Compare the2023 Toyota VenzaVS 2023 Lexus UX

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Venza. But it costs extra on the UX.

The Venza Limited has a standard Panoramic View Monitor to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The UX only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

Both the Venza and the UX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Venza is safer than the Lexus UX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Venza is safer than the Lexus UX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Venza for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the UX (2/25000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 5 times as many Toyota dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Venza’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Lexus is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota first in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked second.

The Venza’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 38 more horsepower (219 vs. 181) than the UX’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Venza is faster than the Lexus UX:

The Venza can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 1.6 miles. The UX can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Venza has 3.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the UX (14.5 vs. 10.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Venza stops shorter than the UX:

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited has standard 19-inch wheels. The UX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Venza has a standard space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the UX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Venza’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the UX (105.9 inches vs. 103.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Venza is 2 inches wider in the front and 2.8 inches wider in the rear than on the UX.

The Venza Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the UX 250h F Sport Handling AWD (27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

The front grille of the Venza uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The UX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Venza has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the UX (98.3 vs. 90.4).

The Venza has 1.3 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front hip room, 2.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the UX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Venza’s rear seats recline. The UX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Venza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the UX (28.8 vs. 17.1 cubic feet).

The Venza’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the UX.

The power windows standard on both the Venza and the UX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Venza is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The UX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Venza has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the UX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Venza and the Lexus UX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Venza third among midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The UX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Toyota Venza outsold the Lexus UX by over three to one during 2022.