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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  You Drive It, You Love It - 6cyl AWD - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Glen Harper - December 14 - 3:53 pm

  I read about the "sticks" in the steering but I have not seen it on the 6cyl model. It has enough power for me. I had a Tacoma 4x4 for 11 years and the ride of this Venza cannot be compared to the ride of a truck and the 20" wheels help to smooth out the ride.

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  My Second Toyota!!! - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By centurion68 - December 1 - 2:57 am

  This car is ergonomically sound. I really enjoy how comfortable it is. Road trips are fantastic in this vehicle. Even better than the 07 Camry I had before. It provides a very smooth ride yet it has a beefy enough suspension and clearance to handle some of the more challenged roads in America. Even though I have the 2.7 liter DOHC engine, the performance is sound. Coupled with the 6 speed transmission, it makes carrying five passengers and luggage effortless.

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  Uncommon Beauty - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Deborah H - November 26 - 12:30 pm

  Comfortable and sleek, fun to drive! What I like most about this car is the spacious interior and uncommon looks of exterior design. Also, it drives comfortably and handles nicely. What I dont like about it is that I hear some noise during sudden acceleration, and hard to change lanes and make turns during traffic. Still, I think the VENZA is fantastic car because it drives like Camry and rides high like SUV.

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  Just what I wanted - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Fla granny - October 28 - 11:36 pm

  Saw, researched then traded a 2005 Nissan Murano and love it! Looks great, drives well, responds quickly & takes regular gas. My first Toyota - a good choice.

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  very good family car - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By kris - September 6 - 10:10 pm

  We own a 2003 Toyota matrix and we never had a problem with it. though Toyotas suffering from the recall media hype, we still consider buying a venza. WE LOVE IT! the interior is very well crafted with all the electronic gadgets in mind. JBL speakers are awesome. we got the panoramic roof and the kids enjoy the view. bluetooth saves us tons from buying different headsets. the backseat is very roomy. the leather seats are spectacular. i just wish we can save on gas.

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  Pampered Man Cave Queen - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Tom Spevak - September 3 - 6:06 am

  On August 12, 2009, my wife and I bought our Venza. The first runner-up was the Volvo XC60. We are 50+ with no children and use this vehicle as our third vehicle- AWD, road trips, airport, social. It has every option except tow package. It has 4400 miles, half of which was a road trip to Florida. I have found it very comfortable, quiet, easy to get in and out of. I get 21/25 mpg, not bad considering how much I enjoy the V6. Visibility is not great, I store the rear headrests in the rear when not needed. The outside mirrors should tilt down when in reverse, and have a blind spot alert. Rain-sensing wipers would be nice. I do not understand why a loaded AWD/V6 does not get the good Michelins!?

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  Steering - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By mudmanfl - July 25 - 6:26 am

  I love everything about the Venza, except for the steering, It is a very noisy steering with noise coming from the front end and the steering wheel which seems to rub while turning

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  Awesome Car! - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By zack. g - May 17 - 6:30 pm

  I had a Venza as a rental car And I fell in love with it. So I bought one shortly after that. I Love the way it looks, runs, and drives! What a great V6 this car has! Decent gas mileage around 20-ish in the city and 26-28 on highway. Nice 20 in. alloy wheels! Great leather! Really nice quality! Great reliability so far! Great room in the trunk area. Nice to have a i-pod/Mp3 dock in your car. Everyone I know loves the styling. Was a little nevus buying a Toyota after the massive recall but Im so happy I did. Best car ever! Would Highly recommend it. This is my first Toyota And most likely not the last.

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  Nice ride - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By victor ranieri - May 15 - 8:49 pm

  They dont make them anymore

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  My Venza - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Moriko DeMeyer - May 7 - 10:03 pm

  I am from Japan and they dont have them there so when I moved to America I liked them and purchased one.When I lived in Japan I use to own a Rav4, it was okay it was older.Anyway,all in all I like my Venza and so do my kids, I love the way it drives its like a driving on a boat with no waves a nice smooth ride.The interior is cool too. Nice colors. All in all I think you should purchase one its worth it. We Japanese are not cheap so trust us. And about the recall no problem what so ever. Every car company has mistakes. Gm had one with gas and Saab did with doors.