SUV Review: 2023 Toyota Venza XLE

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Having reached an age where the occasional bout of contrarianism is expected, I find myself taking issue with the last two words of Toyota’s somewhat redundant description of its resurrected Venza as a “hybrid mid-size two-row crossover SUV.” It’s a crossover and an SUV? Kind of the same thing to most people, though I generally equate SUVs with larger, off-road capable rigs with two-speed (Hi/Lo) transfer cases, not the car-based soft-roaders that dominate the roads and mall parking lots of suburbia.

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What I would love to see substituted in Toyota’s description are the words “station wagon” or, at the very least, “crossover wagon.” Yes, I look at the Venza and see a modern interpretation of the once-ubiquitous family hauler that was present during my childhood, just minus the vinyl woodgrain trim. (I also need to explain that during my early years as a licensed driver in the ’70s, I had access to both my mother’s Plymouth Volare wagon and dad’s Jeep Wagoneer, the latter with, you guessed it, vinyl woodgrain.)

Sure, pundits will quickly point out that almost all crossovers are, by their characteristic two-box shape, wagons. I concede that point. Still, despite its elevated stance for the all-wheel drivetrain, there’s something about the Venza’s sleek profile and lower roofline that separates it from much of the non-luxury crossover crowd, notably the very popular RAV4 Hybrid with which it shares many mechanical components.

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Toyota’s TNGA-K platform underpins both models. There’s an almost identical hybrid-electric powertrain — the Toyota Hybrid System used features a 2.5L four-cylinder engine and electric motors (three motors in the Venza, two for the RAV4), putting out an identical 219 net system horsepower. A continuously variable transmission then transfers power to the all-wheel drivetrain. (While “sports wagon” or “sportswagen” would likely be more palatable to car companies and buyers alike, in the Venza’s case it is about 100 hp shy of earning that appellation. Think Volvo’s V70R or Audi’s RS6 Avant as primo examples of the sportswagen genre.)

Whether you agree with my assessment of the Venza as a modern interpretation of a station wagon or think I’m blowing a particular rose-tinted hue of smoke doesn’t change the fact it is an exceedingly pleasant and mostly practical family vehicle, stylish on the outside, comfortable if more conventional on the inside, and fuel efficient when compared with conventional-powered crossovers of a similar size. Also, a smart buy, at least according to Vincentric, a Michigan-based organization that measures the cost of vehicle ownership. It notes that hybrids “can be both a financially sound and an environmentally friendly option for buyers in Canada.” The company considers various life-cycle cost scenarios, and measures depreciation, fees and taxes, financing, fuel, insurance, maintenance, opportunity cost and repairs in making its determination.

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And Toyota is at the forefront of hybrid technology; EVs not so much, the company having only recently released its first full-on electric vehicle, the bZ4X crossover, in North America last summer, followed by the Lexus RZ 450e in January. If you’re looking for reasonable fuel economy in a Toyota-branded crossover wagon but aren’t quite ready to commit to an electric vehicle, you have a choice of RAV4, Highlander or Venza in hybrid form — the Venza, unlike the other two, only offered with this powertrain.

Now, with a weight of 1,770 kilograms and the hybrid setup pushing only 219 hp, the Venza isn’t going to win many stoplight grands prix — taking about eight seconds to hit 100 km/h — although putting it into Sport mode at least provides a sense of adequate acceleration for most needs. The engine gets noisy under heavier throttle, with things smoothing out dramatically at cruising speeds. Still, those considering a hybrid are generally more concerned with improved fuel economy. Here, the Venza displays admirable parsimony at fill-up time. NRCan rates the Toyota at 5.9 L/100 km in the city and 6.4 on the highway; my week with the $47,390 XLE tester yielded a more realistic average of 8.1 L/100 km in a mix of highway/in-town usage, still easy on the wallet. And it runs on regular unleaded.

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My time with the Venza included dealing with a 20-cm snowfall, the crossover — fitted with winter rubber — handling the slick road conditions without any drama, with just the slightest rear-end slip before the electronic backups reined everything in. Overall, the ride is smooth and the handling is very predictable.

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Inside, the Toyota accommodates five in a comfy cabin enhanced with plenty of thoughtful storage room. Comfort in the XLE is assured with dual-zone automatic climate control, heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. New for 2023, XLE and Limited models are fitted with an eight-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat, replacing the four-way power front seat.

Also new this year, every Toyota Venza features an upgraded technology package that includes the Toyota Multimedia system. This system integrates wirelessly with both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and features a new interface, which, says Toyota, “improves interaction between people and vehicle through sight, touch, and voice.” In other words, most functions can be controlled via the 12.3-inch touchscreen using the same gestures for mobile phone screens.

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Not everything is as rosy as the company hopes, if judging by an interaction with the crossover’s navigation system. While out for a drive with my tech-savvy daughter, she wanted to put in an address to pick up an item she had purchased online. The system, however, does not appear to allow typing in an address or, if it does, it’s buried so deep in a submenu that even she couldn’t locate. So, we tried using voice activation, which kept asking us to repeat/speak up (said daughter, now annoyed, used her “coach” voice that those in the next time zone can hear). Still, no luck. We then employed the help line and spoke to a real person. Apologizing profusely multiple times, even he couldn’t input the address and hook us up. We ended up waiting 15 minutes and trying voice activation again. Finally, success! Quick synopsis: has potential, needs work.

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The Venza has sometimes been described as a RAV4 in designer duds, a pretty accurate estimation. And, in doing a comparison of both models last year, I noted that they are almost identical mechanically, dimensionally similar, equally fuel efficient, and priced and contented to compete for the same customer. But while the Venza certainly looks sportier, the RAV4 has more utility in terms of cargo capacity, payload, and the ability to tow.

If strictly talking dollars and cents, choosing the pricier and more upscale-feeling Venza over the conventionally attired and top selling, Ontario-built RAV4 comes down to a preference for something with more style. So, should you want to stand out in your hybrid crossover, SUV, wagon or whatever you want to call it, know that, unlike the RAV4, you won’t see a Venza on every block.

Check out the latest Toyota Venza model.