Back after a 6 year hiatus (it was discontinued for 2015) the Venza returns for ‘21 as a Lexus-like hybrid only crossover for...who knows? Here’s the pricing breakdown.
There are only 3 trim levels of the Venza to choose from: LE, XLE and top line Limited. As I mentioned before, the Venza is a hybrid only this time around. All trims get powered by the same set up. It gets a 2.5 liter I4 along with 3 electric motors, the 3rd of which is on the rear axle. Total combined output is 219 horses. MPG figures are an impressive 40 city/37 highway/39 combined. Unfortunately this engine is paired to a CVT, the only transmission option. AWD is also standard on every trim.
The base LE starts at the aforementioned $32,740. Standout standard features include:
- 18” wheels
- Height adjustable hands free power lift-gate
- 8 way power driver’s seat
- 8” touchscreen and 4.2” color LCD screen in speedo
- AndroidAuto & Apple CarPlay
- 4 USB ports
- Blind spot and rear cross traffic alert and Toyota Safety Sense
There are 6 exterior colors (Blizzard Pearl,Coastal Gray Metallic,Black,Ruby Flare Pearl,Titanium Glow,Blueprint) and 2 interior seat fabrics (gray or Black) to choose from. 2 exterior colors (Blizzard Pearl & Ruby Flare Pearl) are $425 options. The other 4 colors are no charge.I stuck with Black on Black. There are no options packages at this trim. There are the typical accessories of things like floor mats, wheel locks etc, of which there are 16 total. With none of those selected, the Venza LE rings in at $32,470.
The next trim is the XLE. Starting at $36k even, it builds on the LE by coming standard with:
- 19” wheels
- Heated front seats
- LED headlights & DRL’s
- Silver roof rails
- 7” color LCD display
- Front and rear park assist with auto braking
Considering that is the gist of what the XLE comes standard with over the LE, I don’t see anything that would command a $3,350 price difference. The XLE gains one exterior color over the LE for a total of 7. Called Celestial Black, its a $425 option. Interior seat coverings gain 6 choices and the option of 2 tone fabric/SofTex faux leather, or just all SofTex seating. Color choices are either Black, Gray, Black/Java. I choose the last one. Choosing the fabric/faux leather requires the addition of an option package. Speaking of which…
There are 3 option packages on the XLE:
Premium audio with dynamic navigation and JBL $2,050 or $2,560: Price depends on if you choose the fabric or 2 tone SofTex/Cloth seating: Ups the screen size to 12.5”, 9 speaker JBL audio system. 3 additional USB ports for a total of 7, wifi hot spot with 2 gb 3 month trial.
SofTex Package $510: Required if wanting to choose any of the seating covered in the faux leather. Also includes heated & ventilated front seats, 8 way power driver’s seat with memory function and lumbar support, 4 way power passenger seat, driver and front passenger seatback pockets, leather trimmed heated power tilt & telescoping steering wheel.
It should be noted that none of the 3 packages can be chosen together. So to pretty much get everything, I choose the $2,560 JBL package with Black/Java interior. With no accessories selected, the Venza XLE rings in at $38,560
The final trim of the Venza is the $39,800 Limited trim. Its probably as close to a Lexus as you can get without buying one. Its standard features include:
- 19” super chrome alloy wheels
- Heated and cooled front seats
- StarGaze fixed pano roof with power sunshade
- Digital rearview mirror
- Birds eye view camera
- Heated leather steering wheel
- 7” LCD speedo display
- 12.3” touchscreen
No changes on the Limited trim on the exterior color front. It gets the same 6 standard colors as the LE. And in a nod to how cheap the industry is, there is no actual leather seating on this top trim either. Its still just choices of either gray, Black or Black/Java SofTex.
There are 3 option packages on the Limited trim:
Advanced Technology package $725: Includes a HUD with speedo and hybrid system indicators, rain sensing wipers.
Star Gaze fixed pano roof $1400 or $2125: when combined with the Advanced Technology Package: The fixture of this package is the electrochromatic fixed pano roof who’s opacity can be turned on or off.
I added this last package as it makes the most sense. With no accessories, the loaded out Venza Limited rings in at $41,925.
As I have to always ask with these crossovers,who is this exactly for? If you look at the specs, its comes close in a lot of measurements to the Rav4, which makes more sense. In fact its width and wheelbase are the same as the Rav4, but the Venza is just slightly longer at 186.6 to the Rav4’s 180.9 inches. As with most crossovers, inside its small enough to not make sense as well, with both the Rav4 and Highlander having more cargo carrying capacity, and the Highlander able to hold more people in more room. But with its swoopy design, that cuts into the roof and sight visibility. So the Venza amounts to nothing more than a more luxurious, pricer, less practical Rav4 Hybrid. But Toyota thinks its design and exclusive pano roof might win over buyers. And thats kind of sad.
