I was delighted to get an opportunity to drive the all-new Toyota Venza Limited CUV. I last drove the Venza was years ago before the model got discontinued in the US in 2015. The Venza now returns to the marketplace as a premium Electrified Mid-size CUV.
It fits perfectly into that segment. It has a lot of technological features. There is a nice fit and finish. It has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with a hybrid system that gives a combined 219 horsepower.
It comes with an electronic on-demand all-wheel-drive system. The transmission is an electronic continuous valve transmission. The Venza is pretty roomy with comfortable seating for five adults. There’s a lot of safety features. It has; lane tracing, steering assist, and adaptive cruise control as part of Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 with pedestrian detection. The model I drove also has very luxurious styling and appeal.
It featured 19-inch alloy wheels. The design of the Venza is modern futuristic looking.
The interior has a lot of soft materials and soft plastics. It also features a 12.3-inch touchscreen navigation system. It integrates Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
I was able to use it to play and benchmark the music that I’ve done with the Carnegie Mellon music department. I played both Paradise and Stop The Bullying on the JBL sound system that comes along with the Venza. It features nine speakers with a subwoofer and amplifier. It is really exceptional and it also has wireless charging integrated. It also has heated and cooled seats.
I was able to enjoy some drive time in the Washington metropolitan area. I drove around DC, Northern parts, and of West Virginia, and Western parts of Maryland. I also drove all the way to Kent Island and experienced the cherry blossoms. The drive on route 50 was so calming crossing the Bay Bridge and seeing the water on a nice 70-degree day. I felt grateful for God for all that he’s blessed us with. It was so therapeutic and calming. I loved looking through the optional panoramic roof. This vehicle also featured the excellent blizzard pearl paint job.
The Venza is EPA rated 40 miles per gallon in the city and it gets 37 miles per gallon on the highway. It is an exceptional crossover that anybody who’s in the market for an electrified Midsize CUV. The Limited is $39,800. With options like; the panoramic roof, the heads-up display, rain-sensing wipers, and a premium paint job it came to a delivered price of $43,525. Assembly of this vehicle is done in Japan. For more information visit www.Toyota.com.