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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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The perfect car! - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Bowman45 - May 6 - 8:03 amI truly love this car more everyday. Purchased the AWD 6 cyl. Have owned two BMW 3-series, three Vettes, two Eddie Bauer Expeditions, one Acura, two Hondas and I have to say this is the best all around car I have owned in my 33 years of driving. Its the best of both worlds. Handles and accelerates like a sports car but will pull my motorcycle trailer and has plenty of room to haul things. To save money I didnt get the Nav and leather package and Im still not disappointed. The car gets more attention than any thing I have owned. I feel like this car was designed just for me.
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Everything I had hoped for - 2010 Toyota Venza
By Phil - May 5 - 11:46 pmI have had for a month and it is everything I hoped it would be. Very comfortable, roomy and attractive. Been getting 22-24 MPG around town. Have not had on the open road yet. Look forward to our first long road trip next week.
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Enjoyable - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Battapohpz - May 2 - 3:26 amMy wife and I got a very good deal on our base 2009 Venza, and we are very pleased. Very comfortable seats and interior room. Cargo room is excellent and large adults can sit comfortably in the back. Really like the aggressive styling of the Venza.
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Best Car Ever - 2015 Toyota Venza
By Janet Paulk - April 17 - 11:23 pmI cant believe the quality of this car, but then it IS a Toyota. The ride is quiet and sound. The engine and drive-train perform flawlessly. Its tough to remark on how positive this car is as its tough to find any deficiencies. The only trouble we have it that it does so much. We are always going to the manual to find out "How do I ...". But this is something most modern cars and owners face. This is the best car weve ever owned and actually, ridden in.
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Very happy with new Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
By mmontella - March 12 - 5:40 amI have had my 4 cyl. Venza for two weeks now and am very happy. I did a lot of research on vehicles in this class and selected the Venza because it had the best mileage in its class and because of historical Toyota reliability. I test drove both the V6 and V4 and did not notice much of a difference in the way they drove. Everything is within reach and the base vehicle most of the extras included. I am very happy with my purchase and would highly recommend this vehicle to anyone looking for a small SUV/crossover vehicle.
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Exactly what I wanted - 2009 Toyota Venza
By James - March 10 - 5:56 pmHave had my venza one week and have enjoyed every mile. Have driven in sunshine and in rain on interstate, back roads and in city. It seems to be a good fit all around. Love the entry and exit convenience. The first couple of tanks of driving gave the expected performance and fuel mileage, at this time I could not think of a change that I would suggest
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Hated to part with our 2010 4 cylinder Venza - 2010 Toyota Venza
By borjborj - February 21 - 11:44 pmWe had the car for 4 years and 1 month over 89,000 miles. We averaged 22K miles per year, never had any issues at all, only replaced tires and battery. We got combined 25.6 mpg on the original Bridgestones, harder riding tires. Replaced with Dunlop tires, then dropped to a combined 24.7 mpg, but it was a much better and smoother riding tires, worth losing 1 mpg. The car was always a pleasure to get on the road and travel and vacation in.
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Security, Handling & Comfort Winner - 2010 Toyota Venza
By AWD4Safety - February 16 - 12:16 pmIf you bought your previous vehicle five years or more ago, you will find the Venza a major step up in security and comfort. As a package, the multiple air bags, stability control, AWD, and crash scores top anything one could have bought, at any price, just a few years ago. Dual climate control, exceptionally well lit info displays, sound system, seating, and navigation system provide excellent comfort. This is a quiet car that gives one a feeling of confidence in a variety of driving conditions. We looked at Lexus RX350, Acura MDX, Audi Q7. Venza is a newer platform and many, many thousands less with competitive handling and all the important comfort features.
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A car you will not regret! - 2009 Toyota Venza
By AJ - February 12 - 5:46 pmI traded my 2009 Camry for a 2009 Venza. The Venza gave me all what was missing from the Camry in terms of newer look and style, the 4DR sedan image, yet maintained the comfort, quiet ride, the fuel efficiency and reliability of the Camry.
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Toyota hits it out of the park..... - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Flamesfan - January 24 - 10:46 amToyota doesnt bring out many new vehicles but when it does its time to pay attention. First impressions were great and when I bought the venza I was not disappointed. Its got the styling, drives like a car but is practical like an suv. The venza has a ton of neat features-power rear door, back up camera, storage compartment and accessory holders... The list goes on. My one concern was the blindspots but it has not been an issue. The awd is great in the snow too, no need to throw on winter tires every year. This vehicle fits all my needs and with Toyota reliabilty and strong resale value I look forward to years of enjoymeat.
