2021 Toyota Venza First Drive Video: Premium Efficiency
Toyota recently announced the return of the Venza name to its vehicle lineup, and we recently got a chance to see it in person and get behind the wheel. The new Venza is a hybrid-only, all-wheel-drive two-row SUV that shares a platform with other Toyotas like the Camry and RAV4. Here’s what we think.
Related: Toyota Venza Returns for 2021 as a Hybrid-Only Two-Row SUV
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Exterior
The Venza immediately becomes one of the more handsome offerings in Toyota’s lineup, with a toned-down, less-gaping version of Toyota’s signature grille design. The front styling actually makes the Venza look fairly narrow from head-on. The sides are nicely sculpted but otherwise unremarkable — not a bad thing for an SUV — before ending at a dramatic liftgate design that’s more Range Rover Velar than Toyota SUV. Wheel choices for buyers are either 18- or 19-inchers (the ones in the video below are 19s). Proportionally, the Venza is somewhere between, say, a Lexus NX 300h and RX 450h.
Interior
That Lexus comparison was intentional, by the way. This is one of the nicer Toyota interiors I’ve seen in a long while. Materials are nice, particularly the blond wood accents on the doors and center console — though they decrease in quality once they’re below eye level. Padding could also be more substantial, but at least most touch points aren’t hard plastic.
The front seats are nicely sculpted and fit adults of all sizes, and the backseat has enough legroom and headroom for me to sit comfortably behind myself, though I’d prefer the seat bottom be a little higher to keep my knees less bent for longer drives.
Want to know more of my thoughts about the new 2021 Toyota Venza? Check out the full video below:
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