Compare the2023 Toyota VenzaVS 2023 Lexus RX

The Venza has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The RX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited has standard Rear Automated Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The RX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

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

Both the Venza and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Venza the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2022, a rating granted to only 169 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RX has not been tested, yet.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Venza for 1 year and 15000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (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 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Lexus vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Lexus is ranked third.

On the EPA test cycle the Venza gets better mileage than the RX:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Venza uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

For greater off-road capability the Venza has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RX 350 (8.2 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Venza to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Venza may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 850 pounds less than the Lexus RX.

The Venza is 5.9 inches shorter than the RX, making the Venza easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 RX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Venza has .4 inches more rear headroom, .4 inches more rear legroom and .4 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Venza has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (55.1 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Venza has a standard rear wiper. The RX doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

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 RX.