Toyota Venza CUV Returns As A Hybrid Only Offering

The Toyota Venza nameplate of 2009 to 2015 was a distinctly American 5-passenger mid-sized crossover, designed in California and produced in a Kentucky Toyota plant.

Perhaps ahead of market demand for smaller car-based SUVs the first time out, the Toyota Venza returns for 2021 as a Japanese import, a re-badged XU80 Harrier on a modular uni-body platform it shares with 7 other Toyota / Lexus models from the stalwart Camry sedan to the top selling Rav4 to and the sleek Lexus ES.

The new Venza is more comfortable in a skin that feels more wagon than SUV, with seriously upgraded interior amenities and tech including a big 12.3 inch center touchscreen display for infotainment plus a 7 inch driver information. A premium touch makes this Venza a much more comfortable road trip cruiser, with excellent safety features like Automatic Braking, front and rear park assist and blind spot monitoring.

The real product wrinkle here is that the Toyota Venza is a Hybrid Only offering, equipped with a 219-hp, 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid, with continuously variable transmission and all-wheel drive … for a solid value priced from $32,000 to $39,000.