Toyota Venza - Review, Specs, Pricing, Features, Videos and More
Our Rating | 3.8/5 |
Price | $33,595 - $41,740 |
Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder + hybrid |
Power | 219 hp |
Torque | 252 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | AWD |
Pros | Lux interior, smart pricing, standard fuel-sipping hybrid |
Cons | Mediocre power, no towing capability, short on cargo space |
Bottom Line | A stylish and reasonably-priced mid-sizer, the Venza prioritizes a smooth ride and excellent fuel economy in the mid-sized crossover set. |
Table of contents
Toyota Crown vs Toyota Venza Comparison
These two Toyotas don’t easily fit into any one category. So welcome to a different sort of comparison: the new 2023 Toyota Crown versus Toyota Venza.
Both the Crown and the Venza are hard to categorize. The Venza debuted two years ago, not quite a mid-sized SUV, but so much fancier than your garden-variety RAV4. Then the Crown dropped last month, a high-riding sedan that draws a whole lot from crossovers. It’s unusual, it’s striking, and Toyota hopes it will sell even better than the Avalon it ostensibly replaces as the flagship of the sedan family.
And hey, they’re both only available as hybrids. So there’s that.
This isn’t a traditional comparison, then. We’re not focusing so much on which one is the better vehicle, but more on how they’re different, both from each other and other options in their price range.
2021 Toyota Venza Review
How do you capitalize on the public's continuing love affair with the crossover when you already have six in your lineup?
If you're Toyota, you revive a nameplate, in this case the Venza. This new model is a far cry from the original though. While the Venza from 2009 to 2015 was essentially a Camry wagon with a bad case of elephantiasis, the 2021 edition is a svelte crossover. It slots in between the massively popular RAV4 and the three-row Highlander, sharing a platform with both and the wheelbase of the former.
With classy new looks and a hybrid powertrain, Venza 2.0 looks to carve out its own space in the mid-size crossover segment. Thanks to a reasonable price tag and a whole bunch of feel-good tech, it looks set to succeed too.
Toyota RAV4 vs Toyota Venza: A Boxy and Practical Crossover, or A Stylish and Luxurious One?
Like many automakers, Toyota is continuing to expand its SUV and crossover offerings so that it can appeal to as many different types of vehicle buyers as possible.
As we write this, Toyota has six distinct utility models in its lineup, and will add a seventh later this year with the first-ever Corolla Cross, a small crossover based on the Corolla compact car.
Today, however, we’re comparing two existing Toyota crossover models that share a lot of technology but are aimed at much different buyers.
One is the Toyota RAV4, a compact SUV that wears one of the most recognizable nameplates in the American auto industry. Now in its fifth generation, the RAV4 offers gasoline, hybrid, and plug-in powertrains to give Toyota shoppers a range of choices for what energy source drives their vehicle.
Detailed Specs
Price | $33,595 - $41,740 |
Engine | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder + hybrid |
Power | 219 hp |
Torque | 252 lb-ft |
Drivetrain | AWD |
Transmission | eCVT |
Fuel Economy (city/hwy) | 40 mpg / 37 mpg |
Cargo Capacty | 28.7–28.8 cu ft |
Our Final Verdict
Toyota Venza
Overall | 3.8 |
Performance | 7.0 |
Features | 8.0 |
Comfort | 8.0 |
Quality and Styling | 8.0 |
Value | 7.0 |
More by AutoGuide.com Staff
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I have a 2012 Venza 4 cylinder. It has more than enough power for normal driving. I would not recommend it for towing, but it will cruize all day long at 75 with 3 passengers.
I own a 2009 with 235,000 miles that runs like a top. If it ever needs replacing--in 5-8 years, I'll be looking at another and this looks nice.