Compare the2023 Toyota VenzaVS 2023 Jeep Cherokee

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Venza are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 Cherokee 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.

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

The Venza’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Venza and the Cherokee 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, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

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 Jeep Cherokee:

	Venza	Cherokee
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	152	204
Neck Injury Risk	29.3%	38.2%
Neck Stress	306 lbs.	408 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	400/388 lbs.	368/516 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.5 inches

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 Jeep Cherokee:

	Venza	Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.7 inches
Hip Force	246 lbs.	363 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	264
Spine Acceleration	49 G’s	53 G’s
Hip Force	508 lbs.	938 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	36 G’s	43 G’s

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Venza is 1.4% to 1.9% less likely to roll over than the Cherokee.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Venza the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 53 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Cherokee has not been tested, yet.

Reliability

The battery on the Venza is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Venza’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Cherokee’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Venza’s reliability 18 points higher than the Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

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 Jeep 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, Jeep is rated below average.

Engine

The Venza’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 39 more horsepower (219 vs. 180) than the Cherokee’s standard 2.4 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Venza is faster than the Jeep Cherokee 4 cyl.:

	Venza	Cherokee
Zero to 30 MPH	2.9 sec	3.9 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.8 sec	10.9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.8 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	16 sec	18.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91 MPH	78.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Venza
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	40 city/37 hwy
Cherokee
	AWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Venza’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

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

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Venza higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Cherokee (5 to 6). This means the Venza produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Venza has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Venza stops much shorter than the Cherokee:

	Venza	Cherokee
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	131 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	147 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Venza LE’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4’s standard 65 series tires. The Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s tires have a lower 55 series profile than the Cherokee Altitude LUX’s optional 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Venza LE has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4. The Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 19-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels optional on the Cherokee Altitude LUX.

Suspension and Handling

The Venza’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (56% to 44%) than the Cherokee’s (57.8% to 42.2%). This gives the Venza more stable handling and braking.

The Venza Limited handles at .80 G’s, while the Cherokee pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Venza Limited executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Cherokee (27.7 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Venza LE’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Cherokee Trailhawk’s (36.1 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Venza has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Cherokee (8.2 vs. 7.9 inches), allowing the Venza to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Passenger Space

The Venza has .6 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom and 1.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the Cherokee.

Cargo Capacity

The Venza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Cherokee with its rear seat up (28.8 vs. 27.6 cubic feet). The Venza has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Cherokee with its rear seat folded (55.1 vs. 54.7 cubic feet).

The Venza’s cargo area is larger than the Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

	Venza	Cherokee
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	39.2”	33.9”/67.6”
Max Width	49.8”	49.2”
Min Width	39.7”	39.4”
Height	27.6”	28.8”

Ergonomics

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 Cherokee.

The Venza Limited has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

If the windows are left open on the Venza the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Venza has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Cherokee doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

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. The Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Venza, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Cherokee isn't recommended.

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 Cherokee isn’t in the top three in its category.

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