Many years ago, I had the good fortune to spend some time with the new Toyota Venza and I have to say that it just wasn’t anything to write home about. My biggest complaint at the time was that I really didn’t find it to be a great handling car. Well, I have to say that this new 2013 Venza is a very impressive vehicle. Toyota has done their homework and re-worked this vehicle into something I would not hesitate buying myself.
Trying to define the Venza is tough. Is it an SUV, Crossover or a station wagon on steroids? The Venza seems to be a little of everything, as it is roomy for both front and rear seat passengers, easy to get in and out of and has handy cargo loading capacity with the big rear door. All the controls are easily found and most of all, easy-to-use, such as the heating and cooling and all the other controls on the touchscreen my tester was equipped with.
Like most of the Toyotas I have tested lately, the seating was comfortable and it was easy for most people of different heights and shapes to find a comfortable position quickly. The Venza I had was equipped with the leather seat option, which I have to say, was as good looking as it was comfortable.
Since the Venza is so roomy in the passenger area, I found it a little lacking in the cargo area in back. Looking at the Venza from the outside, you might think there is more cargo room but vitals like a spare tire under the load area floor make this higher and in turn smaller.
Depending on your height, loading the Venza might be a little challenging as that spare tire under the load floor makes the lift into the back area a little more difficult. This is something that is very common in vehicles in this range since manufactures have put the spare under the load floor instead of on the back door.
I tested a Venza model with All-Wheel-Drive 3.5L V6 model with a six speed automatic transmission. Base models are 2.7L four cylinder with six speed and All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) is available as well. Power to the wheels comes on quickly with the V6 as the engine produces a healthy 268hp and 248lb. ft. of torque which is more than enough to propel the Venza up any mountain road or steep hill with ease.
In the wet weather I encountered, the Venza felt sure-footed at all times, never losing grip. The capable AWD made spirited driving a lot of fun, which is more than I can say for other vehicles in this class. The 245/50R20 all season tires that made this all possible were mounted on nicely-styled 5-spoke alloy wheels that really enhanced the look of the Venza.
Prices for the base front drive 4-cylinder Venza start at $28,690, which is, I think reasonable for a well-equipped vehicle like the Venza. My test car with just about every option possible listed for $32,250, something worth taking into consideration if style and practicality are what you need.
By Glen Konorowski