After six-year, Toyota Venza is returning to the market in 2021 as a superior to the 2015 model, equipped with many luxury features. Toyota discontinued the Venza series after the 2015 model, citing “customer preference, competitiveness within the segment, and deteriorating sales.” The new Venza 2021 is a midsize hybrid-only SUV with an elegant design. The vehicle comes in three different editions LE, XLE, and Limited.
What differences between Toyota Venza LE, XLE, and Limited?
These three editions are almost identical in the interior or exterior dimensions, mileage estimates, engine, powertrain, and transmission. Only a few cosmetic changes are available among these models, but they are significant enough to be considered before purchase. Each significant difference between versions will be highlighted in the following sections.
How is the new exterior of the Toyota Venza?
The new Venza comes with a new luxury look. Here is some information on the vehicle’s exterior, which a customer would need to look in. The car can be brought in several colors. Coastal Gray Metallic, Blizzard Perl, Black, Celestial Black, Ruby Flare Pearl, Titanium Glow, and Blueprint are the available colors to pick from. Except for the Celestial Black, all other colors are available for LE and Limited editions. Celestial Black comes only for the XLE edition.
All three editions, LE, XLE, and the Limited editions share some common features.
| Common exterior features |
|---|
| Intermittent rear window wiper |
| Color-keyed roof-mounted shark-fin antenna |
| Height-adjustable, hands-free power liftgate with jam protection |
| Privacy glass on all rear side, quarter, and liftgate windows |
| Dual chrome-tipped exhaust |
| Multi-layer dark gray front grille with chrome accent |
| LED taillights and stop lights |
| Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers |
Apart from those common features mentioned above, there are some features that are different in LE and XLE/Limited editions.
| LE | XLE/Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Projector headlights | Multi-reflector LED headlights and Automatic High Beams (AHB) | LED projector headlights and Automatic High Beams (AHB) |
| LED taillights and stop lights | Black rear spoiler with LED center stop light | Color-keyed with gloss-black accent rear spoiler with full-width LED center stop light |
| Daylights | LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | Dual LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) |
| Front/Rear Bumper | Black bumper garnish | Black bumper garnish with chrome accent |
| Wheel | 18″ multi-spoke, two-tone machine-finished alloy wheels with 225/60R18 tires | 19″ multi-spoke, super chrome alloy wheels with 225/55R19 tires |
| lock/unlock | Color-keyed outside door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature on front doors | Color-keyed outside door handles with touch-sensor lock/unlock feature on all doors |
Toyota Venza Limited edition is the premium package from the three existing editions. As part of the Limited edition and optional to the Limited edition, some other premium features can be included in the purchase. Star Gaze™ fixed panoramic roof is one such feature that is awesome to have with the Limited edition.
How good is the new Interior of the Toyota Venza?
With a single word, we can say that Toyota has done a marvelous job with the new interior look of the Toyota Venza 2021. It is pristine and luxurious.
There are common features that all three editions share.
| Common Interior features |
|---|
| Leather-trimmed power tilt/telescopic 3-spoke steering wheel with chrome accent |
| Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with charge indicator light |
| 8 Airbags |
| Smart Key System |
| Push start button |
| Four USB charge ports (two 1.5 AMP front, two 2.1 AMP rear) |
| LED front map lights and overhead/rear cargo dome light |
| Overhead console with LED map lights, passenger airbag on/off indicators, and Safety Connect® button |
| Electric Parking Brake with Brake Hold |
| Rear liftgate window defogger |
| 3-passenger rear seating with 60/40 split fold-flat seat with center armrest and cup holders |
| Passenger-side glove compartment |
| Leather-trimmed shift lever with sequential mode |
| Eight total cup and bottle holders |
| Power windows with auto up/down and jam protection in all positions |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature |
| Rear fold-down center armrest with two cup holders |
All other features have at least a slight difference between the editions.
Seats
| LE | XLE | Limited |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric-trimmed, 8-way power-adjustable seats with power lumbar support | Fabric-trimmed seats with SofTex®-trimmed bolsters, 8-way power-adjustable driver seat with memory function, and power lumbar support | Perforated SofTex®-trimmed, heated, and ventilated, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with memory function and power lumbar support and 4-way power-adjustable front passenger seats |
Dashboard
Soft-touch dashboard with color-keyed piping with metal ends and ambient lighting comes with XLE, and Limited edition, whereas LE has only the Soft-touch dashboard with black piping.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
10-in. color Head-Up Display with speedometer, Lane Departure, and Hybrid System Indicator is available as a part of an option package for the Toyota Venza Limited edition.
Audio
Toyota Venza comes with a rich audio and multimedia system. There are two packages that are available for LE, XLE, and Limited editions.
| LE/XLE | Limited |
|---|---|
| Audio Plus—includes an 8-in. touchscreen, AM/FM/HD Radio™, six speakers, one USB media port and one AUX media port, three additional USB charge ports, advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa compatible and SiriusXM® | Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation and JBL®—includes 12.3-in. touchscreen and Intelligent Touch capacitive controls, AM/FM/HD Radio™, nine JBL® speakers, including subwoofer and amplifier, one USB media port and one AUX media port, three additional USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability, and music streaming94 via Bluetooth® wireless technology, Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® & Amazon Alexa compatible and SiriusXM® |
What engine powers the new Toyota Venza?
Toyota Venza comes with a 2.5-Liter Dynamic Force 4-Cylinder Engine [DOHC 16-Valve with D-4S Dual-Injection and Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i)]. It has a 219 combined net hp powertrain, including an internal combustion engine with 176 hp and an electric motor.
How is the fuel economy (mpg)?
According to Toyota, the SUV does around 40 and 37 mpg on the city and highway, respectively. As combined, it does around 39 mpg regardless of the edition. Sport, ECO, normal mode, and EV mode are standard drive modes with the Venza.
What about the price (MSRP)?
Toyota Venza 2020 price declared for the LE edition is $32,470, for XLE $36,000, and $39,800 for the limited edition. These prices can vary with the additional packages you can pick along with the vehicle.
What are the Weights and Capacities?
All three Venza editions share common weight and capacities unless any option package is available.
| LE | XLE | Limited | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior volume (cu. ft.) | 127.1 | 127.1 | 127.1 (123.8 with Gaze™ fixed panoramic roof) |
| Passenger Volume (cu. ft.) | 98.3 | 98.3 | 98.3 (95.2 with Gaze™ fixed panoramic roof) |
| Cargo volume (cu. ft.) behind front/rear seat | 55.1/28.8 | 55.1/28.8 | 55.1/28.8 (54.9/28.7 with Gaze™ fixed panoramic roof) |
| Curb weight (lb.) | 3847 | 3891 | 3913 |
| Fuel tank (gal.) | 14.5 | 14.5 | 14.5 |
| Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) (lb.) | 4920 | 4920 | 4920 |
What is the Transmission type?
Electronically controlled Continuously Variable Transmission (ECVT) with sequential Shift Mode system is coming as the Toyota Venza’s transmission.
All-Wheel Drive (AWD)?
Toyota Venza comes standard with Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive. When driving through uncertain conditions, Venza’s AWD system automatically supplies power to the rear wheels to improve traction.
Safety
Pre-collision system with pedestrian detection
All Venza versions default get the Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD). This is designed to help detect a pedestrian or a vehicle in uncertain situations. PCS w/PD provides audio or visual alerts of a possible collision under certain circumstances to the driver using both camera and radar. If the driver doesn’t respond, the PCS w/PD is designed to brake automatically and avoid any possible collision.
Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC)
DRCC is designed to function between 0-110 mph and uses vehicle-to-vehicle distance control. This system is intended for highway use and helps maintain a predefined distance from the vehicle ahead.
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA)
The LDA w/SA system detects the visible white/yellow lane markings on the road at speeds above 32 and above and issues an audio/visual alert to the driver if an inadvertent lane departure occurs. The steering assist function provides gentle corrective steering unless the driver takes corrective actions.
Lane Tracing Assist (LTA)
LTA uses the lines on the road and/or preceding vehicles to help keep the vehicle centered in its lane. These lane markers are only detectable once the DRCC is enabled.
Auto High Beams (AHB)
The AHB system can detect the headlight beam on upcoming vehicles and the taillights of preceding vehicles. Once detected, it automatically toggles between high and low beams to help the driver see more clearly at night at speeds above 25 mph.
Road Sign Assist (RSA)
RSA is designed to detect and display several road signs on the Multi-Informational Display (MID). The system uses an intelligent camera to detect speed limit signs, stop signs, Do not enter signs, and yield signs.
Reviews
There are several Toyota Venza 2021 reviews on youtube. The following videos from youtube seem to describe the vehicle in a clear way.
