
2021 Toyota Venza XLE
Vehicle Type: SUV/Minivan Hybrid
73
overall score
Category Ranking: 19
Vehicle Price
Base Price:
$36,000
Price as Tested:
$38,050
Fuel Information
Fuel Type: Regular
Fuel Capacity (gal): 14.5
EPA City mpg: 40
EPA Highway mpg: 37
EPA Combined mpg: 39

with specific headlights
Advanced Safety Features
- Adaptive Cruise Control [S]
- Advanced Headlights [S]
- Automatic Emergency Braking [S]
- Blind-Spot Warning [S]
- Forward-Collision Warning [S]
- Lane-Departure Warning [S]
- Lane-Keeping Assistance [S]
- Rear Cross-Traffic Warning [S]
- Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking [O]
- [S] Standard, [O] Optional
NHTSA Rating:
Overall Observations
From 2009 to 2015, the Toyota Venza was a station wagon - like vehicle
that never generated a lot of excitement from the car-buying public.
In 2021, Toyota reprised the name and slapped it on a handsome
vehicle that looks much more like a crossover than a wagon. Perhaps
the coolest things about the new Venza, apart from its improved
aesthetics, are its hybrid-only drivetrain and standard all-wheel drive.
The drivetrain consists of a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine and an electric
motor (219 hp total) that send power to the front wheels; a rear motor
provides power to the back wheels when needed.
It’s unfortunate that the Venza’s driving experience doesn’t
match its looks. It’s slow off the line, with a noisy powertrain and an
unsettled ride. Inside, space for passengers and cargo is a bit tight,
compromised by the Venza’s sleek exterior design. The HVAC controls
are oddly placed, and, along with the infotainment controls, are
complicated and unintuitive to use. On the upside, the Venza’s fuel
economy is excellent: an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving.
Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 - a strong package of driver-assistance tech - and LED headlights are standard equipment.
Want to buy this car?
Strengths and Weaknesses
Strong Points
- Excellent fuel economyratings
- Standard AWD
- Stylish exterior design
Weak Points
- Unimpressive drivingdynamics
- Hard-to-use infotainmentand HVAC touch screen
- Large blind spots
Vehicle Specifications
Model year tested: 2021
Number of passengers (F/R): 2/3
Curb weight (lbs): 3860.0
Exterior L / W / H (in): 186.6 / 73.0 / 65.9
Wheelbase (in): 105.9
Number of air bags: 9
Warranty (months/miles): 36/36,000
Tire manufacturer and model: Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus
Front and rear tire size: 225/55 R19
Max towing capacity (lbs): Not recommended
Headlight type: LED
Transmission type: Hybrid drive
Drivetrain type: All wheel
Engine/motor: 2.5L 4-Cyl. Dynamic Force
Engine horsepower @ RPM: 176 @ 5700
Electric motor horsepower: 118
Combined system horsepower: 219
Test Data
Test Vehicle Scores
Advanced Safety Features:
8.70Fuel Efficiency:
6.80EPA Emissions Score:
7.00Acceleration:
4.43Braking:
4.03Handling:
7.51Ride Quality:
7.86Interior Size:
3.81Easy of Entry and Exit:
7.17Visibility:
6.76Interior Noise:
6.61Cargo Capacity:
2.57
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Car Guide Categories:
- SUV/Minivan |
- Large |
- Midsize |
- Small |
- Pickup |
All Makes:
IIHS Top Safety Pick Vehicles: