Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs Toyota Venza

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid had undergone a significant redesign in 2019, moving away from the softer, traditional crossover aesthetics to adopt a more muscular, blocky design. Featuring a trapezoidal grille borrowed from Toyota's truck lineup, the RAV4 Hybrid presented a robust and substantial look. The beveled and angled bodywork around the headlights contributed to its aggressive stance. Although this design initially stood out, it became more mainstream as competitors like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-50 adopted similar styling cues.

Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid carried the angular theme further, showcasing a multi-tiered dashboard with beveled cutouts for added visual interest. The layout was common for the era, with an infotainment touchscreen perched on top of the dash and a good mix of physical buttons and knobs for essential controls. Materials quality was average for its class, featuring many hard plastics but with lightly padded surfaces where most contact was made. However, the entry-level model and the new Woodland trim did not include a leather-wrapped steering wheel, opting instead for a lower-grade urethane wheel and center armrest, which felt rubbery and cheap. Despite this, higher trims offered a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the overall build quality was solid, showing no signs of creaks or squeaks over rough terrain.

On the flip side, the 2023 Toyota Venza broke away from the common boxy look of midsize crossovers by offering a sleek, sculpted design that almost resembled that of a Lexus. The rear roofline tapered elegantly to a sharp point at the taillights, giving it a dynamic appearance without looking weak. Its contoured body, with harmoniously blending curves, was a departure from typical Toyota designs and more akin to a Mazda’s aesthetic.

Internally, the Venza borrowed heavily from the RAV4 but elevated the experience by incorporating noticeably higher quality materials and details. Instead of large dials for temperature control, it featured integrated buttons on the climate control panel. The inclusion of more soft-touch surfaces and a more substantial feel in materials brought the Venza closer to Lexus-level luxury. Overall, both inside and outside, the Venza was attractively styled, making it one of the best-looking vehicles in Toyota's lineup alongside the new Prius.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid ran on a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with an electric motor/generator, seamlessly driving the front wheels through a continuously variable transmission (CVT). An additional electric motor on the rear axle provided all-wheel-drive capability. Together, these produced 219 horsepower, allowing the RAV4 Hybrid to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds—respectable performance within the compact hybrid SUV segment.

In comparison, the Hybrid powertrain was about half a second quicker than the standard RAV4, while the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime outpaced them all, reaching 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The RAV4 Hybrid held its own among competitors like the Kia Sportage Hybrid and Honda CR-V Hybrid, with acceleration times placing them on a relatively level playing field.

The braking system operated similarly to conventional vehicles, with regenerative braking capturing momentum to recharge the battery during initial pedal application, transitioning seamlessly to physical brakes for more forceful stops. The suspension provided a balance between ride quality and cornering capabilities, ensuring a comfortable yet confident driving experience. While not overly sporty, it delivered a competent and effortless driving dynamic.

Sharing the same 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system as the RAV4 Hybrid, the 2023 Toyota Venza also produced 219 horsepower, powered by a CVT that managed front-wheel drive, with a separate electric motor driving the rear wheels for AWD. Initial acceleration was immediate, thanks to the electric motors, with the gasoline engine blending in smoothly to maintain power. The Venza clocked a 0 to 60 mph time of 7.5 seconds, equal to the RAV4 Hybrid.

The braking system mirrored the RAV4 Hybrid’s, with an imperceptible transition between regenerative and physical braking. Both vehicles drove much like conventional internal combustion vehicles from the driver's perspective.

The Venza prioritized ride comfort over sporty handling, which was logical for a more luxury-leaning crossover SUV. Handling was adequate for relaxed driving, with light steering effort that lacked precision and feedback. The Venza's ride quality was smoother than the RAV4 Hybrid's but fell just short of the plushness found in similarly sized Lexus models. Road imperfections were handled with ease, enhancing the Venza's serene driving character.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's interior provided ample space in the front seats for larger passengers, while the rear seats comfortably accommodated average-sized adults. In practice, the differences in rear headroom and legroom compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Kia Sportage were minor. However, a rear-facing infant seat could necessitate moving the front seat forward. Taller passengers in the rear might wish for more thigh support due to the low seat cushions on extended trips.

Cargo-wise, the RAV4 Hybrid offered 37.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, almost matching the non-hybrid RAV4, and only slightly less than the 39.5 cubic feet in the Honda CR-V and 39.3 cubic feet in the Kia Sportage. This demonstrated that the hybrid system didn’t compromise cargo capacity. However, reaching the rear seatbacks to fold them flat could be a stretch for shorter owners.

Interior storage shone in the RAV4 Hybrid, featuring a wide shelf in the dashboard for the front passenger, a phone tray before the center console, and large cupholders fit for oversized drinks. Although an optional wireless charging pad was listed, it wasn’t available in Toyota's online configurator, likely due to a chip shortage. The large center armrest bin and average-sized door pockets added to the functional storage solutions.

The 2023 Toyota Venza's front seats catered to taller drivers and passengers, amplified by the expansive views through large windows and a panoramic sunroof. The innovative Star Gaze roof, which turned opaque at the push of a button, added a touch of novelty more common in luxury vehicles. Despite its uniqueness, the fabric shade proved more effective at blocking sunlight. Visibility was excellent through the front, though the roof pillar behind the driver impeded the view of the blind spot, and rear visibility was limited, typical for modern SUVs.

The rear seats in the Venza provided sufficient room for average-sized adults and some taller individuals, with headroom being the limiting factor due to ample legroom and foot room beneath the front seats. Unlike many SUVs, the rear passenger area in the Venza featured upscale materials consistent with the front seats.

However, the Venza’s cargo space was limited to 28.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, which was 40 percent less than the class-leading Honda Passport’s 41.2 cubic feet and less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 37.7 cubic feet. Unlike the RAV4 Hybrid, the Venza couldn’t compensate for its smaller cargo area with towing capacity due to its lack of a towing rating.

For interior storage, the Venza excelled, coming standard with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, and a deep center armrest bin for larger items. The door pockets were also spacious enough to hold larger beverage bottles.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid enjoyed a substantial technological upgrade with a new infotainment system offering modern, sharp graphics and intuitive menu arrangements. The infotainment screen was positioned atop the dashboard, minimizing distraction. Most trims featured an 8.0-inch display, while higher trims boasted a 10.5-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen's on-screen buttons were tiny, requiring precise touches for accurate operation.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all RAV4 models, with a wireless charging pad offered as an option. The system could perform over-the-air software updates for current features and included a Wi-Fi hotspot, remote monitoring, and control capabilities. The top trim level provided a fully digital instrument panel. The standard six-speaker audio system offered decent sound quality, while the Limited trim upgraded to an 11-speaker JBL system for more enriched audio.

The 2023 Toyota Venza also came equipped with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside a standard wireless charging pad. The base LE trim included an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, but the XLE and higher trims featured a spacious 12.3-inch multimedia display. The new infotainment system delivered improved graphics, quicker response times, and a more logical menu layout compared to Toyota's previous versions.

A Wi-Fi connection came with a 30-day trial, offering remote vehicle monitoring and control through a smartphone app, in addition to maintenance reminders and enhanced roadside assistance. The top Limited trim featured a one-year Drive Connect subscription, allowing voice-activated navigation with Google maps integration.

The Venza's standard six-speaker audio system, which included a satellite radio trial, provided ordinary sound quality. However, upgrading to the XLE or opting for the nine-speaker JBL premium audio system, standard on the Limited trim, offered enhanced bass and overall sound quality, appealing to audio enthusiasts.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received high marks in safety. The NHTSA awarded it five out of five stars for overall and side crash protection, while it earned four stars for frontal and rollover crash tests. Similarly, the IIHS gave it the highest "Good" rating in most tests, with an "Acceptable" rating in their new moderate overlap frontal and side-impact tests, dubbing the RAV4 Hybrid a Top Safety Pick.

Every RAV4 Hybrid came with Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, featuring forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alerts, while the Limited trim included front and rear parking sensors and automatic braking in reverse. An optional surround-view camera system and digital rearview mirror were also available.

Similarly, the 2023 Toyota Venza excelled in safety ratings. It scored five out of five stars from the NHTSA for overall and side crash protection and four stars for frontal and rollover protection. The IIHS awarded it "Good" ratings across all categories, except for the new side impact test, where it received an "Acceptable" rating. The Venza was also named a Top Safety Pick.

The Venza included Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ as standard, which comprised adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added parking sensors and automatic emergency braking in reverse. The Limited trim upgraded safety features to include a surround-view camera system, a head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror.