The Venza nameplate has been resurrected for a fashionable SUV that’s sized between the RAV4 and Highlander. Unlike other midsized, five-passenger SUVs, the Venza is only available as an all-wheel-drive hybrid, and shares its drivetrain with the smaller, less-expensive RAV4 Hybrid.
We were impressed by the Venza’s superb fuel economy of 37 mpg overall and appreciated some optional and unusual features such as the dimmable panoramic glass roof. But unintuitive controls and limited rear visibility proved to be definite downsides.
Such contrasts define the Venza. The ride is firm, yet comfortable, and it moves quietly at low speeds when the engine is off and the car is running on electric power. But road noise is noticeable, particularly on coarse pavement, and the gasoline engine gets loud when it kicks on. Handling is responsive in everyday driving, but it doesn’t inspire confidence when pushed to its limits—such as swerving to avoid an obstacle, one of the 50 evaluations we put every test vehicle through at CR’s Auto Test Center.
With a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.8 seconds, the Venza is competitive with other midsized SUVs according to the stopwatch. The 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric drive yield a combined output of 219 horsepower. The initial electric power makes for a smooth getaway off the line, and it feels fine during ordinary driving, but when more power is needed—for instance when merging onto a highway or accelerating up a steep hill—the Venza holds revs at a high level, which only serves to exacerbate the din from the gas engine.
Interior fit and finish is solid and the abundance of padded and stitched surfaces feel like a higher grade of materials than we see in most Toyota products. But the Venza’s stylish control layout comes at the expense of ease of use. The larger, optional 12.3-inch infotainment touch screen proved cluttered, and the flush “buttons” that handle the climate-control system and other key functions are nearly impossible to discern by feel. Plus, even when the “buttons” are pushed, they don’t always respond immediately.
The front seats are comfortable and well-shaped, holding occupants in place nicely. We appreciate that the Venza gives drivers a slightly elevated seat height yet also plenty of headroom. Unfortunately the plastic center console serves as a constant intrusion with the driver’s right knee. The rear seat has enough headroom for most adults, but foot space under the front seats is very limited, and the seat could use more leg support for longer trips. A tapered rear roofline makes for modest cargo room, not to mention lousy side and rear visibility.
All Venzas come standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, an extensive suite of advanced safety and driver assist features that includes forward collision warning (FCW), automatic emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, blind spot warning (BSW), rear cross traffic warning (RCTW), lane departure warning (LDW), lane keeping assistance (LKA), adaptive cruise control (ACC), and automatic high beams.