I don’t drive our 2023 all the time as it’s my wife’s car, but I have driven it a bit in snowy conditions and felt that the traction was consistent with AWD working. Not la definitive answer but it would be hard for me to believe that AWD is disabled when using the minor bit of extra control the fake shifting provides. Frankly, it helps slow the car down better is snow/ice.

 

Yes, I’m “guessing” the fake shifting gears just keep the CVT in one specific gear which in my opinion is only a benefit when driving in snow?

 

From what I understand AWD is different from 4WD. AWD is controlled by computer and is not always engaged. Most of the time you are operating in FWD. AWD only engages when slippage is detected. Toyota's AWD system is not the best. Owners have been complaining about it for years to no avail.

 

True, whereas Subaru’s are what’s called “full time” four wheel drive, not AWD!

 

Manual Mode in Venza? I am not aware of where you can control any gears. All you have is Sports Mode/Normal Mode/Eco Mode which changes the mapping of accelerator pedal. This does not change anything how the CVT operates or if Rear motor is powered or not.

In the MID if you select one of the screen it shows you which wheels are being powered. Typically from start Front and Rear axles are powered, and after 15 MPH it powers down the rear motor in a straight line. But if there is any steering input rear motor will be engaged until around 22-25 MPH. Not sure what it does at high speeds if it is ever engaged. It probably, but never observed during my drives.

 

There are gears, when you swing the shifter left into L there are 6 different gear positions, at least on my 2022 Venza!

 

These are simulated shift points. They try to make it feel like a regular transmission but it's not. Pay no attention to the man behind the computer!

 

These are simulated shift points. They try to make it feel like a regular transmission but it's not. Pay not attention to the man behind the computer!

Is it similar to the paddle shifters on the Camry but with a CVT, like “pretend shifting”?
I would think it might help in the snow if you wanted to stay within a certain speed range?

 

There are some reports that the rear electric motor powering the AWD system in the Toyota hybrids such as the Venza and RAV4 actually shuts off above a certain speed (some say somewhere between 35-50mph). Not sure how accurate those claims are. The AWD monitor would indicate if the system was operating at all speeds or not.

 

I did some digging, that seems to be the case with Gen 4 Prius called AWD-e which can't operate above ~40 mph.
RAV4 Hybrid/Venza is "Electronic On-Demand AWD" which can be operated at all speeds. But in at low speeds during acceleration, in turns and during braking its always engaged, but after that normally disengaged. But if it detects the slippage it will reengage the rear motor.

During last couple of winters I tried to observe that in the MID at highspeed driving with snow on the roads. There was no explicit slip at that speed, but I feel AWD gives more stable feel during those times. But again my observation is very limited.

 

AWD is great but it's dependent on at least one tire having traction. AWD, traction control, ABS and stability control all working as designed isn't going to be a bit of good on ICE where there is nothing for the tires to bite into. Even the best 4WD systems in the world need at least one tire to have traction; a Toyota Land Cruiser isn't going anywhere on a sheet of ice. AWD/4WD tends to give drivers a false sense of invincibility in winter weather.

 

Ice skating on 4 wheels is So out of control, lol. To have any sense of control get studded tires, or chains where it’s allowed/practical.

 

Folks, I did some testing in "S" mode, mean manual selection of ratios, AWD engagement is same as in standard "D" drive mode. All 4 wheels are getting power initially, and if there is no slip detected and no steering input, it cuts off below 15 mph. But if there is curve, and how aggressive the drive is, AWD is engaged even at 35 MPH ( in both "S" mode as well as "D" mode).
I Could not create slippery situations at highway speeds to validate the AWD enagement, but based what I read, it engage AWD if slip is detected. (unlike the old Prius system).

 

Folks, I did some testing in "S" mode, mean manual selection of ratios,

There are no ratios in a CVT, there are no gears in a CVT. The "shifting" in manual or "S" mode is just software simulating a shift by lowering RPMs briefly for a shift sound.

 

I find the system total BS. I was stuck in my yard and the rear wheels never kicked in. A slight grade from a dead stop and default to all wheel drive? No it didn’t in four attempts and I had to pull it with my tractor ……… sad

 

Most of these car based systems require wheel spin to really kick in so you have to put your foot into it. As good as Toyota's truck based systems are their AWD in cars and crossovers need some work.

 

Well it spun the front wheels and threw mud every where but not a blade of grass under the back wheels was harmed.

 

I took it back to the dealer and they said nothing was wrong, work as it should. So it doesn’t work when or if you need it.

 

That's what people have complained about for years. It works great unless you need it. Then it sucks!

 

That's what people have complained about for years. It works great unless you need it. Then it sucks!

That's what people have complained about for years. It works great unless you need it. Then it sucks!

Yes it does, I sure don’t depend on it anymore. If it does work it will only last as long as you have battery to power it.

 

Don't take it otherwise, but this does not make any sense. Venza always engage Rear Wheels when starting from stand still. You can observe this in the MID (display behind the steering if you select the correct screen).

Only possibility I can think of, rear wheels have good traction but its very steep that rear motor power/torque is not enough to move the vehicle.

 

BTW the grade was no more than between 5-10 %………

 

Then something must be going on.. Here are couple of videos testing the traction. Just need to remember, we need to stab the throttle and let it sort out the traction.

 

I guess I can go down in the yard and tear it up again with the front wheels and the back ones don’t kick in and make a take pics with my phone and call it less than I expected. I had to use my Ventrac to pull it up to the drive way,

 

Don't tear up the yard. However, does the power distribution display show that power is being sent to the rear wheels? If so, then I would agree that the rear tires have grip and the electric motor isn't strong enough to break them loose.

 

I have no idea, just got and tried to go and it wouldn’t, four times. The display means nothing, it either works or it don’t ……….

 

So, display shows power going to rear wheels, but rear wheels does not slip, and car does not move forward? May be there is some issue with your Venza, you should have recorded and went to dealer. As you have seen the two videos above, those are quite steep and its able to make it. You could show the dealer your video and those videos and ask them to check it out.

The Venza Rear Motor is 53hp, 89 lb-ft, so that's the max torque you could get from motor, and there is reduction increasing the torque, no additional ratios as its single reduction gear box.

 

It’s a shame you have to pull a new all wheel drive with a 31 hp. Ventral mower

 

2 things I try to stay away from because they can be more trouble than they are worth and you have them together. AWD and CVT

 

Good thing hybrids all use eCVTs, not trashy traditional CVTs.

 

All the numbers add up but why would Toyota advertise 219 HP when it has 390? Also, if that's 390 HP it's the most anemic 390 I've ever experienced.

 

All the numbers add up but why would Toyota advertise 219 HP when it has 390?

Because they measure/advertise the maximum usable HP that can be delivered to the wheels to propel the car.

 

Yea, sounds like the same fuzzy math the government uses to figure the inflation rate.

 

If the government was doing it they would use the 390 figure.

 

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