Yahoo Autos Why the 2021 Toyota Sienna and Venza Are Hybrid-Only
Toyota unveiled two new vehicles today: the 2021 Sienna minivan and the revival of the Venza two-row crossover. Both models are offered solely with hybrid powertrains.
Both are powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, but the Venza has three electric motors compared to the Sienna's two.
The Venza is slated to arrive in August and is expected to start in the mid-$30,000 range; the Sienna will arrive at the end of this year and is expected to start just over $30,000.
Toyota debuted two new models today, the 2021 Venza two-row crossover and Sienna minivan, and they're only going to be available with hybrid powertrains. Toyota's executive vice president of sales, Bob Carter, said the decision to go hybrid only was made in part because of consumers' reactions in going from the standard RAV4 to the RAV4 hybrid.
Before these two hybrid-only models, the Prius was the only hybrid-only vehicle in Toyota's lineup. But then, in 2019, the RAV4 hybrid outsold the Toyota Prius—the Japanese automaker's hybrid halo car—by almost 23,000 units. Carter says that RAV4 hybrid customers reacted to the instantaneous torque that's provided by the electric motors, and he noted that these buyers care about mpg and range more than just the price of gas.
The 2021 Venza shares a platform with the RAV4, and its powertrain is almost identical to that of the RAV4 hybrid. It's powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with three electric motors. One electric motor is on the rear axle, giving the Venza standard all-wheel drive. This layout opens up more space in between the axles where the driveshaft would be. The Venza has the same 40 mpg combined EPA-rating as the RAV4 hybrid.
The 2021 Sienna minivan not only has wild new exterior styling, it also has a completely new powertrain. The Siennas of old have typically been powered by naturally aspirated sixes; however, for 2021, the jagged-looking minivan is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder paired with only two electric motors. This new powertrain gives the Sienna up to 33 mpg in EPA-estimated combined fuel economy.
The 2021 Toyota Venza is expected to arrive in August. It should start around $35,000 and top out at around $45,000 when fully loaded. The 2021 Sienna is expected to start just over $30,000 and reach prices around $50,000 when fully loaded. It'll arrive in the U.S. at the end of this year.
You Might Also Like
