The 2021 Toyota Venza just debuted as an all-new midsize two-row crossover utility vehicle (CUV) that is set to rival the new Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia. The 2021 Toyota Venza is offered exclusively with a hybrid powertrain and all-wheel drive, and is estimated to return a combined 40 mpg in LE trim.
Based on Toyota New Global Architecture K platform, which is used for both crossovers and sedans, the 2021 Toyota Venza offers space for five passengers, and comes with 36.3 cubic-feet of cargo room behind the second row seats.
The crossover is available with a nine-speaker JBL stereo, 12.3-inch touchscreen, seven-inch multi-information display, and 10-inch head-up display. Standard spec includes a six-speaker audio and eight-inch touchscreen.
The 2021 Toyota Venza is also offered with a digital rearview mirror, fixed panoramic glass roof, and heated and ventilated seats. The glass roof feature comes with electrochromatic glass technology, which enables the user to quickly switch between a clear or frosted appearance, as desired.
The new Venza also comes with a wide variety of standard safety features, such as Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Automatic High Beams, Pre-Collision System with Daytime/Low-Light Vehicle and Pedestrian Detection, Lane Tracing Assist, and Road Sign Assist.
Powering the crossover is a hybrid setup that combines a 2.5L four-cylinder internal combustion engine with three electric motors and a lithium-ion battery pack. Combined output for the system is rated at 219 horsepower. The setup also has multiple driving modes, including Normal, Eco, and Sport, to customize the driving experience. There’s even an EV mode that runs on electric power only, which is useful for short distances.
Power is applied to the pavement though an electronic AWD system with a rear-mounted electric motor that provides up to 80 percent of driving force to the rear wheels. Speaking of which, 18-inch wheels are equipped as standard, while 19-inchers are equipped higher in the range.
The 2021 Toyota Venza is estimated to start at $34,000, and arrives in dealers this summer.
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Comments
Considering the hybrid only powertrain, it will be interesting to see what kind of quantities this sells in. Power surely won’t be this cuv’s strong suit.
I’m sure the GM fans who complain about GMs good enough attitude will find this compelling and can become Toyota fans.
If they offer a V6 – along with all that standard safety equipment… they are going to put a dent in the Mexican Blazer sales. GM needs to add some value options without high cost option packages. The Blazer has so many different packages – all pretty costly
While I generally like the Blazer, I’m disappointed that the driver assist technologies are only available in the upper trim levels. I do not want leather seats, but can not get driver assist of the better instrument cluster unless I pay for the RS or Premium trim levels which are way too expensive and have other features that I do not want.
Toyota’s Venza will have a hybrid variant and since General Motors CEO Mary Barra hates hybrids for US market, Barra will do nothing because it is unlikely that the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer will come with a turbo diesel engine.
Get real. Nobody “hates” hybrids. GM simply can’t afford to focus on hybrids and EVs simultaneously, and sees EVs as the long-term future.
Also: when it comes to mainstream vehicles, hybrids continue to make up a relatively small percentage of overall sales. The Venza, being hybrid only, might change that a bit… but it will fight in a very competitive segment.
@Alex Luft
I agree with you Alex. I am happy that Mary Barra actually had the vision and foresight to realize that EV’s are the Future and not Hybrid vehicles. I think Toyota will have to purchase a Startup down the Road to gain EV tech that they will be greatly missing in their R&D portfolio.
alex –
unless gm threw a ton of cash on the hood, i’d take this over a blazer.
it kicks ass on gas mileage and comes awd standard for the same money.
no competition there. and if you don’t agree, list all of the reasons why someone should buy a blazer over the venza.
Looks solid but just in time for low fuel prices, electricfication and a financial depression…
unless you opt for the cheapest version of the blazer, it costs about the same if the $34K is accurate.
and awd is standard. the cheapest blazer with awd actually costs more.
Why yes, AWD is useful in the Southwest, deep Southeast, TX and so….😉. The big advantage is not the hybrid system as most enviros prefer a total electric rather than a hybrid but the other standard features, unless the base Blazer is an fleet special .
enviros may prefer full electric but most can’t afford one.
i agree a lot of people don’t need awd.
but you are getting that and hybrid gas mileage(40mpg) basically for what you would pay for a fwd blazer that gets 19/26 mpg..
so that is the new standard and gm has no answer except a wishy/washy ev promise down the road.
Why GM have to have an answer?. Do Ford, Honda, Kia, FCA have an answer?, GM will probably have a full electric CUV alternative with similar price to the current Blazer. Will Toyota have an answer for this?.
in the ev segment, gm currently has an answer to a question nobody asked … where can i get a $35K ev econobox?
You mean the 2nd best seller in it’s class behind the (excellent) Model 3?. While true it’s not a Playboy model spread the Bolt isn’t less competitive in it’s set and to be complemented by several other variants. Toyota is nowhere near this type of R&D of E/Vs, while Venza is ok it won’t have the impact like the Prius had.
in 2019, less than 17K bolts were sold.
toyota sold over 90K hybrid rav-4 that same year. so they sold 5X as many and they didn’t lose thousands on each one sold.
i hope the day when gm rolls out a profitable blazer sized ev for $35K comes soon but i’ll believe when i see it.
It really depends on what you are looking for. You can get 2.0t Blazer with awd for about 2k more than what they are estimating the Venza to start out as. Sure Chevy skimpy out on interior features and materials. But at the same time the blazer is one of the best handling fwd/awd SUVs on the market. So it really depends on what you are looking for. Do you want to have performance or do you choose efficiency? With the way SUVs are going people will want to value both efficiency and performance. Because even now most people cant afford both a weekend car and an econo-car. With current technology you can make an SUV both by offering different engines for economy or for performance. You can also do both simultaneously with an EV.
I am certainly NOT a Toyota fan. But this was looking very nice in the pics until I got to that ugly dash! Once again, a huge (ugly) screen dominates everything else. Oh, well. Doesn’t matter because I will never buy a Toyota anyhow.
@Dan Berning
I agree with you. That Screen looks like a complete afterthought. No design to it at all.
But as much as I hate to give Toyota credit, they once again Leapfrogged Chevrolet Interior Materials. GM needs to step up their interior game ASAP. Why can’t they steal someone from another Company and give that person total control. It is Badly needed especially at Chevrolet
The steering wheel is the problem. If you are going to put leather somewhere put it where you will touch! You touch the steering wheel more than the center console!
I am so tired of this….this silver CUV craze. They are all the same. This one may be brand new but it looks just like plenty of stuff roaming the roads today. I still consider myself a car guy but I find it impossible to generate any enthusiasm for most new vehicle introductions today. They’re just boring silver boxes with a bunch of swoopy lines on the side to disguise what they really are.
I wish somebody would have the courage to do something different, to build something beautiful again. I saw a Ferrari 488 in traffic a few days ago and it was just stunning and the silhouette of that Modena creation in the sea of SUVs reminded me just how dull most of today’s vehicles have become.
Too many Feminazis buying CUVs and Bubbas buying Bro-trucks ultimately change the car scene in America. Maybe this economic crash will reset the buying demographics for fun, affordable, lighter sedans and a coupe or so.
I certainly hope so, GM offers very few options for that market. In a couple years that is the exact type of vehicle I’ll want. I would love to see a performance based SS hot hatch in the B/C segment for around $30k, keep it on par with a GTI. I’d prefer if they carried on the Sonic nameplate just cause Sonic SS sounds cooler than Cruze SS. I’d also love to see a larger D/E segment RWD Chevy with a base model starting a little closer to 35K too. Maybe also offer this a Buick, too. There would be a bunch of cool nameplates too revive for that!
While everyone here knows how I feel about Toyota (I cannot stand them HAHA) the new Venza and heck even more so the new Sienna minivan once again shows how far behind GM (especially Chevrolet Brand) is in interior Materials and in their Gauge Cluster that are from like 10 years ago compared to other Auto Makers. GM needs to step up their interior game and in a Huge way. Chevrolet has by miles the worse interior materials in the Business. Except the C8 and New Tahoe. So hopefully those two all new vehicles will show us that once and for all GM is taking interiors seriously. But the Base Tahoe still has a Gauge Cluster from 10 years ago design and Tech wise.
The Venza has a decent front and rear end but man those overhangs are terrible. Makes the whole thing look terrible which makes me happy.
I honestly thought I was looking at a Ford Escape MCE for 2022 or something. These cookie cutter CUV’s are all looking so similar. It truly is sad how we have evolved purely into a function at the cost of form beauty and color society.
This is another problem for GM. Every Toyota offer more value than any GM vehicle and then add its insane reliability reputation. This will do very well as it slots near their Highlander which is near bullet proof.
GM is cheap and everything they make reflects it, styling, warranty, customer service, interiors, “value”, the list is pathetically endless. 90% of what they make is off the same platform so you’d think they’d up the ante on value but they cheap it out to gain that extra nickel not the extra market share. There are literally millions of dollars in 1 point of market share growth but they look at the pennies saved on crappy “jet black” plastic interiors. Its a shame the way the MB era is dramatically ruining GM.
I am not necessary a GM fan. I want to be but I haven’t forgiven them for taking a federal bailout. I am feeling some better now that GM is making mask to fight the coronavirus.
However, my dad bought a Buick LaCrosse and it rode like a Lexus. Driving it four hours felt like only one hour of driving. Very tight car and luxurious. It’s sad that GM decided to stop making the car after the 2020 model.
I have been driving a 2016 Malibu Limited and I love it. Great looking and great gas mileage. It is my second Malibu.
I look forward to the return of the new Trailblazer, to check it out. As far as the returning Venue, I think I like the looks of the original model a few years ago.
I am not necessary a GM fan. I want to be but I haven’t forgiven them for taking a federal bailout. I am feeling some better now that GM is making mask to fight the coronavirus.
However, my dad bought a Buick LaCrosse and it rode like a Lexus. Driving it four hours felt like only one hour of driving. Very tight car and luxurious. It’s sad that GM decided to stop making the car after the 2020 model.
I have been driving a 2016 Malibu Limited and I love it. Great looking and great gas mileage. It is my second Malibu.
I look forward to the return of the new Trailblazer, to check it out. As far as the returning Venza, I think I like the looks of the original model a few years ago.
All the major manufacturers took federal loans during that bail out, so you shouldn’t feel any shame being a GM enthusiast. I checked out a new trail blazer in person. The fit and finish is actually much better than I expected. The 9 speed transmission really sets this vehicle apart from many in its class. Many competitors at this price point only offer 6-speeds or CVTs. It would be nice to see GM incorporate the research from the Tremec DCT found in the new Corvette into some future consumer models.
Thanks h4ckaw for your comments. I don’t think Ford took bailout. Too bad I am not a FORD guy!
H4cksaw is correct on the fact that most major manufactures took out loans during that time period. The reasoning for some manufactures getting bailouts, is because financial institutions ran out of money to safely loan out. For instance if GM or Dodge/Chrysler took a loan out before Ford would have. Ford would have probably needed a bailout instead.
Those that keep that bailout outrage going, just think for a second, who got fired for trying to get some credit to keep GM going and who lined their pockets with the TARP fund. Still mad at GM?
Just another faceless name less CUV that will be out sold by a cheaper Kia.
Sadly these are what make money.
More a Blazer competitor than Acadia.
The exterior design is pretty nice, but that touchscreen looks like it was an afterthought and glued on. Also, it appears that all interior functions (like HVAC) are all controlled via the touchscreen like Volvo’s Sensus architecture. And, I am not a fan of CVTs. I realize they’re used to improve gas mileage, but their driveability is very annoying. It seems that Japanese cars have been falling behind the last few years, sad to say IMHO.
Obviously inspired by… the Blazer. They’ll sell a lot of these.
Kia has to be hurting Honda. Kia comes out with a new model every month it seems.
Folks I know who have a Honda, Toyota or Kia, love them! My sister just bought a new Honda CR V Touring and she loves it !!
The larger the screen the better I like it.
Buy Impala ! Voted best larger car for years and no longer!