2023 Toyota Venza Hybrid

We anticipate that, aside from the new Nightshade Edition, the 2023 model will offer a comparable assortment as seen on the outgoing model. That leaves the 2023 line-up to have 4 models which are expected to sell for a base price of $35,000 for the LE trim and go all the way up to $42,000 for the Limited trim. The Venza will come with an all-wheel drive system by default and feature the same powertrain across the line-up. Features like dual-zone automatic climate control, heated mirrors, LED headlight, and powered driver’s seat will be equipped right from the base variant and the Nightshade variant is based on the mid-range XLE and features black door handles, wheels, front and rear bumper elements, a grille surround, and mirror covers. Only Celestial Black, Wind Chill Pearl, or Ruby Red Flare are permitted as exterior colors for the new trim.

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The XLE variant, which has passive keyless entry, front and rear parking sensors, and 19-inch aluminum wheels as standard equipment, offers the greatest value of the group. An all-wheel drive is a standard option on all Venza models, so people who desire it are not required to pay extra.

Release Date

The 2023 Toyota Venza is likely to be available towards the end of 2022 with the major wait being the Nightshade trim. Toyota hasn’t however unveiled the exact dates.

The Venza is EPA-estimated to achieve 39 combined mpg. However, a real-world evaluation showed the Venza to achieve 44.3 mpg. Even though the SUV is only available as a hybrid, it outperforms most of the vehicles in its class in terms of efficiency. The Subaru Outback, which is considered to be a fuel-efficient vehicle does not stand well against the Toyota.

Despite having a great fuel economy, the Toyota Venza only places itself in the second spot as the Ford offers a massive 44 mpg in city drives. The Subaru despite having lower figures has the advantage of having a larger fuel tank and helps the car tour with lesser fuel breaks when traveling majorly using the highways.

We anticipated the Venza's inside to be a little bit larger than the smaller Toyota RAV4's, but in actuality, we discovered that the Venza was a little bit smaller inside. However, most customers will find it suitable. Not only is the passenger room smaller than in the RAV4, but baggage capacity also suffers. We could fit 7 carry-on luggage behind the back seat and a total of 18 with the rear seats folded when compared to the RAV4's 10 and 22. The Venza is the first Toyota to offer the optional Star Gaze electrochromic panoramic sunroof. The glass panes of the sunroof may change from translucent to opaque with the flick of a switch and this remarkable feature is something that is only seen in luxury vehicles. The front seats are supportive and comfy, they also have heat and ventilation features, however, the seat ventilation was not very effective. The dual-zone climate control, thankfully, offers more than enough cooling. The seats in the back are also rather comfy, with reclining seatbacks and climate control vents to ensure proper air circulation.

Toyota doesn’t offer the best cargo space in the segment but it doesn’t hit rock bottom as the Subaru offers the least storage area. Toyota can sure handle a daily cargo haul but if you’re looking to expand the trunk as much as possible, the Honda would be the ideal choice. The Ford also manages to outperform the Toyota here with a slightly larger trunk. The numbers might suggest the Venza to be lower in terms of the passenger space but both the front and rear rows are well segregated and cause no issues when it comes to accommodating a family.

Some standout interior features on the 2023 Toyota Venza include

• Ambient lighting
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Electrochromic panoramic sunroof
• Power adjustable driver seat
• Simulated leather upholstery
• Heated steering wheel

How intuitive is the 2023 Toyota Venza infotainment system?

A larger 12.3-inch display is now offered even on the XLE, which was previously standard only for the Limited trim. The base trim gets an 8.0-inch touchscreen that proudly sits atop the SUV's dashboard. Whichever display is chosen, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa connectivity are all included as standard features. A 9-speaker JBL premium stereo system and in-dash navigation are also unlocked by upgrading to the larger of the two displays. Although the native navigation system lacks the elegance, speed, and ease of phone-based navigation apps, it is nevertheless helpful to have in case a cell signal is lost. All of the devices on board are powered on the go by four USB ports and a wireless charger.

Some of the standout infotainment features on the 2023 Toyota Venza are

• 8.0/12.3-inch touchscreen
• 9-speaker JBL sound system
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
• Amazon Alexa assistance
• All new Toyota infotainment system
• Sirius XM with a 3-month trial

The 2023 Toyota Venza will look identical to the outgoing 2022 model with the sporty Lexus-like grille and sharp LED headlamps that give this SUV a very appealing look. The Venza will have a Nightshade variant for 2023 that gives its exterior a different appearance from the rest of the fleet. Both the inside and exterior have black accents. The mid-range XLE serves as a design inspiration for the Nightshade variant. The front and back bumpers, a shark fin antenna, the mirror caps, and the door handle all get black accents as a result. The finishing touch for this model is the standard gloss black 19-inch multi-spoke wheels. We have to confess that it looks extremely fashionable on the new Toyota Venza. Toyota also improved forward visibility on this hybrid by equipping LED fog lights as standard on Venza configured in regular XLE trim. Ruby Flare Red, Celestial Black, and Wind Chill Pearl, which will replace Blizzard Pearl for all 2023 variants, are the three exterior colors Toyota will offer for the special edition.

Even though the ground clearance on the Venza is on the lower side, it doesn’t make the vehicle any less practical than its rivals but size these vehicles aren’t meant for full-fledged off-road, the Venza will have no trouble treading through regular bumps and terrains. For those who think ground clearance matters, the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid tops the list.

Some of the standout exterior features include

• LED projected headlamps.
• LED taillights.
• 18” or 19” wheels.
• LED fog lamps.
• Shark fin antenna
• Roof rails

The Venza is outfitted by Toyota with a number of standard driver-assist systems, but the 2023 model hasn’t been crash-tested yet. However, the previous year’s model that the 2023 model is carried over from did well in the NHTSA and IIHS crash testing. Overall, the NHTSA gave it 5-stars but only gave it 4-stars for front-impact protection due to minor flaws. With "Good" scores across the board, the IIHS names it a Top Safety Pick. The Venza received an "Acceptable" rating on a new side-impact test that the IIHS introduced for the year. Each Venza is equipped with the most recent Toyota safety and driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking with pedestrian recognition, which now detects possible hazards from vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians when turning at junctions. Blind-spot monitors, active lane control, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and a rear-seat reminder are all included as standard features. Offerings include parking sensors and a surround-view camera system, which are helpful to improve rearward visibility that is hampered by the slim roofline.

Some of the standout safety features available with the 2023 Toyota Venza are

• Forward collision alert.
• Lane keep assist.
• Active lane control.
• Adaptive cruise control.
• 360-degree camera.
• Road sign recognition.
• Rear seat reminder.

2023 Toyota Venza vs 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

The Subaru despite being a good Hybrid SUV does not stand a chance against the new Venza. The Ground clearance might be in favor of the Crosstrek but the majority of the aspects are aced by the Toyota. The number of safety tech and features available on the Venza makes it a more updated vehicle in 2023 and hence, the Crosstrek is an option that can be overseen when compared to the Venza.

2023 Toyota Venza vs 2023 Ford Escae Hybrid

The Ford Escape clearly takes the fuel economy title here and that is a very important aspect when discussing Hybrids. The Ford also offers larger storage space, increasing the practicality but despite the Venza being a dull vehicle to drive in general, it feels to behave better on-road when compared to the Escape as it carries a very lethargic character. The winner here depends on what your purpose is but Toyota is the car out of the two which will keep drivers happy.

2023 Toyota Venza vs 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The major advantage of the Honda is that the SUV feels much more engaging to drive compared to the Venza and it also provides much larger cargo space for all your road trim cargo. The Honda comes with slightly more zippy acceleration, making it a fun SUV to be behind the wheel of. However, the safety suit and tech that Venza carries along with the slightly better fuel economy make it the better choice out of the two. The Venza also happens to be the bettering SUV compared to the dated and bulky look of the Honda.

The 2023 Toyota Venza isn’t the most exciting vehicle to drive and is majorly let down due to its smaller cargo space and poor towing capacity. However, if both those activities aren’t something common in your drive cycle, the Venza can be the ideal hybrid SUV as it packs a long list of features and comes with a design that feels much more modern and updated for its class. The Venza also keeps the occupants comfortable and safety is something Toyota has been focused on as buyers will get numerous safety features as standard. There are rivals that offer sharper drive dynamics than the Venza but they haven’t quite been able to achieve the right balance in terms of comfort, feature list, and performance. The Venza also happens to carry a premium build quality when compared to the rivals, making it feel worthy of the price it asks.