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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  A wonderful step-down from mini-vans - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By retired teacher - December 30 - 1:46 am

  I drove my new Toyota off the dealership in mid-January and have been loving my choice! Great acceleration-smooth driving on interstate-comfort all the way! I personally love the fact that there is no 3rd seat- after 4 mini-vans, I now feel like Im driving a Lexus-for a lot less! It even looks similar to the Lexus-I love the low to the ground entry-exit-my Venza is fully loaded- the only negative is the fuel efficiency-but I love the fact that I have more room than the more fuel efficient Prius. It was worth the wait! I test drove Honda CR_V, Subaru Tribeca and the Nissan Murano.

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  LOVE IT! - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By gotmyvenz - December 24 - 8:16 pm

  I wanted this car the day it came out. Cant understand why I waited so long. It is awesome! I got the base model with cloth seats. Even the base model is better than most cars with options. Went from a Sequoia to the venza and to me it handles like a race car. Stylish exterior. Convenient, comfortable interior. I think Im gonna go for a drive right now! A little disappointed I didnt realize mine only had a single CD player. (Why even make single cd players?)

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  6 weeks and 1000 miles - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By spencer327 - November 22 - 9:43 am

  Just turned 1000 miles. 29 mpg on the hwy, 19 around town, lots of room, comfortable seats. Ride was hard with the 20 inchers until I checked the tires(42lbs) Bled to 34lbs. Ride much improved. Great road car, cant wait to take extended trip. The almost perfect car/suv? for me!

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  Love the look and the ride feels secure - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By J. Stockman - October 26 - 5:23 pm

  Very happy with my new Venza. I dont get why discontinued in US. I highly recommend and think it beats the competition in both looks and performance. I test drove lots of other crossovers and SUVs and this was by far the nicest one. Firm steering and good acceleration.

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  It really is as good as it looks - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By VenzaBuyerIL - September 7 - 4:10 pm

  We spent a long time deciding between the Venza and the Lexus RX 350, Audi Q5, Infiniti EX35 and Volvo XC60. While the Venza is a crossover, these others are small luxury SUVs and are priced similarly-equipped at about a $10K higher sticker price. We have not been disappointed by the initial quality, ride and features in our vehicle. My only serious complaint about the vehicle is the quality of the plastic used in the lower half of the dashboard; it says "Corolla" more than luxury and this is about the only oversight I have found. Otherwise, I suspect we have as much a car as the ones listed above, but at a significantly more economical price. I am very happy with my choice.

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  Just what I was looking for my next car - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By Smokie - August 2 - 2:18 am

  You will not be disappointed with this vehicle. First of all, Its a smooth quiet vehicle, the seats are very comfortable for long trips. I was looking for a wagon type vehicle since I take my mom to doctors etc. This vehicle makes it easy for her to enter in and out of vehicle with no problem. Cargo room is ample. I transported 4 women and all their luggage to Las Vegas. I couldnt believe we all felt comfortable and still had room for additional stuff if needed to take. I received so many complements after returning from our trip. I just love my car, its so enjoyable to drive, love the surround sound, back up camera , and quiet air conditioner. Yes, mileage could be better, but I purchase the V6 for zoom!

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  Awesome new line! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Cassandra - June 9 - 10:40 pm

  I just picked up my Venza yesterday. It rides really smooth, I didnt get the moonroof with Nav option. But its fully loaded with everything else plus I received some free accessory items that I didnt expect. It has fast pickup, plenty of legroom, heated seats and a great dashboard that will tell you everything from gas mileage info to temperature info. Comes with the Satellite system free for 3 months. Buttons are right by your hands, so you dont have to stretch over anywhere. Futuristic design on the body, very different. Lots of cargo room and has bigger tires than your usual standard car. Lighted dashboard at night very well illuminated and bright.

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  Working classs Lexus - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By ArtF - May 16 - 5:10 am

  Sleek design on the outside and very roomy on the inside. Im one of those got attracted to that "what is it" statement and it really stands out to that category. I used it everyday for work and its very easy to maneuver and parking is a breeze with its smooth steering. Since owning the car, my family loves to go on long driving coz its just fun to drive.

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  Beautiful luxury - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By rdd - May 7 - 10:40 pm

  Purchased a black loaded 2wd Venza. Pretty much everything is on it. Extremely nice to drive. Replaced a 2007 Camry V6 Limited. Navigation is much improved. JBL stereo is also much better then previous model. Handles pretty well for a tall vehicle, Automatic high beams is kind of unusual, takes some getting used to. So far we both love it.

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  What a Vehicle - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Danl12 - April 11 - 8:00 pm

  I have spent the last 8 months going through Edmunds.com, Motor Trend, Car and Driver, and the Consumers Reports magazines reading about this vehicle and it is every bit as much as these companies said it was. The ride, the handling, the Toyota name, I have a 2008 Highlander, and traded in a 2005 Highlander and the Venza is a much better vehicle than those two. I compared the Venza to the Ford Edge, the Nissan Murano, and the Lexus RX350 and the Venza came out on top in every category. The Surround Sound system sounds great no matter what you play.