2021 Venza Hybrid Official Thread

Looks like another great offering from Toyota. Toyota is coming out with some very intriguing vehicles for the consumer these days.

This article may add to the thread also

Toyota Breaks the Sameness Barrier With All-New 2021 Venza Crossover - Toyota USA Newsroom

Just one of the surprises listed in the article

"Magically Reading the Road for Maximum MPG

Venza’s Predictive Efficient Drive (PED) uses the navigation system operation to analyze driving habits and memorize road and traffic conditions to help optimize hybrid battery charging. When the driver selects PED, the system learns repeating routes and is designed to predict when and where the vehicle is likely to slow down or stop. Then, through optimum accelerator pedal release timing guidance, it can help reduce energy consumption.

PED can help optimize battery charging and discharge ahead of hills or traffic congestion. When approaching a downhill section, for example, the system is designed to apply additional engine braking force to more efficiently charge the hybrid battery after the accelerator pedal is released."

Looks like Toyota has got its second wind and is again becoming not just a high quality manufacturer but is now also incorporating groundbreaking innovation in their vehicles again.

 

I thought PED was available on other hybrids.

Ford had a system in the C-max and Fusion that would learn your home, work, and other frequent locations. When you got close to a destination, more energy would get put into the battery, so less load can be put on the engine next start up.

 

Who hoo! That's tomorrow. A local dealer told me they have a Venza in their allocation with production 07/21/2020.

 

Specs are out:

mpg: 40/37/39 (city/highway/combined)
Smaller battery than the AvHy or CamHY: 3.7Ah at 252.0V (0.93 KWh for those keeping score)
Gas tank size: 14.5 Gal. (for @bisco = 565 miles range)
Ground Clearance: 7.8” (the old Venza was 8.0”)
Cargo area (seats up): 28.7 sq. ft. RAV4 Prime is 33.4 sq ft.
18” tires on the LE, while the XLE and Limited get 19”.

Don’t forget this is AWD so you get an additional 54 HP (40 KW) MGR as well as the 118 HP (88 KW) MG2.

As an artifact of the digital mirror (in Japan you can insert an SD card into their Digital mirror to make it a dashcam), it also comes with a Dashcam as an option. Is that a first for Toyota in the USA?

Have to admit this is Toyota’s SUV version of the Camry Hybrid and Avalon Hybrid. It’s their cruising SUV made for long on-road trips. Wonder if this will steal sales from the Avalon Hybrid?

Read it all here: 2021 Toyota Venza - Toyota USA Newsroom

Edited for opinion.

iPad ? Pro

 

Built on the Rav4 platform, not on the Avalon platform as before. Not as much trunk room as a Rav4, plusher, perhaps nicer looking, back seat legroom a problem. From a review comparing it to a Rav4h.

 

Yes.

 

In the comparison review I watched, it was stated that it was not built as was the first generation Venza on the Camry platform but rather the Rav4. They made a bid deal about back seat room.

 

The Rav4 and Camry are now on the same platform. Unibody SUVs have shared the platforms with cars for quite some time now. The Rav4 used to use Toyota's compact one that the Prius and Corolla are built on, but it has been moved up to the midsize one as it got bigger. Despite outward appearance, the new Venza is still a Camry wagon at heart.

The Venza wheelbase is 4.6in longer than the Rav4. That's about how much legroom they can add. The Camry is 1.9in longer than the Venza.

Toyota New Global Architecture - Wikipedia
The new Toyota RAV4 hybrid

 

The rear turn signals are a disappointment.

 

That's not correct. The Rav4 and the Venza have identical wheelbase. Rear leg room is essentially the same. The greater length of the Venza over the Rav is due to the sleeker styling. In fact EPA passenger volume is slightly greater for the Rav.

 

Must have gotten the old Venza's wheelbase in the search. The new one is 4 to 5 inches longer than the Rav4, so a little more interior space. The standards for measuring cargo and cabin space for non-sedans allows some wiggle room on where to make the cut off between the spaces.

Unless Toyota is planning on shrinking the Rav4 on the next gen, I'm not seeing much need for this. As an SUV between the Rav and Highlander in size, the Venza isn't really hitting the middle.

 

So just a different looking Rav4.
Going by sales, I didn't think the Rav4 had a problem getting people to buy one of the six trims(not counting hybrids). A Buick/Mercury version will likely just steal sales from the Rav4, and worse for profits, the NX.
I would have though something between the Rav4 and Highlander in size would bring in more buyers, as one can be too small and the other too big for some.