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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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Toyota Venva Rollover - 2009 Toyota Venza
By bluejaybird - September 22 - 8:05 pmMy wife and I were involved in a 65MPH rollover in our 2009 Venza rolled over 3 time per wittnesses i walk way with only a scratch on my elbow my wife came out only 3 stitches on her hand and bruises from the overhead airbags just wanted to say the Venza is a very safe car we ordered a new one
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Gas Mileage - 2010 Toyota Venza
By Bill - September 20 - 4:30 pmSo far 4 cyl 2wd is performing well. Mileage is disappointing at now 20 mpg and falling. 2600 mi on the odo. Trip at 70 mpg+ brought 24 mpg. around town may end up below 20! Brakes clunking after reverse and then into forward.
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Transmission Going bad, and then Some! - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Rcarr - September 10 - 5:26 amIve had this car for six months now and I hate it! Im on the highway between our offices all day long. I drive conservatively. 40,000 miles and I can hardly see out of the windshield due to pitting! The front-end looks like a War Zone from all the rock chips and dents! (my 95 BMW with 140,000 miles shows much less wear). What kind of paint is Toyota using? For the past several weeks, the Transmission Vibrates and Shudders loudly when shifting between gears! Even though it did not do this before, the Techs at Fred Anderson Toyota tells me "its within Specs"? With the Drivers seat now broken in, it feels like Im sitting on steel springs!
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Venza (2.7 L -4-Cyl) Dont buy it - 2009 Toyota Venza
By David Miller - September 5 - 10:43 amWe just purchased the vehicle and as other people have said the car is very versatile and nicely made. However we are greatly disappointed in the ride quality. We did not take the car on the freeway during our test drive which was a big mistake. The Venza picks up every nook and cranny on the highway/road. Of course the roads in California are poorly maintained and made. It is running the 19 inch wheels and Bridgestone Hueler Tires which from website reviews are not good tires. The Venza bounces back and forth and up and down to the point it almost undriveable. We use to have a Nissan Murano which drove twice as good. I wish I could take it back and get back our old IS300 Lexus.
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Noisy Crossover - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Nancy M Covil - August 29 - 3:23 amLove vehicle overall. Toyota did poor job with noise reduction. Ours has been in shop 7 times for excessive wind noise. Toyota cant seem to fix problem.
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Best New Wheels - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Walt Bardua - August 27 - 5:53 amThis is a vehicle whose time has come. It is exactly what I was looking for in 01 when I bought my Highlander. It is loaded with all the latest Toyota features and has all the utility of an SUV without the SUV downsides. If my test drive was any indication, Im going to really enjoy this vehicle. The fit and finish are superior (what we used to expect from Toyota). And it comes without the hefty price tag of the new SUVs.
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Great Vehicle - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Car Lover - August 19 - 10:23 amI currently have about 2,000 miles on my Venza and I love it. The interior is very comfortable and the leather is top notch. The Synthesis sound system is one of the best in a car under 50K. The car is very quick particularly on the highway, even when towing my 3,000 lb. boat. The 4WD is a great plus at the boat launch ramp and in the winter. So far I have averaged about 21 MPG. If you are easy on the gas you can do slightly better and highway fuel economy is great.
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So far so good - 2009 Toyota Venza
By Bonzoboy - August 2 - 5:00 pmGot the Venza on Black Friday ($26 K). Not all the bells/whistles, but many more than my 2002 Passat. I had back surgery in May, and needed a better ride. Even without the leather, the car is a dream to ride (we are 1/2 way through a cross-country tour). Didnt have a NAV, but for $100, I use a wonderful Garmin. For everyone complaining about the steering...it feels that way because its electric steering. Its not a German car, so theres little or no "road feel". But thats okay.
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comfort and style - 2009 Toyota Venza
By paul - July 26 - 6:16 amThis car does a lot of things well. Its 4 cylinder engine with AWD is more than adequate. Passing on the highway is a breeze. Cruising at 60 mph (100k) at only 2000 rpms... the trans and engine are well-matched. You get a lot for the price.
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SRS Warning Lights - 2009 Toyota Venza
By clbfsb - July 8 - 12:10 pmI owned this car(new) 1 day and the SRS warning lights went off and they continue to go off intermittently. 5 days after purchase, along with the SRS light, the VSC(skid) lights are appearing. 6 days after purchase, the dealer doesnt know what to do and I am asked to bring the car back for an undisclosed amount of time. They will provide a loaner. I read the Tundra complaints on this and they are the same. The lights were not on when I took it back for service and they said they couldnt do anything for me unless they saw the lights. After turning the car on&off 100+ times, they saw the light and have the code (s). We will see what they do/say but so far, I am not happy. Will post update.
