2022 Toyota Venza

The Toyota Venza was once the not-a-minivan of choice for empty nesters and aging drivers, but that perception hurt its chances with buyers in other age brackets. It didn’t help that the original first-generation Venza was launched right into the teeth of the Great Recession. As such, the original version was axed in 2015 after a six-year run. With crossovers now king, however, the nameplate was revived for 2021 as a hybrid-only, all-wheel drive (AWD) SUV with refined styling, intended to appeal to buyers looking for an elevated level of sophistication above the usual compact SUV choices. After its re-debut for the 2021 model year, Toyota has made no changes for 2022. 

The Venza slots into the Toyota lineup between the RAV4 and Highlander, and though it leans towards an upscale experience, the similarities are many. Offered in LE, XLE and Limited trims, it relies on a hybrid powertrain borrowed from the RAV4 Hybrid, albeit with a lithium-ion battery. In contrast, the RAV4 uses a nickel metal hydride battery for motivation. As a side note, the Venza is produced in Japan, and the RAV4 is made in the U.S., and while the RAV4 Prime offers plug-in capacity, the Venza is a conventional hybrid.

It’s not as practical as either of its siblings, as its sloping roof cuts into interior space, limits rearward vision and Toyota does not rate the vehicle for towing. (The RAV4 hybrid is rated to tow 1750 pounds and the Honda CR-V hybrid 1500 pounds.) Pricing may also present challenges for Venza buyers, as its $34,575 base price (including a $1,335 destination fee) is nearly $4,000 more than the RAV4 hybrid, and at more than $42,000 for the Limited, it begins to enter the same space as larger SUVs and premium competitors.

Rated for 219-combined horsepower, the powertrain provides effortless, quiet propulsion with impressive fuel economy of up to 40 mpg in the city. It isn’t a plug-in hybrid but provides electric-only operation for short distances at low speeds, helping save more fuel. It’s unremarkable in operation, save for a little engine drone under hard acceleration, but that’s largely the point. The Venza provides a near-Lexus experience, so it appeals to folks who like the Lexus NX or Acura RDX but are on a more constrained budget, but who want something nicer than a CR-V, RAV4 or Hyundai Tucson.

Though its styling makes it look like a larger vehicle, its 186.6-inch overall length is only 4.5-inches longer than the CR-V and 5.7-inches than the RAV4; its 105.9-inch wheelbase is identical to the RAV4’s and 1.1-inch longer than the CR-V’s. But the added length pays no dividends in the interior, as the Venza isn’t as spacious as either inside and loading the cargo area is slightly impeded by the funky shape of the hatch. The rear seats fold down, but with them up the Venza only manages 28.8 cubic feet of space. 

The Venza’s interior does a fair Lexus impression with mildly interesting styling, premium—but by no means extravagant materials—and an ergonomic layout. Buyers wanting a little extra creature comfort that don’t mind giving up some practicality will be excited for the Venza, which grabs some of the glory of Lexus’ crossovers without the premium price tag.

Performance: 8/15

The Venza is only available as a hybrid. The system uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with three electric motors for a combined output of 219 horsepower. A single rear motor enables AWD while the other two assist the gasoline engine and its continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). There’s no mechanical connection between the front and rear axles, which helps save weight. A plug-in variant is not offered. 

That powertrain looks unremarkable on paper, and the Venza feels that way in motion. The CVT does a decent job of keeping the gas engine in its powerband, but there’s still plenty of sound under heavy throttle—a characteristic that is at odds with the Venza’s positioning and price. The Venza isn’t particularly athletic in motion, but it does manage a primarily smooth ride, even over broken pavement and potholes. There’s more body motion and roll than expected, but the Toyota doesn’t feel sloppy or uncontrolled. The overriding theme in all metrics—acceleration, braking, handling—is one of adequacy rather than aspirational performance.

Fuel Economy: 14/15

The 2022 Toyota Venza is rated at 40 mpg in the city, 37 mpg on the highway and 39 mpg combined. Those are solid numbers for any SUV, especially with all-wheel drive. The Venza absolutely demolishes its non-hybrid competition in this area. The non-hybrid Kia Sorento 24 mpg city and 29 highway, the Chevy Blazer is rated at just 19 city and 29 highway and the six-cylinder Honda Passport 20 and 25.

The rivalry heats up when comparing hybrid apples-to-hybrid apples, the CR-V Hybrid AWD delivering 40 mpg city, 35 highway and 38 combined. The AWD Sorrento Hybrid returns 36 mpg city, 33 highway and 35 combined. Perplexingly, the RAV4 Hybrid—the Venza’s slightly less expensive sibling—is the most efficient of the bunch, returning 41 mpg city, 38 highway and 40 combined. 

Safety & Driver Assistance Tech: 13/15

Safety is a strong point for the Venza, as the 2022 model earned a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) and a five out of five-star rating from the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). The IIHS rating includes a “Good” score in all crash test categories, “Superior” scores for vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-pedestrian crash prevention and a Good+ score for LATCH system ease of use. 

Every Venza gets Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which brings adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, automatic high beams and road sign recognition. In addition, XLE and Limited trims add blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts and parking sensors.

Comfort & Room: 11/15

The Venza’s cabin is surprisingly spacious and handsomely designed. The front buckets are deep and generously padded, and even the base cloth upholstery feels upscale. The rear bench offers decent legroom but is too flat and could use additional lower back support. Toyota advertises seating for five in the Venza, but three adults in the back seat will be tight. Front headroom measures 38.6 inches up front and 39 inches in the rear. Legroom lands at 40.9 inches in front and 37.8 inches in back. Though comfy, one significant downside to the Venza’s design is its rear window, which is awkwardly shaped and makes rear visibility a chore.

The Honda CR-V Hybrid aligns closely with the Venza’s interior dimensions, though it’s slightly better in legroom across both rows. Headroom is also similar, which is surprising given the Honda’s more upright shape. The Kia Sorento hybrid is larger up front and about the same in the second row. Hybrid vehicles often struggle with interior dimensions, as their battery packs can cut into passenger and cargo space. 

Infotainment: 11/15

The Venza comes standard with an eight-inch touchscreen that runs Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but only with a cable connection. Toyota also includes Amazon Alexa capability, SiriusXM and HD radio, four USB inputs and wireless charging. A larger 12.3-inch touchscreen with navigation and an upgraded nine-speaker sound system is available on the XLE and standard on the Limited. A head-up display and rain-sensing wipers are available on the Limited. 

Toyota’s infotainment systems have improved by leaps and bounds in recent years and are now far more usable than they were just a year ago. The interface offers more flexibility now and allows the driver to change the layout to their liking. Menus and options are easier to access, and interacting with most functions doesn’t require several taps.

Cargo Space & Storage: 12/15

With the rear seats upright, the Venza delivers 28.8 cubic feet of space, which expands to 55.1 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. That’s less than some of its rivals and isn’t that far ahead of some smaller SUVs. The Honda CR-V Hybrid, for example, offers 33.2 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 68.7 cubic feet when folded flat; the RAV4 hybrid tops both with 37.5 and 69.8 cubic feet in the same metrics. The rear opening is awkwardly shaped, and the load floor is tall enough to cause problems for some people when lifting heavy cargo. Toyota includes a hands-free power liftgate, which helps. 

The Interior storage space is decent but not incredible. The door pockets are wide enough to hold larger bottles and offer suitable space for longer items. Center console storage is good for smaller items like wallets and cell phones, but the Venza lacks a single cavernous storage cubby that some competitors offer.

Style & Design: 8/10

The old Venza looked a lot like a height-challenged minivan and was a polarizing design. With the Venza revival, Toyota sidestepped the awkward shape of the original in favor of a sleek, curvy design. The SUV features a sloping roof and rising beltline that gives it a speedy look, but that vanity does come at the expense of outward visibility for the driver. 

A panoramic sunroof is available, but trims without it can feel cave-like and quite dark inside. The front cabin is clean and well organized, with the touchscreen mounted high on the dash for good visibility for both front passengers.

Is the 2022 Toyota Venza worth it? Which Venza is the Best Value? 

With a starting price of around $34,575 for LE, it’s hard to call the Venza a value. Standard hybrid power, all-wheel drive and 40 mpg are a big plus, but rivals, including the RAV4 hybrid, offer better value and more space for gear. 

Perhaps the best way to view the Venza is not an upscale RAV4 but a bargain version of the Lexus NX350h hybrid. The two share a 105.9-inch wheelbase and a hybrid powertrain comprised of a gasoline engine and three electric motors with CVT. The NX starts at $43,200 and escalates quickly, and in that light, even the Venza XLE ($37,990) and Limited ($41,945) seem reasonable if you can live without the Lexus cache. If that sounds reasonable, we’d go for the middle XLE trim, as it adds 19-inch wheels, LED projector headlights, synthetic leather upholstery and a smart key system with a push-button start.

How Much Does It Cost to Insure the 2022 Toyota Venza?

The Toyota Venza’s insurance costs are about even with its peers. According to our data, a typical 30-year-old female driver with a clean record can expect an average annual premium of $1,971, though this averages all 50 states. That compares to $2,039 for the Kia Sorento, $1,970 for the Toyota Highlander, $1,770 for the Ford Edge and $1,779 for the Hyundai Santa Fe. To get a more accurate picture of your potential insurance expenses, visit our car insurance calculator.