The new Toyota Venza 2021 has a lot to offer. It probably looks better than its predecessor, which was discontinued after the 2015 model year. It’s only available as a hybrid and all-wheel drive, which seems like a pretty good hit with rival Subaru if I’ve ever seen one (since Subaru is known for making AWD standard on its vehicles which is the current only exception ) the sports car Subaru BRZ, which was known and coincidentally developed jointly with Toyota). This powertrain and platform are shared with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. These factors alone seem to make the Venza a success, but there’s one more super cool thing worth discussing: the Star Gaze roof.

Clear speech: I can’t wait to see this roof. It’s a $ 1,400 option on the limited-spec Toyota Venza, which means you’ll need more than $ 42,000 for a Venza equipped like this. However, this is much less than for vehicles with similar functions.

Star Gaze is a fixed panoramic glass roof that can be converted from frosted glass to clear glass. When it is clear it is like any other panorama roof. If you want, you can switch it to the frozen state to reduce UV rays and make it easier for the children in your back to nap. When the Venza is turned off, Star Gaze is frozen by default. This reduces the heat build-up in the vehicle and does not consume any electricity when the Venza is switched off.

The type of “smart glass” used in Star Gaze-style windows has been around for a while, but this is the first time I’ve heard of it being available in a car that is on the order is available, which Toyota clearly wants to achieve with the new Venza. According to HowStuffWorks, smart glass is commonly used in homes and offices for privacy purposes while allowing natural light to pass through. This effect, known as “electrochromic”, is achieved by layering films made of high-tech materials between panes of glass. When the film is charged or the charge is removed, the ions in the film change orientation, which can either allow light to pass completely through (the clear state) or diffuse (the frosted state). HowStuffWorks notes that this is similar to the technology used for auto-dimming rearview mirrors. The article contains a lot more information, here.

Similar features are currently more or less the domain of expensive luxury and sports cars such as Mercedes and McLaren, as noted by the Detroit Free Press late last year. It is common, however, for luxury appointments to gradually permeate mainstream vehicles as they become cheaper to manufacture or as novelty wears off for the better-off – a good example of this is that heated and cooled seats are now common options at almost any price. Still, even loaded with options, the Venza costs quite a bit less than other cars currently on offer with a smart glass roof or windows – and it’s a crossover I don’t want to try for myself.