FIRST LOOK

It’s a bold move to bring back a retired name, and it’s even bolder to only offer it as an awd hybrid

I t’s funny about automotive nameplates. Some, after years in retirement, are returned to the fold for a repeat engagement. That’s the case with the Toyota Venza, which for 2021 is back after a five model-year absence, but only in spirit and general body proportions.

The new version — available early this fall — is a clean-sheet design that’s only available as an all-wheel-drive hybrid. You read that correctly.

In Toyota’s hierarchy, the fivepassenger Venza wagon (which originates in Japan where it’s called the Harrier) slots between the RAV-4 and Highlander utility vehicles. The RAV4 is smaller, but its interior is actually more spacious by virtue of the vehicle’s boxier shape.

Compared with the previous Venza, the new model’s smaller dimensions translate into less cargo volume, with the rearseatback in place or folded flat. The wheelbase — the distance between the front and rear wheels — is the same as the RAV4’s.

The passenger environment is typical of most Toyota vehicles, offering a blend of modern styling with traditional overtones. The 8.0- and available 12.3-inch touchscreens are perched well above the dashboard, potentially blocking (especially with the bigger screen) the driver’s field of vision. On the plus side, the Venza uses a traditional console shifter instead of trendy (but frequently confusing) dials or switches for gear/direction selection.

That process engages the standard all-wheel-drive hybrid propulsion system consisting of a 176-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder and three electric motors (including one supplying power to the rearwheels) for a combined output of 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. That seems a bit light to handle the Venza’s 3,900-pound heft, but the electric motors provide significant low-speed power.

The gasoline-electric combo works through a continuously variable transmission with selectable Normal, Eco and Sport drive modes.

The lithium-ion battery pack is beneath the rear seat so it doesn’t interfere with cargo stowage or passenger room.

What the Venza might lack in outright performance, it makes up for in fuel economy. The hybrid system is rated at 40 mpg in the city, 37 on the highway and 39 combined. That’s better than any of its nonhybrid competitors by a wide margin.

When launching from a dead stop or in slippery/icy road conditions, awd sends up to 80 percent of the system’s torque to the rear wheels. In normal steadystate cruising, 100 percent of the hybrid’s power is sent to the front wheels. When cornering, light braking pressure is applied to the inside rear wheel to slow it down (a form of yaw control), which helps the Venza turn with less understeer and therefore more stability.

Venza pricing starts at $33,600, including destination charges, which compares with $29,400 for the RAV4 hybrid and $39,300 for the larger Highlander hybrid with three rows of seats.

The base Venza LE comes with a decent degree of content, such as a power-operated front seat, interior ambient lighting, wireless phone charging, hands-free power liftgate and a six-speaker audio system. You also get most of Toyota’s activesafety technology and driverassist features.

The XLE adds roof rails, frontand rear-parking assist, heated and ventilated power front seats, auto-dimming rearview mirror and fancier interior/exterior trim.

Along with the 12.3-inch touch screen, the Limited arrives with a 360-degree surroundview camera, puddle lights (to illuminate the ground when the doors are opened), heated and cooled front seats, heated steering wheel and a ninespeaker 1,200-watt JBLbrand audio package.

Optional for the Limited is Toyota’s Star Gaze panoramic glass roof that can go from clear to frosted at the flip of a switch.

If you’re in need of cavernous cargo capacity with off-road capability, then other Toyota utility vehicles are likely better suited to your needs. But with all-weather versatility combined with upscale looks and content, the reconstituted fuel-sipping Versa is definitely a contender.

PHOTO: TOYOTA This is the only way the 2021 Venza can be bought. Unheard of perhaps five years ago, the move is not entirely surprising as hybrid costs have come down. The base price is a very reasonable $33,600, including destination charges.

Is it a mistake to not offer a Venza base model with front-wheel-drive and an internal-combustion engine? Probably not. Toyota has other vehicles so equipped. It’s clear the Venza — hybrid only — is intended to be a technology statement for the brand. PHOTO: TOYOTA

PHOTO: TOYOTA The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors make a net 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. What that tells us is that the electric motors are mostly used for low-speed acceleration until the gasoline engine begins making useful power.

PHOTO: TOYOTA The battery pack that powers the three electric motors resides beneath the rear seat. The cargo capacity is slightly less than the RAV4’s, but that has more to do with its squarer shape.

It’s clear that the focus is on the center console with a screen that’s perched high up the driver’s field of vision. A downside might be that it’s perched high in the driver’s field of vision. PHOTO: TOYOTA