2021 Toyota Venza vs 2020 Lexus RX

Lexus refreshed the RX for the 2020 model year, giving it significant upgrades inside and out. These changes were not minor; the styling updates allowed the RX to stand out in a crowded market. Despite its age, the RX remained a stylish option, surpassing anything with a Toyota logo. The exterior featured standard 18-inch wheels, slimmer headlights, and L-shaped taillights, with optional triple-beam LED headlights. The grille was redesigned to resemble other Lexus cars, and new paint colors like Moonbeam Beige Metallic and Nori Green Pearl were introduced. The rear received a fresh look with dual exhausts, a rear diffuser, and updated reflectors, along with an available hands-free tailgate.

Inside, the RX continued to impress with a variety of interior colors and material combinations, including wood and satin-brushed aluminum trim. The F Sport appearance package added unique elements like a special steering wheel, shift knob, aluminum pedals, and 20-inch wheels. The cabin featured leather-wrapped surfaces that felt premium and durable enough for family use. However, the center stack's design, housing the climate controls, was starting to show its age compared to more modern, button-free interiors.

The 2021 Toyota Venza was slightly shorter and lower than the RAV4 but shared the same wheelbase. Critics noted that the Venza's design closely resembled a Lexus, particularly the LF-1 Limitless concept. Toyota offered the Venza in three trims: LE, XLE, and Limited, with seven paint color options. Standard features included a dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The base LE model came with a wireless charging pad, 4.2-inch driver’s information display, leather-trimmed steering wheel, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment touch screen.

Upgrading to the XLE trim added features like black bumper garnishes, silver roof rails, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED projector headlights, and a 7-inch driver information display. The top-tier Limited trim included a digital rearview mirror, illuminated footwells, a backup camera washer, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The Star Gaze panoramic roof was an optional feature for the Limited trim, adding a touch of luxury with its electrochromic glazing technology.

The 2020 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque on premium fuel. The three-row RX 350L had slightly reduced power at 290 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with an electric motor for a total of 308 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque, while the RX 450hL had a combined output of 259 horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. The RX 450hL also featured an electric motor adding 165 horsepower, powered by a 37-kilowatt-hour battery pack.

The RX was not particularly athletic, taking 7.9 seconds to go from zero to 60 mph. However, it offered a smooth driving experience with various drive modes, including Normal, Eco, and Sport. The hybrid models added an EV mode for short-distance emissions-free driving. The F Sport package included adaptive variable suspension and 20-inch wheels for improved agility. The RX 350 achieved an EPA-estimated 23 mpg combined, while the RX 450h AWD excelled with 30 mpg combined.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid system used an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature for regenerative braking. While the Venza's acceleration was smooth, it was not rapid, and the engine noise was noticeable during acceleration. However, the noise level decreased once the vehicle reached cruising speed.

The Venza's handling was confident and typical of a Toyota, with no surprises. It excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. This efficiency was significantly better than competitors like the Murano, Passport, and Blazer. Toyota backed the Venza's hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2020 Lexus RX's interior was not as minimalist or stylish as its German competitors, but it was functional. The two-row RX comfortably seated four adults, while the three-row RX-L's third row was best for small children or pets. The cabin was spacious in the two-row configuration, with comfortable front seats and good visibility, though the A-pillar could obstruct the driver's view of curbs and corners. The cargo area was smaller than competitors, with a high load floor that compromised space. The RX 350L and 450hL had even less cargo space compared to rivals like the Lincoln Aviator.

The 2021 Toyota Venza offered practicality without luxury frills. Its interior featured premium appointments, especially in the center stack, with piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls. The deep center console included resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, drive mode buttons, and a wireless charging pad. The front seats were accommodating, and the rear seats were comfortable for two adults. The Venza had more headroom than the RAV4 but slightly less legroom up front. Its cargo space was around 60 percent of the RAV4's, with a maximum of 55.1 cubic feet, which was sufficient for daily use but less than competitors like the Murano, Passport, and Blazer.

The 2020 Lexus RX's infotainment system was often criticized, but improvements were made for the 2020 model. The standard 8.0-inch display and available 12.3-inch touchscreen were moved closer to the driver. Despite these changes, the system remained difficult to navigate. However, standard Apple CarPlay, Amazon Alexa, Android Auto, and other integrations helped mitigate these issues. The RX also featured six USB ports and a standard 12-speaker audio system, with an optional 15-speaker Mark Levinson system.

The 2021 Toyota Venza's LE and XLE trims had an 8-inch infotainment system, while the Limited trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Entune system was not the best but had improved over the years. The larger screen was responsive but not user-friendly. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and a six-speaker audio system. The Venza also had a Wi-Fi hot spot, a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system on higher trims, and various Toyota connected services like Safety Connect and Remote Connect.

The 2020 Lexus RX came with the Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring. New for 2020 were daytime bicyclist detection, low-light pedestrian detection, road-sign assist, and lane-tracing assist. The RX also had a three-year subscription to Lexus Enform Safety Connect and a 10-year subscription to Enform Service Connect. The RX received good safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. Additional features were a pre-collision warning system, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on higher trims. The Venza also had two full sets of LATCH connections for child seats.