With 221 horsepower, the Venza’s hybrid powertrain works very well and unless you demand maximum acceleration from a stop, it is refined. Power and torque are such that you operate with minimal throttle most of the time in complete serenity. With good control of road and wind noise, the Venza is an impressive highway cruiser. The steering is not the last word in feedback but nicely geared and weighted and tracks well on the highway. The ride, on real-world-practical 55 profile tires, is absorbent despite the cartoonish 19 inch rims. Handling is very stable with just a bit of lean which is a great trade-off for the excellent ride. The Venza is a seriously big and dwarfs narrower parking spots.

After some overly-flamboyant designs like the RAV4 and Camry, the clean-lined Venza marks a return to conservative elegance for Toyota. In addition to the Edge and Murano, the Venza joins the Chevrolet Blazer, Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport in the burgeoning larger-than-compact two-row crossover market segment. Given the chronic shortage of RAV4 hybrids, it is a surprise that the Venza is exclusively hybrid powered. For the Venza, Toyota migrated from its traditional and established Nickel-Metal-Hydride battery pack to a Lithium-Ion one, a negative move given the baggage attached to lithium-ion technology. The 2.5L gas engine and the electric motors combine to produce 219 total system horsepower. Power reaches the front wheels via a CVT transmission but the rear wheels of the standard all-wheel drive system are driven electrically. Tested in sultry summer weather, the Venza achieved a frugal 6.2L/100 kilometers in mixed use. Inside, the driver faces crisply-marked conventional gauges separated by a configurable digital readout. The top-centre of the dashboard is dominated by an infotatinment screen (12 inches on some trims). The cabin features some interesting shapes and available two-tone trims. The top Venza features a Tesla-style fixed glass roof panel. which in the Toyota, is electrochromatic and can change from clear to frosted in a second. With the same wheelbase and width as the RAV4, cabin space is similar, but cargo space is less due to the more raked tailgate.

With the iOS-Android cellphone interface, a power driver’s seat, heated front seats and wireless cellphone charging and a power tailgate, the base LE trim is nicely equipped. The XLE adds a larger 12.3 inch screen, fog lights, a power passenger seat, L.E.D. headlamps, a JBL-branded audio system, ventilated front seats, rear cross traffic monitors, rear auto braking and a memory system, but is overpriced. The Limited boasts a fixed-glass roof, a head-up display system, a 360 degree camera system, rain sense wipers and illuminated front scuff plates, and is reasonable value for the money asked.

Predicted above average reliability.