Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
At first glance the Venza strikes me as an either a Camry hatchback or the RX350’s poor cousin. Anybody own one? How is the entry and exit compared to a sedan?
Opinions on the Toyota Venza?
- Thread starter Elkins45
- Start date
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Old venza or current venza?
I thought the Venza was comparable to the Lexus NX... People love 'em.
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
2010 to about 2015, so I guess that’s the old Venza.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Kind of a Camry wagon. Bigger than the RAV4 of the day. I wanted to like them but the front seating (cockpit feel) kinda turned us off. Wife liked the RAV better so you know. Edmunds liked it, called it a tall wagon. Edmunds review
I still want to like them. A V6 AWD would be a good not-Subaru choice.
I still want to like them. A V6 AWD would be a good not-Subaru choice.
JHZR2
Staff member
They always seemed silly and out of place. Not quite a wagon, not quite an suv. Overpriced and poor economy… less space… what’s the point?
If you're lucky, you can find a 4-cylinder FWD Venza. Most of them have AWD, and most of them also have the V6, too. The I4 FWD will get you the best economy.
They also use oversize wheels. You don't need 20-inch wheels. You can downsize to 17 with no problem.
They also use oversize wheels. You don't need 20-inch wheels. You can downsize to 17 with no problem.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Must be some point to them, good reviews. Apparently built on the highlander platform.
Camry platform , highland based one is recent iteration likely.
They are a car that doesn't really stick out but it's probably very reliable. I don't see many around here.
Owned a 2009 Venza AWD V6 for 10 years. Interior space is large, it is a 2 row in a 3 row body.
I liked it a lot while we owned it.
Engine and transmission were very good.
Struts, 2 wheel speed sensors and rear hub went on it just past basic warranty.
Tires for the V6 at 20" aren't cheap, nor are the 19" on the FWD 4cyl.
Fuel economy was bad, went from that to a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid and mpg doubled. 18 mpg to 36 mpg.
I liked it a lot while we owned it.
Engine and transmission were very good.
Struts, 2 wheel speed sensors and rear hub went on it just past basic warranty.
Tires for the V6 at 20" aren't cheap, nor are the 19" on the FWD 4cyl.
Fuel economy was bad, went from that to a 2019 RAV4 Hybrid and mpg doubled. 18 mpg to 36 mpg.
JHZR2
Staff member
That’s a great point. We can drive back to back, a fwd 4 cyl highlander, and a 3.5L AWD highlander. These operate on severe terrain in the Caribbean.
The whole family prefers the 4cyl fwd to how heavy and sluggish the newer, fancier, lower mileage v6 awd unit.
Since the venza design is similar, I’d suspect the feel will be similar.
You sit down in the Venza, while the highland would be a step up.
Driving Dynamics would be different.
From a 6' tall perspective.
JHZR2
Staff member
I meant how agile vs heavy and sluggish the driving feels. The family is 6’3-4 men and 5’9 women.
Which Venza? The newer one - which I think started in 2020, has been axed by Toyota again - supposed to be the last year. It was essentially a Rav4Hybrid drivetrain (only available in hybrid) for a bunch more money, and had less space and got worse mileage. Weighted an absolute ton for some reason.
Never could figure out the allure. If you want to spend more than a Rav4 go buy a Lexus.
Never could figure out the allure. If you want to spend more than a Rav4 go buy a Lexus.
Elkins45
Site Donor 2026
FWD and the 2.7L 4 cylinder would be my preference, so naturally most of the ones around here seem to be AWD and V6.
I've owned a 2013 XLE, 3.5l V6, AWD since purchased in 2016 with 8,900 miles on it and is now around 106k miles. Just got back from an over 2,000 mile road trip last week and would do it again in the same vehicle without a second thought. 21.5 avg mpg around town with a mix of hwy and city. Best was just over 27 mpg on one leg of this road trip but overall was around 25 hwy. I bought it for the wife and she loved it but no longer needs it, so it's my DD. I would say it's roomy inside and back seat passengers don't feel cramped. The back storage area is good sized as well.
It's been very reliable, other than a blower motor making an odd noise covered under warranty, I haven't done anything to it other than routine maintenance.
20" wheels can make tire purchases expensive but I put Pirelli Scorpion STR from Sam's Club and wasn't as bad as I thought it could be price wise. They're on sale fairly often and the Pirelli's have been very good in Colorado weather including mountain driving in winter.
If I had any gripe it would be I feel like I'm sitting on the vehicle rather than in it and at 6"2", I wish the steering wheel would extend out further.
It's been very reliable, other than a blower motor making an odd noise covered under warranty, I haven't done anything to it other than routine maintenance.
20" wheels can make tire purchases expensive but I put Pirelli Scorpion STR from Sam's Club and wasn't as bad as I thought it could be price wise. They're on sale fairly often and the Pirelli's have been very good in Colorado weather including mountain driving in winter.
If I had any gripe it would be I feel like I'm sitting on the vehicle rather than in it and at 6"2", I wish the steering wheel would extend out further.
Never driven a Highlander so have no comparison, but my 2013 3.5l Venza is not sluggish. It's not going to win stoplight to stoplight races off the line, but once rolling, power comes on strong and smooth. Passing on city streets or hwy is not a problem at all but I'm not on severe terrain either, so who knows?
