cladding available. The SUV's true glory is the available Star Gaze panoramic roof, which is only available as an option for the Limited fairing. The electrochromic glass roof can be changed from matt to transparent at the push of a button, so that you can enjoy the entire panorama roof to the full. It's also a feature to brag about as it was previously reserved for ultra-luxury cars.
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
The material quality in our test car with limited equipment was impressive for an SUV of this class. Instead of hard plastic throughout the cabin like you find on many other Toyotas, there are soft-touch materials on almost every part you interact with. The design of the center console, faux wood trim, and faux leather upholstery all look fantastic, while the color palette, which in our tester was a mix of shades of gray, looked tasteful.
Technology, infotainment and driver assistance
The SUV's infotainment system mirrors those found on other Toyota models, unless you opt for the longest-range Venza. The standard infotainment system includes an 8.0-inch touchscreen, four USB ports, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, an integrated WiFi hotspot, six audio speakers, a wireless smartphone charger and Bluetooth. A JBL audio system with nine speakers and a 12.3-inch touchscreen are the few options available.
Joel Patel / Digital Trends
The touch screen is a typical Toyota product with the latest Entune system. Both touchscreens have outdated graphics and a tricky layout. In addition to its size, the larger 12.3-inch touchscreen has physical buttons. Both the HVAC and infotainment systems can be controlled using capacitive touch buttons, which are frustrating at best. The larger touchscreen offers a split-screen feature with a nifty feature that lets you choose which side of the screen is split, either right or left. This makes it easier for the driver or front passenger to interact.
The standard safety functions come from the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 Suite. The package includes traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and lane departure warning. The few optional safety functions include parking sensors, a head-up display and a parking camera with surround view.
Although the Venza is equipped with all sorts of safety features, we should point out that the quality of the cameras is not spectacular. The camera has a fisheye lens that distorts the image so much that the 360-degree view is no longer as helpful. Fortunately, the Venza is available with a video rearview mirror that allows the driver to see what's behind the vehicle unobstructed.
Experience at the wheel
Under the hood, the Venza uses the same hybrid powertrain as the RAV4 Hybrid, which consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors. All-wheel drive and a continuously variable automatic transmission are also included. It is the only available powertrain that makes the Venza one of the few hybrid vehicles in the mid-range segment and one of the few hybrid-only vehicles on the market.
Toyota claims the Venza has a total power of 219 hp. That might not sound like a lot, especially since the Murano, Blazer, Passport, and Edge are all available with six-cylinder engines. Ultimately, however, the lack of power doesn't affect the Venza's appeal.
In the real world, the Venza offers a lot of performance for everyday use. The hybrid powertrain fills gaps in which a four-cylinder engine alone makes you want more, making the mid-size SUV feel a lot livelier than its performance allows. The transition from gasoline to electricity is smooth, and the spaceship-like sound of running the Venza on electricity makes you feel like you are in the future. If you plan to drive around town a lot, there is an “EV mode” which ensures that the Venza runs on electricity only to save fuel or to get around in the most environmentally friendly way possible.
The Venza moves away from its stylish exterior design and is designed more for comfort than agility. A soft chassis leads to more relaxed cornering than other medium-sized SUVs. However, this results in a comfortable ride over all road conditions. There is a "Sports" mode, but it doesn't make much sense in this application. Instead, we put it in "Eco" mode and left it there for most of the week.
If you need an SUV to tow cargo, you'd better look elsewhere as the Venza isn't towable at all.
Fuel economy and safety
The Venza's drivetrain may make some drivers want more power, but it makes up for it in terms of fuel economy. You get premium fuel economy values of 39 mpg (40 mpg city, 37 mpg highway) with all-wheel drive. While that's not as good as the RAV4 Hybrid (40 mpg combined), it is far better than any other two-row midsize SUV, and better than any other midsize hybrid SUV. The all-new Kia Sorento Hybrid comes closest with a combined rating of 37 mpg.
The Road Safety Insurance Institute (IIHS) has named the Toyota Top Safety Pick in 2021. This is the organization's second highest rating. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the SUV with a total of five stars.
In the real world, the Venza offers a lot of performance for everyday use.
Toyota covers the Venza with a three-year base warranty of 36,000 miles and a five-year warranty of 60,000 miles on the powertrain. These are average for mainstream brands, though Kia and Hyundai lead the segment with a five-year base warranty of 60,000 miles and a ten-year warranty of 100,000 miles for the powertrain.
Like other Toyota hybrids, the Venza offers a 10-year warranty on 150,000 miles of battery and an eight-year warranty of 100,000 miles on components that make up the hybrid system.
How DT would configure this car
Priced at over $ 40,000, our Venza Limited test vehicle showed off all of the things that help the SUV stand out in the packed class. While it is possible to get into a cheaper Venza, you'll have to opt for the expensive Limited fairing to get the fantastic Star Gaze roof. We think it's one of the most sophisticated technologies out there and it's worth having.
So we're sticking with the Limited and spending the extra $ 1,400 on the Star Gaze roof. This gives you a stylish, well-equipped SUV with a feature that the entire neighborhood will be the envy of.
Our opinion
Few SUVs cause waves these days. While the 2021 Toyota Venza doesn't take the SUV class to a new level or rethink anything about booting vehicles, it has a unique feature and design to make it a distinctive choice.
The Chevrolet Blazer offers a sportier design borrowed from the Chevrolet Camaro sports car. It has a more spacious cabin, a more powerful V6 engine and sportier handling than the Venza. The Toyota Hybrid is far more efficient and has more technical features.
If you're off-road and want something that can haul up to 5,000 pounds, check out the Honda Passport. It has a ground clearance of 8.1 inches, an intelligent traction management system for different terrain and weather conditions and a powerful V6 engine. The pass cannot compete with the Venza in terms of fuel economy, interior design or technical features.
The new Hyundai Santa Fe is another two-row midsize SUV offered with a hybrid powertrain. While it may not be as efficient as the Venza or as well equipped in terms of safety features, it has a more spacious interior, even more technology, a more powerful drivetrain and a broader warranty.
Should you get one
Yes. A far better SUV than its predecessor, the Venza is enough to make you feel unique in a packed segment.
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