Overview & Reviews
It's been decades since midsize wagons were the vehicle of choice for American families. They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers. The Toyota Venza, however, could very well be described as a modern take on the old station wagon formula. The sleekly styled Venza boasts carlike handling, good fuel economy and plenty of versatility. Though lacking the ruggedness inherent in an SUV or the option for a third-row seat, the Venza is an otherwise ideal choice for families.
Current Toyota Venza
The Toyota Venza is related to Toyota's Camry sedan, so in a way you could think of it as a beefed-up Camry wagon. It sits relatively low to the ground, which makes it easier for passengers to get in and out. There's seating for up to five people, as no third-row seat is offered. Toyota has built in plenty of storage nooks and crannies to keep things organized, and there are plenty of cupholders, too. Cargo capacity with the rear seats folded down is just north of 70 cubic feet, which should suffice for most families.
Under the hood you'll find either a 2.7-liter four-cylinder that makes 182 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque or a more robust 3.5-liter V6 that cranks out 268 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission that sends power to the front wheels. All-wheel drive is optional. Towing capacity when properly equipped is 3,500 pounds.
The Venza is offered in LE, XLE and V6-only Limited trim levels. Standard feature highlights for the LE include 19-inch alloy wheels (20 inches on V6), dual-zone automatic climate control, a touchscreen infotainment interface, a power driver seat, Bluetooth and a CD player with a USB/iPod interface. Stepping up to the XLE gets you keyless ignition/entry, power-folding mirrors, a power liftgate, Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system, a rearview camera, leather upholstery and heated front seats. The Limited tops it off with xenon headlamps, a panoramic sunroof, front and rear parking sensors, a navigation system and an upgraded sound system.
Driving the Toyota Venza isn't a sporty experience, but in reviews, we've found this tall wagon handles reasonably well on curvy roads given its utilitarian purpose. On the highway, the overall ride is quite comfortable. The base four-cylinder engine provides adequate power to motivate this sizable wagon, although the V6 is obviously the way to go if passing folks on the highway takes precedence over achieving the best fuel economy. In terms of everyday usability, the Venza is an excellent, highly refined choice for just about anyone who needs to haul kids, pets, scuba gear, golf clubs and other family recreational cargo.
Used Toyota Venza Models
The Toyota Venza debuted for the 2009 model year and has received only minor changes. From 2009-'11 Toyota sold the Venza with just optional packages rather than the more traditional trim level structure implemented for 2012. The 2013 model year gained the Entune smartphone integration system and a slight exterior styling update. These latter Venzas are identical to the current version apart from the unavailability of a few convenience features, such as power-folding mirrors and front and rear parking sensors.
User Reviews:
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Venza Problem aread - 2011 Toyota Venza
By johnboy47 - July 31 - 10:31 amThere are three problem that we are experiencing with our 2011 Venza. First, and most important, is the fact that small animals are getting under the hood and into the interior of the car (clove compartment mainly). This is due to a design flaw that exposes openings on each side of the vehicle where water drains off the windshield that are not screened to prevent this from happening. Second, the gas mileage is poor. We have the base 4 cylinder engine and there is no way this vehicle is getting the posted mileage-absolutely no way. Thirdly, there are serious problems with being able to see in the rear of the vehicle, making backing up in traffic a real challenge.
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Only car - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Spark - July 23 - 8:36 pmWe bought this Venza Feb., 2009 so faf we put on over 26000 miles on it . Drove to Fl. twice already from CT. Love the way it handles , no problem so far with it. Good SUV for the money.
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Worth Buying - 2010 Toyota Venza
By DAXESH - July 15 - 12:30 amGood interior and exterior, More leg room at driver side which is good for tall people. Nice performance and good mileage. Sun & Moon roofs, excellent control during turn. I like this car
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2011 Toyota Venza " What will be offerin - 2011 Toyota Venza
By stacey wilford - July 8 - 10:00 am- No mirror integrated turn signals - No blind spot information system - No mirror with ground lighting - No Interior cabin light delay - No HD Radio 4 Cylinder drive good around the city ,feels compose and stable , intrusive road noise noticeable on back seat, a lot of compartments, love power tailgate, I wish they would offer simulated wood trim on 4 cyl package. Good Voice-activated navigation system.
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A sweet ride for computer geeks - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Ron Weber - July 1 - 3:20 amWe got the navigation system, which I really thought we didnt need, especially since you cant get it with the entertainment system. But the touch screen just cant be beat for information and fun if you like computers. The car is very luxurious and the ride is just about a perfect compromise between comfort on the road and on dirt or sand. I dont know what those folks who knock the ride are talking about. The 20" wheels do make for a little harshness, but big bumps are taken in stride. Dont even think about getting the four cylinder engine. Even the 6 cylinder is short on low end torque, but pulls nicely once you get moving.
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Fits The Bill - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Santa3 - June 22 - 12:23 amPowerful on acceleration, all wheel drive for various weather conditions, reasonable gas mileage, up to date electronics, plenty of interior space for 5 adult passengers and a nifty interior and exterior design all go into making our V6 AWD Venza a real pleasure to drive. Venza fits the bill for any car buyer who feels lost between the bloated low mileage truck frame sport utility vehicles and the claustrophobic small frame cross-over vehicles. Buy this car - it is a winner!
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Great car! Love it!! - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Donutdolly - June 19 - 8:46 pmI bought my Venza when my Lexus 2007 350ES lease ended. Once I took a test drive, I decided on the spot to buy the one on display--4 cyl Blizzard Pearl and fully loaded. This is such a terrific car for in-town and road trips. I put 5000 miles on it the first 6 weeks! Love every feature. 15 min after I drove away from the dealer, I parked at a shopping center and got asked, "What is that??? I love that car!" Hardly ever see others on the road, but I couldnt be happier to own this Venza. Have had Mercedes, BMWs, Volvos, Lexus in the past, and this is my favorite.
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Well balanced vehicle - 2009 Toyota Venza
By HMG - May 27 - 6:56 amI wanted sport car like handling but needed to tow a 2700lb trailer. The Highlander was too expensive and the handling characteristics of the Venza is much better. The car feels more balanced than the 57/43 front/rear weight would suggest. Plenty of power and corners like a slot car compared to the Highlander or Rav4 due to the lower center of gravity. Love the interior room and comfort and ergonomics. I have been getting 24 mpg combined city highway and easily get 27 mpg straight hwy.
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Fun ride - 2009 Toyota Venza
By schecky26 - May 20 - 1:16 pmI love this car. I drove it for a 200 mile trip and it drove like a dream. My kids in the back feel miles away from the driver.
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Love My Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Cordy382 - May 17 - 11:50 amPurchased my Venza in February and love it. It turned 5900 miles today and every day I find it a pleasure. Had a late meeting last night and was driving home after a long day, turned on the JBL and just coasted home. This car is a true pleasure to own, drive, and enjoy. Unfortunately, Im beginning to see more of them on the road, so guess my days of being a trend-setter are over!
