Unless you're prone to the odd gamble, nobody wants to buy a used car that's known to be unreliable. After all, most of us have some sort of daily commute that we need to adhere to, and praying your car starts and doesn't quit on you at any point during the day is no way to live. Of course, there are loads of reliable and semi-reliable models on the market today across a fair number of automakers. However, overall, Toyota – and lately Buick – takes the cake when it comes to model dependability.Let's say you're in the market for a used, mid-size SUV, and your main concern is reliability. In that case, you wouldn't need to look any further than the second-generation Toyota Venza, specifically its final, 2024 model year. Across numerous sources, the '24 Venza is rated as one of the most reliable mid-size SUVs that money can buy currently. Not to mention, its use of a dedicated hybrid powertrain means it should help save you money at the pumps, too. As Reliable As They Get Toyota The Venza's tenure with Toyota was rather short. It spanned just two generations, and experienced a six-year hiatus between 2015 and 2021. When it was brought back for its second gen, the Venza had transformed into a hybrid-only mid-size SUV that was positioned as a slightly more upscale choice in the segment. Shortly after its 2021 re-release, it quickly became apparent that the new-age Venza was extremely reliable.Toyota To find out exactly how reliable the second-gen Venza is, we'll turn to RepairPal.com. According to the site, its average annual maintenance cost is roughly $444 per year, the lowest of any mid-size SUV rated by RepairPal. In addition, that comes in well under the average $573-per-year maintenance cost for all mid-size SUVs. Second to the Venza's low cost is the Mazda CX-5, which boasts a $447-per-year average.Toyota RepairPal.com takes a few key attributes into consideration when ranking reliability. For starters, the Venza boasts an average repair severity of roughly 10 percent, meaning of every repair required, there's a 10 percent chance it will be severe. For contrast, the average repair severity rating for mid-size SUVs is about 13 percent. In addition, the Venza's average unscheduled repair probability sits right at 0.47, slightly higher than the industry average for mid-size SUVs, which sits at 0.4. Here's What Makes The 2024 Venza So Reliable ToyotaLeading the Venza's reliability charge is its build quality. A small handful of automotive publications have referred to the Venza's attention to detail and robust build as akin to Lexus quality. For example, an article published in April 2024 from Car Talk stated, "...premium crossover SUV from Toyota that would be right at home in a Lexus showroom." Lexus' build quality is, of course, widely celebrated, and the Venza's apparent ability to remind folks of a Lexus is a huge compliment, and vote of confidence, in and of itself.Toyota Another large reason for the Venza's penchant for reliability is its hybrid powertrain. It wasn't necessarily new or cutting edge, rather a proven and long-lasting setup that had been used by both the Lexus NX and the Toyota Rav4 Hybrid previously. It mainly consists of an ultra-reliable 2.5-liter inline-four-cylinder engine. For 2022 to 2024 model-year Venzas, an updated high-voltage cable was installed, as the one found on 2021 MY iterations was prone to corrosion. More On Its Reliable Guts ToyotaMaking up the bulk of the 2024 Venza's guts is a four-banger hybrid powertrain. The internal combustion engine itself belongs to Toyota's Dynamic Force engine family, and carries the specific model code "A25A-FXS". The mill is found in other hybridized Toyotas, including the current Camry, Crown, and Highlander Hybrid. It's known to be an extremely efficient engine, achieving a thermal efficiency of a reported 41 percent.As for its hybridized guts, the '24 Venza employs the use of three total electric motors, two of which are mounted on the front axle and directly integrated with the 2.5-liter four-pot. A third motor is found on the rear axle, giving the Venza standard all-wheel drive. Reportedly, Toyota worked to optimize the hybrid system's power delivery, allowing the Venza to deliver a good chunk of low-end grunt without the engine needing to rev all that much. Handling its hybrid power is an eCVT.ToyotaAs for the rest of the 2024 Venza's mechanical make-up, the SUV makes use of Toyota's TNGA-K vehicle platform. Along with the architecture, the Venza uses an independent MacPherson strut-type front suspension, and a multi-link configuration around the back. Stopping is taken care of by a set of disc brakes which also boast regenerative abilities, meaning they can send power back to the Venza's hybrid battery packs for future use. What It Has To Offer ToyotaIn total, Toyota offered the Venza with three distinct trim levels, ranging from the base LE, the mid-range XLE, and the top-spec Limited grade. We'll take a look at each trim, along with their current average used prices.Toyota LE ($28,900) Marking the Venza's entry-level flavor, the LE spec comes as stripped as one could. As standard, LE buyers were treated to things like an eight-inch touchscreen infotainment system hooked up to a six-speaker audio system. In addition, cloth-trimmed seats with driver's eight-way power adjustment for the driver are standard, too. Other features include Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, and a full complement of LED exterior lighting. XLE ($33,800–$35,500) Smack-dab in the middle of the '24 Venza's lineup is the XLE grade. Along with all the features mentioned above, the XLE gains things like a small rear cargo hatch spoiler, a seven-inch digital gauge cluster screen, and illuminated door sills and foot wells for the front row. Along with these new options, XLEs also secure the use of heated front seats and synthetic leather SofTex-trimmed front seat side bolsters. Optionally, buyers could spring for features such as dual-zone climate control, seats fully trimmed in SofTex material, and a wood-trimmed center stack.Toyota XLE-spec'd Venzas could also be optioned with the Nightshade Edition package, which worked to replace most of the chrome with black trim. It also gained a unique set of gloss-block wheels. Limited ($35,500) The most luxurious trim offered is the Limited. Of course, everything you've read so far comes as standard here, save the unique upgrades found in the XLE Nightshade Edition. In addition, there's heated and ventilated front seats finished in SofTex material, along with a wood-grained center stack. A digital rearview mirror comes as standard fare, too, along with other features like a heated steering wheel. Those who want even more upgrades can go for a dual-pane power sliding panoramic moonroof and a 10-inch, color head-up display (HUD). Should You Buy One? ToyotaThat's a resounding yes from us at CarBuzz. The 2024 Toyota Venza seemingly dominates the arena of reliability for mid-size SUVs, all while offering a reasonable price for a two-year-old car. Of course, if you wanted a newer one, that's not possible as the Venza was axed following the 2024 model year to make room for the new Toyota Crown. However, you can still pick up a Venza with a Certified Pre-Owned warranty from a Toyota dealer without hassle.In other words, if you want a worry-free SUV that gets good mileage and boasts proven guts, the 2024 Venza seems to be the one for you.