Are you considering between Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid? Well, if that is the case and you have narrowed down your pick between these two vehicles. We are going to try and help you out to determine which one of them will be the right option for you as your next daily driver.
Performing proper research before you decide to spend a ton of money on a daily driver should be one of your top priorities. People often spend their money on the wrong vehicle and later on regret doing so.
You always need to do proper research before you decide to buy something really big like a car in our case. Knowing the specs which include the engines, transmissions, storage capacity, safety, and fuel economy should be one of the most important aspects that you need to study before making a decision. And luckily for you, we are going to help you out.
First, we are going to learn first, what is the Venza and the RAV4. Then we will discuss hybrid technology and learn more about it. After that, we will cover the specs for both Venza and RAV4 and after that, we are going to compare Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid and learn which model is the best for you. So, if you want to learn more, follow along.
Now before we dive into more complex topics like the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid, let’s take a look at what is the Toyota Venza in general. Let’s learn the core basics of the Venza and see the core concept of this model.
What is most important to note is that the present generation of the Venza is a fairly new model. 2021 was the first model year for the second generation Venza. So, we can say that it is still fairly fresh.
The Venza is based on the Toyota Harrier. The Harrier is a Japanese model that Toyota decided to introduce on the US market as a rival to the RAV4. Basically, the US market is so big that Toyota can even afford to create a competitor for its own model.
The difference between the RAV4 and the Venza is that the Venza is longer and also it comes only as a hybrid. While the RAV4 comes in a standard gas ICE-only variant and there is a hybrid version of it that we will discuss next.
The Venza is a car that incorporates a different design approach though. The Venza looks are very much streamlined and it looks a lot sleeker in comparison to the RAV4. But more on the specs, we are going to learn later on in this article when we will discuss Toyota Venza vs RAV4. Next, we are going to cover briefly the RAV4 Hybrid.
Now before we dive into the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 specs, let’s first learn more about the RAV4. The RAV4 is probably one of the most well-established compact crossover SUVs on the market right now. And also one that probably sells the most, with more than 400,000 units only in the US, annually. Even the CR-V which is a big competitor is a lot far away from these numbers.
Nevertheless, the current model of the RAV4 was introduced in 2018 for the 2019 model year. More precisely, this is the fifth generation of the RAV4.
The present model of the RAV4 implements a futuristic design but still sticks to the classic lines (just be mindful of the 2007 Toyota RAV4 problems). Unlike the Venza which takes a new brave approach when it comes to design and looks more like a spaceship than an actual car.
Also, the RAV4 unlike the Venza that we covered previously does not come as a standard with a hybrid drive. In order to get a hybrid RAV4, you need to option it out.
This hybrid RAV4 is using a 1.6 kWh nickel battery that gives it a really good range. But is the range of the RAV4 comparable with the Venza? Well, more on that, we are going to cover later on when we will dive into the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid showdown. Now let’s learn a bit more about hybrid technology.
Now before we start discussing more about the Toyota Venza vs RAV4. Let’s first take a look at hybrid technology in general. Is this technology that you should go after or will be better to go after an electric vehicle? Let’s elaborate.
When it comes to choosing between electric and hybrid it really depends on what you are going after. Electric cars are cool, they have really strong acceleration and also good range on electric power and they are relatively inexpensive to recharge. But is this the right option for now?
In my opinion, I think not. We are not yet there where these vehicles are that practical and can replace gas-powered vehicles. But hybrid technology has everything possible to be somewhat of a better alternative to electric.
There are a ton of pros of having a hybrid in comparison to an electric one. The MPGs, especially on Toyota models are excellent. More on that we will cover later when we will elaborate on the specs. But when it comes to good MPG (and understanding how to calculate MPG), the hybrid is the way to go.
Also, hybrid vehicles that are not plug-in hybrids, are way more usable. You don’t have to charge a battery and wait for really long periods of time. You just go to the gas station and fill up the car. Simple as that.
While with electric cars, you have to plan your range and think in advance about when you will be left out of juice and then go to the supercharger to wait for an hour to charge up the battery. And I think that this is a real deal breaker. So, hybrid in 2022 is the way to go. But what about the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid? More on this, next.
Now let’s discuss more about the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid. First, we will cover the specs of both of these models.
We will start with the Venza and then we will move on to the RAV4. Then we will give our honest opinion and let you what we think about Venza vs RAV4. So, let’s get into it.
Now before we start comparing the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid, let’s cover the specs of the Venza. If you didn’t know, the Venza has two generations in the US market. The first one was produced from 2009 to 2015. While the present generation that we are discussing in this article is a Japanese model that was introduced to the US market and rebranded as the Venza. This model is fairly new, the 2021 model year was the first year of production.
This is why the model that we are discussing about is produced in the Takaoka plant in Japan and not in the US.
Nevertheless, this doesn’t mean that the Venza doesn’t have to offer a lot. What is worth noting is that this model is also based on the same platform as the RAV4. Which is the GA-K platform.
The Venza implements a really futuristic design that sets it apart from anything else on the road. So, if you want something really unique, this model will be the right one for you.
The Venza as we mentioned is based on the RAV4 platform. The wheelbase of this model is 105.9 inches and the overall length is 186.6 inches. The model is 73 inches wide and 65.9 inches tall.
Frankly, it is not much different from the RAV4. Only it is a bit longer than the RAV4 and visually it is difficult to tell any difference in size.
Another important aspect that troubles a lot of people who consider the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid is the ground clearance. The ground clearance of this model is 7.8 inches. Not crazy high as some people would expect. But remember that this is an SUV intended for cruising around town and not something that you can off-road.
Another very important aspect when people consider the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid is the cargo capacity. Cargo space is really important, especially if you have a large family and a ton of kids.
The Venza has a cargo space of 28.8 cubic ft. However, this can be increased if you fold down the rear seats. You can increase the capacity up to 55.1 cubic ft.
When it comes to the powerplant of the Venza. We can say that there is only one engine available. And this is the 2.5L inline-4 engine. This is a standard naturally aspirated engine that works in a tandem with the electric motor. The engine produces about 219hp and 163lb-ft of torque.
In terms of transmissions, there is only one transmission available. And that is a CVT transmission.
Another aspect that a ton of people are interested in when deciding between the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid is the fuel economy.
Both of these cars get excellent fuel economy. But more precisely, the Venza gets about 40 mpg combined. Which is excellent performance considering that this is a relatively large vehicle.
Another really important aspect that people consider when thinking of buying a Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid is the towing capacity.
The towing capacity of the Venza is not perfect. But is decent enough to tow a small trailer. The maximum load that you can apply to it, is 3,500lbs. Just take note that whenever you load the car, the fuel economy will decrease by a certain margin depending on how much you load.
Also, safety is really important when thinking about the Toyota Venza vs RAV4. And we can say that the Venza performed really well in both the NHTSA crash testing where it got 5/5 stars and also in the IIHS testing where it got “Good” scores on almost all the tests.
So, we can say that safety is favorable in this model. It performed really well and is really up to date with the modern safety standards that apply in 2022.
The base price of the Toyota Venza starts at $34,500 for the LE package. Which is quite affordable and makes this model one of the most affordable hybrids on the market right now.
The XLE starts at $38,000 and the Limited starts at $42,000. Our personal pick from these models is the XLE and if you can afford it, you should definitely give it a look and see if this trim level meets your demands. Now let’s move on to the RAV4 and then see the comparison of the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid.
Now since we covered the Toyota Venza, we can move on and discuss about the RAV4. Knowing the specs that this model has is really important when it comes to the comparison of the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid.
As we previously explained, the RAV4 and the Venza are sharing the same platform. Which is the GA-K. This makes them pretty much the same car but with different packaging. And visually they differ quite a lot if you are asking me.
The Venza looks quite futuristic, while the RAV4 keeps that classic lines and is more, how to say, traditional when it comes to the styling cues.
Nevertheless, the RAV4 is a model that was released in 2018, and 2019 was the first model year. This makes it an almost 2 years older model than the Venza. So, we can say that the Venza is a bit fresher model than the RAV4. Now let’s move on to the next facts about the RAV4 hybrid.
Now let’s discuss the dimensions and size of the RAV4. This will be really important when it comes to understanding the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 differences that we will elaborate more on later.
The RAV4 has a wheelbase of 105.9 inches and a total length of 179.9 inches. Making it a bit shorter than the Venza. The RAV4 is 73 inches wide and 65.4 inches tall. The weight of this model is 3,792lbs for the hybrid variant.
The ground clearance of the RAV4 is about 8.4 inches. This means that this model sits a bit taller than the Venza. So, it might be a good option if you want to get something more off-road capable.
Another important aspect when it comes to the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 hybrid is the cargo capacity. What is interesting to know, is that the RAV4 is a more spacious vehicle than the Venza.
The storage space is about 37.5 cubic ft. However, if you decide to fold down the rear seats, you will increase this storage space up to 69.8 cubic ft. And this is a significant increase in comparison to the Venza if you ask me.
In terms of engines, the RAV4 hybrid has the same engine that is used in the Venza. Basically, the same powertrain is installed in this vehicle. And that is the 2.5 inline-4 engine that is producing 219hp and 163lb-ft of torque.
In terms of transmissions, it is worth it that there is only one transmission. And this transmission is a CVT transmission.
MPGs are also an important factor in the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid comparison. And we can say that the MPGs on this car is pretty much similar to the MPG on the Venza.
The RAV4 achieves to get 40 MPG combined. Which is a healthy number for a vehicle of this size.
When it comes to towing, which is another really important aspect when it comes to the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 comparison, we can say that these two vehicles perform quite the same. The RAV4 can also tow the same amount as the Venza, which is 3500lbs.
The RAV4 was also crash tested by the IIHS and performed well in most of the tests, by getting “Good” grades, which are the highest grades on these tests.
This model was also crash-tested by the NHTSA. And on these tests, this model also got a 5-star overall rating. Which makes it a really good performer. Even though this model is almost 4 years old, it performs well on most of the contemporary safety tests that are done on cars. And we expect this to continue in the future.
Another interesting factor that is useful to note when comparing the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid is the price.
The RAV4 Hybrid is a bit cheaper than the Venza. The model starts at $31,000. Which is a really affordable price. Also, on this model, you have a lot more trim levels to choose from. Namely, the LE, SE, XSE, XLE, and Limited. The Limited costs about $39,500.
Now let’s see who is the winner when it comes to the Toyota Venza vs RAV4 Hybrid. Let’s see which vehicle is a better option.
As we mentioned, these vehicles are based on the same platform. So, they share everything, starting from the chassis, powertrain, drivetrain, etc. But there are slight differences.
The primary difference is the design language. The Venza is much sleeker and futuristic. While the RAV4 has a more contemporary approach when it comes to the design language.
Inside of the cars is also the same. The Venza has a lot more modern design and interesting features. But not by a big margin.
When it comes to cargo capacity. The advantage is on the side of the RAV4. The RAV4 is much more spacious inside. So, if you want practicality, the RAV4 is for you. Also, the RAV4 has a slightly increased ground clearance. It is about half an inch taller than the Venza.
And the last thing that we would want to address is the price. The Venza starts at $34,500. While the RAV4 starts at $31,000. And this is a big difference, $3,500 is a lot of money if you are asking me. This is why I would personally go for the RAV4 instead of the Venza. Overall, it is a better and cheaper vehicle. But that is my opinion. You can share yours down in the comments. Now let’s conclude this article.
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes about to the Toyota Venza and the RAV4. First, we learned what is the Venza and the RAV4. Then we covered the basics of hybrid vehicles and why they are the way to go.
Then we shared the specs of the Toyota Venza as well as the specs of the RAV4. And finally, we compared the Toyota Venza vs RAV4. And the clear winner of this comparison was the RAV4. Overall, the RAV4 is a much more practical and cheaper vehicle than the Venza, so our vote goes for the RAV4 Hybrid.
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
All hybrid RAV4 models for the US market are produced in the factory in Kentucky. This is one of Toyota’s largest factories, able to produce up to 100,000 vehicles annually.
Yes, this model is one of the best models that Toyota offers. It comes at a really good price and also it is extremely practical. It is one of the best-selling vehicles in its class.
The ground clearance is 8.4 inches. Nothing crazy considering that this model is purely made for city use and not off-road usage. Still, you can drive it off-road but don’t expect too much.
When it comes to these two vehicles, the RAV4 is a clear winner. Mainly because it is far more practical and offers more storage space. Plus it is a lot cheaper than the Venza.
Yes, you can tow with the Venza. But you are limited to 3,500lbs. This is the factory-recommended number that you shouldn’t surpass.
The Venza was discontinued in 2021 and was not replaced by a certain model. Then in 2021 Toyota decided to reintroduce this model to the market.