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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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 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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  Wish I kept my 08 Highlander - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By jane lebel - February 15 - 2:00 am

  Carpet between brake & accelerator soggy & lifted, keyless entry does not always work. When drivers seat is up for a short person review mirror is right in line of vision, seams on dash reflect 2 black lines on windshield (very distracting) I would never recommend this particular Toyota to anyone! This is my fifth leased Toyota too recent a purchase to have experienced any of the mechanical problems I have read about I only have 1,700 miles

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  The Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By cec horlick - February 1 - 7:53 pm

  Overall I really like this car. Its very roomy and rides fairly well. I havent had any major problems with it in the first year of ownership. I was surprised with the amount of exterior noise from wind and engine. I have a bronze venza and it looks very nice in the sun. Good job with the color options Toyota

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  The Venza is Great - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Erica M. - January 15 - 1:23 am

  Just returned from a 14 hour drive. My Venza handled really well on the highway, was so comfortable and easy to drive. Its fast, quiet, and dependable. Still getting to learn the Navi system. The sun/moon roofs let in a lot of light. Have not driven in snow yet but would recommend this car. Toyotas are dependable and well designed.

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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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  Less appealing as the miles add up - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By watervalley88 - December 27 - 6:27 pm

  We have had ours over a year now and 34,000 m. The first 20,000 miles were great, but lately lots of problems both major and minor have croped up. This cuv has many rattles inside, one required the removal of the windshield, dash assembly, and centre console to fix! now we just notice the other ticks, and creeks inside. The rear struts have been replaced twice now and the sub assembly re-shimed. the steering seems to wander, Toyota said this is the E-assist and is not adjustable. The interior materials are wearing VERY quickly and are of low quality. Currently it is on day 16 at the shop waiting for a new transmission, Common on this model they say. this is the E-assist and is non adjstable

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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.