The 2009 Venza is an all-new model from Toyota. It's a five-passenger vehicle that's not quite a wagon, yet it's not a sedan or SUV either. It's a bit of all of them ... and it's another innovation from Toyota, a company that's noted for them.
The Venza is the same length as a Camry, but 5 inches taller. It's the same width as a Highlander, but 4.7 inches shorted. In a nutshell, the wagon-like Venza is for those needing more than a Camry but less than a Highlander.
There are two models of the new Venza, based on its two different engines, with both available in either front or all-wheel drive, and both with a six-speed automatic transmission.
One model is powered by a 2.7 liter four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower and 182 pound-feet of torque. The estimated gas mileage for the four-cylinder with front-wheel drive is 21 mpg city and 29 mpg on the highway. Gas mileage drops 1 mpg with the all-wheel drive.
The 2.7-liter Venza features a long list of standard equipment, including 19 inch alloy wheels, auto on/off headlights, rear privacy glass, cruise control, dual-zone automatic climate control, power driver seat, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, reclining and folding 60/40 rear seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, universal garage-door opener, trip computer, and a six-speaker stereo with in-dash six-CD changer and auxiliary audio jack.
The other available engine is a 3.5 liter V6 that delivers 268 horsepower and 246 lb-ft of torque. EPA gas mileage with the front-wheel drive is 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. And as with the 4-cylinder, all-wheel drive reduces mileage by 1 mpg.
The V6-powered Venza has the same standard features as the four-cylinder, but also adds 20 inch alloy wheels.
Four-cylinder models can tow up to 2500 lbs, while the V6 can tow up to 3500 lbs.
Standard safety features on both versions of the 2009 Venza include four-wheel antilock disc brakes (ABS), traction control, stability control, front-seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, a driver knee airbag and front-seat active head restraints.
Optional features are mostly grouped into packages and availability can depend on your geographic location (check with your local dealer). However, they include leather upholstery, heated front seats, power tailgate, rearview camera, sunroof, keyless entry and ignition, HID headlamps, power passenger seat, leather steering wheel, wood trim, heated mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, 13-speaker surround sound audio system with Bluetooth and satellite radio, a voice-activated touchscreen navigation system, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.
The interior of the Venza is attractive and well built, bucking the recent trend of Toyota's cheapening up interior build and materials quality.
And there's plenty of passenger space despite the lack of a third-row seat, thanks to its design and reclining second-row seatback. The rear storage area holds 70 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seat folded and 34.4 cubic feet with the seat raised.
How To Buy A New Venza At The Best Price: Before listing MSRP and invoice prices for the 2009 Venza, here's an article about how to get the absolute lowest price on one, especially given the current slow auto sales environment.
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