I owned GM, Mazda, Nissan, and Honda in the past but only happy with Toyota. I wouldn't look at anything else but Toyota because it hasn't failed me. I need 2 cars within the next 6 months so probably one Venza and one RAV4 Hybrid.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

 

TOYOTA HAS GAME THESE DAYS OVER ALL OTHERS INCLUDING MERCEDES & CADILLAC

 

My wife got a CX-5 Grand Touring with Premium package a few months before I bought my Venza. The CX-5 GT+Premium is actually better equipped, similarly luxurious, and 25% cheaper than the Venza limited, but without the turbo, the Grand Touring seemed a little underpowered. I also drove her CX for a few weeks and never quite got comfortable with the driver's seat or the "jog nob" entertainment system. I think what sold me on the Venza was the hybrid system, better mileage, and extra HP.

I like my Venza, but she still reminds me that her CX-5 has features like the cargo net, adaptive headlights, heated wipers, and larger cargo space (she even has power folding mirrors, so I can't counter with that).

My first choice would have been the Rav4 Prime, if there any available in the mid-west.

I ruled out Honda SUVs and Jeep because they lacked full stop/go cruise control and some other features.

 

I like my Venza, but ...(she even has power folding mirrors, so I can't counter with that).

Ur limited has power folding mirrors.

 

Still shopping, but the ‘21 Santa Fe is my leader over the Venza. It’s smoother, quieter (as measured by my dB meter during test drives), and has an incredible modern Nav. You can read my Venza test drive report here and note my concerns on Toyota’s Nav screen and display, as well as the seats.

I’m test driving a CX-5 and maybe a CX-9 too later this weekend. Those might be contenders.

I still think the Venza looks the best, but it falls short a little (for me) in a few areas. But it’s not out of the running yet.

 

Glad I posted this, as some of your comments are helping me understand why I actually DID buy the Venza last week (after admitting a bit of buyer's remorse).

I do really like the looks of the Venza. I also love the Mazda design, but it's been out for a few years now, so part of me was thinking that Mazda will likely be revising the design in the next year or two, making all the current CX-5's look old. Also, the Mazda is only a mid-pack performer on gas and I keep thinking they'll be hitting the market with either all electric or hybrid in the next few years.

Buster16 - I'm a car guy and passed on the Hyundai and Kia vehicles. Yes, the car mags rate them tops (often for the features and refinement you note). The Korean power train warranties are the longest in the market, but I think that's because they need them. Toyota has their problems and generate a steady stream of recalls, but they really do stand by them.

My ex's 2008 Prius is close to 200K miles, and today's Prius is one of the most reliable cars on the market. Ok, I wasn't thrilled with my 2006 Highlander Hybrid, but that was Toyota's first big vehicle hybrid. Unlike the Prius, the old HiHy was too rare a vehicle and the unique parts cost was making me nervous. The Venza hybrid is based on the RAV4 hybrid power train, so much more experience and a much bigger installed base of components.

I'm sure I'll think of more reasons for buying this car. LOL!

Thanks for your comments.

 

Thank you too. It’s a difficult decision.

I actually test drove a CX-5 and a CX-9 today and WOW! They are sharp. Mazda had really upped their game. That performance and tech (HUD, large Nav, cameras, etc) plus some insane markdowns in DFW right now at a few dealers REALLY has me re-thinking everything.

Each car has things better, and worse, than the next car. And one has to really decide what matters to them. For instance, the Venza has been the loudest in cabin (not including the Rav, that thing is LOUD!) measured with my dB meter I take on test drives. But it has the best mpg, and best looks IMHO. The Mazda’s have better Navs and speed and comfort. Tough decisions.

 

And the Mazda was maybe $7-8K cheaper out the door. Using a high gas cost of $3.50/gallon, That's good for at least 55,000 miles of gas in the Mazda. The cross-over point with the Venza's gas mileage advantage happens at about 140,000 miles. A long time for payback!

 

I haven't bought but I keep a running spreadsheet on various vehicles:

Venza
Santa Fe
CX-5
CRV
Outback

And I've just tossed in the Model Y and Mach E to the mix. They were cheaper than I thought.

The CX-5 is a really nice car. I had a 2015, which was really noisy (wind, road, everything) so I got rid of it but the new one's are a lot quieter. A touring with the package is kind of the sweet spot in pricing. MPG for me was around 28 but I'd guess the newer one's would be around 26ish. The GT is interesting mostly because of the HUD. It's probably the best looking car of the bunch too.

Anyways, I won't go into each one in-depth, turns out I went longer than I planned, but they all have weaknesses,

CX-5 non-turbo are a bit slow, small bladder, weird infotainment, not great MPG, paint chips like a Tesla but it's a better paint job than a Tesla by far. But it's a great value, fun, and and can turn around in a parking space (great turning radius) and very reliable.

CRV has a bad infotainment, not the most reliable ride on the road, and I don't really like the looks. Used to be loud. 2022 will fix the infotainment, probably get the Accord one. Good value and like I said, I'm certain the 2022 is going to be a solid upgrade.

Santa Fe, well, it's hard to find a dealer if something goes wrong, fair amount of recalls on Kia / Hyundai but it's roomy, and by all accounts has everything but a HUD in the hybrid version. I really want to see this one but the hybrid is a few months off.

Outback is a weird thing. Good clearance, useful, very comfortable to sit in, but the engines are off-kilter for me, start stop seems to suck, safety equipment (why the rep?) seems average and always a reliability question with Subaru.

Model Y would be fun but when you are the bottom of every quality list, and it's things like doors not closing, bumpers falling off, and water getting in places you don't want, I'll probably wait until they get a better brand of chewing gum to hold it together.

If only the Mach E wasn't a Ford. Owned a Mustang for 10 years, longest I ever owned a car, and when I left I said never again. Had the single worst dealer experience ever with one of them. And their quality, the Mach E needs to be good, and maybe it is, but I'd still expect the logo to fall off at 36,500 miles. That said, it's still going to be better than a Tesla.

Which brings me all the way back to the Venza. I haven't driven it but I did sit in it and it was a tight fit. The RAV4 is absolutely a non-starter for fit, or a Prime would be on the list. This has more headroom but it's still tight to get into. Also, every Limited in California has StarGaze, simply don't want it, but do want the tech package but tech + Star turns it into a nearly $50K car with California TTL. The Mach E comes with a $9K tax credit in these parts, so just maybe, I can talk myself into it. Otherwise, the Venza does tick every feature box I'm looking for except maybe Wireless Car Play, which is a nice to have not a need.

Any of this would probably be fine for 95% of my needs, except maybe the fit of the Venza, but the only three that really call to me are the Venza, Santa Fe and the Mach E. The CX-5 Touring might be a fun buy, trasher car, for a couple of years car until the market clears up and we get a few more good EV's from solid companies.

 

Gfs 2018 Outback has gone 37,000+ miles, with only oil changes, wipers, and new tires last week. Nothing fancy, but on a recent trip to NC, highway mpg was 35, mostly at speeds no higher than 72. As far as reliability, Subaru fixed the head gasket issue by developing a much better head gasket. Original Bridgestone tires were replaced with Goodyear Assurance Comfort for better handling and a smoother, quieter ride. Plus a $200 rebate! State inspection this week showed brake pads are about half worn but will be replaced later this year. I have a 22 Venza XLE. Mpg is averaging 37+. I find it comfortable and have learned to use the capacitive touch 12.3 inch media screen. Only major downside is the smaller cargo capacity from my previous suv, and the non height adjustable passenger seat. I wish I had gotten the power passenger seat upgrade.

 

Turns out I had one more thought: range. EV's are fine until you decide to go to Central California. I have relatives there and the overall trip is around 300 miles, which means a stop, somewhere, that I may not want to stop, that probably has limited chargers, so it could be even more waiting. I really like the Mach E but the HEV or PHEV's eliminate the range anxiety that is real in some parts of the country for an EV.

 

Following, deadduck.

My son is on his second Tesla S Model. We had actual fights over him buying the first one - especially since I'm still paying student loans for him! - but he's had really good experiences. The near total lack of maintenance is very attractive and, well, you just have to drive the thing. Heavy, but OMG acceleration, and it's not even the performance model. The Model Y is/was very high on my list. 300+ miles range for $50K delivered before tax and title, auto-driving (really works - very impressed - although I'd only trust it for real on the highway). The trouble is, I have a second house that's about 125 miles away and no great place to charge it up there, at least at the house. So, the Venza to me is just a holdover car for a few years until I retire up there and see if Teslas (or something else) is up to 500 miles range. Plus, with the Venza, I get much lower depreciation and the $17K cost savings over the Model Y will buy all the gas and service I could ever want.

The Prime versions of the Toyota hybrids are almost impossible to get around here. The tax benefits almost make them worth it, but, if you can't charge it at home, it's pretty marginal value for the small EV range they will do. FWIW, we could not charge my son's Tesla here using 110V through an extension cord. That was a not-very-nice surprise.

I also looked at the RAV4 and the CRV. RAV4 was just ok, but I really did not like the ride or the handling. The CRV rides much better, but has no torque whatsoever with that little turbo motor, though she will scoot once you rev her up. I did not drive a hybrid CRV, which might fix the torque issue. But one drive in the Venza cured me of wanting either of those.

All this confessional psychotherapy is good. I keep understanding better why I bought this car.

 

Yeah, I understand that, lol. Sometimes just crunching numbers and reading spread sheets and watching “professional“ car reviewers can only get you so far, get you salivating for some bling iron thing. In the end it’s what you do when you’ve gotten behind the wheel and given it your own brand of testing! That’s when you know.👍

 

OP, do you still have a Miata in the garage? I have been a two time Toyota owner, but just recently got a Hyundai Elantra, but its CPOd and it is a 6 speed, and I live around many of their dealers (almost as many Toyota stores too) so I just have to find the right one to service it at.

 

I have two Miatas, an NA1 and an NC2.

I'm sure you'll be happy with your Hyundai, especially with CPO warranty. The ones I have driven (airport rentals) have been nice. Not so fond of Kias - dunno if they got their driving dynamics sorted out, but the only one I ever drove was so bad that I almost turned around to return it to the rental agency. Instead I kept it for 3 days, hating it the entire time.

Another reason I went for the Venza was that there is a BIG Toyota dealer about 5 miles from work / 15 miles from home. All the Mazda dealers in the area difficult to get to since I changed jobs to a new work location. Seems like a minor point since this should be about the vehicle value / benefits / enjoyment, but the dealer network does matter, and Toyota has that one nailed for the import vehicles.

 

Like several here my rival choices were the Mazda CX-5 and the Subaru Outback XT. I was driving a 2015 3.6 liter Outback, so I knew this car well. The new Outback version failed to impress me - slow off the mark, throttle response not smooth, only improvement over the one I was driving was lane centering. The 2015 even rode better. The CX-5 scared me a bit with torque steer. Peppy, but not (I discovered) a big sales point for me. Seats not all that comfortable.

The Venza was more comfortable, throttle and brake response excellent, mileage better, camera system (on limited) better, ride about like the 2015 Subaru, cornering superior, sound system superior, cargo space and driver access a little easier. Price comparable to Subaru XT.

 

The Volvo XC60 T5 AWD with all 3 available packages (tech and premium stuff) here in Canada came out to about $5k CAD (about 4k USD) more than the Venza. It was our other contender, but had a 7 month lead time!!!

Volvo in Canada seems to be way better value than in the USA for whatever reason.

 

FWIW, the more I drive this Venza, the more I like it. Mileage is not quite up to expectations (37 mpg ave, driven gently), but maybe that will improve with time (only on my 2nd tank of gas! and we're using crappy "winter gas" which also reduces mileage). Discovered the tires were massively over-inflated from the dealer (49 psi!), and fixing that massively improved the ride and the handling. I keep finding features on my LE model that I thought were only on the higher-end models, like the mirrors that fold, have heated defrost, integrated turn signals, and puddle lights! Just got an iPhone and from very limited experience, Apple Car Play seems to work a lot better than Android Auto. As silly as it sounds, I'm becoming a "Venza fanboy". LOL

 

Yes, my tires were not equalized either when I took delivery. This time of year with temps dropping suddenly over night causes the tires to lose air. But I suspect that the prep guy was incompetent or too lazy to take the time to do it properly and just added air haphazardly, over compensating at 42, 39, 37, 40psi. So this becomes my duty to perform correctly.
Re: winter gas, the weather is to blame mostly, it’s also more expensive to reformulate winter fuel. As specified by state law, this winter gas contains a number of lighter, lower-boiling point hydrocarbons like butane, propane which have higher octane value and added to this are oxygen bearing ether compounds like MTBE, ETBE, ethanol, these help improve emissions but at the same time the oxygen bearing compounds displace fuel components, so it takes more fuel to get the job done.
This winter blend starts in mid Sept, and the full winter gas must be available by Nov. 01.
Reduced winter blend starts coming back between Mar. & Apr.,full summer gas starts arriving around mid May.
Like you, I’ve found that the more I drive my Venza the more it grows on me. It’s fun to drive and I don’t feel I’ve given up much in performance as it were, it’s got sufficient power to get out of its own way and I never feel like it’s slow in any measure of normal driving. It’s purpose and design fit into my needs perfectly and has upped the anti relative to my previous ‘18 Camry XSE. The comfort level from having substantial sidewalls on the tires gives me a more relaxed driving experience. Now add in the new overall vehicle and that JBL premium sound, I’m having a grand old time. The lack of accessories is just an issue we will have to wait on and hopefully by the summer things will have changed. 🤞🏼

 

We were cross shopping:

1. Hyundai Palisade
2. GMC Acadia
3. Mazda CX5
4. RAV4 Adventure Edition
5. Ford Bronco Sport
6. Ford Explorer

We were buying this car as an "every car" that would park outside. We live in a dense city (narrow parking lots & lots of parallel parking) with hills as well, if that gives you any idea about our intended use case. We were shopping very much by price as opposed to "by class/feature." We really enjoy the "tough look" but in the end we went with a left-brained approach.

• Mazda CX5 - This is a lovely CUV, but there are just a bit too many of these everywhere. I see at least 2 on every block. The only real ding is that the mileage is acceptable --- mileage is not spectacular.
• Hyundai Palisade - The best deal I could find on this was a couple hundred off MSRP for a total of $35,x00. I didn't want to pay that much. That was for a vehicle with no options, sitting on the lot.
• RAV4 Adventure Edition - In my region, Toyota has seemingly discontinued this (none sitting in any lot within a 500 mile radius). I wanted this because this has a nice look and can come with a non-black cloth interior. Toyota seems to have replaced this with the "TRD Edition" in my region, that comes with an interior ONLY in black. I did not want a black interior.
• Ford Explorer - Ford's 2021 price drops on the newly redesigned 2020 Explorer make this a very attractive proposition for a 3 row SUV! However, the reports of the problematic 10 speed auto transmission and the fact that Ford went through TEN recalls in 2020 for this model was a giant red flag.
• Ford Bronco Sport Badlands- This looks so neat! However, demand is too high. Therefore, dealers want MSRP or higher on this and this also uses the 10 speed auto trans.
• GMC Acadia - GMC is offering some fantastic incentives on this and I could have gotten this close to 30K. I actually wanted this as a first choice ---- the big issue is that there is no supply of these in a non-black cloth interior! No supply on the lots, and nothing scheduled to be built. The reason I found out was because the Chicago-based factory had a shut-down in 2020 ---- due to the COVID pandemic running like crazy in the Chicago area. The shutdown dried up supply, and here we are months later ---> real world stories on how poor COVID management results in decreased economic activity (my dollars unfortunately are not going back to the USA --- they are going to Japan)

I ultimately went with the Venza because:

1) I've had two Toyota Prii. Both of them I have driven into the ground with little to no maintenance, and both have been exceptionally reliable. The problem with the Prii is that the look is super polarizing (I hate the look) and that the driving experience is characterized by lack of power. Interior material quality has also been marginal. That said, the chassis itself is exceptionally reliable and durable.

2) I was able to buy our Venza ( an LE ) for $29,900. That was an exceptionally attractive price.

 

I plan on making a new purchase in July. I am looking at Rav4 Hybrid/Venza/CX5/Subaru Outback and Crosstrek Hybrid/Acura RDX AWD.
My big want is road trip capability and range. If I can get good mileage along the way all the better.
Reliability is also a major priority. I understand these cars have large price tag differences but I can step up to the RDX but lose out on hybrid benefits (mostly around town mileage) but not a deal breaker. I am glad I have time because this will be a tough decision.

 

I plan on making a new purchase in July. I am looking at Rav4 Hybrid/Venza/CX5/Subaru Outback and Crosstrek Hybrid/Acura RDX AWD.
My big want is road trip capability and range. If I can get good mileage along the way all the better. Reliability is also a major priority. I understand these cars have large price tag differences but I can step up to the RDX but lose out on hybrid benefits (mostly around town mileage) but not a deal breaker. I am glad I have time because this will be a tough decision.

We had roughly the same list, and eliminated the RDX based on two factors. 1 was the turbo motor which requires premium gasoline, and the much lower gas mileage, and 2, the 10 speed Honda/Acura transmission didn't seem to be relaible. Did love the test drive, and the sound system on the Advanced level was excellent. We elminiated the Subies based on the true CVT transmissions, and the lack of descent headlights, unless you get the top trim levels, which drive the prices too high in our opinion.

 

We mainly looked at the Highlander hybrid. Some tradeoffs favoring each vehicle. Since it is my wife's car, and she didn't like parking the Highlander in Home Depot parkign lots, it pretty much sealed the deal. About 6-12 years ago we had a Lexus Rx400h, similar in size to the Venza. The venza blows away the tech of that Lexus, thoguh the lexus had walnut trim (I love walnut but wood in cars is passe), v6 engine (very fast, but only 25mpg). When I first read about the Harrier/Venza, I knew this would be an ideal car for my wife.

 

According to many owners, Lexus' tech hasn't changed all that much and is considered behind its luxury competition (Track pad sucks and the only thing redeeming is Carplay/Android Auto). The Venza wouldn't be out of place with a L badge as it puts the current outgoing NX to shame.

 

 

I am way late to the party here but I figured I’d offer my two-cents anyway. My contenders were the Mazda CX-5 Signature, the Rav4 Prime, the Venza Limited, Nissan Rogue and the Tesla Model Y. All models were top trims and latest model years while being fully loaded.

I fell in love with the Rav4 Prime and honestly had there been any available in the Midwest I would probably be driving that. It was my 1st place choice but I couldn’t get one around here and you still can’t really find a fully loaded XSE without paying a substantial markup. I briefly considered a Rav4 Hybrid but a friend of mine purchased an XSE Hybrid and I wasn’t as impressed if it wasn’t the Prime.

At the time, the vehicle that I expected to purchase was the Mazda CX-5 Signature. It’s a lot of bang for a lot of buck and has some things that others in the class don’t (like as someone else mentioned, rear heated seats). I test drove one and wasn’t as impressed as others. I put it through it’s paces and maybe it’s because I came from a 2017 Honda Civic Si but for the life of me I could not figure out what the hype was over the performance aspect of the vehicle. I fully admit I was used to driving cars so admittatedly the SUV performance opinion could be skewed. But I think it offered clarity. To me, being the best from a performance standpoint in a group of vehicles that are all fairly underwhelming isn’t much of an accomplishment. That’s really what dinged the bell for me. People can have their personal opinions as what is important in a vehicle is different for everyone, but the current CX-5 is dated. It’s the greatest looking vehicle on the outside, but it’s tech is far behind the Venza’s. The design choice for the screen is very odd, and I found the seats, while real Nappa leather - to be much less comfortable than the Venza’s. The gas mileage was also a deal breaker. I went through a test look on the highway around my city and nearly burned through a quarter tank, that just wasn’t acceptable. When Mazda refreshes the CX-5 I completely expect it to outclass everything else but for now, it very much looks like a vehicle out of 2016.

The Model Y was simply too expensive and honestly pretty ugly for a crossover. Pair that with Tesla’s terrible manufacturers defect track record and I just couldn’t bring myself to spend 55k on a vehicle I would statistically have to have worked on 3 times to get it to be up to specification (and that’s if I’m lucky). A 50 thousand dollar + vehicle should be damn near perfect out of the plant.

The Rogue had not yet released but I had seen videos and watched various channels on YouTube test drive it. Nissan has had a rough go of it lately, and while I expect the Rogue to be much better than what Nissan has offered lately, I just couldn’t see it beating the Venza in a side by side comparison. While it got better gas mileage than the CX-5, it still wasn’t hybrid and that was what I really wanted.

I didn’t know the Venza existed until the 12th hour. I came across it online after searching some information. The issue was the Venza didn’t fit in the traditional SUV searches I was using because it was essentially the Lexus suv that was based on the Rav4. When I looked at it, it seemed to be the perfect blend of luxury, technology and comfort.

I strongly encourage people to really consider features as they would practically matter when thinking about a vehicle purchase. I found myself caught up in so many wants that it took awhile to separate wants from things I knew I would use. I had a sunroof that opened on my civic and I rarely used it. The headlights that move on the CX-5 seemed cool but the upgrade from incandescent lamps to true LED lamps was so large that I don’t need to be able to have my lights turn with me, I can still see more than I would need to at night. I don’t have kids, and it’s just me and my wife. The times I have passengers would it be nice to have rear seat warmers? Sure. But 95% of the time it’s just me and her so from a practical standpoint, it’s not necessary. I’ll admit that having some more cargo space would be great but coming from a Civic, it’s still a massive upgrade. Plus that loss of some space really does create the best looking non-luxury SUV on the market and to me that includes the CX-5 believe it or not. I think the pano roof really adds to that as the black tone of the glass is sharp. The front end is still a bit interesting but that back end is the best in any SUV that I see on the roads.

 

In terms of drawbacks, my biggest gripe is with the navigation system which I find out of date, missing obvious things like some USPS locations and recommending illegal left turns. Also dislike the Nav display that insists upon splitting the map into two pieces, one a normal view and one a useless closer in view. And a lesser annoyance, the “route guidance” sometimes quits before the destination is obviously at hand.

 

Enjoyed your comparison. The CX-5 didn’t make it for me because of torque steer, which alarmed me, and gas milage, as you noted.

 

Like many here, my finalists currently are
Venza - CX 5 - Model Y - GV80

I'm pretty convinced electrification is the way to go, waiting to see if I can get behind a Mach E to try it out. My biggest con with the Venza is actually the wind noise, at highway speeds there is significant tire noise (good Motortrend long-term review which complains about this and the capacitive touch controls).
On paper the Rav4 Hybrid was a serious contender but it's economy-build-quality and lack of refinement was such a disappointment.

 

I'm pretty convinced electrification is the way to go, waiting to see if I can get behind a Mach E to try it out. My biggest con with the Venza is actually the wind noise, at highway speeds there is significant tire noise (good Motortrend long-term review which complains about this and the capacitive touch controls).
On paper the Rav4 Hybrid was a serious contender but it's economy-build-quality and lack of refinement was such a disappointment.

One of my disappointments driving the Model Y was the amount of noise in the cabin. It might have been the demo unit I was driving, but there was also a lot of road noise and rattling going over anything but the smoothest pavement.

It may be that the lack of the engine noises (in both the Model Y and the Venza) are making me more sensitive to other sounds that were probably always there in my 4Runner, just masked by the engine.

With my Venza, I’ve actually find myself driving without the radio on because it’s so quiet and the novelty of hearing the electric motors whirl hasn’t worn off yet.

 

My finalist were:
CX-5
Subaru Outback
Hyundai Santa Fe
As a former CX-5 owner, I gave them a serious look but the infotainment system is so outdated. Outback was alright but didn't excite. Santa Fe was the runner-up but was so difficult to get one with features that I wanted that it would have meant delaying the purchase for awhile.
Very pleased with the style and technology of the Venza.

 

Honda Passport, Volkswagen Atlas, Subaru Ascent were where we started, but before that our vehicle had been a 2010 Honda Crosstour which was a car we liked. Just two people but we live rural so cargo space needed. I felt the Atlas and Ascent were bigger than we needed. Honda wouldn’t even admit that there was going to be a 2021 Passport in Canada and it was big. After every test drive my wife pointed out that our Crosstour had a better ride.
My brother-in-law’s brother is a mechanic and for a long time with Chrysler dealers, but spent a couple of years with Toyota about ten years ago and mentioned that he never got to service that generation of Venzas because they never came in for more than the periodic service. That got us thinking maybe Toyota. When we heard about this new Venza we first saw a red one on a lot. A good red (although Mazda has the best red this side of Italy). Sat in a grey one and test drove a dealer’s black Limited. Emailed half a dozen dealers (closest one is two hours away) and came to a desk for Blizzard White with Java/Black. Everything was included here in Canada and we love the car — especially the glass roof, great ground clearance and the hybrid fuel economy.
Truth be told my first choice would have been the Volvo V90 but the wife has a “thing” about station wagons.

 

Truth be told my first choice would have been the Volvo V90 but the wife has a “thing” about station wagons.

Haha me too, I LOOOOVE the look of the V90, even the Buick Regal Crosstour....wife ruled it out, won't even test drive it.

The Venza is the latest Toyota hybrid technology. The Lexus is one generation behind, but expect that to change with the next iteration.

It's interesting Toyota's marketing strategy is to emphasize the hybrid power train AND to premier it in their 'utilitarian' brand. Other manufacturers might put it in their luxury brand first.

I have not purchased a Venza yet, but agree the Venza is a step ahead of Lexus on tech. Note the Venza/Harrier is a global model whereas most Lexus models aren't so maybe this (i.e. Stargaze) strategy is to improve sales figures the most via a global model then let it influence the "localized" models.
I had negotiated a crazy $8k off a RX450h top trim but just couldn't pull the trigger given the fact I'd be settling for certain features in a new car....

Side note: The Hyundai/Kia group has significantly upped their game, anyone seen the new Tucson (and Tucson Hybrid with 37mpg on a 6 speed tranny, no cvt yay!)?

 

My finalist was the Mazda CX-5 in Touring trim, which is a sweet handling vehicle with beautiful lines and a lovely interior (IMO). Slightly better space in the cargo bay, lower lift to the floor, and you can fold the rear seats (each side and the center) with releases from the cargo bay (unlike the Venza).

I worked up a spreadsheet comparing costs and the math still significantly favored the Mazda. The CX-5 is reported realistically at about 24 MPG average. The spreadsheet showed the price difference in gas would take about 100K miles to make up, even putting the Venza at 40 MPG and the price of gas at $4/gallon.

I did really like the CX-5 (drives better), but somehow purchased the Venza. Not sure what sold me. Some higher tech at the trim line (like folding mirrors)? Toyota reputation? (but hard to beat Mazda, and I've owned 5 of them.) I will say that things like the lane centering and radar cruise control are better on the Venza. Somewhat to my surprise, the Venza just felt more plush and solid overall.

So what were your finalists? And why did the Venza win your heart (and dollars)?

I had a 2019 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring. drivability was wonderful, night and day vs. my new Venza Limited rather bland drivability, but the fuel economy is great. I got rid of the Mazda for 1 reason only. The driver seat was very uncomfortable for my 220# body. Seats were too firm on longer drives, and made my thighs hurt. Tried to have the seats customized by a high end local company, but they would not touch the Mazda seats due to sensors and airbags. They said several Mazda CX-5 owners had requested adjusting seating issues.

 

Seats are obviously a highly personal item! Even with all the adjustments possible, I could never get my Lexus RX350 seats to 'fit' and had to use a back cushion to avoid back problems (I'm <160 pounds, 5' 11"). With the Venza (with softex package and 8-way adjustment, in case that matters) I'm able to get a perfect fit without any cushions. I really appreciate the 4-way lumbar support; not only does it go in/out like my Lexus did, it goes up/down also. I've done 4 750-mile drives so far and my back is doing fine. I really wish there was an option to put the 8-way seat adjustment option on the passenger side; the lack of raise / lower on the passenger side is a disappointment (but not deal-breaker) - my g/f is very short and has to use a cushion to get her head high enough to see out!

they would not touch the Mazda seats due to sensors and airbags

With the way modern cars are going, any company specializing in seat adjustments is going to have to figure out how to deal with all the sensors/etc!

As for finalists, I was originally planning to get the Lexus RX450H but the very high price, coupled with (relatively) poor mileage on the hybrid option, put me off. When I sat in the Venza and saw how 'refined' the cabin was (all nice and soft), and then drove it and felt how quiet/smooth it was, I couldn't even begin to justify the RX450H price (or even the NX version). I've been a long-time Honda fan, and previously enjoyed a CRV, but the hybrid on the Toyota models just seems more refined (and presumably reliable).

 

Maybe late to this thread but..... I traded a low low mileage 2020 Murano for the Venza. The Murano, my third, and probably Nissan in general has slipped in quality lately. 2017 maps in a 2020 vehicle. Had the thing in for service 4 times in 4 months. Done with Nissan. Hyundai/Kia products are out for me due to their seats. Can't get confortable, without back pain, in any of them. Was very fond of the Volvo but way to pricey for what you get and the dealers attitude was terrible. Briefly thought about the Buick Envision but they eliminated the AWD from the lineup. The Venza seems to hit all the sweet spots for me. Seat comfort and adjustability (with memory), loads of standard equipment, all the safety features, size, and I felt it was time to go hybrid. Very pleased with the decision. I also don't find the road noise as bad as others are saying but it might depend on what you previously were driving. Murano with 20 inch wheels was very noisy on highway. The Venza is rock solid, not a rattle, squeak, or trim out of place. Can't say that on most of what I looked at.

 

Our first choice was a RAV4 Prime, but you cannot get one. We settled on the Venza for now, but dislike driving a larger car with less space. We'll probably trade for a Prime in the future.

 

This was the only one for me, one of the few cars left still 100% JDM while most are now made in USA or other parts of the world.

Standard options and great/best MPGs in its class for the price we purchased at.