The 2023 Toyota Venza is a sinecure wagon. It’s good everywhere, but not outstanding anywhere. The vehicle brings a feeling of security with it that marks many of Toyota’s best vehicles.

Nearly everything about the 2023 Toyota Venza is what we’d consider better than average. It doesn’t necessarily excel at any single item on the checklist of wants and needs for the midsized two-row segment, but it hits all of the boxes adequately. That’s more than most of its competitors can claim.

Probably the Venza’s biggest draw, beyond its well-done wagon styling, is its very upscale interior design. Materials quality is good and everything feels closer to Lexus in terms of comfort. The hybrid powertrain is the next big draw, offering a lot of MPG right out of the box.

We’re disappointed that it doesn’t have even a moderate tow rating or a larger cargo space, but most will find that at least on the latter point, it’s adequate most of the time.

The Passport is a good cross-shop for the Venza. It is less comfortable in its interior and is not as fuel efficient, but it does have a larger interior and more cargo space. Pricing is competitive.

Probably the primary competitor for the Venza, in Toyota’s mind, is the Outback. Comparatively, the Subaru has more off-road capability, a similarly well-done interior, and a better reputation for all-weather capability. The Venza is more fuel efficient and upscale, we think.

This comparison is really not much of a competition. Comparatively, the Atlas Cross Sport is bulkier, less refined, and a lot less upscale inside. It offers more seating and cargo space, but is notably larger in size. Unless the “Teutonic” function-makes-form interior is to your liking, the VW is probably not going to be on your list.

A 2023 Venza starts at $35,455 plus delivery. Most buyers can expect to be in the $40,000 range after choosing a trim level and paying shipping costs.

The table below shows the most common trim levels and how much they will run you.

The current-generation Toyota Venza was introduced in 2021. New this year is a Nightshade Edition trim option, Toyota’s next-generation audio and multimedia system, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the XLE trim level and above.

The new Nightshade Edition option adds to the Venza XLE trim, adding blacked-out trim points and wheels. It gives the Venza a more “street cred” look and subdued persona.

Toyota’s new infotainment system, which has appeared in a few other models in the company’s lineup, makes it to the new Venza as well. This infotainment system is based on the optional 12.3-inch touchscreen and brings a more native, intuitive usefulness to fingertips. Toyota has long lagged behind others in the industry with infotainment user interfaces and that’s finally changing with this new update. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are now standard as well.

The Venza has only one powertrain option, a hybrid-electric system with all-wheel drive. A 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motors produce 219 horsepower. This is somewhat peppy compared to many in the segment, but not quite enough that we’d use the word “sporty.” It is definitely more than adequate for this crossover’s needs.

Handling and suspension are what one would expect from Toyota: straightforward and fairly soft. There isn’t much road input to the driver, but the cabin is very quiet and the drive quality is predictable and thus comfortable.

Most who are looking for a comfortable, nice-riding, wagon-style crossover-SUV will find the Toyota Venza to be a well-matched choice.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not published crash test results for the 2023 Venza. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety recently did so.

The IIHS has labeled the 2023 Venza a Top Safety Pick with top scores of Good and secondary scores of Acceptable on all test results. Interestingly, the original side impact test for the Venza was marked as Good while the updated version, instituted this year, dropped a notch to Acceptable. All advanced safety system testing received top scores of Good except for headlights, which were Acceptable.

With those results from the IIHS, we consider the 2023 Venza to be a very safe vehicle.

We feel that the Venza is a mixed bag for reliability. While most ratings institutions are giving it an average or better score, there have been numerous recalls for the Venza since this generation debuted in 2021. That gives us pause.

Consumer Reports and RepairPal give the Venza an above average rating for reliability. JD Power marks the Venza as average.

The starting LE trim is actually very well outfitted for the price tag. Unless the larger touchscreen and added accouterments of the XLE are needed (and they might be), we’d recommend going with the base Venza LE.

The XLE’s upgrades include 19-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lamps, roof rails, ambient lighting, an upgraded driver’s display and infotainment screen, and more comforts. It’s worth weighing the $4,000 upgrade price to get those upgrades, but they may be worth it to many buyers.

The basic warranty on the Venza is average for the industry, but the powertrain warranty is a little better than most. The hybrid system and battery pack warranties are the required warranties for California sales of electrified vehicles. Where some manufacturers change the warranty based on where the vehicle is being sold, Toyota has chosen to use the strictest requirements as the norm.

• Basic: 3 years / 36k miles
• PowerTrain: 5 years / 60k miles
• Hybrid System: 8 years / 100k miles
• Battery Pack: 10 years / 150k miles
• If buying used look at our best extended warranties

A few used Venza models from this generation are now on the market. These will likely be lease buybacks and are usually a good deal. We’d recommend shopping and aiming for a certified used option in order to retain the warranties included.

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