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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  LOVE MY "VENZA" - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By wam225 - March 30 - 2:00 am

  What can I say other than I love my Venza! Great car, this is our 4th Toyota purchase and by far the one with ALL the bells and whistles. This car has everything a driver could desire comfort, spacious, trendy, FAST and the list goes on. We drove to NC this weekend and the road trip was great. Gas mileage was good we got 345 miles to a full tank. It handles the road very well. I have the Sunset Bronze and have gotten so many compliments on the color. I must admit it is gorgeous, lol..but true:)

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  First Impressions - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By ceprise - March 19 - 8:13 am

  My wife drives 20k miles/yr on business. Shes put 90K on a Grand Marquis in 4.5 yrs. She likes my 08 Santa Fe, but wanted something more stylish with a high sitting position. She loves the Venza! High style, room of an Avalon for adult business associates and friends, space for occasional hauling projects. An Avalon wagon!

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  Love it and almost 100k miles! - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By fasteddie11 - March 6 - 7:01 pm

  I bought a 2010 Venza V6 2wd with approximately 20k miles on it in the summer of 2010. It is now August 2013 and I have a little over 98k on the odometer. I love this car! I have had no problems and no issues at all. I am a car freak and typically trade every year. I traded a 2009 Lincoln MKX for this Toyota. I realized that trading so often was simply costing too much so I wanted a car that I could keep for at least 150k miles and looks good...I made the right choice. It has plenty of power and I am averaging approx 20 MPG between city and hwy. I did have a cosmetic issue with a wheel. If you scrape a curb, the wheel paint can start to peel off in large chunks. Besides that, very happy.

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  It makes me smile - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Darla - March 4 - 3:33 pm

  Perfect car to travel with because of its cargo arrangement options and seating space. The comfort of the passenger seat was of utmost importance to us. The seat is broad enough, has enough leg room, and recline capabilities so the passenger has positional options during a trip. However it has one defeat-if books or grocery bags are placed on the front passenger seat the seat belt signal sounds. Wish the passenger could do map tracking to specific hotels, food, etc. while the car is being driven from area to area. This would be wonderful for spur of the moment decisions while driving along. Wish the width of the back cargo space immediately behind the back seat was the same as at door area.

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  Major front head on and side impact accident - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By Livedtotell - February 18 - 2:30 am

  The at fault driver ran a red light and we t-boned him at 30 mph. Total loss, front end half the size. The engine went up instead of into the cabin. Driver w/ only seat belt injurys and broken wrist and hand plus some bumps and bruises. Passenger who was 65" had knee injuries and bumped head on second impact. Feel like we escaped death very well and thanks to design and airbags faired very well considering. Will be replacing this tried and true very safe car w/ the same one. Had to right a review based on the accident but it has also been nearly the perfect vehicle.

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  Senior Citizens love our Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Jean & Stan - January 2 - 3:03 am

  Having previously owned a Honda Pilot and a Toyota Highlander, we opted for a vehicle that is more user friendly. We found it in the Toyota Venza. We are looking for to our trip back to the Midwest, anticipating great performance and comfortable ride from the Venza. The dual heat/ac controls and large cargo area behind the rear seats is a big plus for us. We just feel very comfortable riding in this vehicle.

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  Oh what a feeling!!! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By todd - December 16 - 4:13 am

  Finally got my wife out of her Passat, and into a Toyota... I am on my 4th Tacoma crew cab. Absolutely love them. The venza is a hoot to drive, and everyone wants to know what it is. There is room for my 2 teenage daughters, and the border collie. I couldnt think of a better mothers day gift, than to get her to go to the Toyota side! The styling is great, and it is very utilitarian. Has all the bells and whistles, and shouldnt cost me $20k to get away from after 4 years, like the VW... I love it!

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  Best Crossover - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Robert S - December 2 - 11:50 pm

  My wife and I fell in love with this car the moment we saw it. We liked the Blizzard Pearl exterior paint the best. Great styling,Very pleasant ride, and the interior is designed very well. I could hardly believe the way it handles the road. Our Camry was OK, but this car is far and away more fun to drive. We also enjoy being able to enter and leave the vehicle without any hassle, owing to the added height. I would say that this is the Best Crossover on the market for the money.

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  Love my Venza! - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By kfifield24 - November 17 - 1:35 am

  I originally wanted a Chrysler Pacifica and was very disappointed that they stopped producing this car. I drove a Subaru Outback for 11 years and I loved this car dearly. I was planning on buying another or Venza, or a Pacifica. I loved the LOOK of the Venza, however the 2009s were pathetic inside. I waited and kept hoping it would improve. I read alot of reviews and the number one complaint was the rough ride. It definitely has a stiff ride but that to me makes it fun to drive. I loved my AWD, but the FWD is working quite nice as well. It is also does not have excellent fuel economy, but is comparable to my Subarus mileage. Everyday I tell someone, I LOVE MY VENZA!

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  2009 TOYOTA VENZA BLIZZARD WHITE - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By VERONICA SACRAMENTO - November 6 - 5:03 pm

  Purchased the new Venza August 2009 after months of research. Previously had a Nissan Van and was looking for a vehicle that would sit up as high but not have the van look. I compared several crossover vehicles and found the new Venza to be the best value. This is a great car inside and out. I compared this to the Acura MDX and Lexus and found I get the same luxury items and reliability for a lot less. During the first month I was surprised how many people commented on how nice my car was and wanted to know what it was, not something I was use to driving a van for over 15 years. I am spoiled with this car it is the perfect size and has great leg room in the back and lots of trunk space.