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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  Loving it - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Cole - July 4 - 9:16 pm

  We traded our 2002 Avalon in on this car. I am very satisfied with the fit and finish. We love the way it handles and fight over who gets to take it to work. Love the keyless ignition.

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  Reliable, safe AWD Vehicle - 2012 Toyota Venza
  By value4money - June 27 - 8:28 pm

  This is an extremely comfortable, reliable, safe AWD SUV that handles well in snow and on the highway. Shopped against two upscale models (Lexus RX350 and Audi Q7) but I didnt feel that the price differential ($10,000 to $15,000 or more) justified the "prestige" of these brands. Closest competitor in price is the Ford Edge, but fit and finish of the Venza seemed better as did the handling and acceleration based upon test drives (admittedly not a full test of driving dynamics).

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  Love My Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By pland - June 24 - 11:40 am

  Went to the dealership looking for a Highlander (same size as a Highlander). When we drove the Venza fell in love with it! We were impressed by the smooth drive of the car and the pick up on acceleration. My husband loved it at first sight. Love the comfort and room.

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  2009 Aqua Metallic Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By freedie - June 14 - 12:26 pm

  I purchased my 2009 Aqua Metallic Venza on 12-05-09 after researching this vehicle for several months on the internet. I bought the 6 cyl. This vehicle is definitely a head turner. People stare at it and ask what it is. I get a lot of good comments about it. As far as the ride, it is a little rough on bumps, but I think this is due to the 20 inch wheels. The interior is very roomy. Even with my grandsons car seat in the rear seat, we have plenty of room. I just love the heated seats, bluetooth, satellite radio, and all the extras I got with this vehicle. It handles beautifully, sort of sportslike, which I also love.

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  Time To Downsize - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By SuperMom - June 3 - 7:10 pm

  After driving large SUVs and minivans for the past 15 years, it was time to downsize. I still need a vehicle with plenty of cargo room because I do the purchasing for my husbands business, but was ready for something smaller, sportier (without compromising on luxury features), and big enough to comfortably seat our entire family of 5 when the 3 kids are home from college. The Venza has met all of my needs and has been a great car! I also considered Lexus and Acura crossovers (both were much more expensive, and the Venza had more features that I actually wanted) as well as the Highlander, but the superior second row seating and gas mileage of the Venza made it the clear choice for me.

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  Time for a change. - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Gene Hilmon - June 2 - 8:23 am

  Just purchased the new 2009 Venza, 3.5, V6, AWD, Black with roof rack, cloth seats on 24 June 2009. A nice looking ride and easy to dive. Fuel economy supposed to be 18 to 25 MPG. Just a few days the best MPG so far is 12.5. Also seating is very firm and hard on the bottom. Suggest future years Toyota put in a more comfortable seat. In addition, suggest this great looking car have memory front seating for the driver and passenger. Ive read all the reviews on this vehicle and many other people have stated the same recommendations: (memory seating to include side view mirrors and more comfortable seating.

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  Toyota #4 - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Wenatchee Bill - May 31 - 2:56 pm

  83 Supra, 91 Previa, 01 Sienna and now the Venza. All purchased new and all (less the Venza) driven at least 135,000 miles. The Venza is primarily for my wife. She loves it, cares for it meticulously, and allows me to drive it once a week or so. She feels the Silver color is thin, ie: anything that touches the body leaves a mark. The road noise (4000 miles) is worse than our Sienna. Probably related to 20 inch wheels w/lo profile tires. This is probably our last new car purchase. I hope when the Venza is 8 or 9 years old and has 100,000+ miles that we will have enjoyed as we have our previous Toyotas.

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  great buy - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By sammy - May 12 - 7:16 pm

  I have been a Subaru legacy fan for years and decided to go Toyota this year. Despite the publicity I bought the venza. 2.7 L AWD and love it!! The car proved itself through several heavy snowstorms in NC with excellent snow performance . Would recommend this vehicle without reservation

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  Disappointing product - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By gail76 - May 8 - 10:00 am

  This is a very nice vehicle, but ours has been at the repair shop way too much> the list of problems range from minor to major, now at 36,000 miles the transmission failed, we had problems with the a/c pump unit, seat heaters, nav system, remote entry, and warped brake rotors. The fuel economy is dismal at 18 mpg with mostly highway driving. I do enjoy the features of this car, and it drives very well and feels safe. Seems Im not alone as I have talked to several other venza owners that are having similar problems, we will not keep this one past the warranty!

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  Just Purchased - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By TT - May 3 - 9:43 pm

  I have only had the car for 1 day but want to give my initial impressions and will update later. This car is a good composition of beauty, comfort and fun to drive. The car corners well, there is plenty of room for the driver and passengers. I have the blizzard white and it is much prettier than the blue, green and red that I have seen. I have not seen the other colors. The dealer that I purchased it from was more than fair, very respectful and made the experience fun. I would recommend both the car and the dealer.