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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  My new Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By merrel - January 31 - 9:03 am

  Special ordered- Waited 45 days to include passenger seat with power & lumbar. Traded in 06 RX330 Lexus with no regrets. Added a $400 2pc chrome mesh grille from California. Do miss memory seats and rain sensors. Great ride, quality built. Hood stays up with a stick (ugh!) Very happy.

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  Well Thought out Cross over - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Perfect Balance - January 24 - 6:50 am

  Purchased my Venza almost a year ago replacing a Honda Odyssey and no longer needing a mini van. This vehicle has ample cargo space with a easy fold down back seat, lots of leg room in the back seat, comfy leather bucket front seats, and easy access without the need to bend or jump up into the vehicle. The front windshield allows good visibility and the backup camera is an added feature providing confidence in backing, It is fun to drive and comfortable, easy to maneuver. Mine came with great Michelin tires. Gas mileage is acceptable for a car this size but wished it came as a hybrid, then it would be about perfect! Two tone interior is nice and leather luxurious. A bit pricey, but nice!

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  Incredibly roomy! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By VenzaYaris - January 20 - 4:46 pm

  Proud owner of a FWD V6 Venza w/ premium package for over a month. Ride isnt as bad as others have complained -- we do feel some of the bumps on the road, but its nothing to lose sleep over. Storage capacity is incredible; weve taken ours for a 1200km shopping trip and was able to load quite a bit of stuff in the rear. Fuel economy is alright, considering its a v6 (avg about 23mpg mostly city so far). The amount of power & torque in the V6 is pretty amazing; Im not surprised if this thing can do 0-60 in 6.5 secs!

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  Very good all-around car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By andjer200 - January 18 - 10:00 am

  In addition to being very stylish, the Venza has more than enough space for my family of 4. The fuel economy is impressive considering the size of the engine and the car. I calculate my mpg manually at each fill-up, and i normally get 21-22 mpg doing an almost even mix of city and highway. I recently drove down to Pennsylvania , a 400 mile trip one way, and i got a calculated fuel usage of 28 mpg. This was with the A/C on auto at 78 degrees, 2 adults and 2 kids, plus luggage. On the return trip i got 26 mpg because we did some city driving in NJ and NY. This is a very versatile vehicle - perfect for a small family.

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  Versatile Reliability - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By toyotauser2 - December 18 - 11:06 am

  I recently purchased a 2015 Toyota Venza after searching in its class and comparing it to the Nissan Murano, Subaru Forester & Outback and finally the Honda CRV. I first considered 4 cylinders against 6. I went with 6 as I have driven fours since my twenties Im now middle aged. I found value wise the cars mentioned with the exception of the Murano to be all in the same price range equipped with leather, nav and 8 speaker stereo no accessories. I test drove all and found the Venza to have the most comfortable ride. Crossover suv milage is comparable between models in V6. It has a Toyota Camry engine which lets me sleep nights. I find it fits my needs more car than truck.

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  Not good value - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By mikeintx - December 16 - 1:05 pm

  Nice looks. Lots of power. Poor ergonomics. Cheap materials inside. Seats very uncomfortable. Visibility limited. Rear camera is a joke. Weak brakes. Worse fuel mileage.

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  One awesome vehicle - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By MarineOne - December 3 - 3:40 am

  I bought this Venza for my wife. Traded in our 2005 Honda Odyssey for a what I thought was a smaller vehicle. To our surprise, the Venza is very spacious. Yes, we do not have the third row seating, but we only used it when family was visiting. The first time I test drove it, I was hooked. Very comfortable, smooth ride and a quiet cabin. The interior is very comfortable and Toyota spared no expense in the design. It is the best interior I have seen. I opted for the 6 cylinder. Let me tell you, if you are not watching what you are doing, you can find yourself traveling at 75-80 mph with no effort at all. The first time I passed a car on a two lane road caught me off guard with the great power.

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  Good car spoiled by inferior steering - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By leon ospovat - November 25 - 9:40 am

  Dealership experience good. This very nice car has been spoiled by inferior power steering, which has a "sticks" in the neutral (straightforward) position. I tried another identical model which had the same problem. The dealership said this was due to the "new"electronic power steering, and they and Toyota told me it could not be rectified. My previous car the Lexus Rx had perfect steering. It is a shame that they did not use the same steering on the Venza. As a result I would not recommend the Venza to buyers of this class of car.

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  Some good, improvement possible - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By toy yoda - October 18 - 2:40 pm

  This is in no way a bad review. I love this vehicle and know exactly why I choose the 4 cyl but I think Toyota could have done a better job with the pep of the engine. This is not a vehicle I would use to make quick moves with on the highway. I am 64" with very long legs and I fit in this thing like a KING! The roominess is my favorite feature. Im a young guy (23) who is REALLY into technology and even I had to read the manual; they could have made the bluetooth setup a bit easier but its not bad overall. I think I may take mine in to have the dash looked at. Seems to be not set properly and the side airbag compartment isnt fit properly.

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  "Okay" car overall, but wouldnt buy again - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By burrowsb - October 6 - 2:43 am

  pros: edgy body style, roomy interior, auto-up/down on all windows, fun "gadgets" (i.e. push-button start, voice activated phone, remote open/close rear hatch, touch-lock door handles), panoramic roof, reclining rear seats. cons: pretty bad rear and side/rear visibility when changing lanes/passing (a consequence of the edgy body style mentioned above). Blind spots have led to close calls more than once. This alone is enough to make me regret my purchase. Rear view camera is too limited to be of much help. Mileage is pretty poopy. No rear dome light when you open rear hatch in the dark (very odd oversight).