Compare the2025 Kia NiroVS 2024 Toyota Venza

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Kia Niro have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Toyota Venza doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Niro’s standard Downhill Brake Control allows you to creep down safely. The Venza doesn’t offer Downhill Brake Control.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Niro has standard Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Warning with Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Niro and the Venza have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, driver alert monitors and available front and rear parking sensors.

The Niro comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Venza’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Niro 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Toyota covers the Venza. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Venza ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 17th.

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

The Niro stops shorter than the Venza:

The Niro Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s 55 series tires.

The Niro has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Venza doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Niro’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the Venza (107.1 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The Niro SX handles at .84 G’s, while the Venza Limited pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Niro’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Venza LE’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The Niro’s turning circle is 2.6 feet tighter than the Venza XLE/Nightshade/Limited’s (34.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The Kia Niro may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 650 to 800 pounds less than the Toyota Venza.

The Niro is 1 foot shorter than the Venza, making the Niro easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Niro has 6.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Venza (105.1 vs. 98.3).

The Niro has 1.9 inches more front headroom, .6 inches more front legroom, .6 inches more rear headroom, 2 inches more rear legroom and 7.8 inches more rear hip room than the Venza.

The Niro has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Venza with its rear seat folded (63.7 vs. 55.1 cubic feet).

The Niro uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Venza uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

When the Niro SX is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Venza’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

Insurance will cost less for the Niro owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Niro will cost $180 to $1800 less than the Venza over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Niro will be $7154 to $7390 less than for the Toyota Venza.

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

The Kia Niro outsold the Toyota Venza by 21% during 2023.