Review: 2009 Toyota Venza

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Posted By Mark Elias On November3 @ 12:02 am In Toyota, Van, Wagon | 34 Comments

Southwestern Pennsylvania is a strange but beautiful place to launch a new vehicle, especially when the trees are in full roar at the end of autumn. Normally a car company would use such a location to mask the fact that their new vehicle is just “so-so.” So we now find ourselves at Nemacolin Resort for the introduction of the new 2009 Toyota Venza with one question in mind: Had Toyota picked this location for the same reasons?

What is it?
The Venza is a five-passenger “vehicle” (Toyota’s word) that combines attributes of a sport utility vehicle with the convenience of a passenger car. Why not call it, uh, a station wagon? It’s the closest thing we’ve seen to one yet, and by the way, “station wagon” is not an objectionable phrase. There. I’ve said it again. It rides low and looks good when pimped. It’s the anti-SUV.

What’s it up against?
The 2009 Toyota Venza can be lumped in with all the other family/cargo haulers in the niche. Among them are the Audi A4 Avant, BMW 328i wagon, the Ford Flex and Taurus X, Saab 9-3 SportCombi, and Subaru Forester and Legacy are but just a few of the competitors.

Any breakthroughs?
Being based on the Camry platform opens up many possibilities for ways to build a crossover. Front-wheel or all-wheel-drive? Seating for five. High or low ride? These were many of the options presented to the designers.

There are not many “breakthroughs,” but lots of innovative use of existing technologies. Lowering the rocker panels has enabled easier ingress and egress. Ditto for the rear load-in height, which Toyota claims is lower than that of a Sienna. On another front, High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps don’t make their first appearance on a Toyota, but do show up with the “electric eye” (auto-dimming) feature you may remember from your grandfather’s Cadillac.

We had a chance to try both the all-wheel and front-wheel drive models, as well as the four and six-cylinder versions. It looks like Toyota is serious about having Venza reflect the direction the company’s design philosophy is heading. The object was to improve interior utility while at the same time enhance the driving experience. We think they might be on to something. Finally.

How does it look?
Some of the auto-scribes in attendance at Toyota’s launch were of the opinion that the Venza shares the same profile as its cousin, the Lexus RX SUV. To our eyes, it’s similar but different. It just rides lower.

Designed by Toyota’s Calty Design Studios for the North American market, they are responsible for making the Venza more car-like in its approach. Character lines echo the shape of the wheel wells, and at the same time point towards the trailing edge of the vehicle. Arched window openings with a high waistline break up the largish slab-sided doors which thankfully now have jam protection. The grille area is a Camry-derived style that carries the corporate face forward with a look that at first glance reminds us of Lincoln‘s new winged identity. Wrap-around taillights finish the rear of the Venza, which is enhanced by a rear hatch spoiler and crisp folds in the rear fascia. Chrome accents help to add a little bling to sheetmetal.

And inside?
Inside is mix of contrasts and colors. A two-toned color scheme sets things off with a blacked-out dashboard and carpet, contrasted in our test vehicle with light grey leather seating and matching interior plastic. The interior is laid out in what Toyota is calling a 60/60 design, which gives either the driver or front seat passenger the impression that they are able to access 60 percent of the dashboard controls from where they sit. On the driver’s side, a large blue-illuminated speedometer dominates the center of the gauge binnacle, while the other gauges flow outward. A large center stack houses the navigation screen, audio system and climate controls and was covered in a nicely done satin mahogany finished wood grain panel that helps to bisect the front seating area.

The seating is covered with a solid leather look and accented with a contrasting piping. It’s a good style, at least in our gray example, but we would like to see more in the way of side bolstering to hold occupants more firmly in place. While we are on the topic of seating areas, we think it’s time for Toyota to ditch the puckered leather upholstery look that was last seen in Chrysler LeBarons from the mid-seventies. A new smoother finished upholstery style is long overdue and will do much to bring this part of the interior up to contemporary standards and along with the rest of the inside accouterments.

A 60/40-split rear seat offers the ability to make the Venza into a serious cargo hauler. A nice added touch is the addition of two door latch-style handles to cause the rear seats to fold forward for added cargo space. That, and the addition of a cargo area-mounted power port finish out the “way back” with a capacity of 34.4 cubic feet with seats up, and 70.1 cubic feet when they are down.

But does it go?
Well, it’s no Speed Racer, but it is offered with an inline 2.7-liter 4-cylinder that pumps out 182 horsepower and 182 lb-ft. of torque. If you need more, there is the 3.5-liter V6 with 268 ponies and 246 lb-ft. underhood. Both are mated to six-speed automatic transmissions and are available in either front or all-wheel-drive. EPA mileage estimates place the four-banger at 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg highway for the front driver, and 20 mpg in the city and 28 highway, for the all-wheeler. The six-cylinder achieves 19/26 and 18/25, respectively.

Steering was direct and responsive without a trace of sloppiness. Driving through the back roads of Pennsylvania, and then crossing the West Virginia and Maryland borders found us cruising through pouring rains and slick asphalt for our 80-mile test loop. And although Toyota breaks no new ground with front and rear MacPherson struts and electronic rack and pinion steering, it doesn’t seem to matter, as the all-wheel drive sample continued to plow through the downed leaves and wet conditions with nary a whimper. Or a skid.

The front driver was equally at home in a variety of conditions especially as the roads dried out, which instilled more confidence in us to push the Venza harder. As slick and as good looking as the Venza is, it is still going to be treated as an appliance by most of its buyers. Which is unfortunate, because we like wagons, especially hot wagons, and it would be as close to a hot wagon as Toyota has come in a long time. We found the Venza considerably agile considering its weight of 3,760 lbs. with the 4-cylinder, and 3,870 lbs. for the V6. Add another 185 pounds for the all-wheel-drive system.

Speaking of hot wagons, we had a chance to look over two concept cars that will be presented this week at the industry-only SEMA show in Las Vegas. Designed by Five Axis and Street Image for Toyota, they both featured slammed versions of the Venza that rolled on “no”-profile tires and wheels and were fitted with custom body work that gives you the idea of what the Venza could look like in full pimpdidlyumptious mode.

Don’t forget to check back here later this week for Leftlane’s exclusive live coverage of SEMA.

Why you would buy it:
Because you have moved beyond the minivan and the SUV and you are ready for the next suburban mall prowler.

Why you wouldn’t:
You loved the high ride of an SUV or the sliding doors of your old minivan and you miss having all the juice box holders all around.

Words and photos by Mark Elias.

Toyota Venza