Pros

• Excellent mileage per gallon.
• Standard four-wheel drive.
• Excellent inside design.
• A ride that is easy and relaxing.

Cons

• Limited space for stuff.
• Instead, a high price to get in.
• Not good enough to pull.
• Performance is just about good enough.

What is Venza’s speed? On paper, the four-cylinder hybrid engine in the Venza looks like it has few great features, but in practice, this SUV moves quickly enough. In tests done by Invoice Pricing, it took 7.6 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph. This car is slower than a V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee but faster than a Honda Passport.

The Venza’s handling is smooth and sure on turns, but living up to how athletic it looks could be better. When going around town, the Venza speeds up quickly and almost instantly, which shows how well Toyota can combine gas and electric power.

How lovely is the Venza to ride in? Toyota worked hard to make the Venza more comfortable. The engine doesn’t make that annoying buzzing noise that the RAV4 Hybrid does, and the cabin is well insulated from outside noise. The Venza also has a great ride. It handles dips and bumps on the highway better than a Honda and more like a Lexus.

The front seats have backs and are comfy. Our test car with the Limited trim had heat and airflow in the front seats, but we didn’t think it worked well. The good news is that the two-zone temperature control provides enough cooling. The back chairs are also pretty comfy, with seatbacks that can be leaned back and climate control vents to ensure air flows well.

How does the inside look? The Subaru Outback and the Honda Passport are two midsize SUVs that compete with the Venza. It’s about the same size as the RAV4, which is in a smaller class and has less room inside. It’s not because the inside is small; other SUVs in the same price band have more space.

Most of the time, the inside rest is perfect. Toyota’s new 12.3-inch infotainment screen has a design and menu layout that makes it easy to use. Below this screen are the upgraded touch-sensitive air conditioning and radio settings. Even though they work pretty well and are quick, we like the old-fashioned pushbuttons and knobs better.

The Venza’s small size makes it easy to see what’s ahead and get in and out of. Even though the giant roof pillars in the back make it hard to see what’s behind you, blind-spot warning is a regular feature that will keep you safe when changing lanes. A 360-degree parking camera system that comes standard on our Limited trim makes it easier to park in tight areas.

How good is the tech? Toyota has caught up to the competition in smartphone connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard in the Venza. Most of the 12.3-inch optional touchscreen is taken up by apps projected from your phone, but you can still use more on-screen settings. Even though the built-in navigation system could be more stylish, fast, and easy to use as an apps on the phone, it can still be helpful if there’s no cell service. All electronics on board are powered by four USB ports and a wireless charger while in use.

Toyota’s cutting-edge driving assistance systems have made much progress, many of which are now standard. When you stop entirely, adaptive cruise control kicks in, and lane centering assist keeps you in your lane so you don’t keep bouncing off the lines. It is one of the best-designed and most complete tools on the market.

There is also a tint-on-demand electrochromic panoramic sunroof that can be added to the Venza. With the push of a button, you can change the white glass from transparent to opaque. Even though it lets light into the cabin, it successfully blocks most direct sunlight and heat.

What about putting things away? Regarding storage, size is essential, and the Venza is smaller than most of its rivals. The trunk space looks good and is a little small on its own. However, with only 28.8 cubic feet of space behind the back seats, it is well below the average for the class. Only the RAV4 has more area, and the liftover height is a problem. The luggage cover and 60/40-split seats can be folded flat and stored under the load floor when not used. It has a hands-free door, which many competitors only offer on top-tier models.

There is little space in the rooms to store small things. Most storage spaces are smaller than those in a typical midsize car, and there’s no place to put sunglasses on top. Things have gotten much better for people who need car seats. We had no trouble fitting a big infant seat that faces backward because the anchors are easy to reach. On the other hand, drivers who are taller than 6 feet will probably have to sit in the passenger seat. It’s important to know that the Venza can’t pull anything.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA says that the Venza will get 39 mpg on average. On our real-world test trip of 115 miles, however, we got a great 44.3 mpg. Even though the Venza is only offered as a hybrid, it is more efficient than any other car in its class. The Subaru Outback is the second least expensive SUV. It goes much slower than most cars but gets 29 mpg on average. If we find this true, we expect the Venza to regularly meet or beat what the EPA says it can do.

Is it wise to buy a Venza? Even though it starts at a higher price than other cars in its class, the Venza looks and feels like a Lexus. A Venza will cost at least $33,000, but it has many high-tech safety features like LED headlights, taillights, and a hands-free liftgate. Compared to other market leaders, the price of the fully-equipped Limited trim is a good deal.

In addition to Toyota’s standard three-year/36,000-mile warranty, the hybrid engine in the Venza is covered for eight years and 100,000 miles. Toyota just made its guarantee that batteries last for ten years or 150,000 miles longer. Planned maintenance and roadside assistance are free for the first two years and 25,000 miles.

It’s back, and the Venza has a lot of personality. By looking different, it will be more popular than its predecessor. But their sporting skills don’t live up to how sporty they look. It’s fast and good on gas, but it’s different than the kind of car you’d take on a weekend road trip unless your goal were to see how far you could go on a gas tank.

But if you care about substance as much as we do, the Venza will give you a well-rounded driving experience because it does well in almost every critical area for this class of midsize SUVs.

As of this writing, Toyota has yet to make official news about the 2024 Venza. If anything changes, we’ll change our suggestion, but based on the Venza from last year, we recommend upgrading to the XLE trim level. You can improve the interior for a slight price rise, add more safety features, and make the infotainment screen bigger.

Model of Toyota Venza

The Toyota Venza is a medium SUV with more features as standard than most cars in its class. The LE, XLE, Nightshade Edition, and Limited trim levels are offered. It is only offered as a hybrid with all-wheel drive and a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.