Professionals: Extra luxurious than mechanically equivalent RAV4 Hybrid; glorious gasoline financial system for an SUV; Lexus-like appears and high quality
Cons: Much less spacious and versatile than mechanically equivalent RAV4 Hybrid; wonky contact controls; a bit gradual
The 2024 Toyota Venza is both the reply for individuals who need a ritzier RAV4 Hybrid or a inexpensive Lexus NX 350h. They’re all primarily based on the identical platform and have principally the identical hybrid engine (the one method to get a Venza), so it finally comes all the way down to design, inside high quality, function content material, utility and value. Mainly, the Venza sits within the center, although does skew a bit extra within the fancier, Lexus path.
Why would Toyota go to the hassle to slice its small SUV pie even thinner? The reply is that not numerous effort was required: the Venza is a rebadged model of the Japanese-market Toyota Harrier. As soon as upon a time, that title was successfully hooked up to the Lexus RX in Japan, which helps clarify why the Venza is so luxurious inside. Certainly, it’s extra fashionable and of a better high quality than the fairly utilitarian RAV4. It’s for that reason that Toyota feels snug positioning the Venza in opposition to pricier midsize SUVs just like the Honda Passport and Chevrolet Blazer even when its dimensions are a bit smaller than the compact RAV4 (most notably within the cargo space). A relative lack of energy regardless of comparatively distinctive gasoline financial system is one more reason why that “midsize” placement makes the Venza a Granny Smith in a basket of Florida oranges.
However, there may be advantage to contemplating the Venza. For some, its added luxurious and magnificence may very well be sufficient to outweigh its diminished utility and elevated value in comparison with the RAV4. For many, although, we would in all probability simply go together with the RAV4.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gasoline Economic system
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2024?
The Venza carries over unchanged for 2024.
What are the Venza inside and in-car expertise like?
Just like its exterior styling, the Venza’s inside design is a key space the place it differentiates itself from the RAV4. As an alternative of a blocky, off-road look, the Venza incorporates a sharp, fashionable and extremely styled inside. It’s getting into Lexus territory in its highest trim. Distinctive coloration schemes, distinction sprint/seat stitching, and distinguished expertise assist deliver the design collectively. Functionally, the XLE and Restricted are hamstrung versus the LE, although. Each the mid-grade and prime trim have touch-capacitive controls for the audio and local weather programs, that are troublesome to establish and function whereas driving. The bottom LE makes use of bodily buttons, that are a lot simpler to make use of even when they do not look as fancy.
The large dash-top display is the inside’s centerpiece. It measures 8 inches on the LE, however the XLE and Restricted get a 12.3-inch unit. The working system is the most recent Toyota has to supply, that includes vibrant, minimalist graphics and pure speech recognition. It is responsive and runs rapidly. The shortcut icons on the aspect closest to the driving force are straightforward to achieve, however they sadly disappear once you use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, that means it’s a must to click-click-click to flee the Apple/Android interfaces fairly than utilizing a easy Dwelling button like Toyota used to function. There are different annoyances we found, notably with the radio operation, that may make the brand new system much less user-friendly than what you’d discover in most rival programs.
How huge is the Venza?
Toyota considers the Venza to be a midsize crossover competitor. Perhaps when it comes to value, inside ambiance and Toyota’s lineup hierarchy, however not when it comes to precise measurement. As our spec comparability exhibits, it’s on the smaller aspect of this class versus automobiles just like the Honda Passport, Hyundai Santa Fe and Chevrolet Blazer. Consider it extra as a glorified, style-first RAV4 than a really utilitarian household crossover.
Because of this style-over-utility alternative, the Venza has considerably much less cargo area (28.8 cubic toes behind the second row) than the RAV4 (37.5 cubic toes) regardless of being 5.7 inches longer general — see our Toyota cargo take a look at comparability for extra on what suits within the cargo space. Rear legroom is equivalent between the 2 (37.8 inches), however that claims extra in regards to the RAV4 given their equally beneficiant quantity. Fortunately, the Venza’s roofline doesn’t lower into rear-seat headroom sufficient to be bothersome except you’re particularly tall. The larger concern is the elective Star Gaze fastened glass roof, which drops rear headroom by a major 2.1 inches.
The Venza additionally doesn’t have roof rails. There are mounting factors for aftermarket attachments, however these aren’t as handy as what you’d discover on numerous RAV4 trim ranges.
What are the Venza gasoline financial system and efficiency specs?
The 2024 Venza is simply out there as a hybrid. It’s nearly a direct carry from the RAV4 Hybrid, with the primary variations being its battery pack chemistry (pricier lithium-ion as a substitute of nickel-metal hydride) and last tuning. In any other case, you get the identical 2.5-liter four-cylinder aided by a trio of electrical motors, one among which powers the rear axle to successfully present normal all-wheel drive. Complete system output is 219 mixed horsepower, which is fairly weak for one thing marketed as a midsize crossover. It’s precisely what you’d anticipate from a hybrid compact crossover, go determine.
On the upside, gasoline financial system is sort of equivalent to the RAV4, that means the Venza returns distinctive gasoline financial system for a car of its measurement that completely demolishes its midsize, non-hybrid competitors (the Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe provide hybrid trims). EPA estimates are the identical as these from 2023: 40 mpg metropolis, 37 mpg freeway and 39 mpg mixed.
Venza LE
What is the Venza wish to drive?
The Venza could appear like a sporty crossover, however it actually isn’t. Toyota doesn’t present a 0-60 mph estimate, however the RAV4 Hybrid will get there in 7.8 seconds and the Venza is roughly 130 kilos heavier. It ought to due to this fact be even slower, placing it effectively within the rearviews of most compact and midsize SUVs. At the very least it feels faster off the road than the numbers recommend as a result of electrical motors, however like all Toyota hybrids, there’s loads of droning below full acceleration that does little to convey a sporty intent.
The Venza rides on the identical TNGA-Ok variant of Toyota’s company platform and even shares the RAV4’s 105.9-inch wheelbase (the Lexus NX is mechanically associated as effectively). Street imperfections and potholes are soaked up admirably, and freeway cruising is each quiet and cozy. Nevertheless, the wind and street noise will not be diminished to Lexus-quiet ranges of serenity.
At no level does the Venza ever encourage the driving force to push it by way of a winding street. The rear electrical motor does a bang-up job of conserving the entrance wheels from being overwhelmed, however that is no performance-oriented all-wheel-drive system. The eco tires hand over rapidly, and you’ll actually really feel the heft of the tall physique round corners. Should you’re on the lookout for a extra participating driving expertise in Toyota’s lineup, the RAV4 Hybrid XSE and new RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid do a a lot better job.
What different Toyota Venza critiques can I learn?
2021 Toyota Venza First Drive | It’s again!
Our first spin within the revamped Venza. Right here we go over the design, engineering and supply additional driving impressions.
2021 Toyota Venza vs Toyota RAV4 Baggage Check | Which one suits extra?
Our West Coast Editor compares the baggage area of the brand new Toyota Venza with that in a RAV4 to indicate the real-world variations between the 2.
Toyota hybrid crossover comparability | How the Venza, RAV4 Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid evaluate on paper
We pit all three of Toyota’s well-liked hybrid crossovers in opposition to one another to see how the brand new Venza compares. Be aware that the RAV4 appears just a little totally different now, however its specs are principally the identical.
2021 Toyota Venza vs midsize crossovers: How they evaluate on paper
Here is how the brand new Venza stacks up versus the opponents in its section just like the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Honda Passport.
What’s the 2024 Venza value and the place is it made?
Pricing for the Venza begins at $36,315, together with the necessary $1,395 vacation spot cost. That’s $3,490 greater than the bottom RAV4 Hybrid LE. Then again, it’s additionally $7,890 lower than the mechanically associated Lexus NX 350h.
Which model would we select? The bottom mannequin’s ample tools and bodily controls would make us strongly think about going with it, however it’s additionally onerous to argue with the XLE’s simulated leather-based upholstery (versus material), heated seats, upgraded inside supplies and new, jumbo touchscreen. We’d in all probability skip the Nightshade as a result of $1,100 appears steep for some blacked-out trim (although individuals do appear to find it irresistible) in addition to the Restricted. It’s principally the identical value because the NX 350h, and even when a bit higher outfitted, wouldn’t you fairly personal a Lexus?
All costs beneath embody the $1,395 vacation spot cost.
LE: $36,315XLE: $40,525Nightshade Version: $41,650Limited: $44,460
Because the Venza is principally a rebadged model of the Japanese market Toyota Harrier, it’s inbuilt Toyota Metropolis, Japan. All RAV4s however the Prime are inbuilt North America.
What are the Venza security scores and driver help options?
Toyota makes its full suite of driver help programs normal within the 2024 Venza. These embody automated emergency braking (with pedestrian and bike owner detection), emergency steering help, lane departure warning and lane-keeping help, adaptive cruise management with lane-centering steering help, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, auto excessive beams and street signal recognition. Parking sensors and reverse automated braking are additionally now normal on each Venza.
The NHTSA gave the Venza 5 out of 5 stars for general crash safety, together with 4 stars for frontal safety and 5 stars for aspect safety. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security named it a Prime Security Decide for its sufficiently excessive scores in crashworthiness, crash avoidance and headlight efficiency. The latter did not web a best-possible “Good” ranking, that means the Venza missed out on the best-possible Prime Security Decide+ ranking.