2026 Toyota Venza Specs, Release Date, Colors
2026 Toyota Venza Specs, Release Date, Colors – With a fancy new – and similarly sized – crossover on its way, the 2026 Toyota Venza marks the end of the road for this hybrid-only offering. Unchanged this year, it features standard all-wheel drive (AWD) and comes in three trim levels starting with the LE at $44,480, including a non-negotiable delivery fee of $1,930. The mid-range XLE is $50,720; while my Limited tester started at $54,180 and had a $255 coat of Wind Chill Pearl paint added for a total of $54,435.
2026 Toyota Venza Redesign and Update Plan
Exterior and Interior
The roofline stays straight over the rear doors, providing sufficient headroom for passengers back there, but the rear window has a sharp rake to it, which reduces visibility and cuts into the cargo space. With the rear seats up, it’s rated at just 816 L, when many of its rivals are above 1,000 L – including its Toyota RAV4 sibling at 1,059 L. With the rear seats folded, the Venza’s capacity increases to 1,560 L, but that’s still at the lower end, where some competitors top 2,000 L. The Venza’s tailgate opening is also small and high, which makes it less practical when loading and unloading large items in particular.
2026 Toyota Venza Specs
Standard items across all three trims include a power tailgate, wireless charger, dual-zone automatic climate control, cargo privacy cover, heated front seats, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat. The LE has an eight-inch centre touchscreen, while the XLE and Limited upgrade to a 12.3-inch screen. Both come with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connections. 2026 Toyota Venza Specs
The XLE builds on the LE by adding premium audio, an auto-dimming mirror, heated steering wheel, integrated garage door opener, power passenger seat, faux-leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, driver’s side memory, and 19-inch wheels instead of the 18-inch ones. The Limited tops it off with a camera-based rearview mirror, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and panoramic glass roof that switches from clear to a frosted setting that cuts down on the light coming in.
Engine and Performance
The Venza is a hybrid, with a 2.5L gas engine mated to two electric motor-generators, all of which drive its front wheels and recharge the battery. Another electric motor powers the rear wheels, providing the standard all-wheel drive when needed for extra traction. On its own, the gas engine makes 176 hp and 163 lb-ft of torque, but that rises to 219 net hp when gas and electricity are working in combination. It’s not a powerhouse, but it gets through city traffic and passes on the highway without problem. 2026 Toyota Venza Specs
The Venza doesn’t get plugged in, but recharges its hybrid battery through the stuff under the hood and with regenerative braking, which captures and stores the energy that’s otherwise lost during deceleration and braking. It switches automatically between gasoline, electricity, or a combination of both, depending on driving conditions, but it’s not as smooth a transition as in the Toyota Prius.
2026 Toyota Venza Fuel Economy
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) rates the Venza at 5.9 L/100 km in the city, 6.4 on the highway, and 6.1 in combined driving. I came in at 8.4 L/100 km during a bitterly cold week with it. It’s fine on regular-grade gas. All of its midsize hybrid rivals are pretty much at the same level, where the Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4 are rated for 6.0 L/100 km, while the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson are rated for 6.4. 2026 Toyota Venza Specs
2026 Toyota Venza Safety Features
The 2026 Toyota Venza receives the highest five-star crash-test rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It received a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for 2023, but it’s expected to lose that for 2026. The IIHS updated its side crash to better simulate being struck by a large SUV, and the Venza rated “Acceptable,” one step down from the top “Good.” The not-for-profit organization rolls out its top award criteria gradually, and while “Acceptable” was enough to earn Top Safety Pick last year, only “Good” is enough this year.
All trims include emergency front braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, as well as when turning left across oncoming traffic, automatic high-beam headlights, lane keeping and tracing assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, a driver’s knee airbag, front passenger cushion airbag, and the back-up camera that’s mandatory on all new vehicles. The Limited further adds emergency rear braking, and surround-view cameras. 2026 Toyota Venza Specs
2026 Toyota Venza Price and Release Date
The Venza runs from $44,480 to $54,180, which puts it about mid-level among its hybrid competitors, all of which come standard with AWD or offer it. The Toyota RAV4 starts below it, as expected, at $37,880 to $48,880. The Hyundai Tucson also has a lower price at $42,549, while the Ford Escape with optional AWD begins at $44,644, and the Honda CR-V starts at $51,775 (all prices including delivery).