The Toyota Venza has quietly slipped out of showrooms, ending a second, transient chapter for a nameplate that by no means fairly caught on. Sure, this marked the second time Toyota has pulled the plug on the car. First launched for the 2009 mannequin yr, the unique Venza was meant to bridge the hole between the compact RAV4 and the three-row Highlander. It was a part-wagon, part-crossover experiment, with Toyota arguing it supplied Camry-like consolation, Highlander utility, and Avalon refinement. Sadly, this by no means totally clicked with patrons, and the automobile needed to bow out by 2015 after a gradual gross sales stoop, with Toyota killing off the Venza.
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Reduce to 2021, and Toyota introduced again the Venza with a sleeker look and a giant hybrid-only twist. This resurrected mannequin was constructed on the TNGA-Okay platform and geared up with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electrical motors. It delivered 219 horsepower by way of a typical AWD setup.
Sadly, the automobile nonetheless did not promote. Toyota tried updates just like the Nightshade Version and a brand new multimedia system to freshen issues up in 2023, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to reverse a pointy 33% gross sales decline within the first 9 months final yr. The corporate determined to wrap up the Venza’s story as soon as once more after the 2024 mannequin yr.
What took the Toyota Venza’s place?
Toyota did not waste any time in naming a successor. As a substitute of tweaking the Venza system once more, the automaker determined to make a clear break and introduce one thing larger, bolder, and extra American in spirit: the 2025 Toyota Crown Signia. Positioned as a hybrid-only SUV, the Crown Signia steps into the mid-size crossover market with extra muscle and presence. It upgrades to a extra highly effective setup, delivering 240 horsepower from a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with Toyota’s newest hybrid system.Â
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Inside house has seen an identical rethink. One of many Venza’s frequent critiques was that it felt a bit cramped inside in comparison with others in its class. Toyota appears to have discovered from that suggestions and is providing noticeably extra inside and cargo room. The Crown Signia additionally marks a shift in design. It borrows design cues from the 2023 Toyota Crown sedan, together with a sleeker roofline, a bolder entrance fascia, and upscale particulars like a full-width LED mild bar.
That mentioned, the brand new options and further horsepower include a better price ticket. The 2025 Crown Signia begins at $43,790 for the XLE trim and climbs to $48,190 for the extra luxurious Restricted trim, excluding vacation spot charges. That is a notable leap from the 2024 Venza, which began at round $36,465.
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Is the Venza nonetheless price shopping for right now?
Even because it retires, the Toyota Venza nonetheless makes a robust case for itself in 2025, significantly on the used market. With Toyota’s well-earned status for constructing sturdy hybrids, the 2021-2024 Venza stands out as an ideal deal. The 2021 mannequin launched with a 0-60 mph time of seven.1 seconds and a formidable 39 MPG mixed ranking. That form of effectivity stacks up properly even towards newer rivals just like the 2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and in reality, the Venza made our listing of Toyota’s finest hybrid automobiles ranked by reliability.
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The Venza additionally stays aggressive on the tech facet. Its 8-inch, or elective 12.3-inch, touchscreen together with JBL Premium Audio nonetheless feels present. Toyota’s Security Sense 2.0 suite, supplied commonplace, brings a variety of driver aids, making the Venza a sensible, secure selection. Reliability-wise, it is also price mentioning that the car was highlighted amongst probably the most dependable Toyota SUVs, additional reinforcing its worth proposition.
Now that it is bowing out once more, used Venzas are more likely to develop into one thing of a hidden gem for buyers wanting premium hybrid options with out the premium worth. You will discover the automobile on platforms like Edmunds, the place early Toyota Venza fashions from 2009 begin at $7,000, whereas newer ones just like the 2023 model can go north of $30,000.
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