Depending on the year, Toyota is either the first or second-largest automaker in the world. When you are that big and major product question comes along of should we do this or do that? Often enough, the answer is “Let’s do both.” Should we stay with our truck-based mid-size SUV or do a crossover? Both. Continue with the well-selling Camry-based luxury sedan or chase after the 3-Series with a rear-drive model? Both. Base our full-size SUV off our big pickup truck or continue with the world-renown off-road legend? Both, at least until recently.
So, a few years ago there came the question of whether to redesign their compact crossover hybrid to look tougher and more truck-like, or more refined and luxurious. Well, the new RAV4 hybrid looks like a lot more butch and now we have the Venza.
It’s All RAV4 Underneath
The Venza is not a return of the Camry-based big-wheeled wagon from over a decade ago. In fact, unlike the other product questions above, this “both” answer was made easier by the fact that stripped down to its mechanicals, the Venza is a RAV4 Hybrid. That means you have a 2.5-liter inline-4 good for about 176 hp assisted by front and rear motors of 88 and 40 kW respectively. The combined power of 219 hp is controlled by a CVT and routed to Toyota’s On-Demand AWD system. You have drive modes for Sport, Eco, and Normal. The suspension is fairly conventional with MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear with stabilizing bars on both ends.
Compared to the RAV4 Hybrid, the Venza is about an inch lower, weighs about 150 pounds more and its 40/37/39 (city/hwy/comb.) rating is one less mile per gallon across the board. The lower roof and sloping rear window reduce seat-up cargo space from 37.6 to 28.8 cu.ft and seat-down space from 69.8 to 55.1.
Why A Venza Over A RAV4 Hybrid?
With those downsides, what’s the point of the Venza? Well for starters, some of that extra weight goes into sound deadening; something Toyota knows a thing or two about from their Lexus division.
In fact, Lexus DNA seems to be sprinkled throughout the Venza. The interior is a much more pleasant place to be with rounded surfaces, contrast stitching, bright trim accents, and available ambient lighting. The available Star GazeTM panoramic roof features electrochromic glass technology that allows drivers to instantly switch from transparent to translucent modes with the push of a button. The RAV4, though quite up-to-date, looks practically industrial in comparison.
Outside, it is much the same story, where the RAV4 was intentionally designed to give the same tough, even brutish impression of Toyota’s truck line, the Venza is all smooth and elegant flowing lines. Even the pointy front end manages to avoid both the mean scowl of the Toyota’s trucks and the massive grille confusion of their passenger cars. The rear is even better with the thin full-width LED taillights aping Porsche and definitely communicating "luxury brand".
Well-Equipped And Refined
The Venza backs up its upscale looks with some standard upscale features. Start with remote keyless entry and start, and an 8” touch screen that is Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa compatible. You have an electronic parking brake with brake hold and Smart Stop.
There is dual-zone automatic climate control with rear-seat vents and controls, and the tailgate has it all: power, height adjustability, and hands-free access. You also have the full roster of Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.0 with Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist, Lane Tracing Assist, Automatic High Beams, Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, and Road Sign Assist.
Of course, there is a price for this. The Venza starting MSRP is $32, 470, which is quite a bit more than the $28, 650 for the RAV4 LE Hybrid. Start optioning the RAV4 with the same features though, and you are pretty much in the same ballpark again. That Venza starting price is also above the entry prices of its hybrid compact crossover competitors, which would be the CR-V EX Hybrid at $30,560, Escape SE Hybrid at 27,605, and Kia Niro Plug-in hybrid of $28,604.
The CR-V has a completely different hybrid set-up but its overall 212 horsepower is comparable. In MPG, the Honda is close, but a little less at 40/35/38. The EX-L model at $33,150, is more closely compatible in terms of features, plus a leather interior. The lesser expensive Escape and Niro models are in a lower league power-wise with 165 and 139 horsepower respectively. In the Escape, this results in with better city MPG of 44/37/41, while the Niro Plug-in Hybrid is better overall with 48/44/46.
Prices And Trims
There are three different trim levels for the Venza. We pretty much covered the $32,470 base LE model with all of the features mentioned above.
The XLE starts at an even $36,000. Outside, it adds LED headlights, 19-inch wheels, roof rails, chrome accents on the bumpers and the rear spoiler goes from just black to color-keyed with gloss-black accents. Remote entry lock/unlock sensors are added to the rear doors.
Most of the upgrades are inside with memory for the seats and other personal settings, wireless phone charging, a larger Multi-Information Display, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror with home link, Aesthetic enhancements include a soft-touch dash, leather wrapped-steering-wheel, ambient lighting, and wood-grain trim.
The $2,050 Premium Audio with Dynamic Navigation and JBL Package includes an audio system upgrade with nine JBL speakers including a powered subwoofer. The center touch screen increases to 12.3 inches, and controls on the center console for the rear passenger HVAC are touch capacitive, which certainly look fancy, but functionally may not be to everyone’s taste.
Another $510 SofTex® Package upgrades the seats with the SofTex-fabric. The driver gets 8-way power with memory, with 4-way power for the front passenger. Both front seats get heating, ventilation, and seat-back pockets. Also included, is a heated leather-trimmed power tilt/telescopic steering wheel.
The $39,800 Limited model starts by including both the option packages above plus a 360-view camera system, rear-camera washer, digital rearview mirror, and puddle lights that display the Venza logo
The Limited’s $725 Advanced Technology Package includes a 10-inch Head-Up Display and rain-sensing variable intermittent windshield wipers. The stand-alone Star Gaze Fixed Panoramic Roof is $1,400 and deletes the roof rails.
A fully-loaded $41,925 Venza pushes well into Lexus NX territory. The similarly sized and proportioned NX has the badge and a whole lot more grille, but there is no hybrid drivetrain and thus eight less combined MPG.
Source: Toyota Media, Edmunds