2022 Subaru Ascent vs 2023 Toyota Venza

The 2022 Subaru Ascent embraced the trend of blacking out exterior trim with its new Onyx Edition trim level. This version featured blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, a unique grille design, and special interior trim. The seats were wrapped in water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather, which, while stylish, had a tendency to trap sweat. The interior boasted a gray two-tone scheme with light gray stitching and metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels, creating a sporty and modern look.

In contrast, the 2023 Toyota Venza was a midsize crossover SUV with a sleek and sculpted design, resembling a Lexus more than a typical Toyota. The rear roofline tapered down to a sharp point at the taillights, giving it a unique and elegant appearance. Inside, the Venza borrowed heavily from the Toyota RAV4 but dressed up the cabin with nicer materials and details. The dashboard and center stack were similar, but the Venza featured better-integrated climate control buttons and more soft-touch surfaces, approaching Lexus' level of luxury.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Ascent's fuel economy was rated at 22 mpg combined, though our testing loop averaged 20.5 mpg. The engine's horizontally-opposed layout provided a lower center of gravity for improved handling. The CVT featured eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, allowing for brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. The Ascent could tow up to 5,000 pounds and offered off-road capabilities with its X-Mode traction control system, hill descent control, and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2023 Toyota Venza, on the other hand, featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system, producing a combined 219 horsepower. The hybrid system included electric motor/generators paired with a 1.6-kilowatt-hour nickel metal hydride battery pack. The Venza's CVT sent power to the front wheels, while a separate electric motor powered the rear wheels for AWD. The Venza's acceleration was smooth, reaching 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. The ride quality was comfortable, favoring ride comfort over sporty handling. The steering was light and lacked feedback, making it suitable for easy and calm transportation. The Venza's ride quality was smoother than the RAV4 Hybrid's but not as plush as a Lexus.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people with a second-row bench seat, though the third-row seats were best suited for children. The Ascent Onyx Edition featured water-resistant seat material, triple-zone climate control, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and a wiper de-icer. Loading the second-row seat was easy, thanks to wide rear doors that opened nearly 90 degrees. The Ascent provided 17.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third-row seat, 47.5 cubic feet behind the second-row seat, and a maximum of 86.5 cubic feet with both rows folded down.

The 2023 Toyota Venza's front seats offered plenty of space for taller drivers and passengers, with large windows and a panoramic sunroof enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. The rear seats were spacious enough for average adults, with ample legroom and foot room. The Venza's cargo capacity was limited to 28.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, significantly less than competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. However, the Venza excelled at holding smaller personal items, with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent came with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, HD Radio, satellite radio, and a CD player. The Premium trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot and remote engine starting. The system's voice recognition technology needed improvement, and the Onyx Edition's standard stereo speakers lacked sonic quality. The Touring trim level included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera.

The 2023 Toyota Venza featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The base LE trim had an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the XLE trim and above offered a 12.3-inch multimedia display. The new infotainment system delivered sharp graphics, quick responses, and a logical menu structure. A Wi-Fi connection was available for a 30-day trial, and the top Limited trim included a one-year trial subscription to Drive Connect services. The base audio system had six speakers, while a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system was available on the XLE trim and standard on the Limited model.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent received a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and five-star crash-test ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Ascent came standard with Subaru’s EyeSight driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control, lane-centering technology, and collision avoidance aids. However, EyeSight's performance was affected by direct sunlight, and the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering technology lacked refinement. Additional safety features included steering responsive LED headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and reverse automatic braking.

The 2023 Toyota Venza scored five out of five stars in overall and side crash protection from the NHTSA and received a "Good" rating from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" rating in the new side impact test. The Venza was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS. All Venza models came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added parking proximity sensors and reverse automatic emergency braking, while the Limited trim included a surround-view camera system, head-up display, and digital rearview mirror.