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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  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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  My 2nd Toyota - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By OwnTwoToyotas - August 23 - 10:00 am

  The Venza caught my eye at an airshow and I had to have it. I decided on the 4 cyl model due to cost and economy. Im not impressed with only 21 mpg and it gets worse when I drive a little harder. I dont like when the trans disengages during engine idle. Quick starts, but the engine needs a moment to wind up when accelerating or passing. The steering is very responsive, but seems to float a little when driving a straight path. The suspension is firm; I can feel the bumps and waves in the road. I did discover small circular scratch marks on the roof shortly after leaving the dealership; it has not been properly fixed.

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  I always loved station wagons - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By WVW - August 17 - 5:06 pm

  This is a stylish comfortable Camry wagon. No pretenses of a rear seat (hello cramped RAV4 third row) and no pretending to be an SUV or crossover or whatever you try to call it other than a station wagon. Yeah they try to call this a crossover too, but we all really know it is a Camry wagon. The lines are classy, the interior is well designed and uses quality materials, and the totally predictable handling and bulletproof reliability are great for those who dont like any surprises. Venza gets you from point A to point B with comfort, good-looks and a minimum of fuss or effort.

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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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  Venza almost a crossover - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By jerrylee1 - July 17 - 12:31 pm

  I have had this vehicle for 10k now, and it is pretty comfortable ... it is, as expected, of Toyota quality...AWD functions very well.... but it fails on several styling fronts. MPG is as advertised around 22 mixed.

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  Poor gas mileage - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By sail360 - July 10 - 10:00 am

  positive points: LOTS of interior space, blue tooth, pretty quiet ride. negative points: averaging 21 mpg with conservative driving, 4 cylinders had to struggle a bit going on long uphill stretches, exterior skin seems to be thinner and less ding resistant compared to my older Toyota.

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  Great Car but strange Cruise Control - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By First-Time Toyota Bu - June 26 - 11:33 pm

  Overall, this has been a good car. Biggest surprise (and disappointment) was that Cruise Control does not slow car down when set. It only controls speed going uphill and on flat roads. It should not be called Cruise Control, but "Up Hill Flat Road" control. Car accelerates going downhill, increase of speed contingent on slope. I took it to Dealer and they said thats the way Cruise Control works on this car. This makes Cruise Control on long trips worthless. Ive previously driven German cars and never had this issue.

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  NOT MY BEST CHOICE - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By patsoxfan - May 25 - 9:00 am

  I got my 09 Venza in September, put 3300 miles on it and 4 months later have already traded it in. Its got horrible blind spots, the cloth interior is nothing short of junk and the plastic dash and doors is completely disappointing. The road noise is ridiculous. Toyota didnt seem to put a whole lot of thought into this car. I had a Toyota prior to the Venza and loved it, but I wasnt sad to see this one go. You should head back to the drawing board.

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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