2021 Toyota Venza Limited: A New Venture into Hybrid Territory

The tale of the tape

The Toyota Venza Limited is the top-tier trim of the Venza family, which also includes the base LE, and mid-level XLE. Base MSRP is $39,800, $42,350 as tested during the week it was with me. Options include the $425 coat of Blizzard Pearl paint, the $725 Advanced Technology package (featuring a HUD and rain-sensing wipers), and the stunning $1,400 Star Gaze fixed panoramic moonroof, which goes from opaque white to clear with a push of a button.

Unlike the first-gen Venza, the second-gen edition is exclusively an all-wheel drive hybrid. Power for all three trim levels comes from a 2.5-liter DOHC inline-four linked to an electronic CVT, plus a set of three electric motors. Combined, the hybrid powertrain delivers a total of 219 hrsprs to the 19-inch alloys shod in Bridgestone Ecopias.

Inside, a 12.3-inch touchscreen houses Toyota\’s Entune infotainment system, plus Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The seats are trimmed in gray SofTex, and are quite comfortable, according to my mom. The wood-and-aluminum-trimmed center console not only features a pair of USB ports for connecting your phone to the touchscreen, plus wireless charging for phones so equipped to use it. Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 keeps tabs on the traffic around you, while a three-month Sirius XM trial will keep you entertained down the road.