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 They've long since been replaced by minivans, SUVs and crossovers.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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  Love this car! - 2013 Toyota Venza
  By oxamanduhx51 - November 3 - 4:20 am

  When I was looking for at this vehicle at first, I love the style of it! I almost bought one without driving it first. Lucky for me, one of my customers happened to have one and he let me drive it. I fell for it! I read a lot of reviews that said it lacked in the driving, they said it wasnt fun to drive, I feel the total opposite! I am a Toyota person, my 1998 Camry has 365k on it and still on the road today. I was spectacle of the quality of the newer Toyotas and that of the 3.5 V6 (ticks on start up like a sewing machine) which is why I went with the 2.7 4 cylinder. I have literally no complaints about this Venza at all!

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  I LOVE THIS CAR...or whatever it is - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By Dustin - November 1 - 2:26 pm

  I just bought a new 2010 Venza yesterday and I am already in LOVE with it. I had on 05 Tundra and an 07 Camry so I have been loyal to Toyota even amidst the recalls. They are great cars and very safe and affordable. The Venza is such a comfortable ride and is extremely aesthetically pleasing on the inside and out. I have a base model and the standard features are insane for the price. This car has a luxurious feel but is versatile and fun to drive. I am 23 and have no kids so I strictly bought this car for the looks and performance. Its not a soccer mom car by any means. Turning radius is GREAT and cabin is very quiet. GET ONE! :)

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  8k mile update on Kitty - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By luvtoyota10 - October 11 - 12:06 am

  My Venza is the best car i have ever owned. It is very reliable. I love the blizzard pearl color. It performed well in the snow. I never slipped. The interior is soo roomy. Very comfortable also. I love driving it. I have had no problems with the car. But the gas mileage is not great I avarage 22.7 mpg and i think city on the sticker is about 25 mpg but besides that. It is a beautiful car.

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  We Love Our 2009 Venza - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Thom - September 28 - 8:13 am

  Happiest my wife has ever been with a car!!!! And, during the recent snow we received, the AWD Venza proved its mettle on snowy and icy roads. It is a very safe vehicle that handled superbly in very adverse driving conditions. It is stylish, roomy, comfortable, and full of quality everywhere you look. We cant wait to take our first road trip in this vehicle. We both enjoy driving it and we really like the way it handles. The leather seats are very comfortable. The stereo is excellent. The controls are driver-friendly and easily accessible. The safety features are excellent. Love the airline style overhead reading lamps for the rear passengers. Love the dual climate control. Outstanding buy!

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  Love love love my 2015 Toyota Venza XLE - 2015 Toyota Venza
  By Chelsea - August 12 - 3:46 am

  I test drove countless crossovers and suvs before settling on the Venza (highlander, 4-runner, pilot, escape, explorer, outback, forester, etc). It provides the luxury, comfortability, and safety that I require in a vehicle. I wish it got a little better gas mileage, had a better turn radius, and the Bluetooth were a little clearer. Other than those minor complaints, the Venza has more than lived up to my standards. No complaints from passengers either. Easily fits 63" 250# males in the back seat, without feeling squished. Plenty of leg room for all passengers. I would not trade it in for anything. It was also a great value at $32k new, having all my required features (leather heated seats, panoramic sunroof, keyless entry). Wish they wouldnt have discontinued this model.

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  Only car - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Spark - July 23 - 8:36 pm

  We bought this Venza Feb., 2009 so faf we put on over 26000 miles on it . Drove to Fl. twice already from CT. Love the way it handles , no problem so far with it. Good SUV for the money.

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  Worth Buying - 2010 Toyota Venza
  By DAXESH - July 15 - 12:30 am

  Good interior and exterior, More leg room at driver side which is good for tall people. Nice performance and good mileage. Sun & Moon roofs, excellent control during turn. I like this car

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  Fits The Bill - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Santa3 - June 22 - 12:23 am

  Powerful on acceleration, all wheel drive for various weather conditions, reasonable gas mileage, up to date electronics, plenty of interior space for 5 adult passengers and a nifty interior and exterior design all go into making our V6 AWD Venza a real pleasure to drive. Venza fits the bill for any car buyer who feels lost between the bloated low mileage truck frame sport utility vehicles and the claustrophobic small frame cross-over vehicles. Buy this car - it is a winner!

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  Great car! Love it!! - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By Donutdolly - June 19 - 8:46 pm

  I bought my Venza when my Lexus 2007 350ES lease ended. Once I took a test drive, I decided on the spot to buy the one on display--4 cyl Blizzard Pearl and fully loaded. This is such a terrific car for in-town and road trips. I put 5000 miles on it the first 6 weeks! Love every feature. 15 min after I drove away from the dealer, I parked at a shopping center and got asked, "What is that??? I love that car!" Hardly ever see others on the road, but I couldnt be happier to own this Venza. Have had Mercedes, BMWs, Volvos, Lexus in the past, and this is my favorite.

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  Well balanced vehicle - 2009 Toyota Venza
  By HMG - May 27 - 6:56 am

  I wanted sport car like handling but needed to tow a 2700lb trailer. The Highlander was too expensive and the handling characteristics of the Venza is much better. The car feels more balanced than the 57/43 front/rear weight would suggest. Plenty of power and corners like a slot car compared to the Highlander or Rav4 due to the lower center of gravity. Love the interior room and comfort and ergonomics. I have been getting 24 mpg combined city highway and easily get 27 mpg straight hwy.