Used 2021 Toyota Venza Consumer Reviews
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More modern feel than the RAV4
Emily, 11/10/2020
2021 Toyota Venza LE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
253 of 263 people found this review helpful
Less cargo than the RAV4 hybrid , but when comparing the LE trim on both the Venza is the clear winner. Automatic lift gate open with the swing of the foot. Electric driver seat, bigger console screen, quieter ride...etc. this is why I chose the Venza LE over other trims as well, you really get a lot of bang for your buck. One of the complaints of the higher trim levels is the lack of knobs for all the climate, volume and inside controls. Not so in the LE trim, it has physical and luxurious knobs!! The ride is much smoother than the RAV 4, as well. The transition between gas and electric is much less noticeable in the Venza, thanks to more insulation. Even the glass used in the Venza is higher quality than in the RAV. I got the Venza for just $500 more than the RAV 4 hybrid LE. Totally worth it.
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My favorite car
Elizabeth , 02/13/2021
2021 Toyota Venza Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
55 of 56 people found this review helpful
I purchased the Limited Venza 21 purchased in Nov 2020. My first SUV, we traded in our Camry and only have good things to say. Still getting used to the very smart screen, and I’m adjusting to the flat ‘no buttons’ controls. Overall it’s sleek, modern, smart, and very savvy on gas. I’m close to my job but I’m gassing every 2 months, that’s 50% less than what I used to pay, My insurance also went down 45% I never had that experience before with any other car. Only negative is less cargo, but it’s just me and the hubby so it’s ok. No regrets.
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Comfortable, quiet, high MPG
Vic, 05/17/2021
2021 Toyota Venza XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
94 of 97 people found this review helpful
We've owned our Venza for three months now and love it! The ride is smooth, comfortable, and quiet. It feels predictable and safe. We're hitting 38-42 MPG around town depending on the trip, and 40-45 MPG on the freeway depending on speed and traffic. Note: using ECO mode adds about 3 MPG compared to normal mode. The acceleration is a bit more muted, but I only drive ECO now. I actually prefer the handling of ECO; it makes for smoother starts from stop signs. Obviously, the external styling is sharp too. We're empty-nesters and the cargo space is more than sufficient for us but is smaller than others. If cargo room is a priority, look at the RAV4. (The tradeoff is that interior of the RAV4 is not as luxurious. The Venza is almost Lexus-like). If sporty handling is important, consider the Mazda CX-5. A couple of other notes. The gas tank does have a reserve of about 3 gallons when you reach "empty." After I get a full tank, I typically show about 470 miles to go. It's great to get that kind of range and know you still have an ample reserve. The 470 miles is much higher than other cars I've driven so I'm fine with it. Also, I think the sweet spot is the XLE trim with the standard 8 inch screen. This trim has physical controls for radio volume/tuning and climate control, and IMO looks better too. The 12 inch touchscreen is harder to adjust while you're driving. Though the XLE costs $3K more than the LE, I think it was worthwhile. The XLE comes with several features that are missing in the LE: front/rear bumper sensors with automatic braking (Toyota's mysteriously calls this parking assist; it keeps you from hitting things you can't see or can't judge the distance), projector headlights which are much brighter than the reflector headlights in the LE; a larger driver display with more info ("MID"), HomeLink garage door opener built in the rear view mirror, Softex-fabric combo seats instead of all fabric seats (feels like leather and the feel is not much different than the all Softex seats in the Limited IMO), seat adjustment memory for two drivers, and a few others. I found that moving from the LE to the XLE yielded features that were important to me and weren't just "nice to have."
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Solid Choice Solid Value
PowerGuyMark, 05/28/2021
2021 Toyota Venza Limited 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
79 of 82 people found this review helpful
Been driving my Venza Limited for 6 months now with Zero issues, Although it's no race car, the acceleration is a big step up from the second generation Chevy Equinox I was driving. Driving in sport mode acceleration is nice. I didn't even bother trying to pass slow moving vehicles in my Equinox. Even when driving aggressively I'm averaging 36mpg. My best is about 52mpg for a short 20 mile trip across town and back. Toyota has been using this platform and engine for nearly 3 years (Harrier in Japan) so don't be fearful about buying a first model year. The safety features are a big step up as well. Perhaps the biggest compliment other than a droning engine when pushed hard is that you don't even realize you're driving a hybrid most of the time. The regenerative braking is extremely smooth. The seats are extremely comfortable and the JBL sound system sounds great. The Venza is much quieter than the RAV4s that I test drove before purchasing my Venza. It's not Lexus quiet, but having the extra sound deadening makes the audio system sound even better. It does lack handy storage and has less cargo space than a RAV4, but the interior looks WAY nicer. I studied up on the eCVT before purchasing. It is absolutely nothing like a standard CVT which has a metal belt that eventually wears out. Although it doesn't have gears like a standard transmission it does have gears rather than a belt. Weber State University has this excellent video discussing the hybrid transaxle which is really a better term for the transmission in this vehicle: https://youtu.be/O61WihMRdjM We received about 8 to 10 inches of snow right before spring came so I took my Venza out to test its all wheel drive function in the fresh snow and I couldn't get it to handle poorly no matter how hard I tried. The computer system would send power to the appropriate wheels extremely quickly to keep the car driving straight. I like the fact that there is no mechanical drivetrain connecting the back wheels just an electric motor that is computer controlled. After 6 months and about 6,000 MI I'm still extremely pleased with my Toyota Venza purchase. If you're thinking of a hybrid (and you should be) this should be on your short list.
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RAV4 Hybrid with more luxury, less practicality
Edison Yuan, 08/08/2021
2021 Toyota Venza XLE 4dr SUV AWD (2.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
67 of 70 people found this review helpful
My wife and I had the Venza XLE for about three month. We originally wanted to look at the RAV4 Hybrid/Prime but they are very hard to come by in these times, so we settled on the Venza. First off, this is the first ever hybrid we ever owned. My wife and I are able to get around 43 MPG tank average which is better than the EPA MPG figures. I liked how the power delivery is very smooth as there are no gear changes. Toyota did a great job in isolating power source (gas/electric) transitions and I don't feel distracted when using the gas pedal. The acceleration is okay in the Venza. It's not too slow but it's not great either. The engine sounds at bit loud at times. I believe this comes from the engine switching between port/direct fuel injection and Otto/Atkinson to optimize efficiency. I don't mind this tradeoff. When it comes to braking, I'm impressed how Toyota managed to blend regen and friction braking so well. I had driven other people's hybrid cars that had bad blending and the brakes felt grabby. Handling seems okay for an SUV. I have yet to try the eAWD system's capabilities. On highways, I noticed very little wind noise, but I noticed there is significant road noise. Since I could not test drive on the highway, I noticed this first time on my first commute with the Venza. I am hearing lots of harsh tire/pavement noise. I strongly believe Toyota should do more to address this as they know how to build Lexus vehicles known for their quietness. In my opinion, anything in the upper $30K range should not have this much road noise. This vehicle is packed with luxury features like parking sensors, power folding mirrors, and memory seat. My wife really likes how luxurious the vehicle is in terms of exterior and interior appearance. I even took my Venza and showed it to a friend who once had a Lexus RX 350. He said that many of the elements of the RX are present in my Venza, but there were more cost cutting measures evident in the Venza. For example, memory functions only are for the seat and not the side mirrors. Also, the sliding mechanism of the vanity mirror cover is not as smooth as that on the RX. There is also more hard plastic present in the interior. Of course, these things are to be expected since the Venza costs less. Now on to the bad stuff. First, the infotainment system seems outdated. The menus are very laggy and the screen is not very good by today's standards. There are only USB-A ports which is a shame in 2021 new vehicles. Now, I have to buy USB-A to USB-C/Apple cables to connect current phones. The rear turn signals should be more prominent and mounted higher. I feel it's a safety disadvantage when changing lanes. The front turn signals on the other hand are really nice looking. When I go over bumps, I have to slow down a lot. Otherwise, the vehicle will make some disturbing sound like I broke something metallic. I am guessing the sound came from the suspension. Lastly, I'm not happy that Toyota makes the front passenger power seat on the XLE trim optional while the driver's seat has memory. Toyota's practice of using options on every trim level just makes car shopping more complicated. I was not able to get power front passenger seat unless I buy the higher trim or shop around other dealerships on the XLE trim. It's even worse when there is an ongoing vehicle shortage. For shoppers, I think it's important to know that the current Venza is more of a premium (not luxury) compact crossover that's good for commutes/errands than a midsize crossover that's good for family trips. I wouldn't consider the Venza as an entry that slots between the RAV4 and Highlander. The interior is not that big, I wouldn't try to go on a road trip with more than 4 people or even more than 3 people if luggage is involved. The cargo floor is high up and the sloped tailgate cuts out usage cargo space. I think even small families should look at midsize crossovers with bigger interior such as the Highlander or better yet a minivan if they don't need offroad capabilities. My wife and I have the latter. This brings me to another point. In the owner's manual, it says that the Venza is not designed for off-roading (off-road only if unavoidable) and that snow chains cannot be mounted (mine has the bigger tires). Also, the Venza cannot tow. The good: great fuel economy, Toyota reliability and made in Japan, premium interior, low wind noise, plenty of luxury features, premium styling, comfortable seats The bad: too much road noise at highway speeds, outdated and laggy infotainment, rear turn signals mounted low and not very visible, suspension makes disturbing metallic noise on bumps unless going very slow, not much cargo room with second row up
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