2024 Toyota Venza

Pros: More luxurious than mechanically identical RAV4 Hybrid; excellent fuel economy for an SUV; Lexus-like looks and quality Cons: Less spacious and versatile than mechanically identical RAV4 Hybrid; wonky touch controls; a bit slow The 2024 Toyota Venza is either the answer for those who want a ritzier RAV4 Hybrid or a less expensive Lexus NX 350h. They’re all based on the same platform and have basically the same hybrid engine (the only way to get a Venza), so it ultimately comes down to design, interior quality, feature content, utility and price. Basically, the Venza sits in the middle, though does skew a bit more in the fancier, Lexus direction. Why would Toyota go to the effort to slice its small SUV pie even thinner? The answer is that not a lot of effort was required: the Venza is a rebadged version of the Japanese-market Toyota Harrier. Once upon a time, that name was effectively attached to the Lexus RX in Japan, which helps explain why the Venza is so luxurious inside. Indeed, it is more stylish and of a higher quality than the rather utilitarian RAV4. It’s for this reason that Toyota feels comfortable positioning the Venza against pricier midsize SUVs like the Honda Passport and Chevrolet Blazer even if its dimensions are a bit smaller than the compact RAV4 (most notably in the cargo area). A relative lack of power despite relatively exceptional fuel economy is another reason why that “midsize” placement makes the Venza a Granny Smith in a basket of Florida oranges. Nevertheless, there is merit to considering the Venza. For some, its added luxury and style could be enough to outweigh its reduced utility and elevated price compared to the RAV4. For most, though, we'd probably just go with the RAV4. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Trim Levels   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2024? The Venza carries over unchanged for 2024. What are the Venza interior and in-car technology like? Similar to its exterior styling, the Venza’s interior design is a key area where it differentiates itself from the RAV4. Instead of a blocky, off-road look, the Venza features a sharp, modern and highly styled interior. It’s entering Lexus territory in its highest trim. Distinctive color schemes, contrast dash/seat stitching, and prominent technology help bring the design together. Functionally, the XLE and Limited are hamstrung versus the LE, though. Both the mid-grade and top trim have touch-capacitive controls for the audio and climate systems, which are difficult to identify and operate while driving. The base LE uses physical buttons, which are much easier to use even if they don't look as fancy.  The big dash-top screen is the interior’s centerpiece. It measures 8 inches on the LE, but the XLE and Limited get a 12.3-inch unit. The operating system is the newest Toyota has to offer, featuring bright, minimalist graphics and natural speech recognition. It's responsive and runs quickly. The …
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