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2009 Toyota Venza road test
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2009 Toyota Venza (Toyota Photo)
After several years of new product introductions that have left automotive enthusiasts yawning, Toyota has a homerun with the new 2009 Venza. Elbowing into a crowded room full of crossover contenders, the Venza has the style, performance, features and economy needed to compete with top vehicles in this category.
With such a wide selection of nameplates in their SUV/crossover portfolio, you would think the last thing Toyota needs is another mid-sized crossover. The problem was, the RAV 4, Highlander and 4Runner have not hit the mark that is being exploited by the Nissan Murano, Mazda CX-7 and Ford Edge. The formula is simple, use a great car platform, give it a tall, but stylish station-wagon body, and supply the driver with peppy performance while still producing great fuel economy. For a true driving enthusiast, the Mazda will still stand out with superior handling and performance, but the Venza will be digging at their market share by offering traditional Toyota quality along with a level of style not seen before in Toyota SUV’s and crossovers.
The Venza’s interior greets the driver with styling typical of recent Toyotas. A little overdone, but functional with great ergonomics and a high quality feel to switches and controls. Our test car’s optional Premium Package includes leather seating surfaces, fake-wood trim, a power seat for the passenger, (the drivers seat is power as standard), push-button start and HID headlamps. Other options include a 13-speaker, high-end sound system with satellite radio and Bluetooth integration. A fun option is the panoramic glass roof with the front section opening as a sunroof. The glass roof gives a spacious feel to the interior and gives the back seat passengers something else to look at. (As a kid I used to love to ride in the neighbor’s Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser station wagon because of the glass window in the roof above the back seat. There were even sun visors back there, how trick was that!)
Push the Start button to light off the 3.5 liter V6 and select Drive on the 6-speed automatic. The drivetrain is as smooth and quiet as expected in a Toyota. With good power available, the Venza won’t be the choice for stoplight grand-prix but it is adequate for the car’s intended purpose. The benefit is great gas mileage. Highway mileage is listed at 25 mpg and we were able to duplicate that with our driving. This is a welcome change from Toyota as other recent debuts have been thirstier than their predecessors. A four cylinder model of the Venza gets up to 29 mpg on the highway. Got a small boat or utility trailer to tow? The Venza is up to the task with its optional Tow Prep Package that adds and oil cooler, heavy-duty alternator and bigger radiator fan to cope with added load. As mentioned earlier, the handling is good but if you are looking for a sport-sedan-like road feel, check out the Mazda. Ride is smooth even with the large, 20” wheel and tire combo. The all-wheel-drive system is always on and has amazing grip on rain-soaked roads.
If you are in the 5 passenger crossover/SUV market, the Toyota Venza is worth a look. To my eye, Toyota has turned a corner styling-wise and is heading in a good direction, the Venza looks good on the road and in the driveway. But the fuel mileage is probably is biggest selling point, the 18 city / 25 highway being as good or better than anyone else in the segment. Our test car was priced at $37,993 with a base price of $29,250. A more basic Venza with 2-wheel drive starts at $25,975.
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