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Will this Year’s Venza Hybrid take my v’s place? Probably

Discussion in 'Prius v Main Forum' started by rjparker, May 26, 2020.

  1. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    It is looking more and more like there is a Venza hybrid in my future. Things I like over the Rav4 hybrid include styling, especially the interior, lithium battery and an emphasis on smooth ride and quiet interiors. Add advanced hybrid logic with route recognition to improve regen, awd with capabilities to put 80% power to the rear and you have a Lexus like Toyota with more size and warranty than the v.

    One of several interesting tidbits from the linked press release:

    “Venza’s Predictive Efficient Drive (PED) uses the navigation system operation to analyze driving habits and memorize road and traffic conditions to help optimize hybrid battery charging. When the driver selects PED, the system learns repeating routes and is designed to predict when and where the vehicle is likely to slow down or stop. PED can help optimize battery charging and discharge ahead of hills or traffic congestion. When approaching a downhill section, for example, the system is designed to apply additional engine braking force to more efficiently charge the hybrid battery after the accelerator pedal is released.”

    An 8 year/100,000 hybrid warranty with the lithium battery covered for 10 year/150,000 miles.

    Toyota Breaks the Sameness Barrier With All-New 2021 Venza Crossover - Toyota USA Newsroom

    27D559B2-C8E5-475C-A006-737FB6BCAA58.jpeg
     
    #1 rjparker, May 26, 2020
    Last edited: May 26, 2020
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  2. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I enjoy reveals.
    I like to see he evolution of models.
    But for me? I reserve ultimate evaluation until I see the vehicle in the "Tin". That is in person.

    If I owned a Prius v, and was looking at replacement/upgrade? I certainly would be at the dealership taking a look at the Venza.
     
  3. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    My wife was all set to replace her 2012 Prius v with a 2021 RAV4 Prime PHEV until I showed her videos and articles about the 2021 Venza hybrid. One of my wife's brothers had one of the original Venzas and sold it just last year. It was extremely well optioned ... V6, AWD, panoramic roof, HID headlights with auto high beams, leather, navigation. My wife loved it and probably would have bought a Venza instead of her Prius v if a hybrid Venza had been available in 2012. The Venza's interior sure was nicer than the Prius v interior. It was very "Lexus like" which was obvious due us having Lexus LS sedans for 24 years straight.

    So ... the current plan is to pass on the 2021 RAV4 Prime for now and to wait to see if there is a plug-in Venza hybrid with an EV range similar to that of the RAV4 Prime - about 40 miles. The main reason we were going to replace her Prius v was to get better safety technology. My wife loves her Prius v and is content to continue driving it. It's at only a hair over 45,000 miles and has been driven only about 10 miles since February. It probably won't be driven much more until the COVID-19 infection rate gets down to near zero. I'm not even going to bother installing the summer wheels/tires.
     
  4. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    The Rav4 hybrid has PED, so the hybrid system should operate the same except for how the Lithium battery works vs nimh.

    I'm actually surprised that Toyota didn't release this as a Lexus, possibly as replacement for the outdated Nx hybrid which is due to be updated about a year from now..
     
  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well it's called the RX :). (Venza is based on the Japanese Toyota Harrier which initially started life as the platform for which the RX300/RX330 was based)
     
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  6. mikefocke

    mikefocke Prius v Three 2012, Avalon 2011

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    I sacrificed only about 1 MPG for more fun, room, quiet, safety and much much more power in going from a v to a Rav4h (non-plug-in). In the few miles your v was driven, how will the $ work out on the prime or does its use pattern just happen to fit the 30-40 mile range on electric? And a lot of that 1 MPG is because the Rav4h is a lot more fun when the right foot is pressing harder. I find I'm doing things in the Rav4 because I know it can that I wouldn't have attempted in the v.

    After doing a similar write-up for the v, I constructed this list Rav4 Hybrid Likes and Dislikes - mikefocke2. It is as honest as I can make it.
     
  7. royrose

    royrose Senior Member

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    Yes, but the new Venza/Harrier is now built on the same platform as the Rav4, has the exact same wheelbase, nearly identical leg room, same hybrid specs.
     
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  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Amazing what a "midsize" SUV is in other parts of the world! It's our compact!
     
  9. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I like the emphasis on ride, comfort and sound damping that the Venza is advertising. The biggest problem with the Rav is the spring rates designed for loads and the lack of sound dampening. The Ravs suspension is a bit jiggly on many roads, much like an unloaded truck. I was especially disappointed in the Rav's interior color and fabric choices, primarily black in available stock and the screen tacked on like an afterthought. Meanwhile I find the v still rides better (16" tires & pitch and bounce control) and it still hauls an amazing amount of cargo including 10' sticks of conduit and lumber. So I would expect the Venza to do the same. Obviously a Lexus in Toyota Venza badging may carry a downside, price. At least it won't have one of those ridiculous Lexus touchpads to operate the screen.
     
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I'm just glad Toyota USA was smart enough to NOT bring the "Harrier" nameplate to the USA.
    In the USA..."Harrier" sounds like a war ship.
    Unless that panoramic roof slides back to allow missiles to fire? I think Venza is a much better name.
    Even if it does sound like a drink size at Starbucks.
     
  11. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The Harrier Jump Jet was used by the US Marines for vertical takeoffs and landings. They had them in Beaufort SC and the USS America back in the seventies while I had dress blues at the same locations. 3D1B7DDD-848F-4679-A862-4BC26F8049AB.jpeg
     
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  12. Offline

    Offline Active Member

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    What comes to mind when I think of harriers are the hawks flying over that have occasionally sat on our balcony railing.

    Harrier.jpg

    I've always thought that giving car models names instead of numbers was silly but it did make for some fun. When speaking about my awful 1964 Triumph Spitfire, I commonly substituted the "p" in Spitfire with an "h". and my 1966 Dodge Dart was known as the Fart.
     
  13. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Some names just became synonymous with abysmal. Edsel?
     
  14. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    I think it was the car rather than the name in Edsel's case. When the standard Ford Fairlane 500 was more desirable and arguably had better styling than its expensive cousin, the Edsel, then you have a problem, especially when the Edsel cost significantly more. Edsel had their own dealerships and in 1957 had seven different cars including convertibles and station wagons. A compact car was designed for 1960 but became the Mercury Comet.

    Edsel was going to be the "Oldsmobile" in FMC's lineup with Lincoln destined to be upgraded into a super premium line of cars. Edsel's biggest technical achievement was self adjusting brakes followed by pushbutton shifting on the steering wheel hub. Not much to write home about. The quality of Ford Motor vehicles in those days was terrible and the bodies rusted away in three years. Not really a fair comparison with a Toyota Venza. Maybe the Lexus launch in 1989 was somewhat equivalent and Lexus was clearly more successful.

    edsel.jpg
     
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  15. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The new hybrid only Venza is now being reviewed on Youtube.

    First takeaways:
    It is based on the Rav4 hybrid with the same wheelbase but overall six inches longer, primarily in the back. However the existing Prius v has a longer wheelbase by 3 inches but the new Venza has a longer body. Better seats, bigger screens and lcd roofs are available. Overall this Venza is smaller than the older V6 model but is a more elegant, quieter, smoother Rav in a sleeker sedan body. Essentially an improved Prius v with awd and 219 hp.

    The Venza is rated at 40 mpg combined with the LE version, the same as the Rav. No Prime version yet, perhaps the upcoming Lexus version will get plugin and 300 hp first. Reviewers are impressed with the interior refinement and sound deadening compared to the Rav. Plus the off the line torque and passing power. Around $32k base LE starting in August.



    and

     
    #15 rjparker, Jul 22, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2020
  16. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Better get a Tesla............................... have you rode in one? I rode in a customers recently and it was really Nice..... super fast.
     
  17. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    Relatives have a Tesla but they depreciate quickly and have to be repaired by Tesla. They also ride a little rough and have no gas option for long trips. I like the rav4 prime as a good compromise with 42 miles ev but the venza may be closer to what I need in 2020. The reviews are gushing about the Venza’s ride, sound deadening and decent awd power using the rav’s hybrid powertrain. Availability is the issue right now.

    I drove a new rav4 hybrid yesterday and noted they have more sound deadening than the 2019s and it had nice riding Michilens from the Canadian factory. No need to change tires. It was nice so I can imagine guys like Alex on Auto are right when they say that the venza is smoother with a better interior and feels more like a Lexus than a Toyota. Right now the Prius v with the rebuilt brake booster is doing fine so it may be a waiting game.
     
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  18. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    Have you looked at a domestic hybrid?
     
  19. rjparker

    rjparker Tu Humilde Sirviente

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    The only domestic I might consider is Ford’s system which was originally licensed from Toyota. But I suspect they are not quite as good as Toyota’s current technology and safety systems. Can’t think of a car I would want from GM or Chrysler. Toyota has always made the best hybrids even though Honda was first. Obviously Toyota’s gen3s have quite a few issues but I still believe I saved a lot of gas expense even though 25-35% of that went to brake boosters, egrs and the like along with a warranty item or two like the inverter.

    I believe the 2.5L hybrids they have now are two gens ahead of the gen3s especially if you get a lithium battery version like the Primes. One rule going forward will be to upgrade around 150k miles regardless of how smoothly things are going. If I had done that on the v I would have missed all the major maintenance. Its still a decent car with a solid body, interior, ride, mpg, cold ac, original brakes, built in nav, great cargo room, etc. It never had a Lexus ride or sound deadening so a new one like the venza will probably fill those gaps with good mpg to boot. I would not turn down a rav4 prime with the $7500 tax credit either except the wait may be excessive.
     
    #19 rjparker, Jul 27, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2020
  20. Tim Jones

    Tim Jones Senior Member

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    My v is incredibly noisy.... the camry is much quieter..........