Toyota has been taking it in the shorts lately. Chief Akio Toyoda has claimed the company is “grasping for salvation” and needs to get back to the job of building cars that people can be passionate about. Even though sales are down, they’re still surpassing rivals – but in reality, Toyota has long been a purveyor of really good appliances.
Enter the Toyota Venza. Although not stirring in the same way a Supra was able to rile up the fanboys, it still makes a statement when properly equipped. We saw the makings of some really intriguing concept cars as displayed last year at the 2008 SEMA show, and we know that attention to detail can make a difference in moving the metal.
What is it?
We are not quite sure what to call it. According to the Monroney window sticker that comes attached to the, uh, vehicle, Toyota officially calls it “Venza V6 5-DR SDN FWD.” Does that make it a crossover, sedan, station wagon or SUV? Yes. Read on.
What’s it up against?
As we stated at the Venza’s launch, its main competitors are the Lexus RX 350, Ford Flex, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, Subaru Outback and Volvo V70. And that’s just a portion of a field that grows more crowded each day.
Any breakthroughs?
Designed by the artists at Toyota’s Calty Design facility in Newport Beach, California, the Venza does not exactly break any new ground. But what it does manage to do is combine many existing technologies and features into a new overall package. The result is a car-like ride coupled with the utility of an SUV or wagon or sedan, depending on what you want to haul.
How does it look?
The Venza looks like the love child resulting from a one-night-stand between a Toyota Camry and a Lexus RX 350, albeit a love child that spent some time in the alleys of Los Angeles’ customizing communities.
A squashed down roof combines with the tall sides currently en vogue (and mandated by increasingly stringent safety regulations) to give it a chopped RX sort of look.
Along the leading edge, a wing-like grille that looks inspired by the Camry points the way and flares out to the squared-off fenders and wheel wells. The Venza appears to ride higher, prompting a call for taller tires, but lends a bit of utility to this vehicle that is almost guaranteed never to choose to venture off road. The turf of a soccer field is about as wild as this ride will ever see.
There’s nothing quite like a hot hatch, as customizers know. They’re not the target market for the Venza by any means – Toyota would like to see empty nesters and young couples taking Venzas home – but it seems like the look was penned in their favor. We like the overall execution, even if it doesn’t quite know what it wants to be.
And on the inside?
A well-designed cockpit area features some clever and some not-so-obvious designs in the dash and center console area. The gauge cluster is smartly thought out with a blue-ringed speedo dominating center, flanked by a tachometer on the left and fuel and temperature gauges at right. Redundant controls on the steering wheel include audio and Bluetooth telephone controls, as well as the ubiquitous cruise control stalk that pokes out at a four-o’clock angle. Kudos to the Toyota designers for engineering a telescoping steering wheel that guarantees a good driving position for virtually every sized driver.
Seats were comfortable for extended drives but, like most offerings in this class, offered little in the way of side-bolstering. And they still must have lots of puckered leather seat covers left over from an old Chrysler LeBaron leather supplier in the factory, otherwise we would have thought the interior would be more contemporary appearing than when we saw it during the Venza’s launch a year ago.
We found ourselves constantly putting our hand at rest on the shifter knob, for no other reason than it was placed in a logical position to do so. Rear seating offered more than adequate legroom, with the added bonus of reclining backrests. On the other hand, we liked the cargo-area levers in the rear, which activated the fold-flat function so we could double the cargo capacity from 34.4 cubic feet to 70.1 cubic feet of beer run capacity with the seats folded down. This was more than sufficient to transport the kids off to college.
The JBL voice activated touch-screen DVD navigation system with hands free phone capability and Bluetooth connectivity were up to their respective jobs, quickly linking with new phones and taking orders.
But does it go?
Our test Venza featured the 3.5-liter V6, which produces 268 horsepower and 246 lb-ft. of torque that was more than enough to cut into traffic that was already moving at quite a clip. Although offered with an optional all-wheel-drive package, our Venza was of the front-drive persuasion, which is more than adequate for warm climate homesteads. The six-speed automatic transmission offered flawless shifting with little in the way of tranny noise penetrating the cabin. It also offered the opportunity to row the gears yourself through its slap-shift function. Somehow, though a manumatic doesn’t seem appropriate in a non-sporty station wagon. Oops, there, we said it.
Road feel was excellent, although not Mini Cooper quick, but it just goes to show, that not every car need be a sports or enthusiast special to be good. The electronic powered rack and pinion steering was very direct, and managed to instill confidence through the curves. While decidedly not the latest in modern suspension technology, the MacPherson struts at both front and rear managed to keep the Venza firmly planted, and would be more than sufficient on any off-pavement assignment an all-wheel-drive variant might face. Just remember, though: This is no Land Rover. It offers marginally more off road capability than a Camry.
Our Venza FWD tipped the scale with a slightly-less-than-whale-like 3,870 lb. curb weight. Though our tester was not equipped as such, a V6 model with the optional towing package could tow up to 3,500 lbs. should that need be required. And by the numbers, the EPA pegs the Venza at 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway, about what we saw in our testing.
Why you would buy it:
You are ready to trade up from that lowly minivan to a happening shape that can do virtually everything the last ride could do, only this time with a bit more style thrown in for good measure.
Why you wouldn’t:
Because although you most likely would never go off road into the deep woods, you at least want to look like you could.
Leftlane’s bottom line:
The Toyota Venza is a new contemporary look at a design niche that many thought was dead. Well laid out, it can do everything that a minivan or SUV can and it can look better – to most non-enthusiast eyes – than either at the same time. It’s typically Toyota all the way through, which means it will resonate true with some but scare off others.
2009 Toyota Venza FWD base price, $27,800. As tested, $37,485.
Rear seat DVD, $1,680; Premium Package #2, $4,345; Navigation, $2,590; Floor mats, $269; Wheel locks, $81; Destination, $720.
Words and photos by Mark Elias.
10/05, 2:58 PM
posted by:
Borat
Perhaps it is new contemporary look from Toyota, but it looks really pathetic. Especially that front end. While shopping for a car I noticed that Toyota dealers had 0 RAV-4 (or one or two with V6) and plethora of Venzas. But it is pleasant inside, once you manage the outside part. You can’t enter and exit your car in the dark to avoid it looks. It is not practical.
10/05, 3:05 PM
posted by:
Smegley Wanxalot
Haven’t seen but a few of these Venzas polluting the raodway, thankfully. May have to do with the fact that the front and rear detailing make it look like traveling horsecrap.
10/05, 3:11 PM
posted by:
DenverGuy217
Its not as bad as I first thought. Toyota put some nice wheels on these things and the interior is well-done. I agree w/Borat, at the dealership yesterday we saw a whole lines of these there and rarely have seen one on the highway. Now if they could just fix that huge wavy chrome mess of a grille…………………
10/05, 3:23 PM
posted by:
A4
I think this car is making me sterile.
10/05, 3:45 PM
posted by:
CarCzarCdn
I think that some people must put their blinders on when they get in to a Toyota vehicle. I have never seen so much cheap hard plastic in a car, except for those electric big wheels for kids. Are the car critics being paid to overlook that when they review these cars?
10/05, 3:56 PM
posted by:
Bosley
With all the chrome it looks a bit like a lowered Ford Edge to me, imo. Except for the Toyota emblem that makes it look like the car has a clown nose. How come they didn’t call it a ‘4-door coupe’ to go along with SUV/wagon identity crisis?…………
Also what is it with car makers thinking that snappy-sounding names will sell cars. Like people at Ford with the Fusion most recently. This is just a Camry wagon, plain & simple. But the try not to make it seem plain & simple with different designs & names, again imo…….
As for CarCzar, I guess he’s never been in most American cars in the last 10 years, like the Impala of a couple of years ago, for example. Toyota may be losing quality but then they’d just be par for the course with the rest of ‘em…..
10/05, 3:59 PM
posted by:
Bosley
I forgot to ask Mark, the Venza’s trunk looks like it opens upwards correct? Not like the RAV-4 that opens into traffic on the side of the road? One of the dumbest cheap decisions in history.
10/05, 4:07 PM
posted by:
idrinorbarsaku
I HATE the texture of the dash and steering wheel! IT’S ASS UGLY!!
10/05, 4:20 PM
posted by:
gugy
This car it’s somewhat OK.
I went inside one and it’s very spacious inside and the materials are ok. The outside look is OK but the price tag is just too much if you want a V6 and a bit of luxury. Anything less is just too weak.
I’ll pass.
Toyota needs to step up the plate. Their current line up is very boring.
10/05, 4:31 PM
posted by:
ricky_b
I think it looks OK, inside and out. However, I wish car companies would stop introducing more crossovers. I’m a wagon guy and resent anyone insinuating that these things are wagon. Wagons don’t sit that high. To me, these are all car-based trucks.
10/05, 4:38 PM
posted by:
BIG-KC
Ugly and does not demand compassion. Toyota needs to die.
Gm makes passionate cars for the everyman, the public kills GM over economy cars, then asks why no one makes passionate cars.
10/05, 5:01 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
A base Camry is 20k give or take a decent set of floor mats. This thing starts at close to 28k? Why should you have to pay that much more to get the wagon?
Oh wait… I forgot, it’s a Venza not a Camry. OK then, so why did Mark Elias mention the Camry 3 times?
And Mark, I’m also glad you mentioned the LeBaron. Now the K version wagon of that was especially nice. Not only could you get the puckered leather but also that two-tone woodgrain siding. I wonder if there’s any of that left for the Venza to borrow? It’s just not a real wagon if the only fake wood is on the inside.
10/05, 5:06 PM
posted by:
iluvamcars
I agree with Denver guy. I never really noticed how bad the grille was until i read your comment. Thank you.
-iluvamcars
10/05, 5:16 PM
posted by:
HINKS
I thought that maybe over time I’d grow to accept the Ford Edge and Toyota Venza, but alas, I still think they are both fugly. The Venza makes no sense, given the Rav4 gives you a better driving experience and fuel efficiency (given this thing’s wheels). What it does offer is a better-designed, faux-luxury interior, but the materials aren’t good enough to justify buying it for that purpose.
10/05, 5:28 PM
posted by:
nickkop
this thing sux… kill this and the highlander…. and the matrix… start making / offering traditional cars, suv’s, trucks, and cuv’s that you offer almost everywhere else in the world.. Toyota’s U.S. marketing department seems to know less and less about what the consumer really wants
10/05, 5:30 PM
posted by:
nickkop
and bring us the D4-D clean turbo diesels you bunch of jack asses… do it now, so they are available when (not if) fuel prices increase again significantly
10/05, 5:50 PM
posted by:
Borat
I just read the most redeeming quality of this vehicle: somebody already blamed lame dikc on its looks.
10/05, 6:01 PM
posted by:
mitzo
What Nickkop said.
10/05, 6:33 PM
posted by:
CiNO
http://www.rpmgo.com/images/toyota_venza_tuning_street.jpg
That one looks more than okay IMO. Some modified cars look ugly, This one isn’t bad. And people always try to make their car different from ones on the road.
10/05, 6:34 PM
posted by:
NRG
It looks very boring. I would never buy it because of that.
10/05, 6:36 PM
posted by:
krautninja
I see these all over the place(odd considering everyone else finds them scarce) I didn’t like it at first but the more i see it it grows on me, the grill isnt THAT bad. I’ve seen alot worse. I just like that this looks Different than most “me too” cars and crossovers out there. and it is pretty zippy despite its weight
10/05, 6:45 PM
posted by:
alsvw
looks like toyota stole the chrysler pacifica design and put some jap in it. its over weight and over priced with poor standard options. you have to spend over $35000 for heated seats.
10/05, 7:30 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
Nearly $40,000 for a front-drive, 3,900LB station wagon? “Adequate” for warm climates?
Sorry but… it’s already a 2000’s Toyota which means I’m not expecting anything engaging to begin with. I’m sure it’s good and practical and zippy with the 270HP engine but I don’t see the point in the FWD version. Considering the vehicle’s “rugged” Eagle 4×4 stance, heavy weight and station-wagon layout make me think that I am looking at vehicle I’d want to take up to upstate New York or Maine.
If it’s “adequate” in FWD form for the lower states that don’t have harsh winters and slippery conditions then it’s just as well that the AWD version is also “adequate”– and more suited to this kind of vehicle.
10/05, 7:46 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
I must admit, the interior is quite cheap. I mean, it fits well and isn’t flimsy, but most people talk about the feel of it and considering that it’s not very nice to the touch.
10/05, 8:04 PM
posted by:
DrFill
Great interior layout
HUGE back seat
AS fast and efficient as any mid-size CUV
And is very nice in the flesh to look at
Carries large wheels like a natural
Great job!
DrFill
10/05, 9:49 PM
posted by:
nickkop
venza licks my balls
10/05, 10:04 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
Doc, it is nice to look at and I’ve said that before. Does it have to be priced so high? The skin may be different but underneath beats the heart of a Camry. Is a shot of Botox and a new set of Gucci pumps really worth the price of a Yaris?
10/05, 10:17 PM
posted by:
DrFill
I don’t see any problem with pricing
A V6 Camry is $25k+
This has more than twice the cargo space
And Avalon-level back seat room
A well-equipped V6 will leave the lot slightly over $30k
Would you even consider a Honda Crosstour?
DrFill
10/05, 10:28 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
No thanks, Doc. I’ll just take up smoking rather than be seen in a Crosstour. If I’m going to be frowned upon might as well at least get a buzz.
10/05, 10:49 PM
posted by:
aggie531
well…..
Its not bad, (except for the grille) but it is much better than the Camry. The interior is nice. Toyota haven’t got me sold on their designs, but they are improving.
10/05, 11:51 PM
posted by:
LS7
LOL @ dumb motherf.uckers in here..
Expecting another 9,000RPM 6.0L V10 in a family daily driver.. where is this car intended for? From your garage, to the office, and then to the soccer field. Not the race track–speaking of race tracks, how many of you f.aggots even have race license? I thought so. F.ucking little internet **** talking parasites who play need for speed. Yeah, you–I’m talking to you, little f.aggot bitch. I bet you are having a gay parade now that Shift is out, eh?
10/06, 1:52 AM
posted by:
cocojoe53
Wow…..Line this up against a BMW X6 and it looks like a Lambo
10/06, 3:55 AM
posted by:
A4
Dr Fill just gets worse and worse every day. Who’s the pitcher and whos the catcher… you or 1115?
I’d take a used 2.0T CPO’ed A4, or a brand new Jetta Sportwagen TDI or SEL 2.0T for that matter. The Venza is a ****pile. Not to mention all of the VWAG cars i mentioned come with a manual transmission and don’t ride like tomato soup. Call this overpriced 3900lb box “zippy” if you want to, but it won’t hold a candle to a REAL wagon. I’d rather drive a 1997 V70 R than be seen in this thing.
10/06, 6:50 AM
posted by:
DrFill
A4
I like it when you catch for me
You have a gift
DrFill
10/06, 7:00 AM
posted by:
A4
That was you? I thought I sat on a double-a battery.
Finally a Toyota that doesn’t entirely suck balls:
http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/toyota-ft-86-2009-10-06
10/06, 10:44 AM
posted by:
tastyorange
this forum is getting all steamed up with auto-eroticism!
10/06, 11:42 AM
posted by:
ajm11
After looking and reading this as I am in the market for a mid size crossover, I think I will bypass the Venza and look at the Equinox. Looks better and gets better fuel mileage… Granted it probably isnt as quick though.
10/06, 2:42 PM
posted by:
TomF
$40 large for a Camry station wagon is off the hook. The Ford Edge is a better-designed entry at a far lower price, and I have a couple of (pretty demanding) friends who are happy with their Edges’ quality and road manner. So I don’t see the argument for this car. And the thing is bigger than you think; it seems gigantic up close, like a Buick Enclave does.
I was all for shopping the Venza to replace our 10-year-old Volvo V70… until I saw one up close. Can’t stomach the grille, the hugeness, the cheapjack interior, or the price tag. Could get into a low-end Lexus RX350 for less.
10/06, 2:44 PM
posted by:
TomF
A4, the ‘97 Volvo V70R was a great car. I still see a few around Seattle. More fun than the Venza, right-sized, and cheaper off the lot.
10/06, 3:12 PM
posted by:
ktulu
jist another stupid crappy toyota
the ford udge is a lot better.
a 10 year old volvo is betrter tahn a new toyiota
Lexus sucks!
10/06, 8:26 PM
posted by:
DrFill
TomF
Blog first
THEN drop acid
You’re f&^%$#* up the rotation!
DrFill
10/06, 11:02 PM
posted by:
Hyperion
LS7, if your comment was in any way directed at mine, I’m afraid I have to question your age far more than I do my own. You have such an eloquent way with words that says SO much about your maturity (in addition to your very fair age).
Yes, I think $37k for a FWD family NOT-4×4 is laughable. I think it’s one of the funniest blind acceptance trends today that vehicles that look like 4×4s aren’t actually 4×4’s. I think it’s a waste of money when a more traditionally laid out vehicle can be had. If I wanted a vehicle like the Venza I’d shop Subaru wagons. Why buy a vehicle that pretends to be something it isn’t just because it looks like it is?
Really, do anyone’s comments on this forum have ANY bearing on ANYTHING to do with these cars when it comes down to sales numbers or releasing a concept car as a production version? I register my reactions to industry announcements here to blow off steam and frustration or express joy and enthusiasm for products. That alone makes me a fifteen year old twerp who thinks Need4Speed and Granturismo are the best thing since sliced bread? Wow. What a small, funny little insignificant world the Internet is.
10/07, 9:51 AM
posted by:
nickkop
LS7 :
yeah, umm… who mentioned anything about a 9000 rpm 6 liter V10 in this oddly styled minivan-wagon-cuv?
oh, right…. you did.
I mentioned D-4D clean, powerful and efficient tubodiesels that Toyota already has offered for almost a decade everywhere else in the world
(they are just too stupid to bring them to U.S., they would rather follow trends than leave them)
hyperion mentioned AWD being standard in something that runs over $35k in its base form
who exactly are you responding too? or do you simply ramble for the sake of rambling?
GM sux my ass… buy Ford or buy an import
10/07, 9:52 AM
posted by:
nickkop
turbodiesels**