On the road, the Venza feels very much like a car, and not much like a truck. If it's a minivan, it's one Dad won't be afraid to be seen in. The terrain in the area is hilly, and the steeper climbs and curving downhills gave us a chance to test the Venza's driveability and grip under somewhat unusual circumstances. As well as to offer a lot more freight and person space in the approach. The Venza has plenty of knee room in front, as well as in the second row when adults are seated up front. According to Toyota, the 2009 Toyota Venza is an exception to the crossover vehicle rules. When it comes to ride and handling, the 2009 Toyota Venza earns mixed reviews.
Accessories include racks, cargo nets, floor mats, wheel locks, and an extensive assortment of pet travel products. This base Venza strains a bit to provide uphill and passing performance, but putters anonymously in most other conditions, though with a bit more engine noise than expected. V-6 Venzas have standard 20-inch wheels, a first among Toyota passenger cars. Options are available in eight packages with four stand-alone options. It won't be long before you slide the movable cup holders back or the console lid forward and guillotine a beverage.
The panels on the doors do the same. The tall roofline even grants big drivers easy access to all four outboard sets. In fact, its cargo area bests that of many rivals, and it features plenty of innovative cabin storage spaces as well. Seat quality is appropriate for a car that might convey a family and their pets on long-distance drives. The Toyota Venza is built on the Camry platform, and made in the same plant in Georgetown, Kentucky.
From the inside, the feeling is of spaciousness, especially in the front row. The reality, however, is that the new Venza Toyota is just another in the long list of crossover vehicles to hit the market lately. These dimensions make the Venza appear wider and lower, more powerful, and permit increased hip room, head room and a higher seating height. We were impressed with its stability on slippery roads, whether equipped with all-wheel drive or not. The Venza is more original than that, and more functional, loaded with a mix of highly evolved features and fresh design ideas. It's a boxy crossover, yes—but the multibar grille and fast silhouette make it far more attractive than the plainer Ford Edge and less controversial than the Nissan Murano. To hear Toyota tell it, the 2009 Toyota Venza is the most revolutionary thing to happen to the auto industry since the assembly line.
It takes only a moment to adjust for legroom and seat angle, set the mirrors, and select Drive. We were impressed with the stability of the Venza on steep, curving roads covered with wet leaves. We might be tempted to call it a smaller, nimbler minivan, but it's a five-passenger vehicle, and emotionally, much hipper than any minivan we know. But it would be unfair to say the Venza is just an upscale, contemporary rendition of a Camry station wagon. John Stewart filed this report to NewCarTestDrive.
Suspension, f: MacPherson strut, stabilizer bar Suspension, r: dual-link MacPherson strut, stabilizer bar Ground clearance: 8. The end result is to convey the impression of a smart, modern, and practical car. Ground clearance min 206mm 8. The Venza seats five, can carry cargo, and should work well for hauling dogs around. There are two interior colors: ivory or light gray. The front dash layout uses a cleverly arched console and centrally mounted information pod to make it appear as though 60 percent of the front space is devoted to each side.
And far more utilitarian than an ordinary passenger car. The brakes respond to pressure with a nice, easy-to-control mix of pedal assist and firm feedback. Although, interestingly, the Venza offers the same 8. Unless otherwise indicated, specifications refer to test vehicle. The harness, dog fence and tent add greatly to safety because the forces involved in a flying dog can be deadly to both dog and humans. We still never got into the traction control, or the anti-lock brakes, which speaks well for the tires and the wide stance of the Venza. The shift lever is canted slightly to the driver's side.
It's available in all-wheel-drive and front-wheel-drive configurations. It is matched with a six-speed electronic transmission and, according to preliminary estimates, can deliver mileage as high as 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. Interestingly enough, legroom is actually slightly reduced compared to the Camry, even though interior volume is greater. The Toyota parts bin also donates most of the Venza's running gear. The electric power steering feels like something out of the hybrid Prius, though: artificial and lifeless.
Big, clear gauges and optional mahogany-grained trim dress it up better than its competition. Sit-in height is the same as that of the Camry, Toyota says, and after slipping into and out of the Venza several times, we surmise that grandparents and grandchildren alike should find ingress and egress pretty easy. Having said that, these numbers look on par for most crossovers. The Venza has seven standard airbags, traction and stability control, and anti-lock brakes. While the gauges are brightly lit and highly visible, the car is very quiet at idle. The instruments look good, are bright enough even when the sun hits them directly, and pleasing at night.
Whatever it is, it looks good in the metal. The power seats have a nice range of adjustment, easily accommodating our average frame, and the steering wheel telescopes and adjusts about an inch and a half, each way. A tire-pressure monitor system and child protector rear door locks are standard. The Venza is easy to get into, because the step-in height is quite low, same as a Camry, but the higher roofline makes entry easier for taller people. The combination of lamp sorts combined in the headlamps, and the use of fog lights, make a crisp, technological sensation.