Toyota is launching the all-new 2021 Venza
in the United States, with the first examples set to hit dealerships in early
September. Prices for the new 2021 Toyota Venza kick off at US$ 33,645 for the
base LE trim. The range also includes the XLE, starting from US$ 37,175, and the
range-topping Limited, which is priced from US$ 40,975. All prices include a US$ 1,175 destination and handling fee.
The new midsize SUV is basically a rebadged
version of the Toyota Harrier and will be offered only with a hybrid
powertrain. The unit combines a 2.5-liter four-cylinder petrol engine with
three electric motors and a newly developed lithium-ion battery pack for a
combined 219 HP.
Toyota expects the new 2021 Venza to
return a combined 39 mpg and says that the hybrid system optimizes the level of
the electric motor assistance and the engine’s revs without having the engine
spinning at high RPMs. According to the company, the engine speed is
synchronized with the vehicle’s speed in order to offer “effortless and quiet
acceleration”.
All Toyota Venza models come with an
electronic on-demand all-wheel-drive system, which employs a rear-mounted
electric motor to power the rear wheels when needed. The system can alter the
torque distribution between the axles from 100:0 in constant-speed driving to
20:80 on slippery surfaces.
Inside the new Toyota Venza, we find
Toyota’s latest infotainment systems; the base 8.0-inch unit comes standard in
the LE and XLE trims and features hard buttons on the sides while the larger
12.3-inch system ditches those for capacitive ones that control the audio and
climate systems. However, both systems offer a full suite of connectivity,
including Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa.
Other highlights include Star Gaze,
Toyota’s first electrochromic glass roof that’s available as an US$ 1,400 option
on the range-topping Limited trim, an optional 10-inch color Head-Up Display,
and a digital rearview mirror with HomeLink. In addition, the 2021 Toyota Venza
comes with the Toyota Safety Sense as standard, featuring a comprehensive range
of active safety systems that includes Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian and
Bicycle Detection, a Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Lane
Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Automatic High Beams, Lane Tracing Assist
and Road Sign Assist.