2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid

The Venza is available in three trim levels for the 2021 MY. These trim levels are namely LE, XLE, and Limited. The base LE trim level starts at $33,785 and offers a host of standard features that include a variety of infotainment features and creature comforts. All the trim variants are available with an electronically assisted CVT transmission and AWD drivetrain as standard. While the base and mid-le

Trim	LE	XLE	Limited
MSRP	$32,570	$36,100	$39,500
Key Features	Toyota Safety Sense 2.0	Adds to LE features	Adds to XLE Features
	8-inch infotainment screen	12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment setup	360-degree camera
	18-inch alloy wheels	LED projector headlamps with Automatic High beam assist	Star Gaze fixed Panoramic sunroof
	Eight-way Power-adjustable front seats with heating and cooling controls	Blind Spot-Monitoring	Four-way Power adjustable seats in the rear
	Mobile Hotspot Internet Access	19-inch Alloy wheels	20-inch Alloy Wheels
	Dual-zone automatic climate control	Heated front seats	JBL surround sound system with 9 speakers
	Pre-Collision System	Intelligent Clearance SONAR front and rear parking sensors	Heated leather steering wheel

Which Trim should you buy?

The 2021 Toyota Venza XLE trim seems to be the best trim level to go for as it offers a plethora of features and creature comforts that make the Venza no less of a premium SUV under a $40,000 price tag. Iy proves to be a great value-for-money SUV that combines modern powertrain technology with the best of the interior, exterior, safety, and infotainment features in the segment today.

The motive behind Toyota bringing the Venza Hybrid into their fleet is the fact that they wanted to provide an efficient solution to the crossover SUV segment. This segment caters to a majority of the car buying audience and trying to bring renewable energy solutions into play is a no-brainer. It surprises the average crossover SUV owner by delivering a combined fuel economy of 39 MPG which is a great feat when compared to what pure gasoline-powered SUVs offer. On top of that, the biggest advantage of owning a hybrid SUV seems to be the fact that they deliver their best fuel economy figures in the city rather than the highway. 

The Venza also comes with a 14.5-gallon fuel tank that helps it offer a combined fuel range of 565.5 miles and a city range of 580 miles which is certainly some of the best fuel range figures in the segment today.

Models	2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid	2021 Ford Escape Hybrid	2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid	2021 Lexus NX 300h
MPG (City)	40	44	40	33
MPG (Highway)	37	37	35	30
MPG (Combined)	39	41	38	31
Fuel Capacity (Gallons)	14.5	14.3	14	14.8
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles)	580 / 536.5 / 565.5	629.2 / 529.1 / 586.3	560 / 490 / 532	488.4 / 444 / 458.8

In comparison with the segment, each SUV being a hybrid vehicle manages to average efficiency figures with the 2021 Ford Escape leading the pack with a combined mileage of 41 MPG. While the Honda is extremely frugal managing 38 MPG, the 2021 Lexus NX 300h is less efficient but sports a larger tank of 14.8-gallons. In terms of range as well, Ford leads the segment managing a combined range of 586.3 miles. 

The interior of the 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid features some of the best design cues and is luxuriously appointed. The interior layout resembles that of Lexus cars and the bigger Toyota SUVs like the Land Cruiser. The dashboard design layout is remarkable with sharp design elements and a broad surface. The dashboard is ergonomically sound and has controls for almost every infotainment feature and creature comforts in the infotainment screen.

The front seats are cloth-trimmed 8-way power-adjustable seats with power lumbar support as well in the base trim level. Going up the trim levels you receive features such as heated and ventilated front seats and leather upholstery. There is adequate space in the front row for the occupants to be seated comfortably.

The second-row seats are arranged in a 60-40 split bench setup and are flat-folding. The seats are comfortable but offer less legroom and headroom than some of Venza’s counterparts. Other interior features include a panoramic sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control, leather-wrapped tilt/telescopic steering wheel, and armrests in the front and rear row with storage space.

The trunk capacity of the Venza hybrid is mediocre at 28.8 cubic feet of standard capacity. Fold-down the rear seats completely and you avail yourself a max cargo capacity of 55.1 cubic feet which is impressive. The trunk also gets a remote access feature for added convenience.

Models	2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid	2021 Ford Escape Hybrid	2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid	2021 Lexus NX 300h
Seating Capacity	5	5	5	5
Front Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)	38.6 / 57.4 / 40.9	40 / 57.6 / 42.4	38 / 57.9 / 41.3	38.2 / 57.3 / 42.8
Rear Row (Headroom/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches)	39 / 56.9 / 37.8	39.3 / 56 / 38.9	39.1 / 55.6 / 40.4	38.1 / 55.3 / 36.1
Trunk Capacity (cubic feet)	28.8	34.4	33.2	16.8

When it comes to interior space and trunk capacity, the Venza offers mediocre figures when compared to some of its rivals like the Ford Escape hybrid and the Honda CR-V hybrid. The Lexus NX 300h on the other hand fails to impress a majority of potential customers with its low interior space, especially its cramped rear seats and trunk capacity despite being costlier than the rest of the vehicles in the segment. Its trunk volume is 16.8 cubic feet, making it a non-viable choice. 

Some of the notable interior features are:

• Heated and ventilated leather-trimmed front seats with 8-way power adjustability in the Limited trim level
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Panoramic Sunroof
• Remote access for the cargo space 

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid doesn’t disappoint you when it comes to infotainment features as Toyota has made sure to offer a plethora of them. Opt for the Limited trim level, and you receive a 12.3-inch touchscreen display unit with a premium audio system comprising of 9 speakers.

Additional features include SiriusXM satellite radio, dynamic voice activation and connectivity features such as Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi internet access hotspot

Some of the notable infotainment features are:

• 12.3-inch multi-information touchscreen infotainment display
• 8-inch display screen with 6-speakers (LE and XLE trims)
• Premium audio system with 9 speakers
• SiriusXM satellite radio
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• 4G WiFi internet access hotspot

Toyota has truly nailed it when it comes to the Venza Hybrid’s exterior design. The Venza resembles modern Lexus SUVs when it comes to its side profiles and exterior design elements. The exterior bodywork feels modern and futuristic with sharp LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights. A bold grille adorns the signature Toyota logo with a blue hue in the background which lets you know that the Venza is a hybrid SUV.

The wheels available as standard are 18-inch alloy wheels and you can also opt for 19 or 20-inch alloy wheels. The lip spoiler, LED tail lamp strip and futuristic exterior bodywork resembling some Lexus SUVs give it a great road presence and an impressive aesthetic appeal. The 2021 Toyota Venza’s dimensions are larger than some of the competitors. It is the longest SUV measuring 186.6 inches and also sports a large wheelbase that measures 105.9 inches. 

Models	2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid	2021 Ford Escape Hybrid	2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid	2021 Lexus NX 300h
Curb Weight (lb)	3847	3491	N / A	4180
Length (inches)	186.6	180.5	182.1	182.7
Width (inches)	73	74.1	73	73.6
Height (inches)	65.9	65.9	66.5	64.8
Ground Clearance (inches)	N / A	6.8	N / A	6.7
Wheelbase (inches)	105.9	106.7	104.7	104.7

The 2021 Venza Hybrid is neither the lightest nor the heaviest SUV in the segment. It has a wide track width as well that helps it handle, accelerate and brake well compared to the rest of the hybrid SUVs on offer in the market. The Lexus NX 300h has a wide track width too that helps it offer good driving dynamics but it also reduces the interior and trunk space. The 2021 Ford Escape sports the longest wheelbase of 106.7 inches. It is also the widest vehicle, while the Honda CR-V stands at a height of 66.5 inches, making it the tallest option. 

Some of the notable exterior features are:

• Automatic LED projector headlamps with LED daytime running lights
• LED tail lamps strip
• Power rear cargo access
• Paint Protection Film
• Mud Guards

The 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid not only has an impressive chassis that helps it perform well on the road in terms of handling but is also structurally sound helping the Venza hybrid become one of the most structurally safe hybrid SUVs out there.

The Venza gets an impressive overall safety rating of 5 stars from the NHTSA and has similar ratings from agencies like the IIHS. Apart from the rigid chassis, the Venza also offers some top-notch safety features that include a Blind-spot monitoring system, Lane Departure Warning System, Lane Keep Assist System, and Side Impact Beams.

Some of the notable safety features are:

• Intelligent Clearance SONAR front and rear parking sensors
• Pre-Collision System
• Birds-eye camera view around the SUV
• Low tire pressure monitoring system
• Dusk-sensing headlamps
• Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors

2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid vs. 2021 Ford Escape Hybrid

The Toyota Venza Hybrid outperforms the Ford Escape Hybrid when it comes to powertrain performance and handling. The Venza promises to be a better driver’s car and also has some great infotainment and safety features up its sleeves.

The Venza does cost more than the Escape but paying the extra price feels worth it as the interior and exterior elements feel a lot more premium compared to what the Ford Escape Hybrid offers.

2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid vs.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid turns out to be the toughest competitor to the Venza Hybrid when it comes to various criteria such as the price range, powertrain performance, interior capacity, and trunk capacity and the CR-V does offer some similar features and figures. But what makes the Venza more appealing is its styling, premium quality interior features, and better driveability than the CR-V hybrid.

2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid vs. 2021 Lexus NX 300h

The Venza Hybrid and Lexus NX 300h were rumored to be sharing similar platforms and components but when they launched, it didn’t turn out to be the case. Lexus tried to create a more lively driving experience through the NX 300h’s handling and it sure does drive better than the Toyota in some way, but they sacrificed interior space, trunk volume, and even performance to cut down cost. Still, the NX 300h proves to be the costliest option in the segment.

The Venza on the other hand strives to be a complete package that is arguably the best choice in its class in terms of powertrain performance, interior features and comfort, styling, driving experience, and safety. That’s what makes it a better deal than the Lexus NX 300h. 

The 2021 Toyota Venza Hybrid strives to be the best option in its segment. It tries to gain ascendancy in attributes like the pricing, performance, interior features, and comfort, sturdy build quality, and overall safety of the SUV. With the Venza Hybrid, Toyota has made a strong statement displaying their engineering prowess in the Hybrid market by creating a capable crossover SUV for people who dwell in the city and need an all-around SUV that can take over most of the tasks that arise in the concrete jungle. 

Sure, there are other options in the segment that cost less, offer slightly more fuel economy, have larger interior and cargo space, and are more exciting to drive in terms of handling, but the Venza proves to be a perfect blend of all these attributes.