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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  Awesome, Realiable, Fun well made Venza - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Venza Rocks - August 14 - 3:50 am

  We bought my wife this car on Friday. I loved it so much that I had to go back to the dealer and get one for myself. This car is very well thought out when it was built. Everything is amazing on this car. I have an upscale 2009 Infiniti Crossover and when I compared the two side by side, you pretty much get the exact same upgrades for $10,000 less. I know Infiniti is a higher brand of car made in Japan, however, with what you get on the Venza comparing to the same class of cars across the board, hands down Venza wins. I compare cars for months before I buy, but this car was an impulse buy that I will not regret. Since we bought two Venzas, I got an awesome deal on the second one. LOVE IT!

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  2011 Venza Good Value, Good Looks, Fit and Finish Inside not Perfect - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By venzaowner - July 29 - 8:13 am

  I wanted 4-cylinder to save gas (180 hp is plenty enough for me). I wanted a hatchback style so I could put more stuff in back. I needed rear seats that folded down so I could put more and longer stuff in. I wanted leather since its easier to keep clean and looks more professional. I wanted a panoramic roof so that it makes the back seats feel more spacious and comfortable to sit in. I wanted USB and MP3 capability so I dont have to change CDs so often. I wanted good looks on the outside. I wanted a nice, polite, clean and clear-looking front instrument panel. I wanted a non-luxury, well-known brand so I can get max. value for money and it it fixed anywhere. The Venza was it.

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  Toyota does it again! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By K.Lamb - July 8 - 9:30 am

  We still havent figured out what category this vehicle falls under, but whatever it is we really are enjoying it! We were actually looking at the RAV4 and Highlander when we spotted the Venza. Like most people we asked what it was and had to take it for a test drive. The ride is smoother than a crossover and has better handling. The increased height makes for easy in and out and overall visibility. Combined gas mileage is about 24 and the 4-cylinder engine has plenty of power for us. Got it with the comfort package which includes the keyless ignition and remote liftgate as well as powered drivers seat with great lumbar support. We think it is an overall great value and a head turner, too!

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  quality build? - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By john - June 30 - 1:56 am

  Had car for 5 days only. Been in shop for defective steering, clunk noise in rear of car over bumps. Rattles everywhere on paved roads. Car has been in shop 3-9-09 and not back yet. High trade in on 2008 rav4 sport but paid full price for car. No deals here! My 08 Avalon is much better and so is my 07 tundra crewmax. The 08 rav4 was super too! Venza? what happened?

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  Venza hits a sweet spot - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Bill - June 28 - 3:43 am

  Downsizing from a suburban I was looking for something smaller, yet would still have the suv characteristics. The Venza is easy to get in and out of. I love the power of the v6 and with AWD it really goes through deep snow.The rear seats are comfortable even for adults which is rare in most suvs. The drive is very smooth and the large speedometer makes it easy to avoid tickets. It seems to be a very safe winter car as I have yet to lose traction. Toyota claims you do not get your pant leg dirty on the door sill, yes it works well. The transmission shifts are smooth and I rarely feel them. Dual temp controls are a bonus as my wife and I set at different temps. The dealer treated us nicely.

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  Very good - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By starpalms - June 3 - 1:30 am

  Love my venza. Stylish looks, roomy interiors and feels very solid. Was fearful that 19 inch tires will be bumpy, but after a few months dont feel that much. Highway driving smooth, love the heated seats and plenty of spaces to store small things like phones, ipods, purse, etc. Rear seat room is awesome, driving my friends they said feels like a limo at the back. Rear backup camera is very helpful, dont know how I lived without that with my previous cars. However I have the I4 FWD and city gas mileage is ~20. Expected a bit better. Highway mileage is ~30. Overall a good buy looking for something bigger than a car, but not a gas guzzler SUV.

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  Luv It! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Luv it! - June 2 - 8:06 pm

  I was interested in the Venza prior to its availability. The Venza does not disappoint. A Driver of mini vans for several years, I was looking for a change. The Venza is a sleek design with a good performance. It has a very roomy interior and convenient rear seats that folds down at the touch of a lever for plenty of cargo space. With all the bells and whistles, Nav, Blue tooth, JBL stereo, Dual pano roof, this car is not cheap @ $35K, but it is cheaper than a lot of others that are in its class.

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  Beats Cadillac all to heck!! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Craig - May 30 - 9:23 am

  Living in an isolated area we put a lot of miles on every time we hit the road, and hit the road is every bit as comfortable in our new Venza as the Cadillac DTS we were driving. Better mileage, excellent view for drivers that like to sit a little higher on the road. The comfort of seats was equal to a Lincoln we tried out before buying the Venza. Just a great vehicle, but probably built for four adults. The electric steering handles like nothing else on rain soaked gravel roads, no pulling or floating to the side.

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  Slightly Disappointed - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By parry como - May 28 - 6:50 am

  Love the exterior styling and most of the amenities. I drove a 2008 FJ Cruiser so this is nice. Much more comfortable than the FJ.

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  Very unhappy Venza owner :( - 2011 Toyota Venza
  By johanessenq - May 20 - 5:52 am

  Took delivery of our brand new Venza Sept 2010. We now have 56,000 miles on this vehicle. The vehicle has required a multitude of repairs both major and minor, it rides poorly, gets lousy fuel mileage, and as generally not a vehicle of very high quality. Had to have the transmission replaced this past winter because it was slipping, I could go on and on describing visits to the dealer for all kinds of electrical issues such as check engine lights, vsc codes, nav/radio unit malfunctions, and sunroof troubles. The ride is very bouncy and not noticeable during the first leg of ownership. We average just 16.5 mpg mostly highway driving, we have a 2010 Full size GM yukon V8 that gets 19mpg!