2024 Toyota Venza SUV

　　

2024 Toyota Venza Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　, rating written byMark TakahashiDirector, Vehicle Testing

　　Jonathan Elfalan has worked in the automotive industry since 2005. As a director of vehicle testing at zzdcar, Jonathan has tested and reviewed thousands of cars and written thousands of car-related articles over the course of his career. Jonathan got his start testing cars for Road & Track magazine as a newly minted mechanical engineer grad from University of California, Irvine, and has also contributed to Motor Trend and the Associated Press. He likes to say he learned to drive a manual transmission in a rear-wheel-drive mid-engine vehicle but often omits it was his family's 1991 Toyota Previa minivan.

　　The 2024 Toyota Venza is classified as a midsize SUV but it's based on the smaller RAV4 Hybrid. As a result, it straddles the line between the midsize and compact classes with mixed results. The Venza sets itself apart from the RAV4 with sleeker styling and a more refined interior, but the sloping rear roofline drastically cuts cargo capacity. Both vehicles boast exceptional fuel economy, so the Venza is a standout on that front whether you classify it a compact or a midsize SUV. As much as we like the Venza for its comfort, fuel efficiency and sharp looks, some rivals offer more utility at a lower price point.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Toyota Venza LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.06 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$99/mo  for Venza LE

　　Venza LE

　　LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $35,070 MSRPXLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $39,280 MSRPNightshade 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) - $40,405 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT) (Most Popular) - $43,215 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Fuel economy

The 2024 Venza's greatest asset is its exceptional fuel economy. It's estimated to get 39 mpg in combined driving (40 city/37 highway). That represents a huge advantage over non-hybrid SUVs that range between 20 and 26 mpg combined. Even better, it's easy to achieve those impressive figures, as we averaged over 44 mpg in our real-world evaluation. There are notably few midsize SUV hybrids, and relative to the more common compact hybrids, the Venza is quite compelling.

　　

Competitors to consider

The related RAV4 Hybrid trades interior refinement for a more accessible price and increased practicality. Among midsize SUVs, the Honda Passport is a top pick, but it isn't offered as a hybrid. That may change if the Pilot's expected redesign happens. We're more inclined to recommend compact hybrid SUVs that include the Kia Sportage Hybrid and Honda CR-V for reasons called out in our Expert Rating below.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.5/10

　　How does the Venza drive? The specs for the Venza's four-cylinder hybrid powertrain don't look like much on paper, but this SUV is adequately quick in real-world acceleration. In zzdcar' testing it covered 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds. That's a second behind the Honda Passport but quicker than a V6 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

　　The Venza's handling doesn't quite match its sporty looks, but it is tidy and confident as you go around turns. When you're just commuting around town, Toyota's mastery of blending gas and electric power shows through and the Venza delivers smooth and virtually lag-free acceleration.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Venza? Toyota paid special attention to dialing up the comfort level in the Venza. The cabin is well insulated from the sounds of the outside environment, and the engine doesn't have the annoying drone that it does in the RAV4 Hybrid. The Venza also delivers excellent ride comfort, feeling more like a Lexus in the way it dispatches bumps and handles highway dips.

　　The front seats are both comfortable and supportive. Our Limited trim test vehicle featured front seats with heat and ventilation, but we didn't find the seat ventilation to be all that effective. Thankfully, the dual-zone climate control provides more than adequate cooling. Rear passengers have pretty comfortable seats as well, with reclining seatbacks and climate control vents to ensure good air flow.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below