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High Inventories Make for Hot DealsBudget Buys Under $15,000: Toyota Venza vs Highlander
Toyota Venza vs Highlander is a close call. Let’s explore the similarities and differences to help you decide which one fits your family’s needs the best.
Which Toyota SUV Meets Your Needs?
As your family grows, you need a smart, sensible vehicle that can safely and efficiently hustle everyone to their various activities. You’re on a tight budget these days and you have $15,000 to spend on a vehicle. Fortunately, Toyota offers two compelling options that fit the bill, the Toyota Venza and the Toyota Highlander.
Both promise the benefit of Toyota’s excellent reputation for reliability, even when used, and both offer their own list of appealing attributes that we’ll explore more. To keep under our budget, we’ll compare the 2011 model year. So, if you’re wondering which would win in a Toyota Venza vs Highlander battle, read on. And if you need to save a bit more, read about our Top 10 Family Cars Under $10,000.
Specs
The 2011 Toyota Venza and the 2011 Toyota Highlander are surprisingly similar vehicles and will appeal to families for different reasons. Dimensionally, the Venza is just a tiny bit longer than the Highlander at 189 inches compared to 188.8 inches. The wheelbase on the Venza is, counter to what you might expect, slightly shorter than the Highlander at 109.3 inches versus 109.8 inches. You would think this means they are virtually the same when you climb inside but, despite their similar sizes, the interior space is where those different priorities become apparent.
The 2011 Venza is offered with only two rows of seats meaning it can seat up to five people. The 2011 Highlander, on the other hand, comes standard with three rows of seats to hold up to seven people. This difference shows up in total EPA passenger volume with the Venza offering a total of 108.0 cubic feet of space compared to the Highlander’s more generous 145.4 cubic feet.
As you might expect, based on those numbers, the Highlander offers more front headroom, 40.6 inches, compared to the Venza’s 39.6 inches. Total cargo space also falls in favor of the Highlander which has 94.1 cubic feet compared to 70.1 cubic feet in the Venza.
Driving and Performance
Neither of these crossovers would be considered sporty as they prioritize comfort over engagement. That said, both vehicles offer confident handling combined with a smooth ride. The Venza seemed a little more responsive and agile, helped by its lower curb weight. The similarities continue under the hood. The base engine in both is a 2.7-liter four-cylinder that develops 182 horsepower in the Venza and 187 horsepower in the Highlander.
The four-cylinder engine comes mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Where the Venza notches an advantage over the Highlander is it offers the four-cylinder engine with all-wheel drive, while the Highlander is offered with only two-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive, four-cylinder Venza will be the best choice for fuel economy, offering up 27 mpg on the highway compared to 25 mpg on the 2WD Highlander. Adding AWD to the Venza drops that figure to 25 mpg.
Both models also offer a 3.5-liter V6 engine that delivers 268 horsepower in the Venza and 270 horsepower in the Highlander. The V6 Venza comes with a six-speed automatic while the Highlander gets a five-speed automatic and both are available with all-wheel drive. Fuel economy for the V6 favors the Venza again, with AWD V6 Venza getting 25 mpg highway compared to 22 mpg for the Highlander.
The 2011 Highlander was also offered with a hybrid powertrain that boosted fuel economy quite a bit, but it will be difficult to find one at our budget level. If you need to tow anything from time to time, the Highlander is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds while the Venza is rated to just 2,500 pounds. You can learn more about a new vs used Toyota Highlander here.
Comfort and Interior
Simply sitting inside both crossovers probably won’t help you make up your mind as both have attractive, easy-to use layouts. The Highlander offers more seating than Venza, thanks to its three rows of seats, and that alone might be the deal breaker if you have a large family. Keep in mind, the third-row seat is ideal for smaller children while adults will tolerate it only for shorter journeys.
If you don’t need the three rows of seats in the Highlander, you might prefer the Venza as it offers a bit of extra leg room in the back to stretch out. Both crossovers come nicely equipped with standard cloth seats which you can upgrade to more luxurious leather. If you want to know what our must haves are in a family car, check out our favorite family car features.
Trims and Features
The 2011 Toyota Venza was offered in a single trim and came nicely equipped out of the gate. Cloth seats were comfy, a standard dual-zone automatic climate control keeps everyone stayed at the right temperature, and the 3.5-inch multifunction display made operating the entertainment easy. The Venza offered a six-disc CD changer, satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity as standard equipment. A few options were offered including leather seats, a panoramic sunroof and an upgraded JBL Synthesis surround sound system to delight the audiophiles.
The 2011 Highlander came in three trim levels. The base trim came standard with seven seats and a handy removeable center seat in the second row to aid access to the rear. The base also got cloth seats, a six-speaker stereo system, and a variety of safety equipment like ABS and traction control. Moving up to the SE trim brings upgrades like power adjustable leather seats, heated exterior mirrors, and a power moonroof. At the top is the Limited trim, which comes only with the V6 engine, and benefits from features like a three-zone automatic climate control system, perforated leather upholstery, and keyless entry.
Toyota Venza vs Highlander: Conclusion
Choosing between the Toyota Venza and the Toyota Highlander is not easy as both offer similar practicality and driving dynamics. Ultimately it comes down to style versus practicality. The Venza’s exterior design is a bit jazzier than the Highlander at the expense of practicality.
The Highlander is a little more cautious in the styling department, but offers greater interior space and towing capacity. If you need the extra seating the Highlander is the obvious choice. If you don’t, the Venza’s style and slight advantage in efficiency might draw you in.
For more car used car buying tips, follow our handy used car buying checklist, and you’ll be well prepared to find a nice, clean Venza or Highlander for your family.
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