2024 Toyota Venza: The Hybrid Crossover That Rivals The Sun

If you are looking for a midsize crossover that offers a blend of style, luxury, and efficiency, check out the 2024 Toyota Venza. The Venza is not without its flaws, however. It has a small cargo space, a high price tag, and a lack of towing capability. We will review the performance, interior, safety, technology, pricing, and trims of the 2024 Toyota Venza and help you decide if it is the right crossover for you.

How Does the 2024 Toyota Venza Perform?

The 2024 Toyota Venza is powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and three electric motors that produce a combined output of 219 horsepower. This is not a very high number for a midsize crossover, and it shows in the acceleration. The Venza can go from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.1 seconds, according to MotorTrend, which is slower than some of its rivals like the Ford Escape Hybrid or the Honda CR-V Hybrid. The Venza is not meant to be a sporty crossover, however. It is meant to be a smooth and quiet cruiser that can handle any road condition with ease.

The Venza has an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) that sends power to all four wheels. The CVT is smooth and responsive, and it helps optimize the fuel efficiency of the hybrid system. The Venza also has three driving modes: Eco, Normal, and Sport. Eco mode reduces the throttle response and adjusts the climate control to save fuel. Normal mode provides a balanced performance for everyday driving. Sport mode increases the throttle response and steering feel for a more dynamic driving experience.

The most impressive aspect of the Venza's performance is its fuel economy. The EPA estimates that the Venza will achieve 40 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway, and 39 mpg combined. These are excellent numbers for a midsize crossover, and they are easily attainable in real-world driving conditions. In fact, Consumer Reports reported that they averaged over 44 mpg in their testing of the Venza. The Venza also has a large fuel tank capacity of 14.5 gallons, which gives it a cruising range of over 550 miles. To put this into perspective, the Venza can travel farther on a single tank of gas than some electric vehicles can travel on a full charge.

The Venza's fuel efficiency is comparable to some of the most efficient cars on the market, such as the Toyota Prius or the Hyundai Ioniq. It is also much better than some of its hybrid crossover competitors, such as the Ford Escape Hybrid (41/37/39 mpg), the Honda CR-V Hybrid (40/35/38 mpg), or the Subaru Outback Hybrid (35/33/34 mpg). The only hybrid crossover that can match the Venza's fuel economy is the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (41/38/40 mpg), which shares the same hybrid system as the Venza.

The downside of the Venza's hybrid powertrain is that it limits its towing capability. The Venza has a maximum towing capacity of only 1,750 pounds, less than half of what some of its rivals can tow. For example, the Ford Escape Hybrid can tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the Honda CR-V Hybrid can tow up to 3,000 pounds. You might want to look elsewhere if you need to haul heavy loads with your crossover.

How Is the Interior of the 2024 Toyota Venza?

The interior of the 2024 Toyota Venza is one of its strong points. The cabin is spacious and comfortable, with plenty of room for five passengers. The seats are supportive and well-cushioned, and they are covered with cloth upholstery in the base trim or leatherette upholstery in higher trims. The front seats are power-adjustable in all trims, and they are heated and ventilated in higher trims. The rear seats are also spacious and comfortable, with ample headroom and legroom for adults. The rear seats can also recline for added comfort.

The materials used in the cabin are of high quality, with soft-touch surfaces and elegant accents. The dashboard has a modern and minimalist design, with a large touchscreen infotainment system as the centerpiece. The infotainment system is easy to use and responsive, and it comes with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility in all trims. The Venza also offers several standard and available features to enhance the convenience and comfort of the occupants, such as dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display, a wireless charging pad, and a surround-view camera system.

The cargo space of the Venza is not very generous, however. The sloping roofline and the hybrid battery reduce the room behind the rear seats to 28.8 cubic feet, which is less than some compact crossovers like the Honda HR-V or the Subaru Crosstrek. Folding down the rear seats expands the space to 55.1 cubic feet, which is still below average for its class. The Venza also lacks some practical features that other crossovers have, such as a hands-free liftgate or a sliding rear seat.

How Safe and Tech-Savvy Is the 2024 Toyota Venza?

The 2024 Toyota Venza comes with an array of safety and technology features that make it a smart and safe choice for families. The Venza is equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which is a suite of advanced driver assistance systems that includes:

• Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking: This system warns you of a potential collision with a vehicle, pedestrian, cyclist, or animal in front of you and applies the brakes if you fail to react in time.
• Adaptive cruise control: This system maintains a set speed and distance from the vehicle in front of you and adjusts the speed according to the traffic flow.
• Lane departure warning with lane keeping assist: This system warns you if you are drifting out of your lane and gently steers you back into your lane if you do not correct your course.
• Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert: This system warns you of vehicles in your blind spots and alerts you of approaching vehicles when you are backing out of a parking spot or driveway.
• Automatic high beams: This system automatically switches between high and low beams depending on the traffic and lighting conditions.
• Road sign recognition: This system recognizes and displays speed limit signs, stop signs, yield signs, and other road signs on the instrument cluster or head-up display.
• Rear seat reminder: This system reminds you to check the rear seats for children or pets before exiting the vehicle.

The Venza also has standard LED headlights and taillights, a rearview camera, and nine airbags. Higher trims get additional safety features such as rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system.

The technology features of the Venza are also impressive. The Venza has a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity for two phones simultaneously, six speakers, satellite radio, and four USB ports. Higher trims get a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation, an upgraded JBL sound system with 12 speakers, and a digital instrument cluster with a 12.3-inch display. The Venza also offers an optional Star Gaze roof, which is an electrochromic glass panel that can switch from transparent to frosted mode with the touch of a button. This feature allows you to enjoy the natural light or create a more private atmosphere in the cabin.

This hybrid crossover is based on the popular Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, but it has a more sleek and refined design that sets it apart from the crowd. 

How Much Does the 2024 Toyota Venza Cost?

The new Toyota Venza is available in three trim levels: LE, XLE, and Limited. The base LE trim starts at $34,920, which is $300 more than the previous model year.

The top-of-the-line Limited trim starts at $41,220, which is $500 more than the previous year. It adds features such as ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, driver's seat memory, Star Gaze roof, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, and surround-view camera system.