Experienced by Adrian McQueen
Photography by Adrenaline Lifestyles
The Toyota Venza has been around for some time now and usually in the shadows of the Rav 4 or the Highlander. The Venza is a five-passenger mid-size crossover SUV. The first-generation Venza hit the market in 2008 and stayed until 2017. The Venza took a gap year from 2018 – 2019 and then launched the second-generation in September of 2020. The name “Venza” is a mix of “Venture” and “Monza.”
Upon first look you can see that the 2023 Toyota Venza stands out with the sporty grille. The model that we reviewed came in a blueprint hue. The Venza has projector LED headlights, integrated LED foglights, 19 inch Multi-Spoke Super Chrome Wheels, and a hands-free power liftgate. I am drawn to the sporty appeal that they Venza has.
The Toyota Venza can seat up to five passengers. The first- and second-row seats are comfortable and accommodating for taller occupants. For installing child safety seats, there are two complete sets of LATCH connectors for the Venza’s rear outboard seats and a tether anchor for the rear middle seat. The Venza has softex trimmed seats, a heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats come in the Venza. The Star Gaze panoramic roof has a switch that allows the driver to go from transparent to frosted modes. In frosted mode, the sunlight can light the cabin without any glare or heat. I thought this feature was really cool.
The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system has connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There is also access to Siri Eyes Free and Google Assistant. The Venza comes with HD radio, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and special apps for your entertainment. The 1,200 watt JBL system has a 12-channel amp and 9 speakers that deliver’s hard hitting bass and a crisp sound. Overall, the 2023 Toyota Venza has a nice interior with quality materials and plenty of seating space. A 10-inch head up display puts speed and safety functions at eye level on the windshield.
When speaking on Venza SUV status, cargo space is essential. The Toyota Venza has 98.3 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the second row has 39 inches of headroom and 37.8 inches of legroom.
The 2023 Toyota Venza has a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a trio of electric motors, and hybrid battery pack kicking out a combined 219 horsepower with an electronic continuously variable transmission automatic (ECVT). An electric motor drives the front wheels, another drives the rear wheel, and the third powers accessories. The Toyota Venza accelerates swiftly and does enough to get around town. The steering is responsive and the brakes provide great power when it is time to make an abrupt stop. Sport mode if you want quicker driving responses. In EV mode, the Venza goes a short distance without gasoline.
The 2023 Toyota Venza offers great fuel economy. Its hybrid system brings in 40 miles per gallon city, 37 miles per gallon on the highway and 39 miles per gallon combined.
The Toyota Venza earns five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Toyota has safety has a top priority which is evident as the Venza that we tested comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 that includes a Rearview camera, Blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert, Forward collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Forward automatic emergency braking, Lane departure warning with lane keep assist, Automatic high-beam headlights, Road sign recognition, Rear seat occupancy alert, Front and rear parking sensors, Rearview mirror with an integrated camera display, Surround-view parking camera system and Head-up display. The Venza is unique because unlike other midsize SUVs, every 2023 Venza has standard adaptive cruise control.
The 2023 Toyota Venza XSE sits in a highly competitive class, going up against the Nissan Ariya, the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the Subaru Solterra, Honda CR-V and the Hyundai Santa Fe. The 2023 Toyota Venza has a three-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty. The model that I tested is competitively priced at $45,097.00. The Venza is spacious in size, gives you 39-mpg combined fuel economy is standard all-wheel drive and has the unique Star Gaze Roof. There is not much more you can ask for. Please enjoy my photo gallery.
