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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  Venza - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By price-6 - July 15 - 10:40 pm

  We bought the Venza to replace our Durango. I absolutely LOVE it, Handles great, kids have lots of room. Easily fits our infants rear facing car seat. Key free is fantastic, so nice to be able to just grab the handle and open the door. Electronic push button tailgate is superb.

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  Nice Refresh to the Toyota Line-up - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Chris - July 12 - 2:43 am

  I bought the Venza yesterday; 3.5L V6, FWD, and I absolutely love it. I bought it to replace 2 cars, an 03 Solara and an 07 Camry... Loved how the Solara handled, & liked the look of the Camry. With the Venza, now I get both in one package. The handling is very responsive, smooth, and the turn radius is a lot sharper than I expected for its size. The JBL 13-speaker system upgrade is definitely worth it if you are an audiophile and love music, & there is no doubt that the interior was designed to be the visual definition comfortable and convenient. The smart key is great, so you can keep the keys in your pocket while you lock, unlock, start & stop the car.. all via touch.

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  Love it - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By starpalms - June 27 - 8:33 pm

  The reviews are true, if you want a car like ride, with the space of a SUV this is it. I looked at Rav4, CRV, Lexus, Cx7 and I settled on the Venza. It fitted in correct price, space and MPG, quite well thought and marketed at the right spot. Interior feels like a Lexus. Has Toyota brand name and reliability, though early to say since it debuted in 2009, so far happy with it. I went for the 4cyl, FWD since gas mileage is important. Test drove both V6 and 4cyl, and 4cyl fitted to my lifestyle needs, getting ~24 in the city.

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  Our Venza has been above expectations - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By petemo - June 20 - 10:20 pm

  My wife and I decided to buy a Venza after renting a Camry in California. We wanted a car that was SUV-like, but more of a sedan interior. We have a Honda Pilot which we both like very much, and we thought the Venza would give us sedan characteristics with some SUV features. We were right in making the decision to buy the Venza. It has exceeded our expectations. We love the ride and handling. The mileage on two trips has been between 26 and 30 mpg. It is extremely comfortable for both my wife and I. Im 64" and shes 52. We both fit the car nicely. We chose the sunroof option and I have no problem with headroom. The V6 has way more zip than the 4 cyl that we test drove.

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  Favorite Vehicle Ever - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Favorite Vehicle Eve - June 10 - 1:33 am

  I change vehicles every 2-3 years due to the amount of miles I drive. I have owned 2 Lexus (Lexi), 2 Audis and others. This is my favorite vehicle ever. I opted for the 4 cyl. to get the better gas mileage. I am getting 29 miles on the highway and 23 miles city. Incredible for a vehicle this size. I test drove the 4 cyl and the 6 cyl and bought the 4 cyl. Brought the salesman with me for the extra weight in the vehicle. We both weighed about 200 lbs. I didnt notice a considerable difference in power or acceleration. Others stated problems with seat comfort, fit and finish, yet I have 100% satisfaction. I love it. Everything I paid $27.733 for the LS with most all options.

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  A Pleasant Surprize - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By bbrimmer - June 3 - 11:32 am

  I was looking for an AWD vehicle to replace the FWD Toyota Camry Hybrid (great car). the winter travel in New England has become too tough without AWD. I searched hard and had considered Volvo, Lexus and BMW crossovers. The Venza won hands down with all the features of the competition and a price tag of $10-12K less. Personally, I have always had good luck with Toyota. The Venza is very comfortable and drives like a car. My only question had been whether to get the 4 or 6 cylinder. Better gas mileage won out (after all I was driving a hybrid) and I am not disappointed with the amount of zip the 4 cylinder has.

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  Great Ride - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By MomandPopCar - May 7 - 6:36 pm

  We did a lot of research on the Venza before buying it. The Pros far out weigh the Cons. We have owned a Ford Edge, which drives like a truck. The Venza drives like a luxury car. We drove both the 4 cyl and the 6 cyl Venza. The 6 cyl has better performance and had a better response time. The engine on the 6 cy is a lot quieter than the 4 cyl. We ordered our Aloe Green model with leather and without the Nav. Our Garman does the trick, we can take it with us when leave the car, and we can update the GPS on our computer.

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  Great car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By John - April 21 - 3:03 am

  It is truly a unique looking car. I didnt want a car that looked like every other on the street. Mileage is better than expected, 25/32mpg. The power is a little less than expected. The Sunset Bronze is a great one of a kind color. It is an all around fun car.

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  Bluetooth 2.0!!!! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Reprise - April 16 - 8:03 pm

  Nicely loaded vehicle for the price you pay. Except for the memory seats and mirrors. Biggest peeve! Brand new car with streaming bluetooth capability (A2DP) will not pair with most new phones. Toyota running with bluetooth 1.2. Bluetooth 2.0 has been out for so long. So I paid for JBL Navigation package for the bluetooth and it is useless. Toyota dealer indicated that the venza bluetooth cant be upgraded. However, I know that other dealers have released hardware and software upgrades to make their bluetooth systems 2.0! Disappointed in Toyota.

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  Nice Wagon - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By JeffB - April 10 - 11:53 am

  Bought as certified used, so far a wonderful trouble free vehicle. Lots of space in the 2nd row and rear cargo area that works smoothly and efficiently in our part-time service biz. Nice misc storage including water bottles in the door, and love the flexible multi-compartment console. Four cylinder has more that adequate power. I get 26-28 MPG in mixed driving and 30+ MPG on the Hwy, but I have a light foot. Radio and environmental controls are easy once you get used to them. The backup camera doesnt work too well in bright sunlight, but works great in lower light conditions when its needed the most. The leather is very nice, and the overall interior design is well thought out.