18May
We haven’t taken a poll yet, but it seems quite obvious that most Nigerians are of the opinion that the Toyota Venza is a step up from the popular Lexus RX in the hotly-competed midsize SUV segment. The Venza looks radically different bordering on unrecognizable, thanks to its six-year hiatus before reappearing – redesigned – in 2021.
With its reemergence, the all-new Venza now counts the likes of the Honda Passport, Jeep Grand Cherokee, and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport as its competitors. In the Nigerian automotive market, the Venza looks so sophisticated that its supposed rivals, such as the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Ford Escape, seem like a “distant third” in comparison.
We expect the average Nigerian shopper won't waste time choosing Venza over its supposed competitors. Not only does it look good, but it also has that reassuring Toyota name backing it. Now, the Toyota Venza is back for 2023, and it's better than ever before. This 2-row midsize crossover SUV is now completely redesigned with a sleek, modern look and a host of new features. In this article, we'll take a closer look at the 2023 Toyota Venza and what it has to offer.
2023 Toyota Venza Exterior Design
The 2023 Toyota Venza boasts a striking exterior design that's both modern and elegant. The new Venza SUV seems to have borrowed styling cues from several luxury brands in its portfolio, including Lexus.
The SUV’s front fascia features a bold grille with a chrome finish and sharp, angular headlights. The rear has a sleek, aerodynamic design with LED taillights that wrap around the sides of the vehicle.
The Venza is available in several colors, including Blizzard Pearl, Blueprint, and – our favorite – Ruby Flare Pearl. Some markets bemoan the new Venza’s nonrated towing capacity, but the average Nigerian driver hardly cares about that.
2023 Toyota Venza Interior Design
The 2023 Toyota Venza’s interior is generally spacious and comfortable, offering enough room for up to five passengers but failing to have as much passenger space and cargo volume to match its hottest rivals.
However, there’s no mistaking the 2023 Venza’s high-end interior design. The seats come upholstered in soft, high-quality materials, and the cabin got filled with luxury touches like ambient lighting and a panoramic moonroof. This isn’t your usual sunroof.
We’re talking about tint-on-demand electrochromic panoramic sunroof technology that allows you to switch from clear glass to opaque white with no more than the push of a button.
This way, you deflect the direct sun and heat without losing cabin visibility. As long as the cabin space suits your motoring needs, you’d find the Venza beautifully blends luxury-level comfort and technology – and fuel efficiency too.
2023 Toyota Venza Performance
As you know, the new Venza rides on the same platform as the Toyota RAV4. It’s just that Venza is a little over 5 inches longer than the RAV4's wheelbase and looks decidedly more attractive with its sloping roofline and sharper rear-end styling.
You may have noticed we didn’t mention the Lexus RX as a Venza rival. That’s because the new Venza relies on an electrified powerplant, making its market competitors the Lexus NX models, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and others.
As such, the 2023 Toyota Venza gets propulsion from the same hybrid drivetrain motivating the RAV4 Hybrid, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors.
This setup produces a total of 219 horsepower and provides impressive fuel economy, with an estimated 40 mpg in the city and 37 mpg on the highway. The Venza also features all-wheel drive, giving it the capability to handle a variety of road conditions.
2023 Toyota Venza Tech Features
The new Venza demonstrates that Toyota has finally made headway in automotive smartphone integration.
The 2023 Venza midsize SUV now offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay capabilities as standard equipment, controlled via an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen display.
The large infotainment screen allows ample space for other onscreen controls besides the smartphone app menu. The updated infotainment system includes Bluetooth connectivity, in-built navigation, wireless charging, and four USB ports.
We love that many of the 2023 Toyota Venza’s tech, including driver-assist features, are standard equipment, including adaptive cruise control and lane centering/land keep assist.
2023 Toyota Venza Safety Features
The 2023 Toyota Venza comes standard with a host of advanced safety features, including a rearview camera, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking.
Higher trims add features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Venza also features Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite of driver assistance technologies, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, and automatic high beams.
2023 Toyota Venza Price and Availability In Nigeria
According to CCarPrice, the 2023 Toyota Venza costs roughly ₦16 million, but we're not sure how they came about that figure.
The new Venza began hitting dealerships in the fall of 2022, with a manufacturer-suggested retail price (MSRP) of $41,280 (₦19.1 million, based on the official exchange rate). In other words, you can expect to shell out at least ₦22 million upwards to purchase the 2023 Venza in Nigeria.
Moreover, you’d have to source funds via the official market for this price estimate to work. Going the black market route will leave you with a budget of ₦32 million to ₦35 million to get started. Yeah, it’s no joke.
Last Word On The 2023 Toyota Venza
The 2023 Toyota Venza is an impressive midsize crossover SUV with the looks to turn heads on the road.
With its sleek, modern design, comfortable interior, and impressive performance, the Venza is a great choice for anyone in the market for a stylish and practical vehicle.
The hybrid drivetrain provides excellent fuel efficiency, making it an eco-friendly choice for those who prioritize sustainability. The abundance of safety features and driver assistance technologies also make the Venza a reliable and secure option for families and individuals alike.
So, if you're in the market for a midsize crossover SUV, the 2023 Toyota Venza is definitely worth considering. So why not head to your local Toyota dealer and take the Venza for a test drive? You may just fall in love with it.
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